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February 2010 Newsletter
In This Issue
Register for No Boundaries
Monday Night Runs
R2R
Metabolic Testing
Tips from the TriGuy
Nutrition Notes
Physical Therapy Points
For Your Calendar
Quick Links
Greetings!
 
"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does.
~ William James

In light of the recent devastation in Haiti, we at Fleet Feet Bonney Lake are trying to make a difference.  People are in immediate need of the most basic necessities, like food, water, and SHOES, so we are working with Soles 4 Souls to provide boots and shoes to help survivors begin the rebuilding process.  Help us make a difference by bringing your new or gently used boots and shoes into the store and we will send those shoes to Soles 4 Souls who will rush those shoes to Haiti. Their goal is one million pairs of boots and shoes to help survivors.  Help us help others - because what we do can and will make a difference.


Happy running,

Paul Morrison
No BoundriesNo Boundaries Registration NOW Open

Do you want to get off the couch and into better shape?  Fleet Feet's No Boundaries 5k Training Program just might be the program for you. 

No Boundaries, a program co-sponsored by Fleet Feet and New Balance, is intended for new runners who have little to no experience and will help you get off the couch and ready to run your first 5k race in 12 weeks.  With supportive and well-trained coaches as well as weekly group runs, No Boundaries will motivate and encourage you to get fit. 

Registration for No Boundaries 2010 is now open, and the program will kick off on March 27.  For more information and to register, please click HERE.  
 
Run with us on Monday Nights 

Fleet Feet's weekly Headlamp Runs are back! 

Each Monday night at 6:30 pm, runners of ALL paces and experience levels are invited to join us for our Monday Night Headl
amp Run.  We meet at the Meeker Trailhead and generally run three to five miles.  These Monday Night Runs are a great way to meet and connect with other runners - not to mention the perfect way to start your week off on the right foot.  So grab your headlamp and your running shoes and join us for a fun-filled Monday Night Headlamp Run.
 
Performance PT
Run the 2010 Rainier to Ruston

On National Trails Day, Saturday, June 5, 2010, runners, walkers, and ultras will take on the eighth annual Rainier to Ruston Rail-Trail Relay and Ultra. The course follows the Foothills Trail from the shoulders of Mt. Rainier to the shores of Puget Sound. The trail passes through pristine wilderness and historic communities, following the old Northern Pacific railroad grade that once brought settlers and supplies into the west. The top runners, walkers, and ultras in each division receive the coveted Golden Spike Awards.
 
Online registration is now available with a $5 discount for all relays, solo walkers and ultra runners until the end of February.
 
To register, go to http://www.databarevents.com/rainiertoruston.asp.

Metabolic Testing Resting Metabolic Rate Testing at Fleet Feet 

Whether you are trying to lose or maintain weight, it is important to know how many calories your body needs. Resting Metabolic Rate Testing will help you accomplish that. 

Simply stated, metabolism is the process of converting food into heat or energy.  The rate and efficiency with which the body converts food to energy is referred to as the metabolic rate.  The number of calories burned by the body is directly proportional to the amount of oxygen consumed. 

For this test, the MetaCheck calculates oxygen consumption by measuring the concentration of oxygen exhaled.  You can achieve this measurement in a simple, 10 minute breath test.  Once the test is completed, your metabolic rate will be used to calculate your Target Caloric Zones.  These zones provide powerful information to help you lose weight or indicate how many calories you should be consuming to maximize fitness performance. This awesome test is being brought to fleet feet at a discounted price.  Test will be administered by MultiCare Dietitian Michele Schaper MS, RD, CD.

This test costs $40 and will be offered at Fleet Feet on February 20.  Please sign up for time slot with Fleet Feet by calling 253-862-8890 or stopping into the store. 
Performance PT Tips from the TriGuy

As I mentioned in last month's article, for the next few months, I will be documenting my Ironman training in order to share with you my process and provide some insight into the strategies of preparing for an Ironman. 

With the Ironman now six months away, this month's article is about what I have been doing in January.  Next month, I will pickup with February's highlights and will continue along that vein each month until race day at the end of June.
 
At this time of year, with the race still quite far away, we need to systematically increase volume while preserving our motivational levels. Too much too soon will surely result in a burnout before the real training begins later this spring. With that said, January has been a month of deciding maximum weekly volume and finding space throughout the week in which to put these sessions.

For me, the most important part of the whole training plan is finding the time to train that conflicts as little as possible with family and work time.  In other words, I'm trying to find time for guilt free training. This is essential  for success.  You should also keep in mind that the length of each day's workout is going to dramatically increase the closer we get to race day. In fact, I like to keep a few holes in my schedule now for those added workouts and big mileage later. So, in order to avoid burnout and keep the fun factor high throughout the plan, I pay particular attention to where, when, and how long each workout will be now as well as later this spring.

And now for my max volume:  I have decided that 24 hours of training in a week is all I can handle. This works out to be about 300 miles of biking, 46 miles of running, and 4 of miles swimming.
  (Keep in mind that I am only doing about 10-12 hours per week right now at that oh-so-friendly conversational pace intensity to keep the motivation high during this dark time of year.)  Looking ahead to February, I will be pyramiding volume each week by increasing for three weeks then backing off the fourth week for recovery. Next month's article will touch more on this training strategy as well as highlight some key workouts. 

Happy training,
TriGuy
Nutrition Notes: Sweets for your Sweet       Performance PT

Valentine's Day is right around the corner -  a holiday traditionally filled with chocolates, candies, and sweets.  However, for this Valentine's Day, consider baking your sweetheart this lower fat, better-for-you version of a traditional sweet treat:  Red Velvet Cupcakes.

Featured Recipe:  Red Velvet Cupcakes
Yield: 30 cupcakes (serving size: 1 cupcake)

Ingredients
Cooking spray
10  ounce  cake flour (about 2 1/2 cups)
3  tablespoons  unsweetened cocoa
1  teaspoon  baking soda
1  teaspoon  baking powder
1  teaspoon  kosher salt
1 1/2  cups  granulated sugar
6  tablespoons  unsalted butter, softened
2  large eggs
1 1/4  cups  nonfat buttermilk
1 1/2  teaspoons  white vinegar
1 1/2  teaspoons  vanilla extract
2  tablespoons  red food coloring (about 1 ounce)

Frosting:
5  tablespoons  butter, softened
4  teaspoons  nonfat buttermilk
1  (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened
3 1/2  cups  powdered sugar (about 1 pound)
1 1/4  teaspoons  vanilla extract


Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare the cupcakes, place 30 paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups; coat with cooking spray.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine cake flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Place granulated sugar and unsalted butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and 1 1/4 cups nonfat buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add white vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, and food coloring; beat well.
4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire racks.
5. To prepare frosting, beat 5 tablespoons butter, 4 teaspoons nonfat buttermilk, and cream cheese with a mixer at high speed until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar; beat until smooth. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla; beat well. Spread frosting evenly over cupcakes.


Nutritional Information
Calories: 205
Fat: 7.3g (sat 4.5g,mono 2g,poly 0.3g)
Protein: 2.3g
Carbohydrate: 33.5g
Fiber: 0.3g
Cholesterol: 34mg
Iron: 0.9mg
Sodium: 168mg
Calcium: 35mg

Source:  Nicolette Manescalchi, San Francisco, Cooking Light, December 2009.

* Guest writer Leslie Funkhouser is a local runner, yoga instructor, and nutritionist.  She owns and operates Wellness Concepts.
Performance PTPhysical Therapy Points to Ponder:  Dynamic Stretching, Part II  

This month's article is part two in a two-part series on dynamic stretching.  Part one covered static, ballistic and one variation of dynamic stretching.  The second type of dynamic stretch is more active than the first and has become one of the preferred methods of stretching.

First, let's review briefly the different types of stretching and the basic definition of dynamic stretching: 

Static stretching is the common type of stretching that most athletes perform. Static stretching is where the body is placed in a position and held for a set amount of time, typically 10 to 30 seconds.   

Ballistic stretching is what we think of when we imagine what they did in the "old days" before they knew better.  Ballistic stretching involves forcefully stretching a muscle repeatedly over a set amount of time.  For example, one might bend over with the legs straight and attempt to "bounce" down to touch the floor.  These types of stretches can likely lead to injury and are typically discouraged.

Dynamic stretching could be considered a combination of the two other types but is distinctly different in its outcome.  Dynamic stretching focuses on multiple muscle groups versus one and typically is specific to a sport movement.  Last month we covered one type of dynamic stretching, and this month we will cover another.   

It is important that with this type of dynamic stretching you have performed a gentle 5-7 minute warm up to increase blood flow and elasticity of the muscle groups.  Let's use the hamstrings, buttocks and trunk muscles again as the reference groups for the example.  Start walking forward slowly.  During the "swing phase" of one leg, extend the straight leg forward in a manner similar to a kicking motion while at the same time reaching forward with the hand of the opposite limb.  Alternate the hand reach with each step and gradually try to increase the range at which the leg extends upward.  The goal is not to touch the foot with the opposite hand but to create a dynamic gentle stretch of the muscles.

Any sport movement can be broken down into this type of stretching and many athletes naturally perform it.  A pitcher may warm up by gently swinging his arm through a modified pitching motion; a boxer may stretch out by throwing easy punches initially and gradually extending her range and speed; a sprinter may walk down the track performing a high knee lift that gradually becomes more broad and forceful. 

Feel comfortable creating your own dynamic stretch based on these concepts while avoiding motions that are forceful or ballistic.  If your goal is to increase the range of motion of the body region, stick to static stretching but avoid doing so before a workout.  Static stretching is best left for off days and ballistic stretching is best left off altogether.


SPECIAL NOTE:  Do you have a particular that you would like to see covered in a future Physical Therapy Points to Ponder article?  If so, please email the topic suggestion to physical therapist and guest writer Dennis Eldridge:  deldridge@psspt.com. 

 
 * Guest writer Dennis Eldridge is a local runner and physical therapist, who works for Performance Physical Therapy in Enumclaw and Bonney Lake.  Dennis also does monthly Medical Q & A nights at Fleet Feet.   *
 
                                                             Dennis Eldridge 
 Upcoming Events

Don't forget to add these exciting events to your running calendar!

  • February 8 - Medical Q & A Night with Dennis Eldridge
  • February 20 - Metabolic Testing
  • March 27 - No Boundaries 5k Training Program Kick-Off

See Fleet Feet's Online Calendar for more information on these events and more!