5 Great Brands For Runners

There has never been a better time to be a runner. There are running groups sprouting up all over the country and developments in new activewear technology happening all the time. Consequently, there are now dozens of brands that can make your run that much more effective and enjoyable. Here are five such brands.

Under Armour

For many runners, simply wearing a nice t-shirt and a pair of shorts is the perfect activewear for their run. But with the technology available to runners today, there are lots of options that can keep you comfortable and performing to your best at the same time. But out of all of them, Under Armour has to be the best.

Under Armour lives up to its name by providing strong, durable activewear that is high-functioning and high-performance. Made with breathable and versatile fabric, I’ve always found Under Armour to be comfortable and flexible — it’s like a second skin.

And on a side note, while looks certainly aren’t everything, Under Armour does deliver in that respect too. Eschewing the acid greens and blinding blues in favor of understated dark tones, you can feel and look good at the same time.

ASICS

Once you’ve been running for a while and you know that running is the right sport for you, it’s time to invest in a high-quality running shoe. When you’re pounding the sidewalk regularly, it’s worth paying a little extra to keep your feet protected.

The “best running shoe” is a hotly-contested title that changes with every runner you speak to. But if you’re finding a brand that consistently delivers high-quality, high-performance running shoes time and time again, it has to be ASICS.

Taking its name from the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano (“healthy soul in a healthy body”), ASICS is regularly ranked as the best running shoe around — and I’m inclined to agree. They keep your feet safe and comfortable, and they’re durable enough to withstand even the most gruelling run.

I prefer running on asphalt and ASICS are perfect for that, but they’re equally good for trail runners and treadmills too. And while running shoes tend to be very expensive on the higher end of the scale, ASICS have plenty of reasonably-priced shoes that provide high quality at affordable prices.

SportOxy

It can take a while for newbies to first commit to running. Decent running shoes and accessories don’t come cheap, and paying big bucks for your first pair is not an appealing option.

For example, it’s difficult finding an affordable pair of running shoes that: a) won’t fall apart the first time you wear them, and b) won’t leave you feeling as though you’ve been running on asphalt barefoot.

And as if it wasn’t hard enough finding a decent pair of shoes, you need to choose what to wear too. The variety of activewear on offer today is dizzying, especially for complete running novices.

So for beginner runners, Sport Oxy is the one-stop shop you need. It offers everything the newbie might need to get started in running at highly discounted rates.

It’s great for new runners who don’t want to make a heavy financial investment before deciding whether running is right for them. Despite the low prices, the products are still durable and comfortable, giving you a great run every time.

And for the more entrepreneurial minded runners out there wanting to start their own local fitness brand, Sport Oxy is a Utah-based business that’s also currently for sale. It’s a chance for you to combine your passion with business, all the while earning a little extra cash out of it too.

The Science Of Running

Hitting the wall. Overpronation. Carbo-loading. Hypoxic.

The running world is full of jargon and obscure concepts, and it can be a challenge making sense of it all.

Or if you’re an experienced runner, it’s not always easy to find the motivation and direction to push yourself further.

Enter The Science of Running.

This is a blog and podcast series created by renowned coach Steve Magness. With experience coaching dozens of world-class athletes, Steve is well-placed to deliver fascinating insight and motivating advice for runners of any ability.

His articles are data-led and highly comprehensive, providing in-depth advice on a range of topics. From dealing with failures to coping with stress, Steve covers it all. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to pull your shoes on and head out for a run, The Science of Running will give you the motivation you need.

Nike+ Run Club

Like most runners, when I first started running, I struggled. I panted and puffed and wheezed my way around the track for half an hour three times a week, but I felt like it was all for nothing. I didn’t feel myself getting better at it, and I couldn’t see any visible results in my body.

But then a friend got me onto the Nike+ Run Club. It tracks your run from your smartphone with accurate, comprehensive results, and is highly customizable.

For example, if you want to run for a set distance, the app will monitor your run and alert you when you’re halfway there, and when you’re almost done. It also offers guided runs, helping newbies get into short, long, or speed runs, amongst others.

Since I started using it, I’ve been able to accurately track my progress, seeing in real-time how my speed has increased and how many calories I’ve burnt.

If you’ve lost your running mojo, Nike+ Run Club is your key to finding it again.

The simple art of running hasn’t changed, but how we do it has. The above are just a few examples of brands that can help you get the most from your next run. Be comfortable, embrace a positive mentality, and always strive to be better. All it takes is all you’ve got!

Patrick Foster is a writer, runner, and businessman from Ecommerce Tips. This is a personal passion project where he shares business tips and marketing advice for ambitious individuals who want to start their own ecommerce business. Check out all the latest on Twitter @myecommercetips.

Staying Visible While Running

Running is one of the healthiest forms of exercise, and one of the best ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. While the ideal setting for a run is on a designated pedestrian path, it’s not always possible to avoid vehicles. If motorists frequently interrupt your runs, here are some top ways to stay visible and ensure everyone on the road sees you.

Wear Florescent and Reflective Clothing

It’s usually not a great idea to dress all in black if you’re running in a busy area. In the daytime, florescent clothing is the easiest to see. Bright yellows, green, and pink are all very eye-catching and will help motorists tell you apart from pedestrians on the sidewalk. When you’re running at night, reflective clothing is much more important. This allows you to stand out against a car’s headlights.

If You’re Running in the Road, Run Against Traffic

While it’s always safer to run on the curb or sidewalk, sidewalks weren’t really built for running. From cracks to loose or missing bricks, it can be just as dangerous to your health to run on the sidewalk. If you are running directly on the street, be sure to run against traffic. This will give you a couple of seconds to dive out of the way if a reckless driver approaches.

Be Wary of Intersections

It’s always a good idea to proceed through an intersection with caution, even if you have a green light. You’re significantly smaller than a car, so it’s always safer to err on the side of caution. If possible, try to make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you.

Always Carry a Flashlight

If you’re running at night, you should usually bring a flashlight to ensure you see the surface you’re running on. Cracked and uneven sidewalks are actually the top cause of injury among pedestrians, not motorists, so you’ll dramatically increase your chances of getting hurt if you cannot see in front of you. If you’d prefer running hands free, opt for a headlamp.

Avoid Rush Hour

If at all possible, avoid running between the hours of 8-9 AM or 4-6 PM. These are the most congested times to be on the road in major cities, meaning you’ll have way more motorists to avoid. If you’re running in the summer, one of the best times to get outside is in the early morning before temperatures get too hot.

Run in a Group!

Two runners are always more visible than one. When you run with a friend, you have more benefits than just added visibility. Studies have shown that people with exercise partners are more likely to workout harder and longer than they would on their own, and they’re more likely to stick to an exercise routine. Getting up for a run at 5 AM doesn’t feel as bad when you have a friend coming with you!

This article was provided by www.personalinjury-law.com, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice, and it is intended for informational use only. Be sure to review your local ordinances to ensure you run safe and legally.

How long have you been a Moon Jogger? 3 years

What or Who inspires you to get out and run,walk, jog etc? My personal fitness.

What is your favorite distance to run, walk, jog? 6 miles

What is your favorite pre-workout snack and/or meal? Peanut Butter Protein Shakes

What is the best fitness advice you’ve ever received? Just stay focused

Who would you like to inspire through your running/walking?  Anyone who is at a cross road

What is something funny and/or embarrassing that has happened to you during training or events?I forgot to change into my running shoes before one of my races.

Do you have any rituals or traditions you do before events? Pray

What is the furthest you’ve ever run or walked in one day? Full Marathon

Tell us more about yourself. Where your’e from, what you do for a living, what are your hobbies and anything else you’d like fellow Moon Joggers to know. I live in Piffard NY. I work for KraftHeinz company. I like to run, photography, and I own an antique muscle car.

Describe your favorite place to run (work out). Why is it your favorite?  The park. It is peaceful and I can think.

What have been your biggest obstacles when it comes to running, training, exercising, etc?  Staying true to the training

What has been your most favorite running experience or event?  Marine Corp Marathon

We love you George! Thanks for being part of our Moon Jogger family!

Designing a Race to Remember

We’ve all seen the medal and award collections runners have on display in their homes or office, or in photos shared on Facebook and Instagram. These hard-earned awards, grand or small are reminders of a runner’s accomplishments and so should be proudly shared.

Of course, there are some awards that stand out from the rest. Those special medals and unusual prizes that are shared just a little more prominently or that bring a bigger smile and a more pleasing memory to the runner.

What does this tell us about the planning stages of putting together a memorable race? A race that will keep runners coming back each year to make more memories? It tells us that race directors should recognize the importance of artistic design when branding a race and its accompanying swag.

Race directors and planners have a lot more than branding to think about when planning a memorable event. There are course maps, sponsors, volunteers and city officials to consider among other tasks. And, with the competition of other races popping up, there is the extra pressure of making sure your event stands apart.

How do race directors make room for creative time and designing those important race medals, screen prints and awards? At Running Awards and Apparel, they don’t have to.

Our art team is made up of gifted graphic artists and screen print specialists who are experienced in the running event market and know what runners want.

With your vision and sometimes using an existing logo, our talented team can take a simple idea and transform it into a unique and story-telling design that helps to establish an event’s specific identity. This identity can be carried through all event products, including apparel, banners and print media. Ru

With that type of identity, a race can set itself apart from others and create an annual appeal for participant experience and for earning a coveted, signature medal and or award.

What’s even better about having Running Awards and Apparel design your signature event brand? The service is free! Our designing service includes quality, high-resolution proofs and images that can be used to promote your signature event and build anticipation and registrations.

With creative designing and good planning, you can start on the path towards creating a memorable event, even before it starts!

About Kathy Toynbee: Event Specialist, Marketing Manager with Running Awards & Apparel, a leading supplier of race medals, awards, and apparel for the running event industry. www.runningawardsandapparel.com

Is Running the Key to Improving Men’s Mental Health?
According to the Men’s Health Network, of the 9 million elderly living alone in the U.S., a whopping 80% of them are women. What’s happening to the men? Why are they passing at a younger age than their female counterparts?
Some reasons are clear. For instance, boys and men face more peril than women due to a higher rate of risky behaviors and activities, such as street fighting and car racing. Secondly, more men than women hold highly hazardous occupations, such as firefighting and deep-sea fishing.

 
However, one surprising reason for the life expectancy gender gap, listed on a report created by the Men’s Health Network titled, Silent Health Crisis, is that men avoid seeking help when medically necessary.
Why does this happen? And, how can we help to change it?

 
Reports, such as this  online article, suggest that men are not likely to seek advice for many treatable or preventable health issues. For some men, the stigma of appearing weak or “needy” keeps them away from medical guidance in getting better.
Men who suffer from debilitating mental issues such as depression and anxiety are the largest percentage of those who don’t seek help.

 
Fortunately, there are a good number of men who have found help through regular exercise, such as running.
One notable runner who credits his trail habit (along with his wife) for saving his life is ultra-runner Rob Krar. Click here to view a stunning video about Rob and Christina Bauer and their connection to the Grand Canyon’s trails and how they’ve helped them both cope with Rob’s debilitating depression.

 
Runner’s World contributor, Scott Douglas writes in his article, For Depression and Anxiety, Running is Unique Therapy, “For those of us with depression or anxiety, we need running like a diabetic needs insulin.”
His article goes on to support the popular theory that regular exercise will dramatically improve a mood immediately upon the finish of a run. That theory can be attributed to endorphins and other mood boosting brain chemicals.  His article goes further into a runner’s improvement of mental health over time by building resilience to stress and by creating a “look what I can accomplish” mentality.

 
That sense of accomplishment is exactly what we love to celebrate at Running Awards & Apparel. And, by celebrating other runners and their accomplishments we help those who struggle from all types of disorders, including mental health issues.
This June, during Men’s Health Awareness Month, we give a shout out to the men who choose to run for better health from head to foot.

 
We celebrate you!

 
About Kathy Toynbee: Event Specialist, Marketing Manager with Running Awards & Apparel, a leading supplier of race medals, awards, and apparel for the running event industry. www.runningawardsandapparel.com

How I Can Choose to Change

I am an outdoor loving, animal loving husband and father of 2 daughters. In 2005, I found that I had been on a downward trend health wise, experiencing a feeling of pressure in my chest stemming from coronary artery disease. I wasn’t young and I wasn’t old, but here I was. Fortunately, I was given the diagnosis before I suffered any damage, and remained under the care of a cardiologist after a procedure that relieved the symptoms. I also had become moderately overweight, but until a diagnosis of being pre-diabetic, I wasn’t aware of the repercussions of my declining health. Time to change some habits.

I was introduced to a program designed to guide each individual through lifestyle adjustments to combat the onset of diabetes. The program consisted of tracking the amount of fat grams being consumed, assessing what to discontinue, considering healthy alternatives, and developing awareness to the portions being eaten. All of this was a means toward a balance between diet and activity.

This was my opportunity to take control of my physical health. I started to plan for small, doable actions I could document. Plans could guide my decisions on how to initiate better habits. I implemented exercise to increase my stamina. After 6 weeks of making and tracking the adjustments, I saw encouraging results that allowed me to continue with the process I started. My body didn’t always stay pain free as it tried to adjust to this process, so I had to learn to help support areas with a knee strap, compression socks, and in some cases work out the arthritic kinks little by little.

Now after 2 years of following this course of action, I enjoy excellent fitness and I am thankful I could still choose options for a healthy future.

The results I receive from running keep me ready to put my effort into staying active. I experience a feeling of well-being which I believe stems from a deeper breathing, and better cell regeneration in muscles, organs, and my brain. The time spent on my running routes can be shared with another person, such as my wife, or a friend, a group with runners of different pace ability, or just myself taking inventory for my growth. I’ve run in a couple competitive races, but I prefer keeping myself accountable with the Moon Jogger community.

Biography

Curtis McKitrick

Age 64

Occupation – Electronic Test Engineer

B.S. Electronic Engineering Technology

Hobbies – member of local running club, Model train enthusiast

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Start Running

20 years ago, I joined the track team.  I was slow.  I was miserable.  I hated it.  I decided I would never be a runner.  And I quit.

I finally decided in my 30s that I needed to do something for exercise. I’m good at walking.  I know how to do it.  I knew I couldn’t fail at walking.  I started walking before work and before I knew it I was walking 5-6 miles every morning.  And I loved it.

My first race was a cold, snowy 5K in the middle of the night.  I was terrified.  But I knew I could go that far, and I did.

A month later, my first half marathon had a walking division and a 5 hour limit.  I knew I could do it.   But I was terrified.  I was actually shocked to come in second in my age group.

The next month I walked a marathon.  Then I decided to try my feet at running again.  Four months later I ran my first half.  Eleven months after my first 5K, I ran my first marathon.

Every race I do, I look around and think that everyone around me looks like an athlete.  They look fast.  I’m not.  I’m slow.  I’ll walk at least half of this.  I could be last.  I’ll probably be last.

And then I remember that I’m not really competing with them.  I’m competing with that voice in the back of my head that thinks I can’t possibly run that far, that I’m not good enough to be there, that I’m not a runner.  That’s who I need to beat.

I want to hug my past self and tell her she can do it if she really wants to.  I didn’t always believe in myself but it took me a long time to learn that belief in myself matters more than anyone else’s belief in me, and that belief is what keeps you going when the going gets tough.

I’m very grateful to this community that constantly reminds me that it doesn’t matter how fast you go as long as you keep going!

Keep going.  Be a runner.

Bio:  Heather Wood is a family doctor in northern Wisconsin.  In addition to running, she enjoys crochet, hiking, archery, camping, Disney, the Green Bay Packers, and boating with her husband and two children.

Add a Virtual Race and Watch Your Sign-ups Grow

Why add a virtual race as an option to your already established running event? The answers to that question are related to building your brand and growing your participant base year over year.

Both of those objectives can be addressed by first looking at what type of runner registers for virtual runs, and secondly, by recognizing the explosion in popularity of virtual events and respecting them as reputable running institutions.

There is a wide range of types who register for these unconventional races; from the self-conscious beginner to the seasoned runner who simply doesn’t like crowds. Some virtual runners have difficulty with traveling to a race location, while others desire the added incentive of a cool virtual medal to help celebrate personal goals or reach specific training levels as they prepare for bigger events.

Virtual race medals are some of the best bling out there. Virtual organizations such as Moon Joggers and their sister company, Virtual Run Events, are continually setting the bar with medal concepts, working in conjunction with the talented art team at Running Awards & Apparel.

Cool medals notwithstanding, this company is also a master at raising charitable funds for some very worthy causes. You can check out their chosen charities here.  Having a great cause behind your virtual race is another way to attract more runners to sign up, as many people want to feel they are a part of something special.

Shown: Moon Jogger’s Medal for the Mother’s Day 5K – Running 4 Your Super Mom, raising funds for Vitamin Angels

From all accounts, planning a virtual race may be simpler than that of a road or trail race with a true start and finish line. No extra parking is needed for these participants, no additional portable toilets and no extra refreshments at your pavilion. The list of benefits goes on.

Most importantly, recent trends show that offering additional sign-up options to your customer base will attract more runners to participate, year over year. Because virtual races are less costly to host, they are also typically less costly to sign up for, which is another attractive incentive to many runners. So, give your runners this fun, popular and less costly option by adding a virtual race to your event menu and watch your participation numbers grow!

About Kathy Toynbee: Event Specialist and Marketing Manager with Running Awards & Apparel, a leading supplier of race medals, awards, and apparel for the running event industry.

www.runningawardsandapparel.com

Where My Feet Have Carried Me
By Iva