March 28, 2010
Recently, there was an article in Bottomline Health, an independent publication that neither accepts outside advertising nor answers to any institution. This publication takes wellness strategies from the world’s leading medical experts.
In the April edition in What Readers Want To Know section someone asked: I keep seeing ads for sneakers that supposedly tone the wearer’s legs and buttock. Is that possible? Lower leg and foot muscles may get a workout in these shoes, but it’s doubtful that those benefits extend to shaping of the buttocks and thighs. The sneakers give the wearer an unstable feeling under the foot, thereby forcing greater exertion on the muscles involved in walking to strengthen them and keep the heel stable. Some of these shoes also have a negative heel (in which the heel is slightly lower than the rest of the foot) designed to decrease shock of heel strike and back strain. Such footwear may be appropriate only for people that already have good muscle tone and strength and can withstand the added stress that the shoes create. (Achilles tendon injuries and ligament stresses around the ankle could occur in people with untrained muscles.) For older adults, who often feel as if they’re falling backward in any type of athletic footwear, these sneakers may be dangerous.
2 Comments | 
Julie's 411 | 
Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 28, 2010
Pass gas not judgement! I can feel the giggle gurgling inside of me because I have had some experiences as being both the passer and the passee of gas!
First, a few facts:
- Runners do ingest a fair amount of healthy food-including plenty of fruits, vegetables and starches.
- These foods produce gas in the GI tract.
- Gas can’t stay in the GI tract forever, especially when that GI tract is being jostled during a group run.
You see where I’m going with this, right? Passing gas while running is not only excusable, it’s healthy. It’s also inevitable…with this in mind here are some handy guidelines:
- You may not mock another runner for having passed gas, unless he has previously mocked you for the same or unless he opens the door by mocking himself.
- If a runner has clearly taken pains to mask his flatulence, the polite thing to do is to pretend nothing happened.
- Rule of thumb for passing gas on a group run. If you’re intimate enough with the other members of the group to discuss politics and religion with them, you may openly pass gas in their presence.
- Corollary to the above: If the group is entirely male, not only may you openly pass gas, you will be expected to, and the louder the better. The group may or may not then acknowledge the act…hollering or high-fiving…depending on the pace.
A couple of additions: It’s also fun to pretend that the gas you have just expelled is helping to propel you forward like a booster rocket.
Although, I would never admit this to any man, but they do not hold the key to the gas passing rule….shhhh we girls can keep it our little secret!
1 Comment | Julie's 411 | Tagged: farting while running, runner's rules | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 22, 2010
This commercial did not start out as a commercial. Do you think I would ever let myself knowingly be videoed looking like this? But, once Devlin got his hands on the camera and worked his magic…this is what he came up with.
The exciting thing for me is for everyone to know that we take what we do very seriously. Our EBAY store would not function well without quality control. Preston prides himself in ensuring that soundRUNNER has no mistakes…our EBAY rating depends on “Quality Control.”
Check it out:
Leave a Comment » | soundRUNNER Commercials | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 22, 2010
One of my sayings is, “It doesn’t matter if you’re right, if you get hit” (actually I say: If you’re dead.” I tried to be less dramatic for my blog)
Recently one of my good friends who happens to work in my Old Saybrook store was hit by a car. Tracy did everything right. The thing that can’t be accounted for is at any particular moment, “someone can take an extremely “wide” turn, and you have to be ready to react. As a runner and pedestrian you have to do “all” the “paying attention.” Fortunately, Tracy is fine, albeit a little banged up!
The weather and time change is bringing more people out, so it’s important to discuss things we can do to be safe on the road.
- Runners and pedestrians, on the road, have the same shared responsibility as all other road users. It may be difficult for some vehicle drivers to react swiftly to avoid accidents. So, it is in “your” best interest to avoid them and to be as safe as possible.
- Don’t wear headphones. You need to be aware of events around you at all times. Using headphones will distract your hearing and thus make you oblivious to any approaching dangers.
- Face the traffic, so you can be ready to react at any given moment.
- BE SEEN. You can never be too visible. Wear bright or light-colored clothing in the day. Most all running apparel has reflectivity in the front and the back. You can also use a reflective vest, a light, hat or wristband.
- Always be considerate of other road users. Give way to pedestrians, especially elderly and young children. Never force anyone onto the road.
- Never run across the road in front of cars! Give ample warning that you would like to cross. To assure that you have the drivers attention raise your hand and let him/her show that they acknowledge you.
- Carry identification.
soundRUNNER carries a wide variety of your needs. Some brands to check out are: GoMotion, PrincetonTec, Nathan and Amphipod reflective gear, Road ID.
Leave a Comment » | Equipment, Julie's 411 | Tagged: Road safety for runners | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 14, 2010
Our dear friends Richard and Margot Sherwin lost their daughter Cindy Lynn to a brain aneurysm in 2007…The Sherwin’s have always supported physical activity…running, swimming and cycling. Since Cindy’s “too early” death, the Sherwin family has dedicated themselves to keeping her “light” alive with philanthropy that supports an active lifestyle for men, women and children. Please check out this website for more details about Cindy and what the Sherwin’s have developed…www.teamcindy.org
Cynthia Lynn Sherwin
1973-2007
Early on Monday morning, April 23, 2007, Cindy Sherwin left her Lower East Side apartment and began her day with a grueling bike ride on Riverside Drive. She was training for her first Ironman Triathalon scheduled for Lake Placid, NY in July. Cindy was an experienced marathon and triathalon competitor. She ran the New York Marathon five times and competed in numerous triathalons. The Ironman, the ultimate triathalon, was a personal challenge, and one she had dedicated herself to with the energy and passion she applied to all the other important commitments in her life. The Ironman required eight months of hard training in addition to her full schedule as an elite fitness instructor and a nutritionist, obligations for radio and TV appearances and, most recently, a new-found pleasure – speaking to elementary and middle-school children about the central theme of her life, examining the close relationship between nutrition and fitness.
This would be characteristically busy day for Cindy. She started with an early morning cycle ride in preparation for the 100-mile Ironman bike portion, a packed schedule of clients throughout the day, and perhaps a run in Central Park late in the afternoon.
But this wasn’t to be a typical day for Cindy. Midway through her ride, Cynthia Lynn Sherwin suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and died suddenly at the young age of 33. 
Leave a Comment » | Julie's 411 | Tagged: Cindy Lynn Sherwin, RUNSTART, The Stone House in Guilford | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 8, 2010
Kayano 16
“The right shoe for me is not necessarily the right shoe for you…”
Every year athletic shoe manufacturers bring nearly 100 new models of shoes to market, each promising to make you walk or run faster. I agree there is a lot of confusion out there, but here are some tried and true ways to make good choices. The first option, in my opinion, is to seek out the professionals, people who are trained to assist you in finding the right shoe for you.
A specialty running store, like soundRUNNER, is the best place to find that experience. soundRUNNER will measure both feet length and width, observe any anomalies your feet may have, discuss what you are doing (walking, running, going to the gym), then evaluate which category of shoe is best for you (neutral cushioning, stability or motion control).
However, if you do this on your own, here are a couple of rules of thumb:
Turn the prospective shoe upside down, Grasp the heel and toe, and push them together. The shoe should bend exactly where your forefoot would be when you toe off at the end of each stride. If the show bends at the midfoot under the arch, this shoe is not for you (no medial support). Starting at the heel, the sole should be beveled to help the shoe gradually roll down when your foot strikes the ground and continues through the gait cycle.
Try on a few shoes. It’s best to try on a few shoes from a couple of manufacturers. Once you have found a comfortable shoe ensure that you have enough room in the shoe. You should have a 1/4″ to 1/2″ from your longest toe on your longest foot to the end of the shoe. This gives your foot room to accommodate any swelling that may occur.
If your feet fall asleep or cramp, that’s a good indication your shoes are too small; then it’s back to the drawing board.
Leave a Comment » | Julie's 411 | Tagged: the right shoe | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
March 2, 2010
What does a 2 year old do when presented her first BUFF?
Well, strip off all her clothes and put it on of course!
(Buffs for men, women and children in all soundRUNNER locations)
Leave a Comment » | Equipment, Julie's 411 | Tagged: Buff | Permalink
Posted by soundrunnerct
