Norwalk, Greenwich, Stamford, and Westport Blog » cardio

Westport Road Races Summer Series 2008

Jason LaChance — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:54:17 +0000

The Westport Road Runners Summer Series begins July 7 and runs through Setpember 6.

The first race on July 7 is at Stapes HS. The summer series is extremely popular among all Westport residents along with those from Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich. The whole series will definitely help you improve your fitness in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Check out the information at the bottom of the page.

The July 7 race at Staples gives you 6 weeks to get in shape for the summer series.

YES i’m suggesting you prepare for running by strength training!!

Why Weight Train?

As an example of the benefits strength training can provide, recent studies have shown that as few as six weeks of proper weight training can significantly reduce or completely relieve kneecap pain or “runner’s knee.” It also reduces the recurrence of many other common injuries, including nagging hip and low back pain. By strengthening muscle, as well as bone and connective tissue (ligaments attach bone to bone; and tendons attach muscle to bone), weight training not only helps to prevent injury but also helps to reduce the severity of injury when it does occur.

In addition to injury prevention, weight training improves performance. Studies show that with as little as ten weeks of weight training, 10K times decrease by an average of a little over one minute. The research has also shown that running economy defined as the steady-state oxygen consumption for a standardized running speed (milliliters per kilogram body weight per minute), will be improved due to weight training. By improving running economy, a runner should be able to run faster over the same distance due to a decrease in oxygen consumption. Improved running economy would also increase a runner’s time to exhaustion. From Doug Lentz

ENTRY FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Westport Resident for entire series of 10 races:	$30
Non – Residents for entire series of 10 races:	$50

Westport Resident single race fee:	$5
Non – Residents single race fee:	$8

DAY OF RACE ENTRY ONLY BEGINNING AT 7:30 A.M.

Time:	7:30 A.M. -	registration at race site
	8:00 A.M. -	race begins

Westport Road Runners Org

The Bound Around the Sound Road Race in Westport….

Jason LaChance — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:19:00 +0000

Bound Around the Sound is a great road race taking place right here in Westport next weekend May 17. This is a great opportunity to meet others that share an interest in fitness while enjoying a very scenic run. There will be fitness and nutrition experts to help answer any of your questions about living a healthy lifestyle. This is truly a one of a kind fitness event for Westport and Fairfield County. Check out the website below for more info.

Bound Around The Sound

Date:

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Time:

09:00 AM

Venue:

Sherwood Island State Park

Address:

Sherwood Island Connector
Westport, CT 06880

Brief Description:

Please join us for our 3rd annual 5K race at Sherwood Island Park in Westport! This unique cross country course runs along the Long Island Sound and into the park’s nature reserve all culminating in a a spectacular seaside finish. For an extra challenge, this year we have added a “mini-miler” for children. Please arrive early to pick up your race packet. Registration begins at 8 am.

Additional Information

In addition to the races, health and wellness experts will be available to provide information on topics related to fitness and nutrition. Bound Around the Sound is part of JLSN’s Building Healthy Families initiative, which promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through education, resource materials, workshops and fitness events targeted to local parents and children.

Prices:

5K Run/Walk Adult – $15.00
5K Run/Walk Child – $10.00
Kid’s 1mile or 50 yard Dash – $10.00

Online Registration Closes:

05/16/08 11:59 PM

Website:

http://www.jlsn.org/jlsn/index.jsp

Directions

Sherwood Island Park is located off the I-95. From the East: Take I-95 South to exit 18. From US Route 1, take the Sherwood Island Connector past Route 95 directly into the park. From the West: Take I-95 North to exit 18. From US Route 1, take the Sherwood Island Connector past Route 95 directly into the park.

Parking

There is ample parking in the lot adjacent to the park. The parking fees are $7 for in-state vehicles and $10 for out-of-state vehicles. Carpooling is encouraged.

Schedule

8:00am: On site registration begins 9:15am: Tot Trot 9:30am: Mini-Miler 10:00am: 5K race

WHAT I’M DOING….

Jason LaChance — Sun, 11 May 2008 00:31:00 +0000

Reading about the effects of interval training on fat loss, and thinking about all the women I see in Westport and all of Fairfield County that coast during their cardio sessions.

The warm weather is here!! Head outside to burn those extra calories!!

Jason LaChance — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:37:00 +0000

Westport and the coastal towns of Fairfield County have the perfect settings to head outdoors during the spring, summer, and fall. Check out the study below…..

A study published by the New York Times compared running outdoors on pavement to indoors on the treadmill. The conclusion was that you will burn more calories outside then in, but you will also have a greater chance of injury outdoors.

My recommendation would be to combine the two. If your legs are feeling rundown or if your in a less intense week then the treadmill is the answer. However if your fresh and looking to ramp up the calories burned, then head outside!! They both have benefits to increase your fitness level, and should be used accordingly.

“A number of studies have shown that in general, outdoor running burns about 5 percent more calories than treadmills do, in part because there is greater wind resistance and no assistance from the treadmill belt. Some studies show, for example, that when adults are allowed to set their own paces on treadmills and on tracks, they move more slowly and with shorter strides when they train on treadmills.”

“But other studies show that treadmill exercisers suffer fewer stress injuries in the leg. One study published in 2003 in the British journal of sports medicine, for example, analyzed a group of runners and found significantly higher rates of bone strain and tension during pavement running than during treadmill running, particularly in the tibia, or shinbone. This increased strain can heighten the risk of stress fractures by more than 50 percent, the study found.”

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Westport CT….What a Workout Enviroment

Jason LaChance — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:49:00 +0000

Here’s a great pic of the Westport Yacht Basin by Andrea Fine.

What a great setting and enviroment to work out in. If the sunset isn’t enough motivation to get in shape then I don’t know what is.

I wonder what the stats for fitness levels of individuals who live near water compared to those who live inland.

Wesport in the summer really reminds me of San Diego as health and fitness really are brought to the forefront. That is until the winter comes around, and then its indoors to the gyms and personal training studios. I guess we have to enjoy it while we can!!