From: serrano@osage.csc.ti.com (Yonson Serrano)
Subject: FAQ rec.running part 1/3
Organization: Texas Instruments
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 13:53:18 GMT


Archive-name: running-faq
Revision: 0.3 07/25/92 12:52:50

Part 1 of 3

Answers to REC.RUNNING FAQ and Interesting Information

The following posting contains the answers to frequently asked
questions posed to rec.running and interesting information that
runners might find useful. Answers include the name and email address
of the author.  If no author is listed, I'm the guilty party. If
you're the author and I've misspelled your name or have the wrong
email address, let me know and I'll fix it.

If you feel that I've left something out of the list, or if you find
something thats inaccurate, please let me know. I've tried to
summarize opposing viewpoints on highly emotional issues so let me
know if I have mis-stated the viewpoints.

Yonson Serrano
serrano@csc.ti.com

===========================================================================

Quick Index: * means section hasn't been written yet.
             ! means updated since last FAQ.
             + means new section.

  Avoiding Dogs
! Books and Magazines
+ Clothes (Winter/Summer)
  Clothing Materials
* Cross-Training
* General Information
     Dead Runners Society
!    Terminology (e.g. overpronation, oversupination)
     Calorie/energy count
     Calories burned by running
+    Fluid replacement
*    Road race facts
+    Second Wind
  Hashing
  Legs
     Sore Knees
+    Leg Massage
! Mail Order Addresses
* Marathon
*    Facts
*    Training for one
!    Major Marathons (e.g. Boston, LA, New York)
  Medical / Injuries
     Achilles tendinitis (incomplete)
     Shin splints
!    Side stitches
+    Lactic Acid
     Loose bowels
  Nutrition and Food
     Nutrition primer
     Powerbars
+ Orienteering
  Running Clubs & Organizations
* Running During Pregnancy HELP HELP
* Shoes (Not yet written)
  Stretching
+ Weather (cold, hot, wind, rain, altitude)

 Specific Questions Answered:
+  (1) Is it better to run in the morning or evening?
+  (2) Should I run when I have a cold/fever?
+  (3) How often should I run?
   (4) Which of the 8 lanes on a US track is actually 
       the '1/4 mile' one?  
   (5) I have started running after having my baby and I am curious to
       know if any one has some stomach exercises?

  NOTE: Articles which contain words surrounded by asterisks, indicate
  they have been modified, usually changing instances of "bicyclists" to
  "runners".

***************************************************************************
******************************* START *************************************
***************************************************************************

===========================================================================

Avoiding Dogs   (Arnie Berger  arnie@hp-lsd.COL.HP.COM)
[Ed. note: Originally posted to rec.bicycles - but it applies here as well]

  There are varying degrees of defense against dogs.

  1- Shout "NO!" as loud and authoritatively as you can. That works more
     than half the time against most dogs that consider chasing you just
     good sport.

  2- Get away from their territory as fast as you can.

  3- A water bottle squirt sometimes startles them.

  If they're waiting for you in the road and all you can see are teeth
  then you in a heap o' trouble. In those situations, I've turned around,
  slowly, not staring at the dog, and rode away.

  "Halt" works pretty well, and I've used it at times. It's range is about 8
   feet.

   I bought a "DAZER", from Heathkit. Its a small ultrasonic sound generator
   that you point at the dog. My wife and I were tandeming on a back road and
   used it on a mildly aggressive German Shephard. It seemed to cause the
   dog to back off.

   By far, without a doubt, hands down winner, is a squirt bottle full of
   reagent grade ammonia, fresh out of the jug. The kind that fumes when
   you remove the cap. When I lived in Illinois I had a big, mean dog that
   put its cross-hairs on my leg whenever I went by. After talking to the
   owner (redneck), I bought a handlebar mount for a water bottle and loaded
   it with a lab squirt bottle of the above mentioned fluid. Just as the
   dog came alongside, I squirted him on his nose, eyes and mouth. The dog
   stopped dead in his tracks and started to roll around in the street.
   Although I continued to see that dog on my way to and from work, he
   never bothered me again.

   Finally, you can usually intimidate the most aggressive dog if there are
   more than one of you. Stopping, *and moving towards it will often
   cause it to back off*. ( But not always ). My bottom line is to always
   *run* routes that I'm not familiar with, with someone else.

   As last resort, a nice compact, snubbed nose .25 caliber pistol will fit
   comfortably in your jersey pocket. :-)

===========================================================================

Books and Magazines (Phil Cannon pcannon@spotlight.Corp.Sun.COM)

Track and Field News (monthly $31 US per year)
  2370 El Camino Real, suite 606
  Mountain View CA 94040
  415-948-8188
  Fax:  1-415-948-9445
  1-800-GET-TRAK (1-800-438-8725)

        The self-proclaimed "Bible of the Sport", T&FN is the
        source for major meet results in track & field, road
        racing, cross-country, and race walking from the high
        school to international levels.  Emphasis is on U.S.
        athletes. though significant international coverage is
        provided. Compiles annual post-seasonal rankings of the
        top 10 performers in the world and U.S. in every major
        event, men and women. Publishes list of top 50 performances
        in each event for the year. Also sponsors TAFNUT tours
        for major championships and the Euro Circuit/GP meets.
        Lots of stats, good interviews.

Track Technique (quarterly; $15 in US, $16 outside) same contact info
as Track & Field News.

        The official TAC quarterly, each issue has important articles
        on technique, training, and other practical information on
        all events, at all levels. Intended for coaches.

California Track News ($18/yr)
  4957 East Heaton
  Fresno, CA  93727

        California's only all track and cross-county publication. Lots
        of attention to prep school action.

Running Research News (bi-monthly $17 US per year)
  Post Office Box 27041
  Lansing MI 48909
  1-800-333-FEET

Running Times (monthly $17.70 US per year)
  P.O. Box 511
  Mount Morris, IL 61054-7691
  1-800-877-5402

Runner's World (monthly $17.97 US per year)
  P.O. Box 7574
  Red Oak, IA 51591-2574

Masters Track & Field News (5 issues/yr; $10.50)
  P.O. Box 16597
  North Hollywood, CA  91615

        Results, rankings, age-records, schedules, stories of age 40+
        athletes worldwide.  "Satisfaction guaranteed"

===========================================================================

Clothes (Winter/Summer) (Mike Gilson GILSON@ALF.CS.HH.AB.COM)

Disclaimer
----------
Preference on the amount of clothing required for winter
running varies widely between individuals.  There are a
couple of runners that I see that wear shorts, long sleeved
T-shirt and gloves at 30F!  So expect to experiment with
how much clothing at various temp's.

Second: I don't have any interest in the type of clothes
you buy/wear; I neither make nor lose money by your choices.
What I have to say here is *my* opinion only.

Rules for Winter Running
------------------------
The first rule is to dress in layers.  Outer layers can be
added/shed easily.

The second rule is to stay dry.  When your clothes get wet,
they get very heavy - heavy enough to degrade performance -
and you get cold.

The final rule is to hydrate.  You may not sweat as much, but
you still need to take in fluids.

Clothing Layers
---------------
Inner layer.  The layer closest to the skin should be a
tight, lightweight fabric that wicks water away from the
skin.  Shirts should be long-sleeved, skin-tight (without
chafing), and may be turtle-necked (my preference).  There
are a variety of fabrics that are effective in wicking water;
I have had a lot of success with polypro, but it is not
machine washable.  These are readily available at running
specialty shops and mail order.  For pants, lycra running
tights work very well.

Outer layer.  The next layer should be a looser, mediumweight
fabric that wicks water.  A zipper at the neck is convenient
for temperature control.  I prefer a shirt that is slightly
longer than waist-length so that I have the option of tucking
it into the pants.  I've had more success in finding these
in cycling stores than anywhere else.  Two layers of lycra
tights work if it's really cold.

Shell.  A water-proof or water resistant shell that is
breathable is useful in the coldest conditions.  These are
usually sold as suits, but tops are available separately
at a higher cost (relatively speaking).  Gore-tex is
considered by many to be the best fabric, but there are
cheaper alternatives.  You can get these suits made to your
measurements or buy them off the rack.  I have a Burley
jacket, which I purchased at a cycling shop.  It's chief
advantage over the running suits is the venting and extra
zippers for temperature control.  There are zippers under
each arm, starting at mid chest going up to the armpit and
travelling down the arm to about mid forearm.

Tights.  Tights have been mentioned above as inner/outer layers.
Many people run in sweats, but sweats have two disadvantages:
they're heavy and they get heavier when wet.  Lycra is
lightweight and warm, but costs more and shows off body
(im)perfections more than sweats.

Gloves.  Any cotton glove works.

Hat.  A lot of heat is lost through the scalp, so a hat
is a must for most people.  Cotton hats get too heavy
with sweat.  Balaclavas are more versatile than hats,
and allow you to cover you neck/face if requires.  Both
hats and balaclavas are available in wicking fabrics.

Socks.  A wicking sock will seem less heavy and your feet
will be drier than a conventional sock.  Coolmax socks are
my preference, worn in a single layer.  You can also find
other fabrics, such as capilene or polypro socks, which are
considerably more expensive.

Running shoes.  Runner's World (anyone know which issue?) had
some tips from Alaskan runners on how to put (short) screws
into the sole of the shoe for better traction on the ice.
I haven't tried it, but you obviously have to be careful not
to puncture the midsole, air/gel chambers, etc.

Dressing for Winter Running
---------------------------

Temp range                         Number of layers
(degrees F)       Inner   Outer   Shell   Tights   Gloves   Hat  Socks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
50-55               1       0       0       1         1      0     0
40-45               1       1       0       1         1      0     1
30-35               1       1       0      1-2        1      1     1
20-25               1       1       1       2         1      1     1
0-15                1       1     1+pants   1         1      1     1

===========================================================================

Clothing materials  (Jim Carson  carson@mu.rice.edu)
[Ed note: From a summary Jim posted]

Polarlite
  Fluffy, fleecy stuff also called Polarplus and Synchilla.  Comfortable.
  Incredibly warm, especially under something that breaks the wind.
  Doesn't wick moisture out very well.  Breathes very well.

Supplex (nylon)
  Comfortable.  It is breathable and water repellent (but NOT water proof).
  Seems to absorb a small amount of water if it is really getting drenched

Merino (wool)
  From a "breed of fine-wooled white sheep originating in Spain and producing
  a heavy fleece of exceptional quality."  I guess you could treat this as
  normal 100% wool.

Thermax
  An improvement on Polypro.  The big advantage is heat resistance so
  you can put it in the dryer.  Balance that against the extra cost.

CoolMax
  This stuff seems more like a plastic bag than the revolutionary wicking
  material it is advertised as.

Dacron
  Trademark name for Dupont polyester.  Woven fabric made from dacron is
  similar to nylon ripstop or taffeta, but not as stretchy.  Many of the
  better clothing insulations are made from dacron.  They are usually refered
  to by more specific trademark names, like quallofil, hollofil, polarguard,
  and dacron-88.

Lycra
  Used for its stretch, mostly a warm weather (>65 degrees) thing.

GoreTex
  A teflon based membrane with microscopic holes.  Gortex's claim to
  fame is that it will let water vapor (from perspiration) through, but
  not liquid water (rain).  It blocks wind fairly well too.  The
  membrane is delicate, so it always comes laminated between 2 layers of
  other material.  It does not breathe enough.  There are less expensive
  alternatives.

Polypropylene
  Does not wick very well.  Can be uncomfortable.  Troublesome to
  care for (e.g. can pill badly)  Will keep you fairly warm if soaked.
  Not very wind resistant.  Melts in the dryer.

Capilene
  Wicks moisture away.  Very comfortable.  Comes in different weights
  for more/less warmth.  [lots of favorable things about it... only
  really unfavorable thing is the co$t]

60/40 cloth -
  This is a cloth with nylon threads running one direction, cotton in
  the other. It was the standard wind parka material before Goretex came
  along, and is considerably less expensive.  Good wind resistance,
  fairly breathable.  Somewhat water resistant, especially if you spray
  it with Scotchguard, but won't hold up to a heavy rain.

===========================================================================

Cross-Training

===========================================================================

General Information

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dead Runners Society   (Christopher Mark Conn sascmc@UNX.SAS.COM)

The Dead Runners Society is a discussion group for people who like to
talk about running. The group is very informal and social and we all
try to encourage each other in our running programs. We talk about
everything related to running, from meditation to marathons. We
currently have about 300 members around the world. To join send email
to: dead-runners-request@unx.sas.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terminology

Pronation/Supination (Thomas Page page@ficus.cs.ucla.edu)

      "Over" pronation describes a minor misalignment of the leg's 
       forward swing that causes the footstrike to be skewed 
       to the inside of the heel. (Jim Horalek)

      "Over" supination is the reverse - impact is shifted toward 
       the outside of the heel. (Jim Horalek)

Pronation and supination describe natural and normal motions of the
foot during the walking or running stride.  In a normal stride, the
outside portion of the heal strikes the ground first.  The foot
pronates to absorbe shock.  That is, it rolls inward.  At the end of
the stride, the foot re-supinates -- rolls outward-- on push-off.

What the previous writer (Jim Horalek horalek@alliant.com) is defining
is `over pronation', and `over supination'.  These are excesses of the
normal motions.  Note that over pronation is fairly common and many
shoes are designed to counteract this.  Over supination is very rare.
Most people who think they over supinate probably just under pronate.
Some people who think they over pronate may in fact pronate a normal
amount, but fail to re-supinate sufficiently at the end of the stride.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calorie/Energy Count (Kenrick J. Mock mock@iris.ucdavis.edu)

Here is a little table adapted from "Beyond Diet...Exercise Your Way to
Fitness and Heart Health" by Lenore R. Zohman, M.D.


Energy Range = Approx. Calories Per Hour

Energy Range    Activity                Conditioning Benefits
------------    ----------              ---------------------
72-84           Sitting, Conversing     None

120-150         Strolling, 1 mph        Not strenuous enough to produce
                Walking, 2 mph          endurance unless your exercise
                                        capacity is very low

150-240         Golf, power cart        Not sufficiently taxing or
                                        continuous to promote
                                        endurance.

240-300         Cleaning windows,       Adequate for conditioning if
                Mopping floor,          carried out continuously for
                vacuuming               20-30 minutes

                Bowling                 Too intermittent for endurance

                Walking, 3mph           Adequate dynamic exercise if
                Cycling, 6mph           your capacity is low

                Golf, pulling cart      Useful if you walk briskly,
                                        but if cart is heavy
                                        isometrics may be involved.

300-360         Scrubbing floors        Adequate if carried out in at
                                        least 2 minute stints

                Walking, 3.5 mph        Usually good dynamic aerobic
                Cycling, 8 mph          exercise

                Table tennis            Vigorous continuous play can
                Badminton               have endurance benefits.  May
                Volleyball              aid skill.

                Tennis, doubles         Not beneficial unless there is
                                        continuous play for at least 2
                                        minutes at a time.  Aids
                                        skill.

360-420         Walking, 4mph           Dynamic, aerobic, beneficial.
                Cycling, 10mph          Skating should be continuous.
                Skating

420-480         Walking, 5mph           Dynamic, aerobic, beneficial.
                Cycling, 11mph

                Tennis, singles         Benefit if played 30 minutes
                                        or more with an attempt to
                                        keep moving

                Water Skiing            Total isometrics

480-600         Jogging, 5 mph          Dynamic, aerobic, endurance
                Cycling, 12mph          building exercise.

                Downhill skiing         Runs are usually too short to
                                        promote endurance
                                        significantly.

                Paddleball              Not sufficiently continuous
                                        for aerobic benefits.

600-660         Running, 5.5 mph        Excellent conditioner.
                Cycling, 13 mph

Above 660       Running, 6 or more mph  Excellent conditioner

                Handball, Squash        Conditioning benefit if played
                                        30 minutes or more.

                Swimming (wide          Good conditioning exercise
                caloric range)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calories burned by running (Rob Lingelbach rob@xyzoom.info.com)

Here is a table I clipped from Runner's World last year; the source
listed is "Exercise & Physiology" (Lea & Febiger, 1986).

           Pace (minutes per mile)
       12:00   10:43   9:41   8:46   8:02   7:26   6:54   6:26   6:02
Weight
(lbs)              Calories burned per hour running
100     400     450     500    550    600    650    700    750    800
119     432     486     540    594    648    702    756    810    864
128     464     522     580    638    696    754    812    870    928
137     496     558     620    682    744    806    868    930    992
146     528     594     660    726    792    858    924    990   1056
154     560     630     700    770    840    910    980   1050   1120
163     592     666     740    814    888    962   1036   1110   1184
172     624     702     780    858    936   1014   1092   1170   1248
181     656     738     820    902    984   1066   1148   1230   1312
190     688     774     860    946   1032   1118   1204   1290   1376
199     720     810     900    990   1080   1170   1260   1350   1440
207     752     846     940   1034   1128   1222   1316   1410   1504
216     784     882     980   1078   1176   1274   1372   1470   1568
225     816     918    1020   1122   1224   1326   1428   1530   1632
234     848     954    1060   1166   1272   1378   1484   1590   1696
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluid replacement (2 personal methods)

As an ultramarathoner, trail runner fluid replenishment etc. is quite
important. My findings, based on personal experience, is that in 90+
degree weather I use a liter per hour on a one hour run - and that is
carrying the water with me.  If you are not running enough distance,
dont be concerned about energy type drinks, and you probably don't
lose enough salts to need electrolytes.  But your system will absorb
more fluid faster is it is hypotonic and cool. If you guys are always
running for 45 minutes or an hour in HOT weather - I would really
suggest carrying water.  When you realize your dehydrated its TOO late
- and it takes longer to replenish fluids than it does to lose them.
(Milt Schol milts@mse.cse.ogi.edu)

I prepare for a run with about 24-30 ounces of lukewarm water within 3
hours of the run. As for after the run, if it was particularly
strenuous (and in the 85+ and humid Pittsburgh weather of late, the
runs have been strenuous for me), within 10-15 minutes following the
run, I take ~10-15 ounces of room-temperature, diluted Exceed (about 2
parts Exceed to 3 parts water). I follow that with about 24-30 ounces
of room-temperature water over the next hour or two. (Barbara Zayas
bjz@sei.cmu.edu)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road race facts

NOTE INCLUDE: TAC sanction vs TAC certification requirements, Km to
mile equivalent distances etc.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second Wind (Newsweek July 27, '92 Reproduced without permission)

If an Olympian experiences a second wind, it's probably a sign that he
isn't in a great shape. Scientists are divided over whether a second
wind is purely psychological - the athlete "willing" himself forward.
But if it has a physical basis too, the sudden feeling of "I can do
it!" right after "I want to die" probably reflects a change in
metabolism. The body gets energy by breaking down glucose, which is
stored in muscles. This reaction releases lactic acid, which the body
must burn in order to prevent a lactic-acid buildup that causes
cramps. Burning lactic acid requires oxygen. If the body does not
breathe in enough oxygen; the runner experiences oxygen debt: the
heart beats more quickly; the lungs gasp; the legs slow. The second
wind, says physicist Peter Brancazio of Brooklyn College, may come
when the body finally balances the amount of oxygen coming in with
that needed to burn the lactic acid. (When burned, lactic acid is
transformed into sweat and carbon dioxide.) Why doesn't everybody get
a second wind? Couch potatoes don't push themselves past oxygen debt;
true Olympians have enough lung capacity and cardiovascular fitness to
avoid oxygen debt in the first place.

===========================================================================

Hashing

From: Dweezil the Butt Beaker <daveo@theopolis.orl.mmc.COM>
Subject: Rules of Hashing (one version, re: Rule Six)
Organization: Orlando Hash House Harriers

X-Hhh: A Drinking Club With A Running Problem.
X-Hhh-Motto: If you have half a mind to hash, that's all you need.
X-Hhh-Philosophy: Carpe Cerevisiam
X-Oh3-Motto: We get drunk, we get naked, we give hashing a bad name.
X-O2H3-Motto: We have beer, we have cookies, we give hashing a nice name.
X-Dbh3-Motto: Daytona Beach Hash House Harriers never run out of beer.
X-Dbh3-Motto: We have beer before, during, and after the hash.

The Hash House Harriers is a running/drinking/social club which was
started by bored expatriates in Kuala Lumpuer, Malaysia in 1938.
("Hash House" is the nickname of the restaurant/bar to which they
retired for food and beer after a run.)  Hashing is based on the
English schoolboy game of "Hare and Hounds"; a Hash is a
non-competitive cross-country run set by one or more runners called
hares.  The hares run out in advance of the other runners (the pack of
hounds), and set a course marked by white flour, toilet paper, and/or
chalk marks.

Hash Rules
----------

1. A HASHMARK is a splash of flour used to mark the trail.  The pack
should call out "On-On" when they see a hashmark.  Blasts on horns,
whistles, and other noise makers are encouraged.  Hounds asking "RU?"
(are you on trail?) of the FRB's (Front-Running Bastards) should be
answered "On-On", which means they are on trail, or "Looking", which
means they`ve lost the trail.

2. ARROWs, or several closely spaced hashmarks, are used to indicate
change of trail direction.  Hound should use arrows different from
those used by the hares as necessary to assist hounds further back in
the pack.

3. A CHECKMARK is a large circled X, or a circle with a dot at its
center (fondly known as a "Titty Check").  Checkmarks indicate that
the trail goes "SFP"; that is, the pack must search for true trail.
Hounds should call out "Checking" when they see a checkmark.
(Checking IS NOT Looking!)

4. A Backtrack is three lines chalked or drawn in flour across the
trail, indicating a false trail.  The pack, upon encountering a
backtrack, calls out "On-Back" or "Backtrack", and goes back to the
last checkmark to find true trail.  Sometimes a hound will draw an
arrow with a backtrack sign at the checkmark to identify the false
trail for the rest of the pack.

A CHECKBACK is a devious variation of the checkmark/backtrack.  A
checkback is a CB followed by a number.  For example, a "CB 5" means
to backtrack five hashmarks, then look for true trail as one would at
a check.  Also known as a COUNTBACK.

A WHICHWAY is two arrows, only one of which points toward true trail;
no hashmarks will be found in the other direction.

5. Tradition requires a DOWN-DOWN (chug-a-lug) of a beer after a
hasher's virgin hash, naming hash, and other significant occasions,
e.g., 25th hash, 50th hash, etc.  A Down-Down is also in order for
hares, visitors, and for any other reason that can be thought up.
While frowned upon as "alcohol abuse", it is permissible for non-
drinkers to pour the beer over their head; a soda Down-Down may also
be elected.  The primary consideration of the Down-Down is that once
the mug leaves the drinker's lips, it is turned upside-down over the
head.

6. THERE ARE NO RULES.