Support group: Five of the six original “Run Like a Girl” members: Luanne
Tubbs, 35; Dede Herberholz, 40; Patricia Combs, 42; Marien Serrano, 47; Lusk.

“Our Run Like a Girl group formed after the death of Carlos Serrano, a local triathlete, in a cycling accident this past summer,” says Marisa Lusk, 30, of Scottsboro, Alabama.

“It began as a way for us—his wife and friends—to cope, and we never stopped. We now have more than 60 members, and his memory inspires each of us.”

 
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If you ever feel sluggish, achy, or winded when you run, surprise: The culprit is likely your posture. The right body alignment is the key to an efficient, injury-free, and fun workout. Follow our head-to-toe tips for conquering the top three posture mistakes, and you’ll be striding with ease.

Slumped shoulders.
They slow you down and restrict breathing.

The fix: Think tall. If you start to slouch, take a deep breath (you’ll feel yourself straighten naturally) and roll your shoulders back. Stack your head, shoulders, hips, and feet so they’re aligned. And look ahead toward the horizon; your gaze will help you stay upright.

Stiff arms.
Keeping them motionless prevents them from doing their job—propelling you forward—and saps precious energy.

The fix: Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, and tense and release your shoulders, arms, and hands to relax. Swing your arms like pendulums forward and backward from your shoulders, not side to side across your body.

Overstriding.
Big steps can slow you down and cause injury.

The fix: Increase your stride rate and improve your efficiency by taking shorter steps more quickly, making sure your feet are directly under your hips (versus out in front of them) when they hit the pavement. Work on this a few times during each run.

 
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(Life.com)

On Nov. 1, some 40,000 runners will sweat their way through the New York City Marathon, which winds through the city’s five boroughs. The field will include elite runners from around the world, celebrities, and plenty of weekend warriors.

To inspire racers—and spectators—in preparation for this year’s race, we’ve assembled some of the most memorable photos from marathons past. View the slideshow.

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Attention, all runners: The right combo of foods will make you faster and stronger. The ideal fuel-up formula is lean protein + complex carbs + fiber + healthy fat.

Try one of these three tasty suggestions for each meal.

Breakfast:

• Top 1 slice whole-wheat toast with 1 poached egg and 1 ounce low-fat Swiss cheese.
• Sprinkle 1/2 ounce almonds, 1/4 cup raisins, and 1/2 cup sliced strawberries on 1 cup cooked oatmeal.
• Spread 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter on a whole-wheat tortilla; top with 1 sliced banana and 1 tablespoon honey.

Lunch:

• Top a bowl of fresh spinach with 4 ounces chunk light tuna in water, drained; 1 ounce feta cheese; and 1/2 ounce sliced almonds.
• Enjoy 1 cup minestrone soup with a slice of whole-grain bread and 2 tablespoons hummus.
• Make a sandwich with 3 ounces grilled chicken, 1/4 cup mashed avocado, and veggies on 2 slices whole-wheat bread; add a side of baby carrots.

Dinner:

• Top 2 ounces whole-wheat pasta with a splash of olive oil, 1 cup steamed broccoli, and 3 ounces grilled chicken.
• Have 1 serving thin-crust veggie pizza (we like Kashi Roasted Vegetable) with a spinach salad.
• Serve 3 ounces baked chicken and 1 cup steamed veggies (such as a mix of carrots, peppers, and cauliflower) over 1 cup brown rice.

 
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Team Nikki! From left:
Shannon Wallace, 34; Deckon; Shannon Miller, 32; Leanne Sype, 29

“When my girlfriends—all runners—heard I wanted to do a 12K, they were shocked. The farthest I had ever run was from the house to the car in the rain!” says Nikki Deckon, 34, of Wilsonville, Oregon.

“But after two babies, my stomach looked like a second butt. They helped me train and did the race with me. Without them, I never would’ve made it. We still run together, too.”

 
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(Life.com)

Hitting the treadmill every morning is boring, we know. Good thing Health.com found more than 30 races that are more party than workout, with runs that involve beer, bikinis, and even Beethoven! Get inspired by signing up for one of these fun runs—there are options here for every season and every region. View the slideshow.

Run along with 2009 Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette as she prepares for her first race.

On October 11, Alanis will run the Bizz Johnson Marathon in Susanville, Calif., to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association. Eating disorders are of special concern to Alanis, who has said that there were times in her life when she had an unhealthy relationship with food. Since 2008, Alanis has embraced a healthy lifestyle focused on nutrient awareness and finding other forms of comfort outside of food.

“Training for this marathon has allowed me to view food as delicious fuel/medicine, as well as exercise as an incredible practice of self-care and attunement,” she says. Here, she blogs about what she’s learning about running—and herself—in preparation for the race.

And I’m off…my first marathon is today!

The big day is here! I can hardly believe how much care and time and effort has gone into being prepared for this marathon for the National Eating Disorders Association. We (my friend Leah and my brother Wade) have turned this hard-core training into a practice of sort…spiritual, serviceful, and (sometimes!) outright masochistic and adventurous! It’s been an incredible journey—one that has uplifted and anchored me, and filled me with great empowerment and buoyancy (those endorphins!).

So excited!

xx Alanis

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Run along with 2009 Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette as she prepares for her first race.

On October 11, Alanis will run the Bizz Johnson Marathon in Susanville, Calif., to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association. Eating disorders are of special concern to Alanis, who has said that there were times in her life when she had an unhealthy relationship with food. Since 2008, Alanis has embraced a healthy lifestyle focused on nutrient awareness and finding other forms of comfort outside of food.

“Training for this marathon has allowed me to view food as delicious fuel/medicine, as well as exercise as an incredible practice of self-care and attunement,” she says. Here’s her second entry for Health.com:

I am so excited but have pre-race jitters!

I ran my final run before I go to Susanville today for the big marathon tomorrow. Was joined by a couple of friends and I was smiling ear to ear. I even sprinted a little here and there cuz I felt like a corralled horse. :)

Running just two miles felt like restrained torture based on how much we’ve been training and pushing through over the last many weeks. It also made my heart skip a beat because this implies the “great taper,” which precedes the imminent big day (!!!!) So excited and nervous and thrilled all at once.

I’m supposed to carb up all week but I had no appetite today (nerves?). I forced some rice down along with tons of fruit, soy, ginger, egg whites, and English muffins. I am brought back to, and reminded of, my intention for this big run—to offer it up to all the courageous and precious peeps who are in the throes of, or on some part of, the journey of loving themselves through an eating disorder.

Knowing I might be able to raise awareness about eating disorders really keeps the flame alive for me…and has made training for the marathon so pointed and sustainable.

Tomorrow is the race!!
xx Alanis

Previous Post: Training for the Bizz Johnson Marathon

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Run along with 2009 Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette as she prepares for her first race.

On October 11, Alanis will run the Bizz Johnson Marathon in Susanville, Calif., to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association. Eating disorders are of special concern to Alanis, who has said that there were times in her life when she had an unhealthy relationship with food. Since 2008, Alanis has embraced a healthy lifestyle focused on nutrient awareness and finding other forms of comfort outside of food.

“Training for this marathon has allowed me to view food as delicious fuel/medicine, as well as exercise as an incredible practice of self-care and attunement,” she says. Here, she blogs about what she’s learning about running—and herself—in preparation for the race.

I’m getting faster as my race approaches

I woke up early this morning but I’m going to be taking meetings scattered throughout the day, so my run will be later this afternoon.

I’m getting faster! I notice the parts of my training that have increased my pace the most are:

1. Running with someone who is faster than I am (as I see her body disappear into a tiny 1-inch version of herself, I am inspired to pull up my running-shoe straps!)
2. Doing 1/4-mile repeats: I run at anywhere between 8 and 9.5 mph on the treadmill for 2 minutes straight, then walk for 2 minutes. I repeat that anywhere from 7 to 14 times. The next time I run after having done them, I run faster!

Eating at night (especially foods with lots of salt) and not sleeping enough make me sluggish. So although I do both from time to time (for fun’s sake), I know that the next morning I may feel like I’m dragging a little.

I would say that sleep, diet, a general sense of well-being, and inspiration (music, a running partner, variety in the run routes) all make a huge difference.

More tomorrow!
xx Alanis

Next post: Last Day of Training Before Marathon

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My idea of vacation typically involves a relaxing tropical locale, complete with an umbrella-adorned cocktail. But my most recent “vacation” was really a whirlwind weekend that involved running 20 miles in 24 hours; eating a sophisticated diet of peanut butter, bananas, and Powerbar gels; sleeping in a less-than-spacious 15-passenger van; and rising to a ripe body odor wake-up call.

No, I’m not crazy. I’m just a runner.

And last weekend I competed in the relay race through New Hampshire known as Reach the Beach, a 200-plus-mile road race starting in the New Hampshire mountains, spreading out through the beautiful countryside, and eventually finishing at Hampton Beach. Approximately 300 teams of 12 arguably insane/masochistic runners compete, with each team dividing into two vans to complete 36 separate legs, or three per runner.

Team Big Booty Ho greeted me (the newest member) with open arms and a contagious can-do spirit. The team was a group of mid-20 and 30-year old professionals—a mix of former athletes, road runners, and even those who preferred not to run and trained only two months of the year for that particular race.

While there were times during my three legs that I wanted to stop, lie down in the middle of the road, and scream “mercy” with my last panting breaths, I came away from this “vacation” relaxed, rejuvenated, and wanting more. But even if you don’t have the time or endurance to trek through New Hampshire, there are a few quick ways you can take a vacation from your dull workout routine and embrace a new challenge.

Never underestimate the value of a team. I haven’t been part of a team since I played high school basketball, and I forgot how much easier it is to push your body to the limit when you know you have people counting on you. If I even thought about walking, I’d have to answer to 11 teammates, screaming out the window of our van. On the flip side, my team would also schedule stops during my long runs to pull off on the side of the road, play music, cheer me on, and encourage me to chase a group of particularly obnoxious caped runners. I couldn’t help but lift my legs and push through whatever pain I was feeling. When one of our teammates was injured and couldn’t compete his last leg, there were a number of runners who didn’t hesitate to volunteer to add an extra run, sacrificing heavy legs for the satisfaction of completing what we started.

Next page: Mind over matter