posted on Monday, July 09, 2007
- Do your lungs burn when you run in cold weather? Don’t worry – it is normal. While your lungs work to warm the incoming air, you may feel a burning sensation cause by rapid water loss. Though irritating, it doesn’t pose a threat to your health. If it bothers you, try wearing a scarf or bandana around your nose and mouth. This will help trap some of the moisture lost in exhaled air.
- Favorite sports drink now has protein added – will it help when I run? It may help you feel better after you run especially when the weather warms up and you are sweating more. In a recent study, researches gave two kinds of sports drinks – one regular and one protein enhanced. Those who had the protein sports drink kept 15 percent more fluid than those on an ordinary sports drink and 40 percent more than the water only group. Protein attracts water. The sooner your fluid levels get back to normal, the sooner your fatigue will fade. In the study, the benefit of the protein drink continued about 3 hours.
- Is there any way to blister proof my feet when I am running? There’s no way to totally prevent blisters, but you can stave them off. Trade cottons socks for sweat wicking ones made with CoolMax or Nike Dri-FIT. Cotton traps moisture which causes the friction that creates blisters. Baby powder or blister shield can be applied to your fee pre-run.
- How long can I keep a running bra before I need to replace it? Anywhere from 3 months to a year depending on how often you wear it and how well you take care of it. The more you wash and wear your bra, the more you’ll tax the elasticity. Though you should toss any bra that is totally spent, you can double up tow weaker ones in a pinch.
- Will a hot bath help prevent muscle soreness after a workout? Cold water is a better bet. It serves like an ice pack for your entire body. When you exercise, your blood vessels open wider and stay that way for at least thirty minutes after your workout. Soreness occurs when waste products like lactic acid settle in your muscles. The cold temperature of the water constricts the vessels, limiting the amount of waste products that can settle. To soak your body, fill the bathtub up halfway with cold water and add a bucket of ice. Gradually submerge yourself (taking care not to submerge your chest which could lead to injury). Soak from thirty seconds to one minute at a time.
- I am bored with my running route – HELP! If you’re bored with your running trail or just looking for a route to run on your next vacation or business trip, visit http://usatf.org, the largest online database of running paths in the United Sates created by Google Maps and USA Track & Field. You can map out your runs ahead of time and check your distance with mile markers along the way. Just click on the “America’s Running Routes” icon and search by city.
