This year marks the 6th Anniversary of our Cancer Awareness Issue. Through the years there has never been a shortage of inspirational stories about people who have fought cancer first-hand or hand-in-hand with a loved one stricken by the disease. Everyone knows someone who has fought it. The staff here at Endurance Magazine is no different. In fact, Amy Charney, one of our Ramblin’ Rose Race Directors is dealing with cancer right now. Her chemotherapy treatments started last March and will continue through March next year. Amy has long been an inspiration to others by encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and participate in our Ramblin’ Rose Triathlons – even before she joined our team. In this month’s feature story “Can I Still Run the Marathon?” Amy grapples with the possibility of running the Boston Marathon and not letting the disease define her.
We also offer some practical advice for cancer prevention. The effects of sun damage on the skin are well documented and studies have shown that endurance athletes have an increased risk of skin damage. Still, some surveys have reported that only about half ever apply sunscreen before working out. Now that summer is in full swing be sure to read our “Skin Care Tips for Runners and Triathletes” article to learn about these simple precautions to protect your skin and your health.
In USATF-NC long distance running series, the leaderboard is starting to take shape as runners log more races. Stevven Anderson and Heidi Bretscher’s efforts in the Running of the Bulls 8K solidified their lead in the open divisions as did Colin Jones in the male masters division. In the women’s masters division, Allie Bigelow’s win at Running of the Bulls moved her into a 4-way tie for first with the winners of each of the three previous championship races. Who will race next and shoot for the female masters lead? Or will a new winner create an even bigger co-lead for the series? The answer will be revealed at the Sir Walter Miler August 7th. Check out our preview of the event in this issue.
Championship racing in events like the Sir Walter Miler can raise anxiety levels in even the best of athletes. Sometimes, however, anxiety can lead to negative thinking and hold us back from our best performances. I’m so slow. I’m terrible at this. I can’t keep up. I can’t do this. These are all things we may have heard ourselves say before or maybe heard other people say to themselves. Level I USA Triathlon and Cycling Certified Coaches Grandison Burnside and Cyndi Dambacher article “5 Ways to Overcome Negative Thinking” offers some simple solutions to reduce these negative thoughts and help you race to your best potential.
In our cycling column this month, Thomas Henson Jr. gets into cycling safety for kids. Realizing it’s important to impart lessons about safety as early as possible, to instill a lifetime a good habits, Henson shares some secretly fun ways to teach these habits to kids. To learn new tricks for helping safety information stick in tiny minds, Henson sought the help of Tom Broyles-Lewis, general manager of Cycling Spoken Here in Cary, North Carolina. Tom knows the secret language that kids hear and understand. School yourself on these tips by reading our cycling column this month.
Bicycle safety is one way to keep kids healthy. Nutrition is another. Our recipe this month is a delicious Kale Salad with apples. We would all do well eating this on a daily basis. Kale has become quite popular over the last decade for it’s numerous health benefits, and rightly so. One cup of it provides 88 percent of the Daily Value of Vitamin C, 192 percent of vitamin A and a whopping 1,327 percent of vitamin K! Our very basic recipe for kale salad is a great addition to any meal.
We also feature some great information on caffeine use in endurance sports, a review of the latest shoes by Hoka One One, and great exercises for life-long health.
Inspire. Perform. Endure.
