DECEMBER 2015

RUNNERSWORLD.COM

How
To ...
Get Stronger
Snack Smarter
Beat Injuries
Stay Motivated
Love Your RBF

& Be

INNER

BOBBY GILL
An ultrarunner and cofounder
of Cupids Undie Run race series,
which has raised nearly
$8 million for charity.

RW
OP
EN
FL

COVER SE ARCH
ts!
AP to Meet Finalis

!
e
m
o
s
e
w
A
9
Seasonal
Superfoods

GEAR OF
THE
YEAR
Hot Shoes, Cool Clothes & Other

Runner -Tested Gift Ideas

Real Runners, Amazing Stories

2015 RUNNERS WORLD COVER SEARCH FINALISTS
1 BOBBY GILL (co-winner) Mega Fundraiser 2 DESIRE RINCN Racing Machine
3 MICHAEL CATES Cancer to 5K Coach 4 MICHAEL WARDIAN Endurance Superstar
5 RAHAF KHATIB Role Model 6 SAMANTHA GARDNER Rape Survivor
7 MICHAEL SCOTT Sedentary to Ultrarunner 8 KIMBERLY GRINER HEINZ Bearing Angels
9 ANDREW PETERSON Special Olympian 10 JORGE GARCIA Running in Remembrance
7

10

GATEFOLD CLOTHING: ASICS SHIRT (GILL); ZELLA TOP, UNDER ARMOUR LEGGINGS (WALKER); OAKLEY SHORTS (RINCN); UVU TOP (WARDIAN); ZELLA JACKET (KHATIB); BROOKS TANK (GARDNER); C9 TOP (SCOTT); ASICS BRA (HEINZ); NIKE SHIRT & SHORTS (PETERSON); ASICS HAT (GARCIA)

COVER & GATEFOLD PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEXEI HAY; AJ MAST (PETERSON); STYLING BY ARGY; HAIR & MAKEUP BY MARY GUTHRIE, SANA AKUBU & MICHELLE DEMARTINO; GILL COVER CLOTHING: ASICS ARM WARMERS; WALKER COVER CLOTHING: UNDER ARMOUR LEGGINGS, BROOKS SHOES

WARMUP
CONTENTS

DECEMBER
2015

RAVE RUN

EDITORS LETTER

THE LOOP

10

14

18

89
WINTER
SHOE GUIDE
We put dozens of this
seasons models through
their pacesfnd your
perfect ft among the 17
pairs that outran the rest.
BY JONATHAN BEVERLY &
MARTYN SHORTEN, PH.D.

ON THE COVER
Get Stronger ............................... 40
Snack Smarter............................. 48
Beat Injuries ................................ 38
Stay Motivated............................ 36
Love Your RBF ............................. 24
Be Awesome ................................61
9 Seasonal Superfoods ................ 46
Gear of the Year .......................... 56
Cover Search ...............................61

61 RW COVER SEARCH

77

82 NUTRITION SPECIAL

REAL RUNNERS,
AMAZING STORIES!

THE YEAR IN RUNNING

FAT CHANCE

The headliners, trendsetters, history-makers,

and record-breakers
whose achievements and
ideas rocked our favorite
sport in 2015.

Low-carb, high-fat is
suddenly all the dietary
rage. But will it work
for runners? Heres the
science, and the reality,
of all that bacon.

BY NICK WELDON

BY AC SHILTON

This years fnalists made

us laugh, cry, and shake
our heads in awe. Meet the
men and women runners
who moved us the most.
BY THE EDITORS OF RW

PHOTOGRAPHS BY RYAN OLSZEWSKI

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 3

CONTENTS
WERE ALWAYS
RUNNING AT
RUNNERSWORLD.COM

44

TRAINING VIDEO

21
HUMAN RACE
21

PERSONAL BEST

What It Takes To... Swim 2.4

miles, ride 112 miles, and run a
marathon. Every day. For 50 days.

24

#Zelle Its time to embrace your

Running Bitch Face.

26

We Ran It Of! These newlyweds

vowed to reclaim their bodies.

28

Road Scholar No, marijuana is

not a shortcut to the runners high.

TRAINING
36

Run, Run, Repeat Stave of

holiday doldrums with a streak.

38

The Starting Line Its true. You

really can run pain-free for the
rest of your life.

40

The Fast Lane Chase speedwork

with strength training to take your
running to the next level.

42

Race Prep Festive 5Ks provide

a triple whammy of bonding,
motivation, and calorie control.

BY KARA CUTRUZZULA

BY PETER SAGAL

Runner by the Numbers

To honor fallen soldiers, he runs
with the fag they fought for.

30

Go You! Exceeding expectations.

31

Ask Miles Shorts over tights?

32

Running for Good Forget shopping on Black Fridayhead to the

track and fundraise on foot.

33

Intersection Yes, that was Galen

Rupp you saw in a toga.

FUEL
44

Thanks, Again! Five recipes to

reinvigorate lackluster leftovers.

46

Fridge Wisdom Reap the

nutritious benefts of the best
winter produce.

48

Quick Bites Take these healthy

snacks with you.

50

The Runners Pantry These

low-cal Italian cheeses add rich
favor to dishes.

52

Congrats! Now What? Race

recovery starts immediatelyand
can stretch for weeks.

RACES+PLACES
103

Rocky 50K Fat Ass Retrace the

Italian Stallions steps through
Philly. In gray sweats, natch.

104

Ask a Pro Tips for turkey trots.

IM A RUNNER
114

Robert Herjavec A Shark Tank

star fnds success to be feeting in
business and running.

4 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

MIND+BODY

The craziest
thing I ever saw
while running
was in Dubrovnik,
Croatia, where
they flm Game
of Thrones,
Herjavec says.
I was running
along a road that
ended because of
civil war.

54

The Body Shop Six postrace

recovery moves that can be done
in tight quarters.

GEAR
56

Gear of the Year From shoes and

apparel to other essentials, these
28 items made our wish list.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES

Looking for the perfect
runner gift? Find dozens
of ideas for that special
someone (or yourself) at
runnersworld.com/2015
giftguides.

FINALIST VIDEOS
Go behind the scenes at
the Cover Search photo
shoot in New York City
to learn more about our
inspiring fnalists at
runnersworld.com/
coversearchfnalists.

DAV I D L I V I N G S TO N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( H E RJAV E C ); D O R L I N G K I N D E R S L E Y LT D/A L A M Y (G I F T )

30

My cousin and I
ran six marathons
together before he
died at the World
Trade Center,
Sid Busch says.
In 2002, I ran
six marathons in
his honor. Then I
joined Running in
Honor of Fallen
Heroes. I got tired
of kids losing their
lives defending
this country and
nobody paying any
attention to that.

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y J E S S A K A E P H OTO G R A P H Y/ W W W. J E S S A KA E .C O M ( W H AT I T TA K E S TO); M I TC H M A N D E L ( L E F TOV E R S ); CO U R T E S Y O F S I D B U S C H ( B U S C H );

Cramped seats can be

torture when youre fying
home after a race. Pamper
those weary muscles with
the exercises on page 54,
and watch a demonstration at runnersworld
.com/fyright.

outofoffice
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CONTINUOUS
HEART RATE

ALL DAY
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David Willey

Molly OKeefe Corcoran

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

VP/PUBLISHER

Maria Rodale

EDITORIAL
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RAVE RUN

WINTHROP,
WASHINGTON
RUNNER
Alyson Dimmitt Gnam
THE EXPERIENCE
The Lone Fir Trail, a
two-mile loop, weaves
through a valley within
the North Cascades
mountain range. The
path sits 3,640 feet
above sea level, so
winter arrives in October. The fresh snowfall
on the trailit crosses
the aptly named Early
Winters Creekis
transformative, says
Dimmitt Gnam. The
white brings out the
shapes diferently, and
theres a hush.
WHILE IN TOWN
Refuel with a perfectly flaky fruit scone
while you peruse castiron skillets, woolen
goods, and organic
produce at the Mazama Store nearby.
SLOW DOWN
Take a short drive
south on State Route
20, and hike up Silver
Star Mountain. Stop
midway for views of
the Liberty Bell, an
iconic peak among
climbers. Feeling adventurous? Continue
upward and traverse
a glacier to reach the
8,876-foot summit.
KEEP IN MIND
Snow often shuts
down the access road,
typically between
December and April.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Steven Gnam

FOR DIRECTIONS,
RESOURCE INFORMATION,
AND DOWNLOADABLE
WALLPAPER IMAGES, VISIT
RUNNERSWORLD.COM/
RAVERUN.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 11

GET OUT HERE

IN NIKE FLASH PACK
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visibility in low light, letting you shine bright when you need to. The shoes water-resistant materials
help keep you dry, and the new vest blends lightweight, lofted insulation and perforated ventilation
to keep runners comfortable. So when it gets dark, cold, and nasty, get out in Nike Flash.

B R I A N N E TH E ISEN-EATON:
WO R LD C H A M P I O N S H IP S SILVER M ED AL IST, H EP TATHL ON

GEAR UP AT NIKE.COM/RUNNING

All finalists (except Andrew Peterson, inset) met in NYC for

a photo shoot in September, where they were joined by judges
Willey and Hamilton (standing, far left), Bart Yasso (behind
Roxie the dog), and NBCs Natalie Morales (print dress).

Both winners of the

RW Cover Search
will receive the
following prizes (as
though appearing
on our cover
werent enough):

Timepieces from
presenting sponsor
Tag-Heuer: the
Formula 1 Diamond
Chronograph for
Michelle (left) and
the Aquaracer
Chronograph
watch for Bobby

THERES A SIMPLE but powerful idea

behind the Runners World Cover
Search: Regular runners do amazing things every day. Beginning in
May, we set out to collect as many
of these inspiring storiesyour
storiesas possible, and share
them as widely as possible. With
requisite hyperbole, we called
for the most awesome runners
in America, those who have accomplished something remarkable, overcome unimaginable
odds, or given back in a significant way. We werent necessarily
looking for fast or ultrat runners,
although we certainly found
some. We were just looking to be
amazed. More than 1,600 runners
entered, and sharing and public
voting engaged a social-network
audience of 9.7 million people.
With social media in mind, we
asked all the entrants to hashtag
their running lives (one favorite:
#CancerShmancer from Michael
Cates, who battled lymphoma and
is now a Cancer to 5K coach).
After two months of painstaking debate, RWs Chief Running
Officer Bart Yasso, Executive
Editor Tish Hamilton, and I
narrowed the eld to 100 seminalists. In August, after focusing
even further on two dozen potential nalists, we gathered in our
New York City ofce with our fel-

14 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

low judgesNatalie Morales, an

avid runner and host of the Today
show, and Peter Ciaccia, president
of New York Road Runners and
race director of the NYC Marathonto interview them all via
Skype. In every conversation, we
shook our heads in amazement,
and shared laughs with the contenders, who proved optimism is
contagious, even from screen to
screen. But it was when Natalie
wiped tears from her eyes after
the very first interview that I
knew we were onto something.
We emerged with our nalists,
and thanks to support from sponsors Tag-Heuer and Asics, we ew
everyone to New York in September for a group photo shoot and
a couple days of getting to know
each other. What struck me most
was how the group personied
the same range and openness
that denes the runners world at
large, and how these extraordinary people connected with each
other and inspired one another.
There was ultrarunner (and world
record holder) Michael Wardian
long and lean and basically a pro
bonding on a four-mile morning
run along the Hudson River with
Michelle Hercules Walker, a new
runner who had never gone four
miles without walking. When Michelle fell behind, Michael Scott, a

...shoes and
apparel from
ofcial running
sponsor Asics

and a VIP
spectators
weekend at
the New York
City Marathon,
including
grandstand seats
along the fnish in
Central Park.

DAVID WILLEY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

@DWilleyRW

This month,
split covers
feature our two
Cover Search
winners,
Bobby Gill
and Michelle
Hercules
Walker. Photos
by Alexei Hay.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXEI HAY

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y A J M AS T ( P E T E R S O N ); CO U R T E SY O F TAG H E U E R ( WATC H E S ); M I TC H M A N D E L ( S H O E S ); U L I S E I T/ T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S / R E D U X ( N E W YO R K C I T Y M A R AT H O N )

STAR SEARCH

marathoner and coach, joined her.

You can do this, he said. Stay
with me. Well nish together.
And so they did.
On a run in Central Park that
same afternoon (yes, they ran
twice), Rahaf Khatib, a stay-athome mother of three who had
never broken ve hours in a marathon, was running with Wardian and Jorge Garcia, who owns a
3:09 PR. She was so determined
to stay with them, says Tish
Hamilton, who hung on as long
as she could but then watched the
trio get farther and farther away
on 8th Avenue. It was during
rush hour, so the sidewalks were
packed. They were running single le, hugging the curb, a hijabi Muslim woman keeping pace
with two pretty fast guys. It was
an awesome image.
The hardest part of being an
editor is deciding what to leave
out, and judging this Cover
Search was one of the toughest
editing jobs Ive ever undertaken. Ultimately we chose Walker
and Bobby Gill as the winners,
to appear on split front covers
(but all the nalists are featured
on the inside ap of the gatefold
cover). We hope that you are as
inspired by your fellow runners
as we are. Their stories begin on
page 61, and their video proles
are at runnersworld.com/cov
ersearchnalists. We plan to do
another Cover Search next year,
although it seems impossible that
it could be any better. But I guess
that part is up to you.

Some watches are made for everything.

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Your thing turns your insides into a knot as you wait
for the gun to go off. We get it. So we make Forerunner
watches with smart technology1 designed for runners.
Not watches designed for, well, everybody.
Find yours at Garmin.com/forerunner

Forerunner. For Runners.

When paired with compatible phone; see Garmin.com/ble

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When You

Run through the Theme Parks and straight into

a dream come true.
Sign up for an email reminder at runDisney.com to be
notified when events open for registration.

Every Mile Is Magic

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THE LOOP

THE INBOX

STEPHEN DETURK, CENTER VALLEY, PA

MAESTROS
Dave McGillivray
Race Director,
Boston Marathon

TIME OUT
I enjoyed the article Race
Naked (Training, October).
Ive used this technique during
marathons. I wasnt enjoying
races because I concentrated
too much on timed intervals.
When I focused on being the
best runner I could be without
technology, I had better results.

RUNNING
INVENTIONS WE
WISH EXISTED

Who would you rather

run with?

GURUS
Hal Higdon
Author of numerous
running books

INNOVATORS
Sally Bergesen
Founder and
CEO, Oiselle

ADVOCATES
Molly Barker
Founder, Girls
on the Run

A weather
machine that
always makes it
50 degrees and
overcast with a
light tailwind on
race days.
@AccidentIntent
A Star Trekstyle
med scanner to
diagnose injuries.
@SplatMan22
A truly comfortable way to carry
your phone.
@SQLTentMaker

JACKIE WINDSOR, LONDON, ON

CORRECTION: In The Loop (page

16, November), it was the
Philly-based group RUN215
(@RUN_215) that took over our
Instagram account, not RunPhilly.

Send comments to letters@runnersworld

.com. If your letter is published, youll
receive an RW T-shirt.
RUNNERS WORLD reserves the right to
edit readers submissions. All readers
submissions become the sole property of
RUNNERS WORLD and may be published in any
medium and for any use worldwide.

18 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

VISIONARIES
Nicolas Mermoud
Co-creator
of the Hoka One
One shoe

Everywhere! Dark
chocolate chips
include those
labeled both
semi-sweet and
bittersweet.

A long-sleeve
shirt that has
thumb holes and a
hole that Velcros/
fips up so you can
check your watch.
@rallyalirun
An air purifer for
when youre
running near cars.
ChellyxM

Windshield wipers for glasses.

@kowskey

vs.

63%

37%

Gisele

Tom Brady

Treadmill spittoon.
@ellyekay
A lightweight
mask for winter
running that heats
up the air before
you breath it in.
@ValisarVegan
Drones that
deliver me water
bottles while Im
out on a long run
by myself.
@SQLDBA
A sneaker odometer so I dont
have to track the
miles on my shoes
manually.
@GPescatore

vs.

54%

46%

Shalane
Flanagan

Meb
Kefezighi

vs.

61%

39%

Amy
Schumer

Mindy
Kaling

Based on 4,617 responses

to an online poll

THE TWEET

Something that
bottles up and
saves your ftness
while youre on an
unintentional or
intentional break.
@ErinStrout

Go to page 114 to read about a runner who

turns big ideas into reality.

EVER SIT IN A
MEETING, STARE
AT PERSON
TALKING, AND IDLY
DREAM ABOUT
NEXT SNACK?
#RUNNERPROB
@RWtish
RUNNERS WORLD E XECUTIVE EDITOR

ILLUSTRATION BY DAN WOODGER

S T E V E G R A N I T Z / W I R E I M AG E /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( S C H U M E R ) ; V I N C E N T S A N D OVA L / W I R E I M AG E /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( KA L I N G )

ELAINE VOLAN, SCARBOROUGH, ME

THE FACE OFF

A magic pop-up
toilet for urgent
calls.
@ElanSports

JOSHUA WOTEN, VIA EMAIL

MISSING INGREDIENT
I made your recipe for the
Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Balls
in the October issue (Meals
on the Run). The recipe calls
for dark chocolate mini chips.
But I couldnt fnd anybody who
carried them. Where do you
fnd them?

THE BIG IDEA

CO U R T E SY O F H O K A ( M E R M O U D); D O U G L AS J O H N S /G E T T Y I M AG E S (C H O CO L AT E C H I P ); C H U N G S U N G-J U N /G E T T Y I M AG E S (G I S E L E ) ; M A D D I E M E Y E R /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( B R A DY );

It speaks volumes that you left

Nick Symmonds of the list. We
fnally have an elite track-andfeld athlete who stands up to
the bureaucracy of USATF, and
the best he gets from RW is a
Social Star mention.

CHAMPIONS
Kara Goucher
Two-time
Olympian

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y G U I D O V I T T I (G O U C H E R ); P H OTO R U N ( M C G I L L I V R AY, F L A N AG A N , K E F L E Z I G H I ); C O U R T E SY O F CA M I L L E H I G D O N ( H I G D O N ) ; B R I A N AC H /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( B E R G E S E N ); C O U R T E S Y O F M O L LY BA R K E R ( BA R K E R );

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Where was Bart Yasso on The
50 Most Infuential People in
Running (October)? Youd be
hard-pressed to fnd a person
who inspires more runners than
he does, and his tips are valuable training tools. His reputation as the mayor of running
stands strong as ever.

Once the issue hit

newsstands, we
asked readers to
pick their favorite
runner from each
of the six categories in our 50 Most
Infuential list.
More than 20,000
votes were cast.
The results:

THE RESURRECTION

P H OTO G R A P H S C O U R T E SY O F J E A N N E E L L I S O N B I G G S

In our October story, Big Hair

Days on a Texas Track, we reported that one of the runners
on the 1964 cover of Sports
Illustrated was deceased. In
fact, Jeanne Ellison Biggs is 68
and very much alive in Granbury, Texas. She was gracious
enough to both forgive us
and talk to us about the club
and having her mom, Flamin
Mamie Margaret Ellison, as a
track coach.
First of, we are so sorry we
said you were dead.
I am defnitely not dead. I
checked all the obituaries.
How did the club start?
My sister and I got my mother
into this track thing when I was
11 and my sister was 16. Abilene,
Texas, used to have summer
track programs. My mother decided the coach was not paying
enough attention to the girls. So
she took us over.

What was she like as a coach?

A lot of girls didnt have money
to go on track trips. Mom would
make the team go out and
collect donations from companies. What we didnt collect she
would pay with her own money.
She didnt have any experience
coaching, so she got ideas from
coaches she knew. She ate,
breathed, and slept track.
Any favorite memories?
Every year, she would design
these fancy uniforms and she
had this sewing lady in Abilene
make red satin shorts and
things like that. She wanted us
to look nice.
What were your meets like?
Because we were all froufroued up, when we walked
onto the track, the other teams
would look at us like we were
trying to show of. The boys
loved us, but the girls were like,
They look good, but they cant
run. Then we would perform
well and show them up.

What do you remember from

the SI cover shoot?
They wanted us to put lip gloss
on. We didnt know what it was,
just that it was really cool.
What was life like after that?
The thing is, I dont remember
there being much of a reaction
to it. I was 16, and I dont know
if I ever mentioned it to anybody at school.
For the full story of the team, go
to runnersworld.com/sicover.

Nothing helps us get ready for the holidays like paper and paper-based packaging.
And thats just one way theyre important to our lives. Discover how paper and
packaging can make the most of your holidays and every day. HowLifeUnfolds.com
2015 Paper and Packaging Board. All Rights Reserved.

A COUPLE LOSES 4O7 POUNDS p26

SOLDIERING ON p30

HUMAN( )RACE
p32

NEWS, TRENDS, and REGULAR RUNNERS doing AMAZING THINGS

Lawrence did
some swims in
pools and tried to
choose routes that
were mostly flat.

WHAT IT TAKES TO...

EXECUTE
EPICNESS

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y J E S S A KA E P H OTO G R A P H Y/ W W W. J E S S A K A E .C O M

A triathlete completes
50 Ironmans in 50 states in
50 consecutive days.
But how?
James Lawrence had one crazy
summer. While you were training
for a marathon or running 5Ks, the
39-year-old triathlon coach and
personal trainer completed 50 backto-back Ironman-distance events
(2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2mile run) in every state. He began in
Hawaii on June 6 and completed the
feat in his home state of Utah on July
25. Along the way, Lawrence, who
set a Guinness World Record in 2012
by finishing 30 Ironman triathlons in
a single year (10 more than the previous record holder), raised $70,000plus for the Jamie Oliver Food

STATS

SWIM

121

miles

Foundation to help
fight childhood obesity. He traveled in an RV
with his wife, five kids
(ages 13 to 6), coach,
plus two wingmen
to help navigate and
drive. Heres how they
made it happen.

BIKE

5,619
miles

RUN

1,312
miles

POUNDS LOST

1. PLAN

This was three years

in the making. I bought
a huge map and put
it on the wall. I knew I
had to start in Hawaii,
Alaska, or Washington.
I used Map My Ride
and spent hundreds of
hours on Google Earth
to plan the routes.

ZERO

Thousands of people came out to congratulate Lawrence as he finished his final 26.2 in Utah.

DROP IN BODY FAT

7%
CALORIC
INTAKE PER DAY

8,500
HOURS SPENT
DRIVING

2. FINANCE

235

When I asked my wife,

Sunny, to go with me,
I was still in the middle
of my 2012 record
attempt. She was like,
Finish this one first!
The kids were like,
Game on.
5. RECRUIT

People in each state

volunteered. Local
ambassadors helped
plan routes and
arranged doctor visits.
I saw a chiropractor or
massage therapist
on weekends.

3. TRAIN

I hired coach David

Warden. We sat down
over breakfast two

years ago and wrote

down the plan. I needed to get stronger on
the bike. But we didnt
want to do high-volume
running because Id risk
injury. My peak week, I
ran just 36 miles.

SPOUSE OF
THE YEAR
Maintaining a
rigorous travel
schedule with
five kids in tow
is an extra challenge. My wife
is unbelievable,
Lawrence says.
Her focus was
to make sure
the kids were
happy. In each
state, the family
(left) traveled
to theme parks,
museums, landmarks, zoos,
or discovery
centers before
coming back so
eldest Lucy, 13,
could run a 5K
with her dad.

22 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

6. SWIM

Twenty swims were in

open water. But after
dealing with freezing
waters in Vermont
[state #35], I did the
rest in pools, where
the water temperature
could be controlled.
7. BIKE

In Tennessee [#18], I
fell asleep on my bike
and crashed 30 miles
into my ride. The bike
was always the longest
part of my day. Once
I made it through the
bike ride, I knew I could
handle the run.
8. RUN

There were times I

did 10 loops around

a parking lot to get

to 26.2 miles. I didnt
want to go one more
step than I had to. We
finished each run with
a 5K fundraiser race.
Local ambassadors
arranged it so runners
could join me for the
final 3.1. My 13-yearold daughter, Lucy,
did all 50 of the 5Ks
with me.
9. EAT

The hardest part

about mealtime was
staying awake. For
dinner, I ate sandwiches, chicken Alfredo, burritos, and kale
salads (below).
10. SLEEP

Getting four to five

hours of sleep a night
in an RV is not the best
way to recover from an
Ironman. Airbnb was a
sponsor and booked us
a home in every state,
but we usually drove
through the night.
So the homes were
places for the crew and
my family to prepare
meals, sleep, and do
laundry.
11. REJIGGER
My body had such a
difficult time on hills,
so we changed 90
percent of the courses.

Id find flat stretches

and say, This is where
Im going today. In
Texas [#12] and Louisiana [#13], we were
following Hurricane
Bill, so we had to move
indoors. We put my
bike on a trainer, and
people came to the
gym and ran on treadmills beside me.
12. FINISH
I was overwhelmed
with love and support
as I finished in my
home state of Utah.
The finish exceeded
my expectations. It
was electric. I highfived everyone coming
down the shoot,
hugged my wife and
kids, and took pictures
and signed autographs
until 11 p.m.
MEGAN DITROLIO

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y J E S S A KA E P H OTO G R A P H Y/ W W W. J E S S A K A E .C O M

There was a healthy

balance between sponsorship dollars and
money out of my own
pocket. Twenty-seven
companies helped
support me, including
my title sponsor, Young
Living Essential Oils.

4. PITCH THE FAMILY

Live healthier and achieve more.

Great things happen every step.
Microsoft Band is the perfect running partner. Whether
youre on the treadmill or the trail, you can track your
heart rate and calorie burn, map your route with GPS
and more. Plus, youre always connected to email,
calendars and texts.

#Zelle

WHERE WOMEN RUN ONLINE

BY KARA CUTRUZZULA

I LOVE MY RBF
And you should be proud of yours, too.
ho is that monster? This was
my first thought after glancing
at myself in a reflective wall
during a recent run. The monsters expression was classic
RBF. Youve likely heard of
Resting Bitch Face, a trending
Internet meme leveled primarilyand unfairlyat women
(men with this look are typically described as serious).
When literally at rest, whether standing in the Target checkout line or zoning
out during a meeting, RBF sufferers project a severe
look of: Dont even think about talking to me. The
phrase is pervasive; even the Oxford Dictionaries
added bitch face to their lexicon this year.

W
24

Thinking about my reflection, it

suddenly clicked. All those mornings when I tried to engage fellow
runners and no one responded?
It wasnt (entirely) because New
Yorkers are self-absorbed. They
simply couldnt interpret my
Running Bitch Face.
If faces are billboards displaying our emotions, mine was projecting: Id rather be anywhere
but here. This puzzled me. I love
everything about runningfrom
the thwack of my shoes on the
pavement to the way it always
generates ideas and midrun
cravings for coconut water. If I
feel like the gatekeeper to Cloud
Nine when I run, why do I look
like the Crypt Keeper? And am
I the only one?
During my next race, I conducted an experiment. While in

FOR MORE STORIES BY AND ABOUT WOMEN RUNNERS, VISIT

RUNNERSWORLD.COM/ZELLE.

the corral, I sized up my fellow

runners. Nice-looking bunch.
Determined? Of course. But most
people were relaxed and smiling
like theyd picked up a chill pill
with their bibs. Then the starting
gun went off.
And the masks went on.
My fellow runners transformed
into an RBF army. All of them
from the salt-and-pepper-haired
guy in a baggy old marathon shirt
to the ponytailed millennial with
calves that could crack walnuts
were fixed with looks that were
equal parts fear me and finish line or bust. Of course, I was
wearing one of those looks, too.
I caught it in my iPhones reflection when desperately trying to
skip the sleepy acoustic song that
infiltrated my #gains playlist.
Like those around me, my
own mask was a mix of grit and
guts, stubbornness and spirit.
Sure, its even a little scary. But
I was joyous on the inside. Invigorated, triumphant, and yes,
perhaps at times hanging by the
thinnest of threads. Maybe thats
just the look I need to propel my
body from the starting line to
the finish line, to help me forget
blisters and bunions.
I get it now. For runners
women and menthe RBF signals a surrender to the rhythms
of running. We might be grinding
the pavement while our minds
run through grocery lists (cookie
batter, kale) or existential crises
(meaning of life, kale). Were
avoiding sidewalk divots and
tuning into that little twinge.
Were summoning every last
drop of energy and are way too
busy to care whether were grinning like a dope or looking ridiculously photogenic. So what if we
look like monsters? We should.
Were scary strong.
Writer Kara Cutruzzula planned to run her
second New York City Marathon this fall.

ILLUSTRATION BY ZOHAR LAZAR

LEAN ON ME
IN GOOD TIMES

WE R AN
IT OFF!

POWER
COUPLE
A husband and wife lose a
combined 407 pounds.

ANGELA AND WILLIE GILLIS

BEFORE 340 LB., 492 LB.
TODAY 160 LB., 265 LB.

Going to
the gym was
easier than
changing our
diet, because
we went together and
we could
watch TV,
Willie says.

AND IN BAD

Our first fight

was over the
diet, Angela
says. I wanted
BBQ and Willie
said, No.

bad day, he
would get
me to go on a
run instead of
making a bad
food choice.
AND IN HEALTH

IN SICKNESS

Im an emotional eater,
Angela says.
If I had a

We switched
to a vegetarian
diet, and cook
for each other, Willie says.

On the eve of their one-year

wedding anniversary, in December 2010, Willie and Angela
Gillis of Beaumont, Texas, made
a vow to get healthy. They needed to: At their heaviest, Angela
weighed 340 pounds and Willie
hit 492 pounds.
They began by tracking their
food and walking on treadmills at
a gym. As the pounds dropped,
Angela, a 34-year-old business
manager, picked up the pace;
Willie, a 35-year-old warehouse
clerk, continued walking by her
side. In late 2011, Angela made
an impromptu decision to run a
half marathon. It took me 2 hours
and 55 minutes, but I did it, she
says. I joined a running club and
convinced Willie to join me.
In 2013, the couple headed
to Memphis, where Willie was
to run his first half while Angela
would do her first marathon. A
winter storm forced both events
to be canceled. I cried, Angela
says. We had trained so hard. On
race morning, I said, Willie, we
still have to run. Battling freezing
temps, Willie ran his 13.1 and then
drove behind Angela as she finished her 26.2. I just wanted her
to have her glory, he says. The
run itself was our medal.
Now, five years after their
get-healthy pact, Willie has
run two marathons and 20 half
marathons. Angela, who aims to
run a marathon in every state, has
knocked 11 off so far. When we
were heavy, we never wanted to
try or risk anything, she says. We
are capable of more than we ever
thought we were. ALI NOLAN

26 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH WILSON

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Road Scholar
BY PETER SAGAL

HIGHER TIMES
Ultrarunners use marijuana to train with? Dude, really?

have an odd request, I said. Im hoping to write a magazine article

The saleswoman behind the counter cut me off. Say no more. I know
exactly what you need. Sativa. Helps you get into deep focus, really get
in touch with your innermost thoughts. Sounds great, I said. But
thats not why I want to buy pot. I had found out about runners using
marijuana as a performance-enhancing drug through that underground
hot-sheet of the counterculture, The Wall Street Journal. All the runners
quoted, by name and anonymously, were ultrarunners and talked about the
particular value of pot to someone who routinely runs 150 miles a week.
In the story, ultramarathoner Jenn Shelton said marijuana helps runners
managepain, not puke, and stay calm. Im no ultrarunner, but I was
still surprised: I cant run at all with even a little alcohol in my system, as
the dizziness and nausea overwhelm me. Hell, Ive had to cancel runs because I took
too much Benadryl the night before. As for pot, like most people of my generation,
Ive tried it, and even enjoyed it. But Ive never tried to do anything while under its
influence more complicated than making microwave popcorn (which under those
circumstances is delicious). But put aside the question of whether pot helps a runnerI couldnt imagine successfully putting one foot in front of another while under
the influence. How in the world could it work? A trip to Washington State, where
recreational marijuana sales and use are now legal, gave me the opportunity to find
out. I had once visited a medical marijuana clinic in California for a documentary,
and that was all blond wood and soft lighting, with clerks trained to talk and act like
pharmacists. Uncle Ikes Pot Shop in Seattle, though, is a place out of Tommy Chongs
wildest daydreams. Its decorated like your stoner brothers basement bedroom, with
psychedelia and posters for pot-scare movies like Reefer Madness, and has a cheerful,
happy staff that really knows their product. Imagine a liquor store staffed by a bunch
of really enthusiastic alcoholicsAh, looking to get drunk while staring at photos
28 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

of your ex? Id recommend vodka!

Once I had sorted out with the staff
what I was there for and what I could
do (quote people by name) and not
do (ask about the medical effects of
pot, as it was not a dispensary), I got
passed to salesman Jason Snell, who
in his Seattle Seahawks regalia looked
even younger than his 22 years, like a
high school kid dressed up for his first
NFL game. Snellwho was urged to
get into the pro pot trade by his grandmother, who knew it to be a passion of
hislistened patiently as I explained
that I desired a good kind of pot
to run on (with?). He then launched
into a disquisition on cannabinoids
and terpene and CBD and, when
all was said (by Jason) and done (by
me), had me walking out with a pipe
and a vial of a super uplifting strain
called, charmingly, Green Crack.
It was indeed a sativa strain, as the
first saleswoman had predicted. Jason
told me that it was better for mental
focus and physical activity than indica
strains, which create more of a body
high. I assume he meant that with
indica, Id end up sitting by the side
of the road, asking myself if Id ever
lookedI mean really lookedat my
own feet. Oh, and before I left, I posed
for a photo with Snell. Turns out, his
grandmother is a big fan of mine.
The grand experiment took place
two days later. According to the Journal, marijuana is used primarily by
long-distance trail runners, but the
last thing I wanted to do was to toke
up and head off into strange woods.
Instead, I wanted a short, closed loop
so I couldnt get lost and could easily
walk back to my starting place if the
run went as badly as I feared. The obvious choice was the path at Capitol
Lake Park in Olympia, a 1.5-mile loop
at the base of the state capitolseeing
as it was the vision of the legislature
that had made the experiment possible, it seemed an appropriate spot.
My designated driver was my friend
Bob Haft, a professor at nearby Evergreen State College. Sitting on the
ILLUSTRATION BY WARD SUTTON

porch at his house, I lit up my new pipe

and took a few deep drags of Green
Crack. (Runners who arent into smoking reportedly prefer edibles such
as pot-infused brownies, but I was
warned that their effects were harder
to predict.) Within minutes, certain
parts of my brain lit up; other parts
shut down. A short but interesting car
ride later, we were at the park.
Almost the instant I started off on
the path around the lake, I was approached by a man coming the other
way with no shirt and flaming red
hair and a beard screaming and shouting, I AM SATAN! I AM SATAN! We
passed each other without additional
comment, though I did give him a polite nod, thinking, Man, I hope other
people can see that guy
I didnt feel dulled or fuzzy-headed;
I felt, as promised, as if my focus had
deepened. I was thinking really, really vividly. The problem
was my vivid thoughts
were hard to hold onto
for more than a second.
I felt like my brain was a
gerbil on a treadmill that
wouldnt stand still.
The main surprise of
the run was that it happened at all. Despite my
altered state, I was perfectly capable
of running at a relaxed pace, around
8:30 per mile. This was amazing to
me, or would have been if I could have
focused on the fact for longer than
a few seconds. In any event, I kept
moving forwardwell, except for the
times I lost concentration and walked,
but if you want to know the truth, I
do that when Im perfectly sober, too.
The main disappointment was
that although I was still running,
the running was still taking an effort. The hope that I would suddenly
feel weightless, or fall into an effortless state of nirvana-like ease, ended
quickly. After a single 1.5-mile lap, I
felt as if I had run 1.5 miles and was
not particularly looking forward to the
second lapsame as always. I passed
Bob, who assured me he had seen Satan as well, and started off on lap 2.
And so it went. Even though I was
perfectly aware of where I was, what
I was doing, and how far I had to go, I
was at the same time distant from it.
I couldnt focus for more than a few
seconds on the effort of my run. Weve
all experienced that terrible tunnel
vision during a hard run, where we
say to ourselves, Just to that tree,

and then after the tree, Just to that

street light, to get ourselves step by
step out of the valley of despair. Not
being able to focus on anything for
more than a second was a dragbut
not being able to focus on how far I
had gone, and how far I had to go, was
just as much a blessing.
For example, as I finished my second lap, I decided to tack on a little
distance, the steep hill up from the
lake to the steps of the capitol. Its
a series of 15 switchbacks, each at a
decent grade, and had I been sober I
would have been counting each back
and forth across the hill, with one
mental column for switchbacks done
and another for switchbacks left to
go. But on this day I wasnt capable
of providing that much context. I was
running up a hill. I wasnt certain exactly how long Id been doing it, and
I couldnt tell you how much longer
I had to go, but I knew at
that moment my job was to
run up a hill, and that was a
fine thing to do. Then I got
to the top and said Oh and
decided itd be really fine to
run down and back to Bob.
All through the run my
pace was a good deal slower
than it usually is, so I cant
recommend using pot to win a race.
(It might make losing more pleasant,
though.) But at the same time, much
as pot can make microwave popcorn a
feast for the senses, it turned a pretty
dull run around an urban pond into
something of an adventure. If I were
facing a very long run on my own,
alone with my thoughts, it might be a
fine way to make those thoughts more
interesting to be with.
Funny thingas I finished the final
lap, I kept looking for Bob, and started to anxiously wonder if something
had happened to him, or if he had left
without me, or maybe he was following me, or maybe I was following him,
and if two people are running the
same circle at the same time, whos
following who anyway, and if he were
running 10 feet ahead of me, couldnt
you say he was actually following me,
but like a mile and half behind, and
Turns out he was right where I had
left him, but I had lost track of where
that was. Who said you cant get lost
on a closed loop?

SEE DAVID
WITHOUT
SUPPORT.

The hope I would

feel weightless,
or fall into a state
of nirvana-like
ease, ended fast.

Peter Sagal is a 3:09 marathoner and the host of

NPRs Wait, Wait...Dont Tell Me! For more, go to
runnersworld.com/scholar.

Endurance Engineered.
cw-x.com

R
G O YO U !
Runners who inspire us
RUNNER BY THE NUMBERS
ALISSA
ST LAURENT

SID BUSCH

Beat all the women

AND men in an ultra

69, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

TOTAL NUMBER OF MARATHONS COMPLETED IN HIS LIFETIME (SO FAR)

4:50

Miles he
estimates
he ran in place
aboard a submarine while training
for the 1988 NYC
Marathon. If I
wanted to get hill
training in, I would
get my fellow
crewmen to put
an angle on the
sub so I could be
running uphill.

Fastest Walt Disney

World Marathon
(2001)

7:23
SLOWEST DISNEY
MARATHONRUN
THE DAY AFTER THE
DISNEY HALF (2015)

fifty 20,000
Fallen soldiers
hes honored
by running with
their photograph

Leagues Under the Seathe Disney movie that

inspired Busch to become a submariner

30 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

26
YEARS SERVED
IN THE U.S. NAVY

22

Mile where
he broke his
ankle in the
1985 Chicago
Marathon. I
screamed and
limp-hopped
until it loosened up. With
four miles to
go, there was
no way I was
dropping out.

RYAN
TARAPCHACK
Young man with
a big heart

When 11-year-old Tarapchack

learned that his friends 7-yearold sister, Isabella OBrien, had
a rare form of cancer, he knew
he wanted to help. I was afraid
because she is really little, says
Tarapchack, who lives in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. I have a
little sister, too, and I would be
nervous if she got cancer. I know
it costs a lot of money. With his
familys help, Tarapchack set
a goal of completing a 30-day
running streak to raise $10,000
for Isabella. He exceeded his
goal, raising more than $16,000
and averaging five miles a day.
For a kid to do something like
this so selflessly, his parents
should be very proud of him,
says Isabellas dad, Scott, who
added that his daughters tumor
is shrinking. M.H.

D E A P I C T U R E L I B R A R Y/ D E AG O S T I N I /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( S U B M A R I N E ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F S T E V E BA K E R ( S T. L AU R E N T )

MARATHONS BUSCH
HAS RUN HOLDING A
3-FOOT BY 5-FOOT
AMERICAN FLAG THAT
WEIGHS 4 POUNDS.
IT GETS HEAVIER
AROUND MILE 20.

ONE
HUNDRED

St Laurent, 31, was the first

runner to finish the 77.6-mile
Canadian Death Race ultramarathon in Grande Cache,
Alberta (13:51). Its the first time
a female has won the event in
its 15-year history. And she did
it just three weeks after placing
secondand setting a female recordat the Sinister 7 100-miler
in Alberta. Early on, one of the
male runners asked me, Are
you planning to keep this pace
all day? I think he doubted me,
says the assistant controller
from Edmonton. I said, Yep!
I didnt believe it myself, but I
said it anyway. MEGAN HETZEL

CO U R T E SY O F S I D B U S C H ( B U S C H S A L U T I N G ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F M A R AT H O N F OTO ( B U S C H W I T H F L AG ); C L I V E C H A M P I O N /C H A M P I O N P H OTO G R A P H Y LT D./G E T T Y I M AG E S ( WAT E R );

For the past 13 years, Retired Senior Navy Chief Sid Busch has been running marathons
to memorialize fallen soldiers. He carries an American flag and pins a photograph of the
honoree to his shirt. Afterward, he sends his race medal to the soldiers family. When I
first started, I would choose a name from the list of casualties, he says. But word got
out, and now I get emails from parents asking me to run for their son or daughter. This
January, Busch plans to run his 22nd Walt Disney World Marathon. ALI NOLAN

SEE DAVID
WITH CW-XS
SUPPORT WEB

TM

ASK MILES
Hes been around the block a few times
and hes got answers.

I ran a PR in a half
marathon, but the
course was a half
mile short. I feel a
little guilty being
congratulated.
Shannon G., Aurora, IL

My running partners are slower

than me. Is there a polite way to
start with them, then pull away?
Margaret B., West New York, NJ

No, there isnt. Now that weve got that out

of the way, your question makes me wonder
how you wound up with this problem. I reckon
there are three possibilities: One, youve gotten
faster over time. Two, your partners have gotten
slower. Or three, youve always been faster than
them. If its number three, you guys were mismatched to begin with. If its one or two, well,
people change. Maybe its time to find some
pace-appropriate partners for your harder runs,
or do those workouts solo and run with your
current buddies on your recovery days. Either
way, the polite thing is to discuss this with them.
Not to simply leave them in the dust.

MILE S AS

Good news! You can

stop feeling guilty
because you didnt
PR. Neither did
anyone else at that
race. Setting a personal record in a half
marathon requires
running 13.1 miles
faster than you ever
have before. A race
that isnt at least 13.1
miles long isnt a half
marathon. You can
be upset with the
race director about
this snafu. But dont
dwell on it. Channel
your energy into
training for another
halfone with a
solid reputation and
a USATF-certified
courseso you can
clock a bona fide PR.
Have a question for Miles?
Email askmiles@
runnersworld.com and
follow @askmiles on Twitter.

KS Shorts over tightssometimes, always, never?

Sometimes. It can get cold out there. @bendorfman
Nope. NopeNopeNope! @MonkeyCW
I always wear shorts over my tights for modesty and
warmth. My answer is a passionate yes. @soccerlube
Always, but Im a...whats the word...Clydesdale.
@jaredwill

Endurance Engineered.
cw-x.com
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANDY REMENTER

Rubinson is featured in
this issues HR logo.

RUNNINGD
FOR GOO

GET ON TRACK
Forget the mall. A marathoner offers a better
post-Thanksgiving activity.

32 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

JOIN THE
MOVEMENT
1 / SET YOUR
GOAL You

can run or
walk as far as
you want, as
fast as you
want. Aim
to raise any
dollar amount
you want.
2 / SUPPORT
YOUR CAUSE

Visit our
website
(trackfriday
.org). Create
a fundraiser
for your
cause or
support a
cause already
there.
3 / SPREAD
THE WORD

Use social
media and
email to tell
the world
what youre
up to. Looking for a
crowd? Use
our map to
find Track
Friday meetups, or start
your own
meet-up.
Encourage
everyone at
your Thanksgiving table
to join you.
4 / SHOW UP

Dont have
access to a
track? Do
it on a park
path or in
your neighborhood.

Track Friday meetups have occurred in

California, Florida,
Illinois, New Jersey
(right), New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and Texas.

PHOTOGRAPH BY NATHAN PERKEL

P H OTO G R A P H C O U R T E SY O F BA BY B U D D H A P H OTO G R A P H Y (G R O U P O F R U N N E R S )

While bargain
hunters run laps
around big-box stores
on Black Friday, razing
shelves to find the
best deals of the year,
Eric Rubinson will
run laps on a track,
raising money for
charity. Track Friday is Rubinsons
antidote to the
annual shopping frenzy that
occurs the day after
Thanksgiving.
Rubinson, 39,
conceived the idea
after Hurricane Sandy
devastated coastal
areas near his home in
Middletown, New Jersey, in 2012. Interested
in supporting relief
efforts, Rubinson, a
55-time marathoner,
committed to running
his next 26.2-miler
around a local track
while raising money
for a food bank. He
picked the day after
Thanksgiving, not just
for the perfect pun,
but because he knew
all his friends and
family would be home
to provide support.
As people donated
money, some offered
to pace him for a few
laps or even fundraise
for their own causes.
The pile-on started,
and we had more

than 50 people who

raised over $22,000,
says Rubinson, who
works as a director
at a pharmaceutical
company.
Rubinsons concept
is simple: Pick a distance, choose a charity, fundraise, then go
run or walk around
a track. Track Friday
has no fundraising or
distance minimums,
no designated charity,
and no registration.
Doing a charity
marathon can be intimidating, Rubinson
says, whether it be
the distance or the
thousands of dollars
each participant has
to raise. What if I
want to raise 50
bucks for my
cause and ask
a few friends
to join me?
Since
2012, participants of
Track Friday
have raised
more than
$60,000 for 50
charities. Rubinson
wants to encourage
people to make a trip
to the track their new
holiday tradition
something families
do after breaking the
wishbone and before
scouring stores. Its
a way to see your
friends, feel less
bloated, and do good
things. KIT FOX

SEE DAVID
READY TO RUN
A PR.

THE INTERSECTION
Where running and culture collide

Dead Butt
Syndrome?
Not on Michelles
watch. The White
House requests up
to $700,000 to
buy standing
desks for
staffers.

STOP!
A L A M Y (CA M E L ) ; S AU L LO E B/A F P/G E T T Y I M AG E S (O BA M A ); J U D I T H CO L L I N S /A L A M Y ( H A N D C U F F S )

C O U R T E S Y O F P U R E B LO N D E ( B E E R ) ; G I S E L A S C H O B E R /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( B O LT ); R O N A DA R / W I R E I M AG E /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( L E E ) ; M I C H A E L T U L L B E R G /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( J O N E S ); G R A N T L A M O S I V/G E T T Y I M AG E S ( D R A K E ); S V E T L A N A F O OT E /

One of Oscar
Pistoriouss
jailmates gets
busted for
planning a prison
break. Guards find
a gun, a guards
uniform, and a jail
blueprint hidden
inside a prison
treadmill.

A Fitbit ad ends
on a heartfelt note
with Dick and Rick
Hoyt, legendary
father-son
marathoning duo.

Triathlete
and NASCAR
driver Jimmie
Johnson helps
a 25-year-old
with cerebral
palsy finish a
sprint triathlon.

Orphan Blacks
Tatiana Maslany
is in talks to star in
Stronger, the story
of Boston bombing
survivor Jeff
Bauman. Maslany is
expected to portray
marathoner Erin
Hurley Bauman.

Marathon newbie
Ethan Hawke
respects the
distance, saying
hes daunted and
terrified about
taking on the
New York City
Marathon.

GO!

CO U R T E SY O F F I T B I T ( F I T B I T A D); C H R I S G R AY T H E N / N AS CA R V I A G E T T Y I M AG E S ( J O H N S O N ); C I N DY O R D/G E T T Y I M AG E S ( H AW K E ); JAS O N L AV E R I S / F I L M M AG I C/G E T T Y I M AG E S ( M AS L A N Y ); C O U R T E SY O F N I K E ( N I K E V I D E O);

MOMENTOUS

Olympians Galen
Rupp and Ashton
Eaton (right) are
among the former
University of
Oregon athletes
featured in a Nike
video parodying
Animal House.

At Dubais
first Camel
Marathon,
owners will race
camels 50K
across the desert
to win luxury
vehicles and
cash prizes.

After Drake is
blamed for jinxing
Serena Williams,
Lolo Jones tweets
the singer, Im
here for you
boo. My season
is already in the
crapper, so no one
will blame you.

Unsure why Spike

Lee is named
grand marshal
of the NYC
Marathon? So is
he. The most Ive
run is, like, four
miles, and that
wasnt recent
either. I once
tore my patellar
tendon jumping
up and down at a
Knicks game.

Lederhosenclad Usain Bolt

celebrates
Oktoberfest
in Munich...
Aussie beer
company Pure
Blonde offers
a free six-pack
to anyone who
submits GPS
data for a
6K run.

Endurance Pro Tights

...and three days later, struggles to

beat an 8-year-old boy in a footrace
on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

FRIVOLOUS

Endurance Engineered.
cw-x.com

S M A R T ,
F O R

S T Y L I S H
N E W
A

S M A R T W A T C H

P E O P L E .

G E T H U A W E I . C O M / W A T C H

R E D E F I N E D
S M A R T ,

2015 Huawei Device USA, Inc. Huawei is a trademark of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Android Wear is a trademark of Google Inc. Other company and product names mentioned may
be trademarks of their respective owners. Screen images simulated. Actual appearances may vary.

S T Y L I S H

36 44 52 56
TRAINING

FUEL

MIND+BODY

GEAR

PERSONAL BEST
GET FIT, EAT SMART, RUN STRONG

Two beams
illuminate the
path at your feet
while a spotlight
shines ahead.

HALO, GOOD TO SEE YOU

Once darkness encroaches on winter workouts, runners reach for protection
against not only the elements but also motorists. According to a Runners
World feld test, strapping on a headlamp will help you see and be seen from as
far away as a half mile. The running-specifc headlamp shown herethe Halo
Fire from Nathan Sportshas three LEDs with four beam strengths ranging
from low (25 lumens) to sprint (288), as well as a warning strobe light (100)
that can be set to react to oncoming headlights. The beam strength can be
changed by waving a hand over a sensor on the front of the headlamp, which
has a refective strap. For more refective gear, see page 56.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MITCH MANDEL

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 35

TRAINING

of shopping, parties, and

cookies, even Runners World editors
can sufer from low motivation (or lack
of time, or both!). To combat the urge
to shelve running until after Auld Lang
Syne, senior editor Meghan Kita and
a friend devised the Runners World
Holiday Run Streak in 2011, and its become an annual event. The streak has
just one rule: Log at least one mile per
day between Thanksgiving and New

IN THE SEASON

RUN, RUN,
REPEAT
Stay motivated with one mile
a day during our Holiday Streak.
By Cindy Kuzma
36 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

Years Day. (Optional, but encouraged,

is use of the #RWRunStreak hashtag.)
The list of reasons to streak is
nearly as long as a 6-year-olds letter
to Santa. For one thing, consistency
improves endurance, efficiency, and
speed. Steady mileage can also ease
stress and burn off holiday treats, or
help you avoid overindulging entirely.
Theres something about keeping a
promise to yourself that can translate
ILLUSTRATION BY RAMI NIEMI

other events interfere. Keep

running clothes and shoes
with you at all times. If
youre traveling, stash them
in your carry-on rather
than checking them. Think
creativelylong airport
terminals and treadmills are
your friends, Spafford says.

Brag on social media

with #RWRunStreak
to keep yourself
accountable.
to other parts of life, says
Shannon McGinn, a fouryear streaker and coach
at Creating Momentum in
Woodbridge, New Jersey.
Above all, having a goal
makes good habits stickier.
Streaks can provide motivation when you just dont
have any, says Jeff Knight,
clinical exercise physiologist for Under Armour
Connected Fitness. Heres
how to streak smartly.
START HEALTHY

Anyone who wants to

streak can try it, provided
the timing is right, McGinn
says. Before attempting
the streak, you should have
three months of consistent
running under your belt (at
least three days per week)
and the ability to run four
miles without stopping. And
dont kick off a streak while
fighting aches and pains. If
youre currently or recently
injured or are brand new
to running, try a modified
version (see Consider the
Alternatives, below).
SLOW DOWN

P H OTO G R A P H CO U R T E S Y O F S P O R T P H OTO ( F R I E L )

Runners like McGinn

and Derrick Spafford, a

Consider the
Alternatives
If you cant (or
dont want to) run
every day, try a
modified streak.

Canadian ultrarunner and

coach whos run every day
for nearly 26 years, sustain
streaks by keeping most
runs at an easy pace to
prevent burnout and injury.
Speedwork and tempo runs
arent off-limitsjust take
an easy day before and
after hard efforts.
The other secret: Do just
the bare minimum when
necessary. If you planned to
log five miles but feel extra
sluggish or sore, start with
just a mile and see how it
goes. If you still feel like
crap, limit it to that short
and easy run, Spafford
says. Odds are, youll feel
better the next day.
COMMUNICATE

If you sneak out each day

for your run, your friends
and family might label you
selfish. But fill them in on
your quest, and suddenly
you have a cheering squad
instead. People start
rallying behind you, Knight
says. Theyll ask, Oh, did
you get your run in today?
PLAN FOR SUCCESS...

Run first thing in the

morning if you can, before

GO FOR MILES
Aim to log a
cumulative 37
milesthe equivalent to running
one mile per
daybetween
Thanksgiving and
New Years.

LOG YOUR MILES WITH THE NEW RW GO APP,

NOW AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON APPLE DEVICES.

...AND FOR FAILURE

One big risk of the streak:

Breaking it can zap your
motivation. To prevent this,
plot out a future goal, such
as completing your first
10K or running a faster half
marathon next year, Knight
says. If you miss a day, restart the next day, remembering that an imperfect
streak will get you closer to
your long-term targets than
no running at all.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Running every day may pose

an injury risk. Reduce it by
varying your surfaces
logging some miles on softer trails or the treadmill will
reduce the impact on your
muscles and joints, Spafford
says. And make sure to build
in time for maintenance in
the form of dynamic warmups, postrun stretching, and
foam rolling.
Doing a short run with
sore muscles likely wont
cause long-term damage.
But if you feel localized pain
that worsens or alters your
gait, you may need to stop
your streak to prevent an
injury requiring more time
off later, McGinn says.

DO AN EXERCISE
STREAK
Clock 15 minutes
of any type of cardio activity each
daycycling,
swimming, dancing at a holiday
partyto build
fitness with less
impact.

GET STRONG
Try a strengthmove streak by
doing a minutelong plank, 25
pushups, or 25
squats every day.

FOLLOW THE
LEADER
Advice from
the worlds best
runners
MOLLY FRIEL, 48,
of Fresno, California,
tops her age group
in the U.S., with a
2:41:30 Olympic
Trials qualifier and
lifetime best at the
California International Marathon.

STAY ON TRACK
Stick to the training
plan, because the
most important runs
are those you want
to do the least. That
consistency is what
will get you through
the final miles of your
next race.
STAY STRONG
My big strength exercise is pushups, 25
to 30 every day, because if you can keep
your arms moving,
your legs will keep
moving. I also count
them as planks, so
its multitasking.
THE WORKOUT
On 90-minute easy
runs, I do the last five
to 10 minutes at 5K
goal pace. The idea
is to run hard on tired
legs; the last 10K at
Cal International was
my 10K PR.
BOB COOPER
DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 37

TRAINING

You Asked Me
Jeff answers
your questions.
How can I stay interested in running once
my speediest days
are behind me?
Its possible to change
your priorities
instead of prizing
competition, celebrate
the beauty of running
as the sun rises or
sets, or the sense of
victory from conquering a hilly route.
What goals can I set
for myself that dont
involve fast finishes?

TAKE WALK BREAKS

Doing a mixture of running
and walking gives me control over how I feel on a run
and how quickly I recover. If
I start to experience aches
or fatigue, I can adjust
the amount of running
and walking to heal while
I continue my daily runs.
Run-walking in races helps
me bounce back quickly.

BE OPEN TO CHANGE
Runners are stubborn,
especially those whove
been at it for years. Many
hesitate to slow down, add
walk breaks, or run fewer
days, even as they stop enjoying their runs (and start
getting injured). But change
is goodthe right strategy
can allow mature runners to
feel good on every run.

HEALTHY, HAPPY RUNNING

My best advice for staying injury-free forever

38

SHORTEN YOUR STRIDE

Taking short steps and
keeping your feet close to
the ground reduces stress
on your feet, legs, joints,
muscles, and tendons. A
short stride, when paired
with walk breaks, can keep
your legs feeling fresh and
strong even as your body
loses flexibility and muscle
mass as you age.

JOIN OUR ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BEGINNERS AT

RUNNERSWORLD.COM/THESTARTINGLINE.

Fact or Fiction
The more years
you run, the
more likely
you are to get
injured.
FICTION
Research shows that
aging runners have
healthier bones and
joints than their nonrunning peers. By taking the right measures
and listening to your
body, you can run until
youre 100.
ILLUSTRATION BY MARK MATCHO

P H OTO G R A P H B Y T M _ D E S I G N /A L A M Y ( BA L LO O N )

On July 12, I ran the Missoula Marathon, my 200th

26.2, to celebrate turning 70. I competed in the 1972
Olympics in the 10,000 meters, and as I trained to remain a top athlete, I had an Achilles problem in 1977. Then I
had an epiphany: I wanted to enjoy every run, pain-free, for the
rest of my life. I have run almost every day since 1978 without
one injury. Heres how Im doing thatand how you can, too.

RACE YOUR WAY FIT

I stopped doing speedwork
in 1978if I wanted to run
fast, Id enter a 5K. I also
started to look at marathons as long training runs
rather than races, and two
years later, I ran my PR
(2:16). Races offer a sense
of community and a mental
boost that helps you run
faster with less effort.

Every runner can find

challenges that arent
tied to time: going longer each month, racing in every state, and
so on. Determine what
about running makes
you happiestbeing
with other runners?
exploring new places?
the solitude?and
choose a goal that
involves doing more of
the running you love.

TRAINING

HEAVY METTLE
Lift to fatigue after hard runs for big rewards.
According to purists, the best supplementary
workout for runners is more running. Theres
some truth to this, but many top athletes also
strength-train. By working weak muscles and correcting
imbalances, these runners hope to reduce their injury
risk, which will allow them to run even more. More subtly,
strength-training boosts running economy, allowing you
to hold the same pace while burning less oxygen. And all
of this becomes even more important once you reach your
mid-30s and start fighting age-related muscle loss.
The challenge is that endurance and strength-training
place competing demands on your body. To get the most
out of your strength sessions without compromising your
running, keep the following guidelines in mind.

Do as many reps
as you can with
good formwhich
may not be many
after speedwork.

40

FOR MORE FROM ALEX, VISIT

RUNNERSWORLD.COM/SWEATSCIENCE.

WHAT TO LIFT

Recent studies
have shown that
tiny dumbbells,
big barbells, or
body-weight
exercises can
produce similar
gains as long as
you lift to momentary failure,
the point at
which you cant
complete another rep with
perfect form.
Include two or
three exercises
each for the
upper and lower
body, plus some
that target core
and hip strength;
aim for three sets
of each exercise,
twice a week.
To optimize
running economy, focus on
lower-body exercises that recruit
large amounts
of muscle all
at once, like
weighted lunges
and squats. Or,
include explosive plyometric
exercises like
two-legged
and one-legged
jumps, and
eventually drop
jumps, which
involve stepping
off a low box or
step and then
jumping as high
as you can as
soon as you land.

WHEN TO LIFT

HOW TO RECOVER

Runners should
generally run
before lifting
weights, because
trying to run
after can change
your mechanics,
potentially ingraining bad habits. Lift weights
either immediately after a
hard workout or
later the same
day. That makes
your hard days
extra-hard but
ensures that you
can recover on
easy days.
You dont have
to lift hard all
year long. Studies have found
that a six-week
block of focused
strength-training
during a race
buildup is sufficient to boost
performance. Its
still good to keep
up a low-key
maintenance program throughout
the year, but
you can reserve
lifting to failure
to coincide
with preparing
for goal races.
Scale back your
lifting two weeks
before race day,
and dont lift at
all during the
last week to
recover without
detraining.

A hard run plus a

strength session
might leave you
jelly-legged the
next day. Make
sure that youre
getting enough
protein to help
your muscles
repairnot just
right after the
workouts, but
throughout the
day. Aim for four
to five doses of
about 20 grams
of protein (e.g.,
two eggs and
a cup of milk),
including one
just before bed.
To deal with
next-day soreness, you can try
aids like ice baths
and compression
garments, but its
far better to prevent soreness by
progressing your
strength routine
slowly. If you
havent been lifting weights, take
a six-week block
to build up to
lifting to failure.
Be similarly cautious when trying
new exercises.
You should be
tired when you
wake up the
day after an
interval-weights
doublebut if
you cant get out
of bed, youre not
getting faster.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANAS & DAX

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RUN HAPPY

Adrenaline GTS 16

TRAINING
YOU JUST RAN
A GOAL RACE
RACE PREP

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Make time for a festive 5K.
By Caitlin Carlson

FROM TURKEY TROTS to Resolution Runs, its a hopping time

of year for short, family-friendly races. These fun runs

offer a healthy way to bond with visiting relatives, to
stay motivated after your goal race, and to keep feasting
in check, says New York Citybased running coach
Elizabeth Corkum. While the calorie burn for a 5K wont
cancel out the damage many of us do on Thanksgiving,
for example, its easier to make better nutrition choices
on days we are active, says Corkum, whos certified in
sports nutrition. Still, race calendars arent the only ones
jam-packed right now. Heres how to play your festive
5K depending on when you fit it in.

42 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

You can run a 5K a

week or two after a
half or full marathon,
Corkum says, but dont
race ityour body
needs time to recover.
Do a few easy runs
between your goal
race and the 5K, keeping them short (three
or four miles, max) and
25 percent slower than
your usual pace. And
make time for dynamic
stretching and foam
rolling, which will help
your muscles rebound
before you race again,
says Nike+ Run Club
coach Joe Holder.
YOU WENT TO A
PARTY LAST NIGHT

A fun 5K shouldnt
stop you from enjoying
a festive fte the night
before. You dont
want to feel ill the next
morning, but you want
to be part of the party,
says Corkum. To do
that, eat a little bit of
lots of things instead of
spending your evening
next to the cheese
platter or dessert table.
Mixing it up will prevent
you from ODing on
foods that cause problems in large quantities.
And try to eat early

youll have more time

to digest before bed.
If youre drinking, limit
yourself to one or two
alcoholic beverages
for best results. Holder
suggests avoiding soda
and juice mixers, which
can cause spikes and
drops in blood sugar.
Sip water all evening
and some sports drink
before bed to wake
up feeling good, says
Corkum.
YOU JUST HEARD
ABOUT IT

When you get to your

relatives house two
days before Thanksgiving and discover everyone else has signed
up for the Turkey Trot,
youll probably want to
join ineven if youve
been slacking. If you
can run 20 minutes
without stopping,
youre cleared to do
the 5K, says Corkum.
If you want an idea of
how long the trot will
take, head outside a
day or two prerace and
run a mile at a pace
thats an 8 on an effort
scale of 10. Multiply
this time by 1.1 to get a
realistic 5K pace, says
Holder. Or, ditch the
time goal: Forgetting
about the clock can be
fun, says Corkum.

ILLUSTRATION BY KIRSTEN ULVE

FUEL
THANKS, AGAIN!
Repurpose your holiday leftovers
into delicious, runner-friendly fare.
By Matthew Kadey, M.S., R.D.

LEFTOVERS TURKEY AND

CRANBERRY SAUCE

LEFTOVERS

TURN THEM INTO Turkey Salad

with Cranberry Vinaigrette

TURN THEM INTO Fancy Fig and

Brie Grilled Cheese

Cranberries provide proanthocyanidin antioxidants that

protect your cardiovascular
system by reducing inflammation, cholesterol levels,
and artery stiffness.

Softer cheeses, like Brie,

melt beautifully when grilled,
while dried figs provide
notable amounts of fiber,
vitamin K, and bone-building
calcium. Add turkey for a
dose of selenium, which may
help raise your mood.

Makes 4 servings

cup cranberry sauce

Whisk together cranberry

sauce, olive oil, cider vinegar,
mustard, thyme, garlic, salt,
and pepper. In a large bowl,
toss the kale, carrots, parsnips,
and turkey with enough dressing to coat the greens. Divide
among 4 plates and top with
the pears, goat cheese, and
pecans. Drizzle the remaining
dressing over the salads.
44

Makes 4 servings

34 cup (4 oz.) dried figs,

Turkey Salad
with Cranberry
Vinaigrette

Dark cuts of
turkey are more
flavorful than white,
contain only an extra
couple grams of fat,
and provide more
zinc and iron.

stems removed

34 cup apple cider

1 tsp. dried thyme
Pinch of salt
8 slices whole-grain
bread
4 oz. brie cheese, rind
removed
2 cups shredded turkey
2 cups baby spinach
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Fig and Brie

Grilled Cheese

Place figs, apple cider, thyme,

and salt in a saucepan. Bring
to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove
from heat and let cool for 15
minutes. Blend mixture into a
chunky paste. Spread fig paste
on each slice of bread. Among
4 slices divide the cheese, turkey, and spinach and top with
the other slices of bread.
Heat Tbsp. butter in a
skillet over medium heat.
Cook sandwich until cheese
is melted and bread is golden
brown, about 3 minutes per
side. Repeat with the remaining butter and sandwiches.

FOR NUTRITION INFO, GO TO

RUNNERSWORLD.COM/LEFTOVERS.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MITCH MANDEL

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y J O H N B J O S TA D

3 Tbsp. extra virgin

olive oil
1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, mashed
tsp. salt
14 tsp. black pepper
8 cups (8 oz.) baby kale
2 medium carrots, peeled
and shredded
2 medium parsnips,
peeled and shredded
2 cups (10 oz.) diced
cooked turkey meat
2 pears, thinly sliced
4 oz. soft goat cheese,
crumbled
14 cup pecan halves,
chopped

CHEESE
AND DRIED FRUIT

LEFTOVERS HAM AND

BRUSSELS SPROUTS
TURN THEM INTO

Anytime Frittata

Ham adds a boost of lean protein for muscle recovery.

Makes 6 servings
Ham and
Brussels
Sprouts Frittata

Pasta with
Butternut-Coconut
Cream Sauce

6 large eggs
2 large egg whites
13 cup low-fat milk
cup grated Parmesan
2 tsp. fresh thyme
tsp. black pepper
tsp. paprika (optional)
1 Tbsp. canola oil
3 cups sliced raw Brussels
sprouts
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 shallots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups diced cooked ham
Heat oven to 400F. Whisk together eggs, whites, and milk.
In a large bowl, stir in cheese,
thyme, pepper, and paprika
(if using).
Heat oil in a 10" ovenproof
skillet over medium heat. Add
Brussels sprouts, mushrooms,
shallots, and garlic; cook until
vegetables are tender, about 5
minutes. Stir in ham and pour
egg mixture into pan. Cook 3
minutes, without stirring.
Transfer skillet to oven and
bake until the egg is set in the
middle, about 12 minutes.
LEFTOVERS SQUASH
TURN IT INTO Pasta with
Squash and Coconut Sauce

Prepare and chill

the batter a day in
advance. Let it sit at
room temperature
for 30 minutes
before using.

Sweet Potato
Waffles with
Maple-Braised
Apples

Pureed butternut squash

creates a velvety sauce
packed with beta-carotene,
which may reduce the risk
for developing diabetes.
Makes 6 servings
2 cups cooked butternut
squash
1 cup light coconut milk
2 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. chopped fresh
peeled ginger
34 tsp. salt
tsp. chili powder
12 oz. fusilli or rotini pasta

2
1
2
2

tsp. canola oil

small onion, chopped
cups frozen peas
cloves garlic, chopped
13 cup dry-roasted, salted
cashews, chopped
cup cilantro, chopped
Ground black pepper
1 lime, cut into 6 wedges
Blend butternut squash, coconut milk, curry powder, ginger,
salt, and chili powder until
smooth. Cook pasta, reserving
23 cup cooking water. Heat oil
and cook onion until softened.
Stir in peas and garlic. Add
butternut sauce and simmer.
Stir in pasta, cashews, and
reserved cooking water. Serve
with cilantro, pepper, and lime.

LEFTOVERS SWEET
POTATOES AND APPLES
TURN THEM INTO

Yummy Waffles

Orange spuds provide vitamin A for immune health.

Makes about 10 waffles
2 cups oat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. + tsp. cinnamon
tsp. baking soda
18 tsp. salt
1 cups low-fat milk
cup plain yogurt
1 cup mashed sweet
potato
13 cup applesauce
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 large apples, cored and
thinly sliced
cup pure maple syrup
Stir together oat flour, baking
powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon,
baking soda, and salt. In a
separate bowl, whisk milk,
yogurt, sweet potato, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Add
wet ingredients to dry; mix
gently. Place cup batter into
greased waffle iron and cook
until set; repeat. Melt butter in
saucepan. Stir in apples, maple
syrup, and tsp. cinnamon.
Cook until apples are tender.
Serve apples atop waffles.

FUEL

SEASONAL
SUPERFOODS
Store root
vegetables in a
cool, dark place,
and above-ground
greens in the
fridge.

Boost your health and

running performance with
winters best produce.
BROCCOLI
One cup cooked
supplies 276
percent of daily
vitamin K needs.
This may help regulate your bodys
vitamin D levels
especially key
during the winter,
when circulating
levels of vitamin D
dip. Broccoli also
provides phytochemicals called
glucosinolates
that research
shows may ward
off cancer.
EAT IT Add to a
chicken or beef
stir-fry served over
multigrain rice.

CABBAGE
Cabbage contains
sinigrin, a phytonutrient that may
help prevent
46 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

CAULIFLOWER
A member of
the cruciferous
vegetable family,
cauliflower contains phytonutrients called indoles,
which studies
show may lower
cancer risk. One
cup cooked packs
more than 90 percent of your daily
vitamin C need.
Try purple, orange,
or green for a hit of
antioxidants.
EAT IT Steam, then
mash, cauliflower
for a mashed potato substitute.
COLLARD
GREENS
Collards are high
in fiber, calcium
(more than 25 per-

KALE
Its loaded with a
compound called
xeathanthin, which
may help prevent
age-related loss
of vision. One cup
cooked supplies
more than 1,000
percent of your
DV for vitamin K
and more than 25
percent of your
DV for manganese, which may
help protect
your bodys cells
against aging.
EAT IT Kale is best
cooked by steaming, which helps
activate its cholesterol-lowering
fiber in your gut.
ONIONS
Red and yellow
onions come load-

ed with a flavonoid
called quercetin,
which some research shows may
combat inflammation resulting from
heavy workouts.
EAT IT Saut or roast
onions to bring out
flavor while retaining the quercetin.
SWEET
POTATOES
Rich in carbs, they
have a low glycemic index when
boiled (not baked),
helping keep
blood-sugar levels
steady. A medium
sweet potato also
contains about
the same runnerfriendly potassium
as a banana.
EAT IT Bake and
drizzle with honey
and cinnamon for
a prerun snack.
WINTER SQUASH
From butternut
and acorn to
spaghetti and
Delicata, squashes
include a wealth
of potassium and
beta-carotene.
Winter squashes
also supply fiber,
vitamin C, and
various B vitamins.
EAT IT Use spaghetti
squash just like you
would pasta. For
more recipes with
these veggies, see
page 44.

For a quick winter salad, toss

together 1 lb. shaved Brussels sprouts, cup chopped
toasted walnuts, cup grated
Asiago cheese, 3 Tbsp. Dijon
vinaigrette, and salt and pepper to taste. Makes 8 servings.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MITCH MANDEL

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y J O H N B J O S TA D

BRUSSELS
SPROUTS
These mini
cabbages supply
blood-cholesterollowering fiber.
One cup cooked
also provides
almost 100 percent of your daily
vitamin C need
and almost as
much vitamin K
as broccoli does.
EAT IT Lightly
steaming allows
the fiber in Brussels sprouts to go
to work regulating
cholesterol levels.

cancer, while red

cabbage offers
anthocyanins,
potentially helping
lower the risk of
chronic ailments.
EAT IT Shred cabbage to health up
taco night.

cent of your DV in
one cup cooked),
magnesium, and
potassium. The
latter two are
minerals crucial
for healthy blood
pressure. Studies
also show that
nitrates found in
collard greens,
spinach, and other
cooking greens
may improve
bloodflow to exercising muscles.
EAT IT Collard
greens make for
a tasty tortilla or
wrap substitute.

ITS TASTIER
THAN MILK.
PEOPLE WITH
TASTE BUDS
SAID SO.

Silk Vanilla
Almondmilk is
deliciously smooth
and most people
prefer its taste to milk.
Try for yourself.

#silkbloom
National Taste Test 2013; Silk Vanilla
Almondmilk vs. dairy milk. Character
is a trademark of WhiteWave Foods.

FUEL
CRUNCHY CURRY PEAS

QUICK BITES

TAKE IT ON
THE ROAD
Traveling to the
office, to a workout,
to a race? Bring
healthy snacks.
By Matthew Kadey,
M.S., R.D.

Lots of fiber and protein

curb cravings.
MAKE IT Soak 23 cup yellow split peas in water
for 4 hours. Drain and
dry. Heat cup canola
oil in a skillet. Add peas
and stir often, until
golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a paper
towellined plate. Toss
with 2 tsp. curry powder
and tsp. salt.
FIG PROTEIN BALLS

Calcium and vitamin K

protect your bones.
MAKE IT Soak 1 cups

Choose beef jerky

without MSG for
trail mix. Or jerky
made with turkey,
chicken, pork,
salmon, or bison.

dried Mission figs (stems

trimmed) in hot water
for 30 minutes. Drain,
dry, and put in a food
processor with 13 cup
protein powder, cup
cocoa powder, cup
nut butter, tsp. cinnamon, zest of 1 orange,
juice of orange, and
a pinch of salt. Form
into 1" balls and roll in
shredded coconut.

BEEFED-UP TRAIL MIX

Jerky adds protein,

popcorn supplies fiber.
MAKE IT Toss together
4 cups air-popped
popcorn, 3 oz. chopped
beef jerky, cup
pecans, cup sliced
fruit leather, cup dark
chocolate chips, and 13
cup roasted and salted
pumpkin seeds.

HERBED BEET CHIPS

GRANOLA BARK

Beet nitrates help

improve oxygen delivery.
MAKE IT Heat oven to
350F. Line 2 baking
sheets with parchment
paper brushed with oil.
Peel and thinly slice 3
medium beets, place on
baking sheets in a single
layer, and brush tops
lightly with more oil.
Sprinkle on crumbled
dried rosemary, salt,
and black pepper. Bake
for 20 minutes or until
crispy and edges have
browned.

Dark delight with

antioxidant-packed tart
cherries for better
workout recovery.
MAKE IT Line a baking
sheet with parchment
paper. Microwave 2
cups dark chocolate
chips in 30-second
increments until melted.
Stir in 1 cup granola, 2
tsp. orange zest, and 1
tsp. cinnamon. Spread
onto baking sheet and
sprinkle on cup dried
tart cherries and tsp.
coarse salt. Chill until
firm, about 30 minutes.

48

FOR COMPLETE RECIPE NUTRITION DATA,

GO TO RUNNERSWORLD.COM/ROADSNACKS.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MITCH MANDEL

F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y J O H N B J O S TA D

Dont care for

curry? Toss split
peas with other
spices such as
cumin and chili
powder.

Eat HealthiliciousFast!

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weeknight dinners, Meals on the Run
includes everything you need to get tasty,
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On sale now wherever books and

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202865601

FUEL

THE RUNNERS PANTRY

CHEESE WHIZ
Aged Italian varieties add big flavor
to dishes created by marathoner and former
MasterChef host Joe Bastianich.

ParmigianoReggiano and Grana

Padano are made
from cows milk;
Pecorino Romano is
made from tangier
sheeps milk.

ITALYS AGED CHEESES pack a flavor punch. Grana Padano,

Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Pecorino Romano are ideal
for grating and shaving over dishesadding richness
for relatively few calories. Cookbook author Joe
Bastianich chooses Grana Padano (for which he is a
spokesperson). In my house, we put it on everything,
including desserts, says Bastianich, who planned to
run his seventh New York City Marathon in November.
For more, see joebastianich.com. YISHANE LEE

TAGLIATA AND
ARUGULA SALAD

One ounce
of Parmesan has
10 grams of protein
and 33 percent
of your daily
calcium needs.

50

FOR COMPLETE RECIPE NUTRITION DATA, GO

TO RUNNERSWORLD.COM/AGEDCHEESE.

Heat oven to 400F. Rub

meat with 1 Tbsp. oil; season with salt and pepper.
In a large cast-iron skillet
over medium high, heat 1
Tbsp. oil and garlic. Brown
garlic, about 1 minute,
and remove. Sear steak
until browned and golden,
about 3 minutes per side.
Transfer to oven and roast
until medium rare, about
4 minutes. Remove and let
rest 5 minutes.
Toss arugula with 1 Tbsp.
oil plus salt and pepper.
Slice steak into "-thick
slices; place on top of arugula. Top with cheese and
drizzle vinegar. Serves 2.

3 pints cherry
tomatoes, halved
3 Tbsp. olive oil
5 cloves garlic:
2 chopped, 3 sliced
1 tsp. dried oregano
tsp. crushed red
pepper flakes
tsp. kosher salt
3 scallions, chopped
cup toasted pine nuts
cup dry white wine
1 lb. cavatappi pasta
1 cup chopped basil
cup grated Grana
Padano
2 oz. ricotta salata
Roast tomatoes, 2 Tbsp.
oil, chopped garlic, oregano, red pepper, and salt for
30 minutes in 350F oven.
In skillet, cook sliced garlic
in 1 Tbsp. oil, 1 minute. Wilt
scallions. Add pine nuts
and wine; cook till reduced
by half. Boil pasta; drain.
Add pasta, tomatoes, and
basil. Remove from heat;
add cheeses. Serves 6.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MITCH MANDEL

P H OTO G R A P H CO U R T E SY O F CAS S B I R D ( BAS T I A N I C H ); F O O D S T Y L I N G B Y J O H N B J O S TA D

12 oz. sirloin steak

3 Tbsp. olive oil
Kosher salt and
ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, smashed
4 cups baby arugula
2 oz. shaved Grana
Padano
Balsamic vinegar

CAVATAPPI WITH
CHERRY TOMATOES

SHAMROCK
SUperstar
KENNY R.
King Neptune Challenge Finisher

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VISIT SHAMROCKMARATHON.COM FOR DETAILS

MARCH 18-20, 2016 | VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA
Yuengling Marathon Anthem 1/2 Marathon TowneBank 8K Operation Smile Final Mile

CONGRATS!
NOW WHAT?
Physical and mental recovery starts
the second you cross the finish line.
By Bradley Stulberg

52 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

Legs Up the Wall

pose (see page 54)
reduces swelling in your
feet and lower legs. Eat
a banana while youre
at it to speed postrace
recovery.

STYLING BY MANON TRUE

FOR MANY RUNNERS with

big fall races on their
calendars, the past
few months have been
scripted with detailed
training plans dictating
when to run, when to
rest, how to stretch,
what to eat, and everything in between. The
minutes, hours, and
days after the event are
a lot less defined. Yet
this often overlooked
transition period is
critical, especially if
you raced 13.1 or 26.2
miles. What you do
to recover after a race
plays a big role in how
you will perform at the
next one, says Corey
Hart, a physiologist
and doctoral candidate at the University
of Utahs Vascular
Research Lab. Heres
what is happening
inside your body and
mind following a race,
and the steps you
can take to bounce
back strong.

PHOTOGRAPH BY BENJAMIN OLIVER

POSTRACE

0 24
HOURS

24 72
HOURS

37
DAYS

7 21
DAYS

BODY

Refuel with a highcarb drink containing

a small amount of
protein. Muscles are
most permeable to
energy uptake in the
30 minutes following
a hard effort, Hart
says. For the next 23
hours, your priority is
muscle repairand
that means protein.
Hart recommends
frequent snacks that
are high in carbs but
also contain 25 to 30
grams of protein.
Light foam rolling
and compression
clothing improve
bloodflow to remove
toxins from muscle.
Otherwise, its generally best to relax
let the body initiate
its natural recovery
processes, Hart
says. Many runners
literally run around
recovering, which is
counterproductive.

Now is the time to try

light exercise. Active
recovery expedites
the bodys natural
repair process by delivering more oxygen
and nutrients to the
muscles. Just keep it
easygo for a walk.
Continue to wear
compression clothing, and if you get a
massage, make sure
your therapist keeps
the pressure minimal.
You want to let your
muscles heal, and
deep-tissue massage
can cause muscle
damage, says Hart.
Popping ibuprofen
might be tempting,
but unless you sustained an acute injury,
many experts advise
against it. The inflammatory response
is signaling recovery,
Hart says, and that
is not something we
want to mask.

Although you may be

getting anxious about
not training, fatigue
is likely pulling you
to the couch. This is
especially true for
runners who raced
longer distances or
trained hard for an
extended period. Hart
calls this central system fatigue. While
training, you are constantly suppressing
fatigue or downright
ignoring it, which can
throw your hormonal
profile out of whack,
he says. When your
body lets its guard
down a few days after
the event, all the builtup fatigue sets in. Do
not fight this fatigue,
Hart says. Instead,
stick to light active recovery and remember
that the priority is to
rest so your body can
return to hormonal
balance.

Your muscular and

hormonal systems
are still returning
to baseline, so this
is a good time to
slowly introduce
some intensity into
workouts. The main
thing to remember
is that you cant train
if you are injured,
Joyner says. Thus, err
on the side of doing
too little versus doing
too much, and focus
on reading your body
and backing off if
soreness and fatigue
dont improve.
Joyner and Hart agree
that cross-training
is a good low-risk
approach. Add intensity into other sports
(a hard hike or swim).
By the end of this
period, your central
and muscular systems
should be back in
tune and you can ease
back into running.

MIND

Celebrate! says Kristin Keim, M.A., Psy.D.,

a sports psychologist
in Raleigh, North Carolina. Many runners
have type-A tendencies, always looking
for the next challenge.
Keim says pausing
to reward yourself
and reflect on your
accomplishment is
important. If you find
yourself struggling to
sit still, let alone sleep,
worry not. According
to Michael Joyner,
M.D., a physiologist
at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minnesota, a number of
factorsranging from
GI issues to elevated
neurochemicalscan
interfere with sleep.
When you do finally
feel drowsy, dont cut
yourself short. Sleep
is vital to recovery, so
dont be afraid to hit
the snooze button.

The immediate postrace high is wearing

off, but dopamine and
serotonin levels are
still elevated. Simply
moving past the race
is tough, Keim says.
So dont feel bad
about the urge to
write a race report
and post pictures on
social media. Even
after a disappointing
race, Doug MacLean,
a running and triathlon
coach with QT2 Systems in Ithaca, New
York, encourages athletes to fully process
the event rather than
trying to block out
negative feelings. Its
not until we internalize
what happened at a
more subconscious
level that we can objectively analyze what
went wrong, make
adjustments, and truly
release from the past,
he says.

Enter, for some, the

postrace blues. Stimulating neurochemicals are declining, and
at the same time you
are reintegrating into
everyday life, Keim
says. An ensuing rut
can be compounded
by the fact that most
runners antidepressant of choicea
hard workoutisnt
an option. Keim urges
runners to maintain their identity as
athletes. To do this,
analyze your race,
think about goals for
next year, and perhaps most important,
reframe rest as a key
part of your training
plan. By viewing rest
as something you
are actively choosing
to do to improve as
an athlete, you are
less likely to feel like
youve lost the athletic
part of yourself.

You probably will

feel a healthy urge to
start running again.
Now is a great time
to develop a new set
of goals. This might
mean running faster,
running farther,
taking running more
seriously, or perhaps
taking running less
seriously. But if you
are feeling burned
out and the thought
of running evokes
dread, thats okay,
too, Keim says. There
is no rush to get back
into things, and if the
thought of structured
training refuses to
catch on, you can
still run casually for
general health, stress
relief, and social fun.
You shouldnt have
to search for the motivation to train hard,
Keim says. Youll
know if and when it
comes back.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 53

MIND+BODY

THE BODY SHOP

FLY RIGHT
Postrace moves for a better trip home
IF YOURE A DESTINATION RUNNER with a tight travel schedule,

you might be stuck sitting in a cramped seat just hours

after you cross the fnish line. And that can hurt your
recovery. Moving is important to keep the blood
fowing, says Runners World advisor William O. Roberts, M.D., who is also medical director of the Twin
Cities Marathon. These travel-friendly moves boost
circulation and keep your muscles loose. KIT FOX

LEGS UP THE WALL

HALF SQUATS

Before you board the

plane or climb into the
car, sit with your hip at
the base of a wall. Lie
back and turn your body
90 degrees so you form
an L-shape with your
legs against the wall.
Hold for 10 minutes.

In the aisle of the plane

or at a rest stop, bend
your knees and lower
into a squat as far as
feels comfortable. Use
a wall for support if you
need it. Repeat fve to
10 times at a slow pace.

ANKLE RAISES

QUAD MASSAGE

In a plane seat or
passenger seat of a
car, raise your left knee
and move your foot in a
circle 20 times. Then
reverse direction another 20 times. Repeat
with the other foot.

Place your right forearm on your right quad.

Push the forearm into
the muscle. Using slight
pressure, slide up and
down using the arm like
a massage stick. Then
switch legs.

LEG RAISES
Slowly raise and lower
your left knee, activating your glute and quad
muscles. Repeat fve
times before switching
to the other leg.

Flight Risk
Runners may be
more susceptible to deep
vein thrombosispotentially
dangerous blood
clotswhen fying after a long
run, according
to RW advisor

54 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

LEG EXTENSIONS
Place both feet fat on
the foor. Straighten
your legs to raise your
feet out in front of you
(go under the seat in
front of you on a plane).
Lift fve times.

GET SQUEEZED

William O.
Roberts, M.D.
Here are three
essential travel
safety tips.

Wear compression socks

to encourage
bloodfow.

STAND UP AND WALK

SKIP THE BOOZE

Its the best way

to keep blood
fowing in your
legs to prevent
clots.

Drinking alcohol may increase

the risk of clots
while fying,
Roberts says.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MITCH MANDEL

GEAR

THE BASICS

1 / GORE RUNNING WEAR

AIR 2.0 SHIRT, $60 (mens),
$70 (womens)
No lightweight shirt fought
sweat better during summer
tests in heat and humidity at
high noon (a.k.a. the Lunch
Run at Runners World HQ in
Pennsylvania). Venting mesh
is smartly positioned on back.

2
1

2 / NEW BALANCE NB ICE

TANK (WOMENS) AND
SINGLET (MENS), $40 each
You know its hot when mere
sleeves are asking too much.
RW social media editor
Hannah McGoldrick: It was
super lightweightalmost a
barely there kind of feeling
and wicked sweat away.

GEAR OF
THE YEAR
RW staffers pick their
favorite apparel, shoes,
and other essentials.
By Bryan Boyle

56 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

5 / HEADSWEATS
REFLECTIVE RACE HAT
AND SUPERVISOR, $22 each
RW senior editor and visor
aficionado Meghan Kita:
Lightweight, easy to clean,
and the fabric against your
head wicks sweat really well.

EDITORS
CHOICE

New Balance
1500v2

BEST
DEBUT

Nike Air
Zoom Odyssey

BEST
UPDATE

BEST
BUY

BEST
TRAIL

Brooks
Glycerin 13

Brooks
Launch 2

Saucony
Xodus 6.0

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MITCH MANDEL

S T Y L I N G B Y C L A I R E T E DA L D I

Top vote-getters from editors of RWs 18 international

editions. Reviews at runners
world.com/bestshoes.

4 / SMARTWOOL PHD
SEAMLESS RACERBACK
BRA, $60
Strikes the perfect balance of
support, fit, and breathability, with merino-wool fabric
next to skin for a soft feel and
excellent wicking of moisture.
RW news editor Sarah Lorge
Butler: Its a keeper.

6 / PEARL IZUMI FLY

ENDURANCE SHORT, $60
Leave behind what the Brits
call a bum bag. These
shorts provide a spot-on mix
of length, fit, and storage.

Best Shoes
in the World

3 / CEP SHORT SOCKS AND

NO-SHOW SOCKS, $19, $23
For runners who have never
worn knee-high compression
socks, these low-profile designs offer a more approachable and affordable tryout.
The secure, ergonomic fit
protects against chafing.

ENDURANCE
AND ORANGE STITCHING,
TOGETHER AT LAST!

CW-X Insulator
Endurance Pro Tights
Muscle-centric Support Web provides optimal
support for increased power and reduced fatigue
Engineered to target the hip exor,
quadriceps, hamstring and calf muscles
WarmStretch temperature-regulation
fabric keeps the body comfortably
warm in the coldest conditions
Pick some up at your local running store

Endurance Engineered.
cw-x.com

GEAR
OUTER WARES

1 / NIKE SHIELD
FLASH MAX RUNNING
JACKET, $500
When a downpour and darkness conspire to spoil your
early morning run, reach for
this refective excuse-buster
that locks out wind and rain.
2 / ARCTERYX TRINO
TIGHT, $139
These ft looser than traditional tights. Windproof and
water-resistant material in
the front to protect; knit
fabric on the back to breathe.

3 / PATAGONIA MERINO
AIR CREW, $129
Merino wool is treated with a
proprietary technique to help
create a light and seamless top
that is remarkably soft, and
warmer and more breathable
than conventional merino.
4
4 / BROOKS LSD THERMAL
VEST, $110
This featherweight vest is
insulated just enough to keep
your core warm during both
warmups and cooldowns.
5

5 / MONTANE YUKON
BEANIE, $22
This hat keeps the coconut
warm and wicks moisture
well. Soft on the forehead.
Light in RW stafers packs.
6 / NATHAN SPORTS HALO
FIRE HEADLAMP, $120
Approaching headlights
trigger an automated strobe
light. Wave a hand over the
beam to adjust its strength.

7
9

7 / OUTDOOR RESEARCH
DEVIATOR HOODY, $185
RW champion gear-tester Pat
Heine took this jacket to the
Alps for an ultra. It insulates.
But it also breathes really
well, so if it warms up a lot,
you wont be left drowning.
8 / BLACK DIAMOND WELTERWEIGHT GLOVES, $30
These thwart freezing temps,
yet are thin enough for retying shoelaces. Material on
the thumb and index fnger
allows for touchscreen use.
9 / ULTIMATE DIRECTION
ULTRA JACKET, $180
Both waterproof and breathable, with mitts on the
sleeves, it packs in its pocket
into the shape of a burrito.

COOL EXTRAS

1 / SOLEUS GPS ONE, $79

This affordable GPS watch
lets you get acquainted with
monitoring time, distance,
and pace. Upgrade when you
want to save and share data.

2 / TRAINER BY GIBSON
HEADPHONES, $250
Summer sweat burned
through two wireless headphones before we met this
21st-century Walkman, which
sits light and secure on the
head. The battery tested at
an admirable 10 hours.
3 / 2XU ELITE MCS COMPRESSION TIGHTS, $120
2XU integrated networks of
compression on the inside,
using soft fabric to contain
muscle movement and support connective tissue in the
calf and quad regions.

3
4

4 / BOSE SOUNDSPORT
IN-EAR HEADPHONES, $130
Bob Parks tested headphones
with RW for comfort, sound
quality, and more: These runaway favorites of the bunch
crushed every category.
7

5 / GLUKOS ENERGY, $24

(12 packets of gummies)
This line of endurance fuel is
notable for whats not in it.
No high fructose corn syrup.
No artificial sweeteners. No
caffeine. These were popular
with several RW staffers.
6 / OOFOS OOAHH
SPORT SANDALS, $60
After long runs, your feet
are tired. Pamper them. RW
reporter Kit Fox: The arch
support is phenomenal. They
actually give me relief after
hard intervals and long runs.
7 / AMPHIPOD HYDRAFORM FLASH HYDROSTROBE THERMAL
HANDHELD, $35 for 20 oz.
This easy-to-grip, easy-tosip water bottle features a
battery-powered strobe light
and reflective material.

6
5

8 / KAENON S-KORE
SUNGLASSES, $239
Tested during this years
Leadville Trail 100 Run, their
polarized lenses provided
crystal clarity for reading
both the terrain and the
screen of a GPS watch.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 59

VARIDESK is an affordable way to

convert your current desk into a
height-adjustable desk, so you can
switch easily between sitting and
standing. It ships fully assembled
and ready-to-use, so youre up and
working in minutes. Models start
at just $175. Order online or call
800-207-9725.

US Patent #8671853 | US & Foreign Patents Pending.

2015 VARIDESK. All Rights Reserved.

Real RUNNERS / Amazing STORIES

2015 RW

C O V E R

S E A R C H

The most awesome runners share a similar calling: to inspire everyone who takes up our sport.

ER

V
RW CO

WINNER
H

SEARC

Bobby Gill is wearing pants. Shorts actually, green khakis with a few wrinkles.
Hes sitting in his Washington, D.C.,
apartment video-conferencing with
two colleagues (also wearing pants; we
asked). They consult graphs and spreadsheets. They use words like touch
point, facilitate, and action item.
Its all part of Gills job, and really, his
calling in life. Which is persuading you
to go outside without your pants in the
middle of February.
And Gill is pretty persuasive. Over
the past six years, hes gotten 44,000
people to strip. In the bitter cold. On
bustling streets in almost every major
city in America, plus three in Australia.
Gill is the cofounder and chief
operations officer of Cupids Undie
Runa part-party, part-one-mile(ish),
part-party-some-more race series held
on the closest Saturday to Valentines
Day. Every run starts and finishes inside a bar. Theres usually a DJ. Theres
always beer. In 2016 it will hit 39 cities,
and Gill expects 23,500 people to sign up.
The run raises money for neurofibromatosis (NF), a rare genetic disorder
that spurs tumor growth in the nervous
system. The disease occurs in one in
every 3,000 births worldwide. There is
no cure, and symptoms vary widely from
chronic pain to paralysis to blindness.
Since Cupids Undie Run was founded in 2010, the series has raised more
than $7.7 million, and proceeds from the
yearly event now fulfill a quarter of the
annual research budget donated to the
Childrens Tumor Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding
treatments and cures for NF.
This, in brief, is Gills story.
In January 2008, Gill was working as a
biomedical engineer for the FDA, liv-

We asked all RW
Cover Search
entrants to
hashtag their
running selves
(as seen below).
For more info and
videos on all the
fnalists, go to
runnersworld
.com/cover
searchfnalists.

BOBBY
GILL
31, Cofounder and COO,
Cupids Undie Run
Washington, D.C.
We do anything for the
exposure.

By KIT FOX

#imwithcupid

identify patients for clinical trials that

test potential drugs for NF.
There are so many people out there
with NF, you dont realize it unless
youre forced to pay attention to it, Gill
says. Thats what Cupids is trying to
do. Were giving people this ridiculous
experience, but also opening their eyes
to something they never would have
seen before.
When Gill opens the second highest
drawer of his dresser, the bursting pile
that is his underwear collection springs

Yes, says Gill,

the whole idea is
ludicrous. But
we are going to
cure NF.
over the edges. Hes got utility pairs,
ashy pairs, tighty-whities, and boxers
sporting the Cupids Undie Run logo.
Most guys prefer the boxer-briefs,
but everyone is different, he says.
Thats the eternal question everyone
has to answer for themselves.
His race-day attire is a pair of shockingly small red briefs with white trim
and the Cupids logo printed on the rear.
Hell wear them next February in D.C.,

when he hopes Cupids Undie Run will

raise $5 million for NF research.
The milestone would cap a difcult
few months for Gill, Hanrahan, and
especially Chad Leathers. Drew Leathersthe rst person Gill had ever met
with NF died in August at age 28. After
more than 25 surgeries over 14 years,
seven feet of scars marked his body. The
hallmark symptom of his version of the
disease? Severe, relentless pain.
Many times Drew described his pain
like his skin was on re or a knife was
going through his chest, says Leathers.
Though confined to a wheelchair,
Drew was exactly the person whod run
a mile without pants, says Leathers. His
life philosophy was to enjoy it, and to
push the boundaries.
Says Gill, We started this [event] for
Drew, and the fact that its an underwear
run and a big party, those two things
mesh together perfectly because its totally his style. Theres renewed energy
this year in what were doing.
And remember: What theyre doing is
persuading thousands of people to take
their pants of and run a mile on busy
streets in the middle of winter. Last year
in Washington, D.C., it was -11 degrees.
Gill suffered windburn on his inner
thighs. Still, 1,500 people showed up.
Yes, he says, the whole idea is ludicrous. But we are going to cure NF.
He says this, and you believe him.
Bobby has been the best advocate
any family could wish for, says Leathers. He wont stop until a solution is
found. Quitting is not in his DNA.
Gill has built that reputation because,
well, he doesnt do anything half-assed.

O P E N I N G PAG E , F R O M TO P L E F T: P H OTO G R A P H S B Y DAV E K R I E G E R ( K H AT I B ) ; N AT H A N P E R K E L ( WA L K E R ); R U S H JAG O E (G A R D N E R ) ; GRE G K A HN ( W A RD I A N ); A L E X EI HAY ( SCOT T, HE I NZ ); A J M AS T (PE TE RSO N );

64 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

Drew Leathers
(center) before
a Cupids Undie
Run in Atlanta in
2013. His brother,
Chad, pushed him
through it.

W H I T N E Y C U R T I S (G A R C I A ) ; L E X E Y S WA L L (G I L L ) ; DAV I D J O H N S O N (CAT E S ) ; G R E G G M C G O U G H ( R I N C N); P R EVIOUS S P R EAD: P HOTOGRAPH BY L E XE Y S W A L L ; THI S PAG E: PHOTO GRA PH CO URT ESY O F BO BBY GI L L

ing with his dad in Beltsville, Maryland, and working on a bucket list. Having never run more than ve miles, he
registered for the National Marathon
in D.C., held at the end of March. He
nished the race in 3:48 and thought,
You know what else sounds fun? An ultramarathon.
By the end of the year, hed completed
a 50K and the JFK 50-miler. Despite his
self-described big-boned physique,
Gill went on to complete more than
50 ultras in ve years, often nabbing
a spot on the podium, including a
second-place nish at the 2010 Old
Dominion 100-Miler.
But Gill doesnt run ultradistances
anymore. Thats because in 2010, his
roommate Brendan Hanrahan thought
something else sounded funrunning a
mile in underwear for charity.
Hanrahan, now 31, is a Ph.D. materials engineer for the Army, and childhood friends with Cupids third founder,
31-year-old Chad Leathers, then an employee for the Childrens Tumor Foundation. (Leatherss younger brother
Drew was diagnosed with NF in 2001
at age 14.) In January 2010, Hanrahan
pitched Gill and Leathers an idea for a
Valentines Day fundraiser for the foundation. He emailed them a poorly Photoshopped yer of an illustrated cupid in
pixilated boxers that read: Run 2 miles
in your undies and drink cheap all day!
For a good cause!
Gill replied, That sounds like a terrible idea. Im in.
With five weeks to plan, they took
some shortcuts. Permits for a course
around the U.S. Capitol? Better to
just hope police wouldnt notice a few
underwear-clad runners. Weather?
The paths around the Capitol should be
plowed, despite two recent monstrous
winter storms. Shirts? Two hundred
should be plenty. They planned for 100
people. Instead, 650 showed up. Clad in
their bedroom best, the runners raised
$10,000 for the Childrens Tumor Foundation. Every year, the event raises more
than the previous.
Which is why Gill quit his FDA job in
2013 to devote his complete attention to
Cupids Undie Run. Hanrahan describes
the move as totally Bobby.
Cupids Undie Run is now the largest
organizational donor for NF research,
funding the Childrens Tumor Foundations national registry for NF cases.
The registry is meant to help scientists

MICHELLE
HERCULES
WALKER
47, Phlebotomist
Brooklyn, NY
Nothing is more gratifying
to my heart than to know
that my choice to become
healthy and fall in love with
running would afect all
those looking on.

By TISH
HAMILTON
RW CO
V

ER

WINNER
SEARC

The only mirror in Michelle

P H OTO G R A P H B Y N AT H A N P E R K E L

Hercules Walkers bedroom

hangs inside her closet. On October 14, 2014, she took of all
her clothes, swung the closet
door wide open, and stood in
front of her full-length reection to contemplate pain, literal and gurative. She lifted up
her belly to examine a painful
red rash that had developed
under massive folds of skin.
Her doctor had given her

#genuinelyencouraged

an ointment to rub around her middle, but the band of her XXL underwear chafed. Her knees hurt, too. She
felt trapped in a loveless marriage. She
weighed 317 pounds at 5'3". The face she
examined was a mask of unhappiness.
This girl I see is not who I am inside,
she thought. I dont want to be this
girl anymore. On that darkest day, she
thought about suicide. What was the
point of going on like this? Then in the
corner of the mirror, Walker noticed
the reection of her two girls playing
on her bed, her beautiful babies, as she
calls them, Maya, now 9, and Moriah,
7, and knew her responsibility to them
outweighed her despair. God has spared
me this long. I have got to do something
to save my life.
Five days later she took those rst difcult steps into a nearby gym to meet a
personal trainer and runner, James Peronel, whom a friend had recommended.
I was embarrassed, so I chose 7 p.m.
because I thought the gym would be
empty, she says. It was full. Of men.
She told Peronel that she no longer knew
who Michelle was, and he replied, Then
we have to find her. He put her on a
treadmill at a speed of 2.0 miles per hour
and told her to start walking.
Over the coming weeks, Peronel
would punch the numbers up to 3.0 and
tell her just jog, and she would ail her
arms and huf and puf. James is caring
but tough, Walker says. By January she
was dialing up the speed herself. Mad
about the economic impracticalities of
divorcing her husband, she looked down
one day to discover she was runningat
5.0. I could feel my heart in my head
beating so fast, she says. She remembers thinking, Omigod, Im going to
have a heart attack!
Peronel was so pleased with her progress that he signed her up for a 10K in
Manhattan in June. By the time she
lined up in Central Park, she had lost
more than 100 pounds. Peronel thought
she could do the race in 1:40. Walker
secretly thought she could break 1:30.
Nervous about the event, she neglected
to eat breakfast. Peronel had told her
no matter what happened, she had to
run across the finish line. When she
approached it, she heard her niece, her
daughters, her trainer, all yelling for her.
GO MICHELLE! She completed the
10K in 1:20:08, and promptly passed out.
I was ne, she says. I nished!

66 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

When Walker goes for a run today, she

pulls on a pair of black capris, a size L
sports bra, and one of a vast collection
of stylish sports topsteal, red, cowlnecked, hooded. I do love my shirts,
she says. She laces up one of eight pairs
of running shoes lying by her front
doorNew Balance Fresh Foam is her
current favorite. She also wears a waist
band, a sort of modern-day corset, to
take pressure of her back and to hold in
the extra skin, one of the consequences
of dropping more than 100 pounds in
less than a year. She has a black one for
running and a lacy one to wear under

I want people
to look at me
and realize this
can be done.
street clothes. She pulls up her shirt to
show of the bruises she gets on her ribcage. The sufering is a small price to
pay. I like to look sexy, she says.
As a child, Walker was known as
the fat girl, and by age 13, shed hit
300 pounds. She was outwardly exuberant, impressing teachers with her
vocal skills at New York Citys prestigious High School of Performing Arts.
But inwardly she was struggling, and
a depressive episode in her late teens
landed her in a psych wing at Kings
County Hospital. She tried Prozac, she
talked to therapistsnothing made her
feel good. She soothed herself with food.
Food was my best friend, she says. All
I did was eat, sleep, eat, sleep. Food was
my life. It would remain so for the next
two decades.
By age 45, Walker had to rock back
and forth to get up off the couch. Or
call her girls to come pull her up by
her arms. Or scoot down to one end of
the couch, put both hands on the arm
rest, maneuver her feet to the oor, and
press her body up. As a phlebotomist
who makes house calls to draw blood,
she could barely climb the stairs to patients apartments. Her knees groaned.
You know how many diets I tried? she

says. Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers,

you name it. Id lose weight and then
gain it all back and then some.
Her sister had gastric bypass surgery,
and Walker briefly considered it. Instead, with Peronels help (or demands)
she cut portion sizes, traded soda and
juice for infused water, gave up fried
sh sandwiches for veggie burgers. We
looked at a photo of Michelle in January
and said, Whos that? Peronel says. I
told her, Its the new you!
Its still hard for her to reconcile.
When Walker found out she was one of
the nalists in the RW Cover Search, she
says, I was like, Lord, are you joking
with me? She posted the happy news
on Facebook and says her Messenger inbox was ooded with people she didnt
even know congratulating her, asking
her how she lost weight. A half-brother
from her dads side whom shes never
met reached out to her and said, Im
so proud of you.
Walker aims to run at least four times
a week, a minimum of an hour at a time.
Sometimes she goes to the gym to work
out with Peronel and hit the treadmill.
Other times she jogs to Canarsie Park,
one block from her home, to run up to
six miles around the paved path. Always
she gets looks and comments about her
changing body. A true evangelist, she is
happy to preach the gospel of running.
Running helped me be a better person not just for myself, not just for my
daughters, but for all those people who
are struggling with feeling unworthy,
she says. I want people to look at me
and realize this can be done.
Exactly one year after that life-changing

day last October, all is bright in Brooklyn. Golden autumn light bathes the
sidewalk outside Walkers neat red-brick
rowhouse. Her sister and 16-year-old
nephew live on the rst oor; Walker
and her two daughters live on the top.
She can run up the stairs now without
having to sit down to catch her breath.
Inside, the home is undergoing the
same kind of happy makeover as Walker
has herself. Gifts from loving friends and
family are everywhereexpressions of
their pride in her hard work: Four brown
leatherette chairs sit neatly packed in
one corner of the kitchen, waiting for
a matching table to arrive; Netix and
Hulu await her girls on the at-screen;
theres a new living room suite. The

I N S E T P H OTO G R A P H CO U R T E SY O F M I C H E L L E H E R C U L E S WA L K E R

P H OTO G R A P H B Y N AT H A N P E R K E L

Walker once
weighed 317 pounds
and needed help
getting of the
couch. Today, she
weighs 195.

living room oors have been stripped

and are being renished by a friend she
met in the past year of discovery. Near a
front window stands a shoe rack lled
with girls boots and sneakers. Walkers
running shoes are scattered near the
front door. She and her husband have
agreed to separate, though he still lives
in the house while they negotiate the
postmarital nances. (He just sleeps
here, she says. We never interact.)
Walker and Peronels relationship is,
she says, complex: intense, intimate,
sometimes contentious. They talk ev-

ery day. But it is not romantic. Im his

Biggest Loser, she says. Im a walking
advertisement. Hes gotten at least 12
clients because of me.
In her bedroom, next to her neatly
made queen-size bed, is a childs wooden chair that she used to have to stand
on to climb into bed. Now it holds an
iPad and a copy of Runners World. The
full-length mirror on the closet door is
harder to peer into because the doors
swing is blocked by one of four big piles
of clothes on the oor. They dont t me
anymore! she says. Im giving away a

lot of clothes. She shows of a favorite

new purchasea pair of size 12 dark
wash Gap jeans. I can almost t in size
10, but I dont want my stomach hanging
over the top, no.
I try to smile every day, Walker
says. Before, I smiled hereshe puts
her hands up to her face and forces it
up in a smiling grimace. Now, I smile
from here, she says, placing her hand
over her heart.
Walker smiles at her reection. Now
I like her, she says, and taps the mirror.
Shes beautiful.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 67

#SHEnanigans

DESIRE RINCN
34, Graduate student
Tampa, FL
Theres going to come a day when I cant
run. Running is my afrmation that today
is not that day.

68 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

CHRISTINE FENNESSY

P H OTO G R A P H B Y G R E G G M C G O U G H

Desire Rincn starts most races

way too fast. She doesnt really have
a choice because when the starting
gun goes of, her service dog Roxie
temporarily loses her mind and turns
into a sled dog. The normally quiet,
extremely well-mannered, ve-footwall-jumping, ice-cold-pit-swimming,
belly-to-the-ground-crawling Australian shepherd unleashes a string of
high-pitched barks, lunges against the
leash attached to Rincns waist, and
literally pulls her human across the
starting line. Other runners laugh in
delight at the mostly black, 50-pound,
4-year-old mutt on a mission.
I spend the rst mile slaloming
and weaving through people, says
Rincn, 34, of Tampa, Florida. Eventually, Roxie chills out and settles
into a rhythmic stride that allows
Rincn to establish a more sane nineto 10-minute pace. Whether the pair
is running a 5K mud run, a Spartan
Sprint, or a trail half marathon, says
Rincn, Shes a very good pacer.

Roxie is also a very important

buddy. Rincn, an Army veteran,
sufered a series of devastating events
beginning in December 2010 that
included a diagnosis of gastric cancer,
a broken engagement, two surgeries,
severe depression, a suicide attempt,
and seizures related to the diabetes
Rincn developed after her operations. In the middle of it all came
Roxiea nonjudgmental companion
with a highly sensitive nose capable of
alerting Rincn to her dropping blood
sugar. For Rincn, the dogs presence
became a safety blanket that gave
her the courage and condence to
slowly wade out into the world.
How she reintegrated herself was
determined long before she was
healthy. When Rincn was laid up
in bed, living for weeks on a diet
that slowly transitioned from clear
liquids to liquids to baby food and
mashed potatoes, she lived on social
media, following the racing exploits
of fellow service members and Facebook friends. Shed run in the Army
because shed had to, but before shed
gotten sick, shed run/walked/shufed the Disney Wine and Dine Half
Marathon and got hooked on the idea
that running and racing could actually be fun, what with all the costumes,
clowning around, and nisher bling.
So after Rincn recovered, she

started cramming weekends with

mud runs and road races. At rst,
unsure what the animal could handle,
Rincn left her at home or at the starting line with a friend, but when Roxie
broke her leash on the sidelines of a
mud run in early 2014 and followed
Rincn under, over, and through the
obstacles, the little dog with the giant
heart made it clear: I go where you go.
To date, Rincn has completed so
many eventsshe estimates she did
54, including marathons, Ragnar
Relays, and Spartan races, in 2014
alone, and says shes planned to run
about 50 this yearthat her medals
could easily cover most of the wall
space in her apartment (Roxie has
done about half of her events with her,
says Rincn). Instead, she tosses her
coveted bling in a box under her bed,
or onto the heaping pile of metal and
ribbon inside her nightstand.
Running is almost an afrmation
for me, she says. I have to tell myself
Im capable, and good enough, and
strong enough, and Ive been blessed
to [be able to] move my legs. Theres
going to come a day when I cant get
over a wall at a Spartan race, when I
cant run a 5K, when I cant run anything at all. Running is my afrmation
that today is not that day.
For Rincn, a naturalized citizen
whose parents have moved back to the
Dominican Republic, the races themselves are a family reunion of sorts.
Where once she lived vicariously
through the adventures of runners
around the country, she now gets to
meet those people nearly every weekend. So its the rare event where she
doesnt see someone she knows. Still,
it happens, and when it does, she just
makes new friends. Like before the
nal turn at a recent 5K in Clearwater,
Florida. A little blond girl with pink
running shoes and a yellow hairband
whod been running near Rincn and
Roxie for at least a half mile suddenly
started walking.
No, no, dont stop! said Rincn.
Come on, girl, youre like right there!
Im not gonna cross without you. Finish strongits right there!
The little girl looked at the woman
and her dog, changed her mind about
walking, and the three athletes sprinted across the nish line together.

Jorge O.
Garcia
42, Boeing procurement
analyst
Glen Carbon, IL

P H OTO G R A P H B Y W H I T N E Y C U R T I S

Running is my escape, my
solitude, my savior, and my
stress-reliever. Today I pace
marathons to help others
achieve their own goals.

When Jorge Garcia crosses

the fnish line of his next
marathon, his mother will
be with him. She was with
him when he ran his frst
100-miler. When he did fve
marathons in fve states in
one weekall under four
hours. When he fnished the
Long Island (NY) Marathon
to complete a 26.2 in all 50
states. When he set a PR
of 3:09 on September 12,
securing a spot in the 2016
Boston Marathon. Garcia,
42, fnishes every race with
tears in his eyes. He makes
the sign of the cross, blows
a kiss skyward, and shows
a photo of his mom to the
fnish line cameras. I know
my mom is watching me
from heaven, he says. I tell
her, Thank you for giving
me strength. I hope you are
proud of me.
Garcia was 8 years old
the day he came home from
school to his Newark, New
Jersey, apartment to discover that his mother was dead,
murdered by his father. Its a
memory that haunts Garcia
and underscores his entire
lifefrom his hard early
years to his later triumphant
successes. Garcia, whose
relentless good cheer is
well known in the marathon
community, decided only
recently to open up about
his painful past because
he wants people facing
tough breaks beyond their
controlespecially kidsto
not let circumstances inhibit
their ambitions. Aim high,
set goals, work hard, and

#RunnersRock

70 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

#relentless

MICHAEL WARDIAN
41, International ship broker
Arlington, VA
We are all runners in the end.

Michael Wardian has one of the

most impressive (if quirky) rsums
in running, and hes not shy talking
about it with a characteristic mix
of hubris and humility: Hes run in
three U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials,
even leading the 2008 race for a few
miles. Until the pack ran by me like I
was standing still, he says. He has a
marathon PR of 2:17:49. Hes won the
U.S. 50K and 100K championships.
Hes set treadmill, indoors, and jogging-stroller marathon world records.
But whats really striking when you
meet him in person is his genuine
interest in you, the runner, no matter
where you are in your journey. When
the Cover Search nalists gathered in
New York City in September, he spent
more time with the newbie whod
just done her rst four miles without
walkingWow, thats awesome!

than he did with his fellow ultrarunners. He xes you with his blue eyes
and listens intently to what you say.
I was just a guy who picked up
running in college, he says, and
then went on to become one of the
best runners in the world. I get to
live this dream. He was 21 when he
heard that a friends mom had done
the Boston Marathon and decided to
run it himself, only to learn he rst
had to qualify. (Wardian, incredulous:
Whaaat? He qualied in the Marine
Corps Marathon with 3:06:54.) Today,
he trains 70 to 100 miles a week while
working full time, and takes his two
kids (ages 9 and 6) on his travels
whenever he can. (He and his son
hiked two peaks at Italys Cinque
Terre National Park last summer.)
Hes run eight marathons this year
(2:23:32 in Houston the fastest), and
his fall plans included the 101-mile
Le Grand Raid on Reunion Island, of
the coast of Madagascar. Running
denes who I am, he says. But I still
have a sense of Im not quite sure its
possible that Ive accomplished all
these things. T.H.

P H OTO G R A P H B Y G R E G K A H N

remember to thank the people

who help you, he says. I want
to acknowledge the hundreds of
people who helped me climb out
of a not-so-great childhood.
After his father was sentenced
to jail, Garcia and his younger
brother were placed in shelter
homes while their aunt fought
for custody. For a time they
scrounged for food and spent
several sleepless nights not
certain where the next day would
take them. He attended four high
schools in four years, yet Garcia
managed to graduate and enlist
in the Marines. Boot camp gave
him the structure, discipline, and
security that he both craved and
resisted. It was the hardest thing
Ive ever done, he says. I started
to run so I could be by myself. It
was the only time I wasnt being
yelled at.
Garcia served four years in the
Marines, then earned an MBA
in international business. He got
married, had two daughters, and
started running racesfrst a
local 5K and, in 2006, his frst
marathon, for which he had not
properly trained. It was awful,
he says. I swore Id never run a
marathon again. That declaration
lasted all of six months.
It was during a trip to his parents native Guatemala in 2009
that he met extended family and
got the only photos he has of his
mother. In marathons, he tapes
copies of the photos to the pole of
an American fag he often carries,
or to the stick of a pace-leader
sign (he recently paced the 3:50
group for Marathon Maniacs), or
to his race belt when he is going
for a fast time.
Its not the only photo he
carries. Garcia, amicably divorced
and living a mile from his ex-wife
to share care of their daughters,
also brings along a picture of a
severely autistic young woman,
Nevaeh, whom he connected with
through I Run 4 (the nonproft
pairs athletes with those who
have special physical, mental, or
developmental needs). He pushed
her in a jogging stroller in a half
marathon in June. If his mother
gives him strength to overcome
his past, Nevaeh gives him hope
for the future. Besides, every mile
he runs puts more distance between himself and that man, his
father, now released from prison,
though Garcia has not spoken
with him. Running saved me and
has helped me become the man I
am today. T.H.

Rahaf
Khatib
32, Stay-at-home mom
Farmington Hills, MI

P H OTO G R A P H B Y DAV E K R I E G E R

I hope to inspire my fellow

stay-at-home moms and
Muslim American female
friends to get active and ft.

During the Muslim holy

month of Ramadan, which
began this year in mid-June,
Khatib fasted for 30 days,
foregoing food and water
for up to 17 hours a day.
At sunset, she broke fast,
then went to the mosque to
prayhours-long rituals of
bowing, rising, and reciting
verses from the Quran.
Only then, often between
the hours of 1 a.m. and 3
a.m., would she hop on the
treadmill to complete the
40-plus weekly miles on her
training plan for the Chicago
Marathon.
Khatib knows not every
Muslimor every runner
would maintain such an intense regimen while fasting.
But Khatib has big goals, and
not just for her race times.
The Prophet said, Come
to know each other, she
says. Through her dedication to the running community, she aims to perform
whats called good dawah,
breaking down stereotypes
and sharing her faith. Its
not forcing it on anyone, just
trying to shed light on Islam
and what it means to be a
Muslim American living in
this country.
Other runners on her
suburban Detroit streets and
tree-lined trails know her on
sight. Shes the only one they
see in hijab, the traditional
Muslim headscarf; she
covers everything except her
hands and face for modesty.
Shes found other runners
open and welcoming, if curiousmost frequently,

#runhappyrunfree

#CancerShmancer

CINDY KUZMA

72 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

MICHAEL CATES
35, IBM client executive
Chicago, IL
I battled through stage IV non-Hodgkins
lymphoma, and running has become my
mental and physical therapy.

Michael Cates was a bit heavier in

2011 before he signed up for his rst
marathonabout 200 pounds on his
6-foot frame. After he lost 10 pounds
from what he thought was gastritisa
friend talked him into a four-month
training program for the 2012 Austin
Marathon. He wasnt surprised that
his weight continued to drop since
he was running so much. But he was
surprised six weeks after nishing the
race when doctors discovered a mass
on his pancreas. It was difuse stage
IV lymphoma. A shocking diagnosis
for anyone, let alone a 31-year-old
father with an expectant wife.
Four months of chemo ensueda
time frame he could wrap his mind
around. I looked at it like another
marathon, says Cates. I knew I had

the strength to face a challenge with

an uncertain outcome. His wife gave
birth to a second daughter ve weeks
after he completed chemo, and he
vowed when he returned to health
to get back to 26.2, which he did, six
months after completing treatment.
(He ran Austin again, in 4:26, nearly
30 minutes faster than hed run prior
to his cancer diagnosis.) The following year, he ran the 2014 Chicago
Marathon in 3:32. Cancer isnt just a
physical disease, he says. Its a mental and spiritual one, too. Running is a
way to impact all of thatit helps with
recovery and its therapy. Its a way to
take control of your life.
Running gives Cates an identity
apart from cancer, and he wants
others to have the opportunity to redene themselves, too. Which is why
he now coaches for the Cancer to 5K
training program in Chicago, which
helps survivors who want to get back
into training, as well as people who
have never run before. The disease
doesnt have to dene you, he says.
I want others to know that cancer is
only part of their greater story. T.H.

P H OTO G R A P H B Y DAV I D J O H N S O N

about how she can run in long

pants and sleeves in the summer.
I dont mind it at all, I get used
to it, she says. Its just the way
I dress in public. Sure, she feels
hotbut so does everyone when
its 90 degrees.
As a busy mother of three, her
days can feel routine, and her
work unappreciated. Over the
past three years, shes regained
her self-confdence and sense of
worth by participating in a range
of events from 5Ks to three marathons. The running inspired me,
she says. I really found myself.
Now, she hopes to guide other
Muslim women to her source
of strength. She lives a mere
20-minute drive from Dearborn,
the town her parents settled in
after moving to Detroit from Syria
before she was born. The place
has a large Muslim community;
she believes theres no reason
she shouldnt see other women in
hijab at running groups and races.
Khatib has already persuaded
her younger sister to join her for
shorter distances and inspired
many friends to get active. Last
year, she was asked to help organize a 5K during the Islamic Society of North Americas convention
in Detroit, and this year, a national
group called Muslimahs on the
Run approached her about starting a local chapter. The Prophet,
peace be upon him, teaches us to
take care of our bodies, she says.
I preach to my fellow covered
sisters that no matter how you
look or what you wear, dont let
that stop you from running. She
also hopes to become a voice
advocating for more availability of
modest active wear for women,
Muslim or not.
When marathon week arrived,
Chicago forecasters predicted
temperatures in the mid- to high
70s. Race organizers sent runners
a yellow-alert email, advising
against long sleeves and long
pants; Khatib could only laugh
at the irony. She lined up in a
running skirt over tights and a
teal zip-up, and topped her hijab
with a matching Nike hat to block
the sun. If the heat bothered her,
youd never guessshe crossed
the fnish line with a smile and a
25-minute PR of 4:51:40.

Sam
Gardner
30, CPA
Daphne, AL

P H OTO G R A P H B Y R U S H JAG O E

I went out for a run one

Sunday afternoon and the
unthinkable happened.

When a beaming Samantha

Gardner broke the tape at
the New Orleans Mardi Gras
Marathon in January, her
huge smile refected more
than just a sweet victory and
a happy PR of 3:03:41. It was
an arms-raised triumph over
a dark moment in her past,
representing a journey that
had taken nearly 10 years.
Gardner was 20 years old
on a sunny Sunday afternoon
in November 2005 when
she went out for the training
run that would change her
life forever. Home from
college on Thanksgiving
break, she was attacked by
a man who held her for six
hours, raped her repeatedly,
and threatened to kill her
before ultimately letting her
go. Attempting to return to
normal, she insisted on
running the half marathon
shed been training for, with
a trusted mentor by her side
every step of the way. But
her sense of security and self
had been irrevocably shattered: In the ensuing months
and years, she sufered PTSD
and an eating disorder that
eventually landed her in a
treatment facility.
Healing was, unsurprisingly, slow and gradual.
Finishing her masters in tax
accounting helped. As did
moving to a new southern
Alabama community in 2008
and landing a job as a CPA.
And looking for running partners, which led her to a simpatico runner named Daniel,
whom she would marry in
2010. Increasing her mileage
and doing workouts with her
husband, she watched her

times drop. Eventually she

felt safe enough to talk about
that awful day with a few
congregants in her church.
Their support encouraged
her to start a blog informed
by her faith. She still strugglesto this day, she rarely
runs alonebut hopes that
opening up will help victims
of sexual assault, as well as
other runners. Everybody
has hardships in life to overcome, she says. Because
of what happened, I am able
to connect with people in a
deeper way and have a greater sense of purpose. The
marathon win? Just the most
potent symbol that shes on
the right path. T.H.

#runtoovercome

TOP MALE VOTE-GETTER

SEMIFINAL STAGE

Readers CHOICE
TOP FEMALE VOTE-GETTER
OVERALL and SEMIFINAL STAGE

TOP MALE VOTE-GETTER

OVERALL

22, Special Olympian and coach

Indianapolis, IN

K IMBE R LY GR INE R HE IN Z
58, Hospital wellness and event
coordinator
Arkdale, WI
#overcomingbyrunning
Life really is a gift, despite grief
and sorrow.
When Kimberly Griner Heinz got the worst
call a mother can receive on February 12,
2014, she dropped the phone and fell to her
knees. Her sonher only childhad died from
a drug overdose, just 10 days before his 27th
birthday. How do you go on? One day at a
time, as the clich goes, but also, for a runner, one mile at a time. I run to help others
struggling with addiction in all parts of life,
Heinz says. It would be so much easier to
curl up in a ball and stop living. This gives me
a purpose to get up and get out.
Heinz had a strong network of running
friends to support her through those rst dark
days and subsequent months of attempting to
heal. Indeed, she had founded a running club
ve years earlier to meet like-minded people,
when shed moved to Arkdale from Tampa,
Florida. My running club is like my family, she
says. We are there for each other in good
times and in bad times.
On October 11, she ran the Chicago
Marathon in 6:16:01 with a photo of her son,
Eric, pinned to her shirt. To the photo she had
digitally added the names of nearly 2,000
people who struggle with or have lost battles
to addiction. I was stopped by dozens upon
dozens of runners who felt compelled to share
stories of addiction in their families, some of
them recovering addicts themselves, she
says. They thanked me for helping eradicate
the stigma so often associated with addicts
and the families who love them. They stopped
to hug me, pat my shoulder, squeeze my hand,
share tears. I was overcome with emotion,
both happy and sad. T.H.

74 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

MICHAEL SCOTT
42, Stay-at-home dad and coach

#NOlimitsAndrew
Shortly after birth, I was found
alone. Running gave me success.

Greencastle, IN
#runnerdsrock
Running has changed my life. I
get joy out of seeing my athletes
succeed.
Michael Scott got where he is today thanks
to Runners World! Okay, were joking, but
only a little. In 2011, he managed a grocery
store, weighed 235 pounds, drank four to
six Mountain Dews a day, and felt tired all
the time. His wife, meanwhile, had started
running and was looking really great (his
words), inspiring him to go out for his rst
run1.9 miles. I thought I was going to die,
he says.
He stuck with it, though, stopped drinking
soda, and was soon down to 180 pounds
and facing the prospect of running through
a cold, dark Indiana winter when he decided
to get motivated with the inaugural Runners
World Holiday Run Streak, which requires
at least one mile a day from Thanksgiving to
New Years Day (see page 36). And he didnt
stop running for 1,140 daysnever once on
a treadmill. Along the way he completed
several marathons, including a 3:09:25 PR
that qualied him for Boston, and a trio
of 100-milers, during the last of which he
unfortunately sufered a stress fracture
that derailed his streak. And running truly
changed his life: He became an RRCAcertied coach, took a job coaching track
and eld at his daughters school, and
started a Facebook group, Run Nerds Rock
Coaching, whose rabid following voted in the
Cover Search early and oftenpropelling him
to the overall top (male) spot. In May, he saw
there was a summer RW Run Streak, and
guess what? As of press time, hed notched
145 days. T.H.

Andrew Peterson is back in kindergarten. For fve hours, fve days

a week, he volunteers to play, sing,
encourage, and otherwise help
keep a group of 5-year-olds on
task. And at recess the three-time
Special Olympics gold medalist
runs around the playground with
whoever wants to try to keep up
with him. (He also helps coach a
local high schools cross-country
and track teams.) Its a remarkable
achievement for a man dealing
with the efects of being born with
fetal alcohol syndrome. Abandoned by his birth mother, he was
adopted at age 5. Hes with the
same teacher who taught him 17
years ago when he hadnt learned
to talk and routinely hit people,
his dad reports. Hes become a
calming force for several young
boys with challenging behaviors.
Andrew began walking laps
on the track in second grade as
a proxy for detention. He picked
up the pace and found he enjoyed
running, earning four varsity
letters in high school. In the 2014
Special Olympics, he took gold
medals in the 1500, 3,000, and
5,000 meters. In November, he
plans to run his second half marathon. When I started running,
other runners believed in me, says
Peterson. His avid followers voted
for him in droves, making him the
only repeat from last years 10 fnalists. I want to provide the same
support for other runners who are
just like me. T.H.

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y A L E X E I H AY ( H E I N Z & S COT T ); A J M AS T ( P E T E R S O N ); C LOT H I N G : A S I C S B R A , N I K E TA N K , CA LV I N K L E I N L E G G I N G S , F I T B I T ( H E I N Z ) ; C 9 S H I R T ( S C OT T ) ; N I K E S H I R T ( P E T E R S O N )

ANDREW PETERSON

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

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COVERSEARCH.RUNNERSWORLD.COM

#GORUNIT

5(+0(9
 

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BY Nick Weldon

1 Mo Farah / 2 Rita Jeptoo / 3 Scott Jurek / 4 Fatty Fuel / 5 Dutee Chand / 6 Ashton Eaton
7 McFarland USA / 8 Kevin Hart with Entourage / 9 Matthew Maton / 10 Harriette Thompson
11 Usain Bolt / 12 Foamy Fuel / 13 Derek Mitchell / 14 Fruity Fuel / 15 Mirna Valerio

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 77

of the Year

THE BODY-IMAGE BREAKTHROUGH

Onward and
Upward?
In May, New York Road
Runners announced its
president and CEO Mary
Wittenberg would be
stepping down to head
up billionaire Richard
Bransons new Virgin
Sport venture. At the
helm of NYRR, Wittenberg had grown its
flagship event, the New
York City Marathon, into
a 50,000-runner leviathan. At Virgin Sport,
mysteriously described
as an active lifestyle
company, shell be
charged with tapping
into the phenomenon
of mass-participation
fitness on an even
greater scale. Several
months later, little else
is known about the new
company.

RECORDS
of the Year
Months after setting the 5,000-meter indoor
world record, Genzebe Dibaba ( 1 ) of Ethiopia
outdid herself at a July IAAF Diamond League meet in Monaco
by going for 3:50.07 in the 1500a four-second PRen route to
breaking the world mark set by Chinas Qu Yunxia in 1993. In the
process, she paced Shannon Rowbury to a 3:56.29, which broke
Mary Decker Slaneys 32-year-old American record. Ashton
Eaton ( 2 ) showed his running prowess by posting the fastest
decathlon 400-meter time ever at the world championships in
Beijing en route to breaking his own WR in the overall event and
taking home his sixth consecutive global multi-event gold title.

WORLD MARKS

Ultramarathoning great Scott Jurek ( 3 ) had

one massive achievement of endurance on his
bucket list before he could call it a career: the Appalachian Trail
through-hike speed record. In July, the 41-year-old completed
the Georgia-to-Maine gauntlet after 46 days, eight hours, and
seven minutes in the woodsmere hours faster than the old
mark. His champagne celebration atop Mount Katahdin attracted controversy in the form of three park citations, two of which
were dropped after Jurek agreed to pay $500 for drinking in
public. As the saying goes: It isnt the mountains ahead to climb
that wear you outits the pebble in your shoe.

HAPPY TRAILS

Unseeded
Beet-juice is so 2014.
Taking its place: extract
of watermelon. Yes,
watermelon juice is
natures latest and
greatest performance
booster, according to a
research group led by
Andrew Jones, Ph.D.,
the guy who uncovered
the benefits of beet
juice. How it works:
Watermelon juice draws
its power from an amino
acid that can improve
blood pressure and
performance in severe
intensity exercise.

DECEPTION POINTS

Rock n the Boat

The college-athletesas-school-employees
debate may command
more headlines, but
now road racing has its
own labor controversy.
A former volunteer
in the Rock n Roll
Marathon series sued
its parent company,
Competitor Group Inc.,

on the grounds that

race volunteers should
be paid as employees, and in May a
federal judge denied the
companys bid to have
the case dismissed.
The lawsuit contends
that the for-profit race
series uses charitable
partnerships as a
means to recruit free

The Better Business Bureau issued a warning against fake themed races for the second straight
year when it flagged the scam Color 5 Mile series in May. Elsewhere, a woman was briefly celebrated as the winner of the St. Louis Marathon after cutting the course, though the error was discovered within minutes. A
runner named Mike Rossi went viral after posting a letter to his kids principal explaining why he pulled them from school
to watch him run Boston, but his qualifying time at the 2014 Via Marathon became the center of Zapruder-film scrutiny by
LetsRun.com, which offered him $100,000 to match the time on a legitimate course. Rossi has maintained his innocence
and his BQ hasnt been invalidated, though hes yet to take up LetsRun.coms offer.

78 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

YA LC I N /A N A D O LU AG E N CY/G E T T Y I M AG E S ( B O LT ); B U R A Z I N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( B E E R ) ; C O U R T E SY O F L A R I S A C H A M B E R S ( M I TC H E L L ) ; L E W R O B E R T S O N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( WAT E R M E LO N ); B RYA N M E LT Z ( VA L E R I O)

As mainstream culture embraced body

positivity in 2015, the running world became a source of inspiration. There was
Derek Mitchell, the Missouri man who in
March, at 570 pounds, declared it his mission to run a 5K every month for the rest
of the year. As of September hed not only
grown a following that included more than
17,000 Facebook fans, hed already outpaced his goal by finishing his 17th race,
including two 10Ks (and lost 100 pounds).
Ultrarunner and Fat Girl Running blogger
Mirna Valerio inspired America after appearing in Runners World and on NBC.
Plus-size model Erica Jean Schenk got
major props for posing on the cover of
Womens Running. Englands Lindsey Swift
became a viral star after penning an open
letter on Facebook to a man who tried to
fat-shame her on a run. The only shame
in all of this: that its taken so long for the
public to celebrate athletes of all sizes.

P R E V I O U S PAG E : P H OTO G R A P H S B Y M I TC H M A N D E L ( S H O E ) ; V I C TO R S A I L E R / P H OTO R U N ( D R O N E ); L I N TAO Z H A N G /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( FA R A H ); V I C TO R S A I L E R / P H OTO R U N (J E P TO O); K I T F OX (J U R E K ); K A N G K I M ( BACO N ); A P P H OTO/ R A F I Q M AQ B O O L (C H A N D);

O L I V I E R M O R I N /A F P/G E T T Y I M AG E S ( E ATO N ) ; R O N P H I L L I P S / WA LT D I S N E Y P I C T U R E S / E V E R E T T C O L L E C T I O N ( M C FA R L A N D, U S A ) ; C O U R T E SY O F N I K E ( H A R T W I T H G R O U P ); CA M E R O N S H U LT Z ( M ATO N ); J E R O D H A R R I S /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( T H O M P S O N ); M U S TA FA

STORY

labor. A tough legal

battle is expected, but
if the plaintiffs succeed,
thousands of races
could be impacted.

The best running advice

of 2015 is so simple it
would seem glib if it
didnt come from a thorough British Journal of
Sports Medicine review
of decades of research:
The right shoe for you
is the one thats most
comfortable. Its a
subjective measure,
lead author Dr. Benno
Nigg admits, but he
hypothesizes that,
broadly, runners who
select shoes they feel
are most comfortable
are more efficient and
get hurt less.

Buy It?
In its 2015 runner
survey, Running USA
reported fit/comfort as
the top determining factor in shoe purchases,
with cushioning second.
The trend has helped
drive the maximalist
shoe movement, where
Hoka One One ( 1 ) is no
longer alone2015 saw
every major shoe maker
release an oversized
shoe while also adding
foam underfoot across
their lines. The other
major trend: bounce.
Associated with the
Adidas Boost line, its
now in the Puma Ignite,
soon-to-be Saucony
Everun, and others.

A N D R E W E R R I N G TO N /G E T T Y I M AG E S (C R O S S F I T ); M I TC H M A N D E L ( S H O E )

K I T F OX ( J U R E K ); C O U R T E S Y O F M I R N A VA L E R I O ( VA L E R I O); L E W R O B E R T S O N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( WAT E R M E LO N ) ; C O U R T E SY O F U S CA N D I D S ( R O S S I ); C O U R T E S Y O F A J O D U D U (1 0 K R U N V I D E O); C O U R T E SY O F N Y R R ( B E N S O N );

T H I S S P R E A D : P H OTO G R A P H S B Y V I C TO R S A I L E R / P H OTO R U N ( W I T T E N B E R G , R O C K N R O L L R AC E , D R O N E AT R AC E ); A P P H OTO/C L AU D E PA R I S ( D I BA BA ); CA M E R O N S P E N C E R /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( E ATO N );

If the Shoe Fits

Its a CrossFit
World...
and were just running
in it. The fitness company and exercise program that emphasizes
high-intensity strength
and conditioning
training is no longer just
a trendits a cultural
mainstay. According
to 60 Minutes, which
dedicated part of an
episode to CrossFit,
Inc. ( 2 ) and its founder
Greg Glassman in May,
it has evolved into
the largest gym chain
in history. In the last
three years, CrossFit
has nearly tripled its
number of gyms
they prefer the term
boxes for the spartan
setupto 12,000, and
Forbes estimates that
the brand is now worth
$4 billion. Its annual
CrossFit Games, which
showcase the competitive end of this fitness
phenomenon, continue
to be a massive draw as
a spectator sport both
live and on ESPN.

Forever Young
In September, a Mayo
Clinic review of a range
of runner studies
reported that running
as little as six miles a
week can improve
longevity by three to
six years. This news
was accompanied in
2015 by an array of
inspirational stories
about older runners redefining human limits. In
September, Bill Benson
( 3 ), 96, became the
oldest finisher at the
2015 Fifth Avenue Mile.
In May, Harriette Thompson, at 92, became the
oldest woman to

TRENDS
of the Year

A majority of runners who participated in Running USAs

2015 National Runner Survey said that they post race results
and photos on social media. The running world, it appears, isnt immune to selfie fever.
Anybody who ran a road race in 2015 could corroborate the prevalence of people pausing
midstride for a quick snapparticularly in noncompetitive events like color runs. You
can even find video of an entire 10K run with a selfie stick on YouTube. The trend may irk
some, but its not without its benefits if you happen to be in the right place at the right
time: Troy Wayrynen won a National Press Photographers Association award this spring
forwait for itsnapping a photo of a high school runner snapping a photo of himself.

THE SOCIAL RUNNER RULES

CUP HALF FULL

Running USAs
2015 U.S. Road
Race Trends report brought with
it news that the
number of events
and finishers in
U.S. road races
the year before
had decreased
slightly for the
first time since it
began tracking
data in 1990. The
dip was small, at
one percent, and
told only part of
the story. The
number of half
and full marathon
finishers actually
increased by four
and two percent,
respectively , with
the half as the
favored distance
of 41 percent of
runners polled
way out in front
of the next most
popular distance,
the 5K, at 18
percent. The
send-up: Even as
overall participation leveled off,
the nearly 19
million total race
finishers were
pushing themselves to go
farther.

RISE OF THE MACHINE Whats that in the sky? In the last year,

runners werent just spying birds and

planesbut also drones. The applications for unmanned aerial vehicles are varied for running. Some races, like the Big Sur
International Marathon and Zane Grey 50-miler, use them to
provide unique perspectives of the proceedingsthough others,
like the Boston and NYC marathons, have banned them. Theres
also potential for individuals: Australian researchers have experimented with using quadcopters to assist runners interested in
allowing a robot to guide and pace them. There are safety concerns; in 2014 a triathlete was struck in the head and injured by a
wayward device. As the technology improves, however, drones
will almost certainly play a key role in the future of running.
If drones represent runnings hardware frontier,
a number of developments this past year may
signal where were headed with software. The big shoe and apparel brandsNike and Under Armour, in particularhave been
duking it out in the fitness-tracking space. In an effort to catch
industry-leader Nike, UA has recently snapped up $710 million
in health apps, including MapMyFitness, MyFitnessPal, and
Endomondo, and according to a survey released in September,
the moves have worked: Its Connected Fitness platform was
ranked the most preferred fitness app among women. Our running has been applied in some other unexpected ways, such as
a global heat map released by Strava late last year that reveals
popular running routes. And in August, Shoekicker.com launched
with an intriguing goal: Aggregate shoe prices online to provide
runners with the best deals for their favorite models.

DATA DELUGE

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 79

A New Era?

Peak Beer Mile

What began with a few
friends goofing around
in the late 1980s has
evolved into a spectator
sport covered by ESPN.
An international field of
hundreds came out to
the inaugural Beer Mile
World Classic in San

of the Year

Francisco in August to
chug a 12-ounce beer
and run a quarter-mile,
then repeat three times
as fast as they could.
With increased attention has come more
scrutiny; in April, an
apparent new mens WR
was challenged over the
amount of liquid remaining in the final beer. No
matter: That time was
topped twice later in the
year, and the current
official WR is 4:55.78 by
Canadian Lewis Kent,
set two weeks prior to
the world classic. Just
how popular is it? More
than 90,000 attempts
have been logged in
the official database at
beermile.com.

SCANDAL
steady stream of doping headlines this
WHOS THE DOPE? The
year provided cause to both celebrate the
strides made by clean-sport crusaders and bemoan the tarnished
integrity of elite running. In January, then-reigning Boston and
Chicago champ Rita Jeptoo ( 1 ) received a two-year ban after
testing positive for EPO. In June, former Nike Oregon Project
members alleged that coach Alberto Salazar ( 2 ) and runner Galen
Rupp ( 3 ) had broken drug rules (both have denied it, and USADA
is investigating). And in August, a German journalist alleged
rampant doping in Russia and Kenya; Liliya Shobukhova ( 4 ) of
Russia, the second-fastest female marathoner ever, was stripped
of numerous titles for doping; the IAAF suspended 28 athletes
after using new technology to retest past blood samples; and the
Court of Arbitration for Sport took away Asli Cakir Alptekins ( 5 )
2012 Olympic gold in the 1500 after her second doping violation.

4
3
2
5

80 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

Superstar comedian
Kevin Hart started
a cool movement in
June when he tweeted
that hed be hosting
a spontaneous 5K in
Boston prior to a show.
It drew 300 fans and
kicked off a series
of runs that followed
Hart across the U.S.
Thousands have joined
his Run With Hart tour,
now sponsored by Nike+
Run Club. Word spread
on social media (#Run
WithHart), and Hart is
now a genuine running
ambassadorno joke.

RACING THE RAIN

Quenton Cassidy, protagonist of
the classic 1978 novel Once a Runner, made his return in author John
L. Parker Jr.s prequel, Racing the
Rain. In it, readers learn how a young
Cassidy discovered his natural running ability through his first love, basketball. Set in muggy 1950s and 60s
Florida, the coming of age tale is rich
in intrigue and local color, delving into
Cassidys complicated friendship with
a swamp-wise trapper. In a literary
year marked by a more controversial
characters return (Atticus Finch in
Harper Lees Mockingbird follow-up,
Go Set a Watchman), a few more
miles with Cassidy felt like a breath
of fresh air, humidity be damned.

Bucking the
Binary

of the Year

Funny Runs

In the same year that

decathlon icon Bruce
Jenner transitioned
to a transgender
woman, Indian sprinter
Dutee Chand levied a
blow against sports
biological gender binary
(the concept that gender
is restricted to male
or female, based on
biological diferences,
not a persons sense or
experience of gender).
Chand had challenged
hyperandrogenism regulations that had kept
her out of competition
against other women
since last summer for
having naturally elevated
testosterone levels. The
Court of Arbitration for
Sport ruled in her favor,
allowing Chand to return
to racing, and suspended the regulations for
two years to let the IAAF
gather evidence on the
advantage hyperandrogenic women may

FAST GIRL
Nearly three years after The Smoking
Gun reported that former Olympic
middle-distance runner Suzy Favor
Hamilton had worked as a high-end
Las Vegas escort, she released her
side of the story in the memoir Fast
Girl: A Life Spent Running from Madness. In it, Hamilton goes in depth
about struggles that followed her retirement from pro running, including
depression, her bipolar disorder, and
suicidal thoughts. She details her passion for running but also the anxiety
it brought her, admitting that she intentionally fell during the 1500-meter
final at the 2000 Olympics. Anyone
looking for an honest look at mental
health will find it a worthwhile read.

CO L L I N S ( FAS T G I R L COV E R ); V I C TO R S A I L E R / P H OTO R U N ( J E P TO O, S H O B U K H OVA , A L P T E K I N , R U P P ); A D O L P H E P I E R R E- LO U I S /A L B U Q U E R Q U E J O U R N A L / Z U M A P R E S S .C O M /CO R B I S ( S A L A Z A R )

The International
Association of Athletics
Federations, which
governs road and track
racing globally, has
dealt with its share of
controversies over the
years, but in electing
Seb Coe as its sixth
president in August, it
has given the running
world reason to be optimistic. Coe, a two-time
1500-meter Olympic
champion, was the
mastermind of the 2012
London Olympic Games
and also has experience

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P H OTO G R A P H S B Y L I N TAO Z H A N G /G E T T Y I M AG E S (C O E ); E D I B L E I M AG E S /A L A M Y ( B E E R ); CO U R T E SY O F N I K E ( H A R T ); CO U R T E SY O F VA N I T Y FA I R ( VA N I T Y FA I R COV E R ); M AT T R A I N E Y ( R AC I N G T H E R A I N ); CO U R T E SY O F H A R P E R

in business and the U.K.

Parliament. He defeated
Olympic pole-vaulting
legend Sergey Bubka
in the election, and
is charged first and
foremost with repairing
the reputation of a
sport beset by doping
scandals. His election
has been applauded
but in re-envisioning an
organization that has
often been compared
to soccers vilified FIFA,
Coe certainly faces his
toughest challenge yet.

finish a marathon.
And in June, 70-year-old
Gunhild Swanson
became the oldest
woman to complete the
Western States 100-Mile
Endurance Run.

1
3

2
4

DEBATE

of the Year
Or is it a fat spat? The years top discussion in
sports nutrition was over carb-fat consumption
ratios (see page 82). South African scientist Tim Noakes, M.D.,
coauthor of the best-seller The Real Meal Revolution, championed the benefits of low-carb, high-fat diets to his detriment:
He faced an ethics hearing in November over tweeting similar
dietary advice for babies. In August, new results from an NIH
study suggested the opposite: that low-fat/high-carb diets
were better than low-carb/high-fat ones for losing body fat.
In other words, the best dietary path is as muddled as ever.

CARB WARS

have over female

athletes with normal
testosterone levels.

Four Minutes to
Greatness
C H R I S T I A N P E T E R S E N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( S Y M M O N D S ) ; DA R R O N C U M M I N G S /A P P H OTO/C O R B I S ( H U D D L E ) ; J O N AT H A N K A N TO R ( B R E A D, B U T T E R )

CO U R T E SY O F KAT I E S U T TO N ( F I S H E R ); U N I V E R S A L P I C T U R E S / E V E R E T T C O L L E C T I O N ( U N B R O K E N ); G A RY M O R R I S O N /G E T T Y I M AG E S ( M A R I J UA N A L E A F ); DY L A N M A R T I N E Z / R E U T E R S /CO R B I S ( I N F E L D);

The spring saw two

teenagers make history.
In May, Matthew Maton
of Oregon became the
sixth American highschooler to break four
minutes in the mile, with
a 3:59.38 finish that put
him behind only Alan
Webb and Jim Ryun on
the all-time U.S. high
school list. Less than
a month later, Grant
Fisher ( 1 ) of Michigan
ran the exact same time
as Maton. The pair could
become a great rivalry,
as theyll see plenty of
each other in the next
four years. Both kicked
off college careers this
fall in the Pac-12: Maton
at Oregon and Fisher
at Stanford.

Reel Returns
Running is going Hollywood. The year started
with the ongoing success of Angelina Jolies
Unbroken, which chroni-

cled the story of Olympic

runner and prisoner of
war Louis Zamperini
( 2 ). By the end of its
run in March, it had
grossed over $161 million
worldwide. Meanwhile,
the less-ballyhooed
Disney cross-country
film McFarland, USA,
which starred Kevin
Costner and premiered
in February, met with
surprising critical praise
and box-office success.
And news broke that
Matthew McConaughey
will play Micah True,
a.k.a. Caballo Blanco,
in the movie of Christopher McDougalls Born
to Run, which doesnt yet
have a release date.

High Runners
With the spreading
legalization and social
acceptance of marijuana ( 3 ), it was inevitable:
a pot-themed 5K with
every runner wearing
bib number 420. The
second annual 420
Games, held in August
in San Francisco, drew
more than 500 runners
and awarded $500 mar-

RUNNERS
of the Year

STILL THE BEST

ijuana gift cards to the

winnersincluding Chris
Barnicle, who finished
in 15:57 and, like an
estimated half the field,
ran under the influence.
Similar races popped up
this year from Cleveland
to Central Florida.
Research has shown
marijuana to have some
anti-inflammatory
effects, though there
remain possible health
drawbacks (see page
28). As more runners
use weed, however,
we may soon need to
retire the stoner/slacker
clich.

That Awkward
Moment
Fans of U.S. track and
field felt a mix of emotions at the end of the
womens 10,000-meter
final at the world championships. National
champion and track
veteran Molly Huddle
( 4 ) was in position to
win a bronze medal,
which would have been
her long-awaited first
in a worlds or Olympics
final, when she slowed

and raised her arms

to celebrate steps
from the finish. In that
moment, her teammate
Emily Infeld ( 5 ) surged
past her to claim third
place. After the race
the pair wore opposing
looks of agony and ecstasy as they watched
the replay on the
stadium screena clip,
and cautionary tale,
seen the world over in
the following days.

Sponsor-gate
Outspoken U.S. 800meter champion Nick
Symmonds ( 6 ) made
headlines ahead of the
world championships
when he challenged
USA Track & Fields
hazy apparel rules. At
issue was a mandatory

statement that bound

athletes to wear Nike
Team uniforms at all
official Team USA
functions. Symmonds,
sponsored by Brooks,
refused to sign; the
reigning national champ
was then left off the
team. But his actions
led to USATF clarifying
its rules, and athletes in
Beijing said they were
able to promote their
individual sponsors
outside of competition
without issue.

Deena-mite!
In October, Deena
Kastor, the 42-yearold American record
holder in the marathon,
proved she was far
from finished. Though
she hadnt broken

2:30 in six years, she

entered the Chicago
Marathon targeting
the decade-old U.S.
masters record of
2:28:40and crushed it
by nearly a minute. Her
2:27:47 finish was good
enough for seventh
place overall and, in
an otherwise down
year for U.S. marathoningno American
finished higher than
tenth at the world
championshipswas
also the fastest race
by an American woman
all year. The feat makes
the 2004 Olympic
bronze medalist a legitimate threat to make
the 2016 Olympic team
for Rio de Janeiro at the
marathon trials in Los
Angeles in February.

One was challenged by his health and a fierce rival, the other by the doping drama surrounding his
coach. But after the world championships in Beijing, any doubt that Usain Bolt and Mo Farah were the
unquestioned masters of their disciplines had been roundly quashed. Bolt had spent much of the past
year dealing with injuries and watching American Justin Gatlin emerge as one of the fastest 100- and
200-meter runners in the world, but under the bright lights, the Jamaican superstar won gold in both
distances. Farah, meanwhile, spent months defending himself as his coach, Alberto Salazar, was accused
of breaking doping rules. The British great distanced himself from the scandal en route to double golds
of his own in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, matching his haul at the 2012 Olympics and 2013 worlds.
DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 81

More athletes are

ditching pasta,
bread, and other
carbs for steak,
eggs, and (gasp!)
butter. Could
eating more fat
actually make
you a better
runner? Our writer
tested the theory
while training for
a marathonwith
surprising results.
a minute, I
say, pausing in front of a gleaming
bakery case. Im three weeks into
training for a marathon. Im also on
a controversial low-carb, high-fat
diet, and despite the fact that every
proponent has assured me Id lose
my desire for sweets after a week or
two, I am enraptured by the carrot
cakes on display at our local Costco.
Do we need Brussels sprouts?
my husband asks.
I cant hear him over the depraved
screams of my sweet tooth. I stare
lustfully at the puck-shaped pillow of
cake and wonder how the hell Im going to make it through 13 more weeks
of this. Stupid marathon, I think as
I woefully push my cart toward the
produce section. Stupid diet.
Fat-adapted running is an emerging philosophy in the long-distance
running community. Some runners

I JUST WANT TO STAND HERE

By AC Shilton
Photographs by Grant Cornett
Illustrations by Serge Seidlitz

Low carbs means no

breadnot even the
nutty, whole-grain
kindno pasta, and
very little fruit. The
author especially
missed peaches.

While they also

encourage healthy
fats in avocados and
nuts, high-fat diets
allow saturated
fats found in butter,
cheese, and bacon.

especially ultradistance athletes

are trying low-carb, high-fat (LCHF)
diets in an attempt to teach their
bodies to use fat for fuel. The theory
is that since the human body can
store more fat than carbohydrates,
by becoming fat adapted, youll be
able to go farther faster. A few pro
runners, like 2:31:29 marathoner
Zach Bitter, have switched to LCHF
diets. Others modify the approach to
run low on carbs only occasionally: Ryan Bolton, who coaches elites
in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has his
athletes doing fasted long runs up
to 20 miles with the idea that this
will help them boost their ability to
metabolize fat.
The LCHF diet calls for 50 to 70
percent of calories to come from fat,
up to 20 percent from protein, up to
20 percent from vegetables, and just
five percent from fruits and starches.
That ratio is in stark contrast to the
kind of traditional diet favored
by most runners (and this magazine). Registered dietitian and
sports nutritionist Nancy Clark
recommends that athletes get 55
to 65 percent of their calories from
carbs, 25 to 30 percent of their calories from fat, and 10 to 15 percent
of their calories from protein. The
LCHF diet is similar to the betterknown Paleo Diet in a few ways. For
example, grains, sugar, and legumes
are all out. Both plans allow ample
amounts of eggs, grass-fed meats,
nuts, and low-starch veggies. But
the Paleo Diet allows dates, among
other fruits (in moderation), which
would bust the carb bank on LCHF
(which does allow coconut and fruits
like berries). And Paleo has more of
an emphasis on protein (up to 35

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 83

percent). The low-carb, high-fat diets

dont make a big fuss over saturated fat.
In fact, Dave Asprey, the biohacker
behind the Bulletproof Diet (published
by Rodale, the parent company of Runners World), says saturated fats count
as good fat, since they are used to
build cell membranes and to make hormones. Furthermore, proponents of
the diet say that the links between saturated fat and coronary heart disease
are based on shaky-at-best science.
Despite turning traditional wisdom
about the runners diet on its head,
fans of fat-adapted running swear
youll both nail a PR and lose weight.
But a few weeks in, all I felt like I was
losing was my sanity.
How Did I Get Here?
THE FIRST THING you need to know about
me is that I do not believe in fad diets.
Ive watched too many friends try
very-low-fat diets, grapefruit diets,
cabbage soup dietsyou name it
with no lasting results. Plus, a severe
eating disorder in my teens and early
20s made me realize that eliminating entire food groups isat least for
mea dangerous proposition.
Since recovering, Ive been a moderation evangelist. I do eat cookies, just
not the whole box. But while I felt my
moderation diet was working, I was
discouraged by my moderate running
times. I started running when I was
15, more than 15 years ago. In four
years, starting in 2008, Id run four
marathons between 4:23 and 4:30. Ive
also done two full Ironmans, nishing
both in almost the exact same time. I
sought help from a local coach, Matt
Reedy, but he said his marathon plan
required eating no carbs two hours before or after training runs. I told him he
was nuts and moved on. Later I added a
fth 4:20-something to my collection.
Then I got on the phone with Timothy Noakes, M.D., one of the bestknown exercise science researchers
in the world and the author of the
1986 training bible Lore of Running.
I called him for a story about muscle
cramps, and our conversation turned
to nutrition. Im sorry, I didnt get
that last sentence, I said, thinking
the transatlantic connection had
made it sound like he was advocating
running on a low-carb diet. He was.
Its totally changed my running, he
repeated. Id become lethargic and

84 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

After two weeks of feeling like crap on the

diet, I showed up for a workout and
kept up with the fast guys. Wow!
I wasnt really enjoying running.
Noakes added that he had type 2 diabetes, despite exercising regularly
and eating what hed thought was a
healthy diet. When he shifted to a lowcarb, high-fat diet: I went from running like a 60-year-old [which he is] to
running like a 40-year-old, he says.
So enthusiastic was he about his new
approach that he wrote a best-selling
book about it, Real Meal Revolution.
That night, I pushed my post-speedwork pasta around my plate. I trusted
Noakes. Id read many papers hed
authored over the years. And I had
friends that had reached their goals
using Reedys carb-free plan. What if
there was something to this?
The Big Fat Idea
to Reedy and told him
I was ready to listen. He walked me
through the changes Id have to make
and how the 16-week training plan
would be more about boosting my
metabolic efficiency than boosting
my aerobic capacity. I said farewell to
my prerun bowl of cereal and signed on.
Metabolic efciency is a term coined
by Bob Seebohar, a sports dietitian and
exercise physiologist. Ten years ago he
realized that he kept hearing the same
two complaints from runners: I want
to lose weight, and I have GI issues
when I run. He wondered if he could
alleviate these issues by switching his
athletes metabolisms so they thrived
on fat. I knew the physiology of the
thing from my exercise physiology
courses, I just didnt know if it could be
done through dietary manipulation.
According to Seebohar, who outlines his theory in Metabolic Efciency
Training: Training the Body to Burn
More Fat, the average person is able
to store between 1,400 and 2,000 calories of glycogen in their body. These
glycogen stores come from eating carbohydratesfruit, pasta, bread, and,
SO I WENT BACK

yes, cookies. Glycogen is your bodys

go-to source for fuel, and a huge
amount of evidence shows it is the
best fuel for speedy performance. But
when youre out of itoh, when youre
outthats a bonk, and its awful.
Now try not to take this next part
personally: Seebohar says you have
almost unlimited stores of fat calories to burn. A 150-pound person, for
instance, may have 80,000 calories
worth of stored fat at any one time.
Teach your body to run on fat and you
can run foreverat least in theory.
Day One: No Carbs.
Please Send Pasta Soon
I STARTED THE SWITCH on a Monday morning. I poured my cofee, dumped a bit
of half-and-half into the mug, and
tried to reconcile myself to a world
of unsweetened things. Judge me if
you wish, but I like my cofee sweet.
Actually, I like everything sweet, and
sugar is strictly verboten on the lowcarb, high-fat approach. I sipped at my
morning brew. Disgusting, I thought.
The day went downhill. Breakfast was two hard-boiled eggs that
slip-slided unappetizingly around

my plate. Out were my normal fresh

fruit and peanut butter on toast snacks.
Subbed in were roasted almonds,
chunks of cheese, and bits of salami.
My Monday evening run started slow
and ended slower. By dinnertime I was
morose as I poked like a perturbed
surgeon at my chicken breast.
The next mornings hill workout
felt like trying to summit Denali while
knee-deep in mud. The following days
spin class was no better. Reedy had designed my schedule so I was running
just a few miles at a time during the
transition. Although Id nished a full
Ironman before starting this diet, even
three-mile runs were now hard.
My husband had promised to try fat
adaptation with me. Two miles into his
second carb-free run, he slowed to a
walk, put his hands on his hips, and
exhaled a stream of pungent language.
The next day I found a squashed box
of Cheez-Its at the bottom of our recycling bin. I was on my own.
And then, after two weeks of doubts
and desires, on day 16, I showed up
for a group run and got stuck with a
bunch of fast guys. We were doing
last-man-up drills, where the group
runs in a line and the person at the
back sprints to the front. Your group
can only go as fast as the slowest person, and I was going to be, by far, the
slowest person. Theres no way, I
said. Ive been running like crap.
We started running single le on a
path next to a small lake. I made my
rst pass with ease and settled back in.
When it was my turn to pass again, I
accelerated, and my legs didnt complain. I swung back into line and g-

ured it would hit on my next trip to

the front. Then, one of the fast guys
dropped out. But I was still there. That
wasnt supposed to happen. Round
and round we went. The bonk never
came. When practice ended, I was still
tucked into our little group. Wow!
Both The Bulletproof Diet and
Noa kess Real Meal Revolution
promise youll lose weightand fast.
I wasnt carrying that much extra
weight in the rst place. Still, over the
16-week period, I did drop 13 pounds.
The Bad News
suggest
only limited fruit per day, but after I
sufered a week of insomnia, Asprey
recommended adding in more carbs
before bed. I chose grapes (Asprey
wouldnt approve), popped them like a
kid gorging on Halloween candy, and
slept soundly thereafter.
I also sufered debilitating muscle
cramps, particularly in my calves,
which would seize during the day
and while I slept. It may have been a
result of low magnesium levels. Lowcarb diet plans eliminate whole grains
and beansaccording to the National
Institutes of Health, these are two of
the best dietary sources of the mineral.
And although dark leafy greens like
spinach contain the stuff, you have
to eat a lot of them to get enough. I
started taking a daily magnesium supplement and it helped, but still, I found
myself thinking: Is it really the healthiest diet if you have to take supplements
to get what you need?
I also worried about my kidneys.
When your body burns fat, it releases
ketones into the bloodstream, which
are ltered out by your kidneys. Some
researchersand a lot of people you
meet at the gymbelieve the extra
ketones plus the protein-heavy nature of a low-carb diet could lead to
increases in kidney stones or renal
disease. However, a 2012 study in the
Clinical Journal of the American Society
of Nephrology found that after tracking
obese adults for four years, there was
no diference in kidney function for
those on low-carb diets versus those
on low-fat diets. (The study did note
that an even longer-term study was
still needed.) And a 2005 review of
literature published in Nutrition & Metabolism found that there was no correlation between an increase in animal

MOST LOW- CARB, HIGH-FAT DIE T S

A Day of Eating

LOW CARB, HIGH FAT

BREAKFAST
Cofee with 2 tablespoons of butter,
1 teaspoon of stevia, and 1 tablespoon of Dave Aspreys MCT Oil,
plus 1 whole egg scrambled
with 1 egg white: 430 calories,
43 g fat, 1 g carbs
Midmorning snack: Serving of
salted, mixed nuts: 172 calories,
17 g fat, 6 g carbs

LUNCH
Salad of mixed greens, shredded
carrots, red onion, and half an
avocado topped with 4 ounces of
cold smoked salmon, 1 teaspoon
olive oil, and 1 teaspoon balsamic
vinegar: 427 calories, 28 g fat,
13 g carbs
Afternoon snack: Tea with halfand-half and 2 tablespoons
of almond butter. (Yup, from
the spoon. Go ahead, judge.)
200 calories, 18 g fat, 6 g carbs

DINNER
Marinara with turkey meatballs over
zucchini spaghetti topped with
Parmesan cheese: 451 calories,
17 g fat, 24 g carbs
Dessert: Whole grapefruit, and 3 or
4 dark-chocolate-covered almonds:
120 calories, 5 g fat, 20 g carbs
Total for the day: 1,800 calories,
128 g fat, 70 g carbs

protein consumption and incidences of

renal disease in populations that had
normal renal function to begin with.
I worried about my cholesterol, too.
At the height of my Ironman training, Id had a doctor ag my levels as
borderline high. Id been eating a lowfat diet, chucking my egg yolks, and
keeping red meat to once a week. The

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 85

nurse called me with my results and

urged me to make sure I was getting
enough exercise.
So when I started loading up on bacon and beef stew for this experiment,
every interval run made me imagine
that my heart was ready to explode,
strangled by renegade lipid particles.
And my cholesterol did go up. Both
my HDL and LDL numbers jumped.
My HDL (or good cholesterol) went
from 67 to 87 milligrams per deciliter,
and my LDL (the bad ) shot up from
122 to 145 milliliters per deciliter. My
triglycerides, however, dropped.
Im not concerned yet, said Gary
C. Courville, M.D., my general practitioner. A healthy, young person like
you, its not really something you need
to worry about. But you may want to
consider laying of the bacon a bit.
The tide is changing in how we
think about cholesterol and whether saturated fat is really the villain
its been cast as. A growing body of
research is showing that the HDL/
LDL picture is incomplete, and that
conventional wisdom and testing may
not give us the actual data we need
to detect real cardiac risks. The size
and density of LDL particles seems
to matter more than the total number
of particles, and some research has
shown that low-fat, high-carb diets
produce the worst kind of LDL particlesthe small, hard kind. But at the
same time, other research has shown
that low-carb, high-fat diets produce
an increase in the large, low-density
LDL particleswhich are the type
least likely to cause a cardiac incident.

A Tasty
LCHF Meal
Diets Make Everyone
Seem Crazy
BUT ALL MY WORRIES DIDNT nearly compare to what I should have been
concerned about: the social efects
of being on such a diet. When you
tell people you are training for and
running a marathon without carbs,
you get a lot of side-eyed looks. I
found myself quickly adding: Its
for a story! I know; its crazy, right?
Its one thing, however, to be a
journalist doing an N=1 experiment.
When youre a well-known researcher who has spent his career talking
about how athletes need carbs? Well
thats an entire other can of (lowcarb) crazy. Noakes has taken a lot
of heat for his position switch, being
called everything from a charlatan to
a seller of snake oil. Noakes
has gone out on a limb,
(Continued on page 111)
The author finished
her fifth marathon
last December in
Naples, FL, with
a 16-minute PR.
After recovering, she
bought a cake.

Avocado, Ham,
and Egg Cups
(recipe from Prevention.com)
2 avocados
2 slices deli ham
4 eggs
Salt and black pepper
Pinch of chives, for
garnish
Parmesan cheese,
grated or shredded,
for garnish
Heat oven to 425F. Halve both
avocados and scoop out about a
third of the flesh from each avocado
half around the pits indent. Dice
scooped flesh and set aside. Halve
both ham slices and fit half a slice
into each avocado half to form a
cup. Carefully crack 1 egg into each
cup without breaking the yolk. Season with salt and pepper, and bake
until egg is set but yolk is still runny,
about 15 minutes. Remove from
oven and top each cup with chives,
a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and
the diced avocado. Serves 4.

Zucchini Noodles
Using a mandolin or a vegetable
peeler, carefully cut zucchini lengthwise into ribbons, only through the
outer flesh of the zucchinionce you
reach the seeds, stop.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and
add a pinch of salt. Drop zucchini
ribbons into the boiling water and
cook for one minute. Drain noodles and rinse under cool water.
Give noodles a squeeze to release
excess water, then top with sauce.

86 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

P H OTO G R A P H C O U R T E S Y O F AC S H I LTO N ( R AC E P H OTO)

2 medium to large
zucchinis
Salt

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WINTER SHOE GUIDE

Now
featuring
IMAGES AND DATA
FOR BOTH MENS AND
WOMENS SHOES

BY JONATHAN BEVERLY
& MARTYN SHORTEN, PH.D.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK FERRARI

RW SHOE FINDER
1202

&#0#

YES

THE SHOE FINDER HELPS YOU PINPOINT SUITABLE MODELS BASED ON YOUR RUNNING HISTORY AND OTHER SHOES
YOU LIKE. FOR MORE DETAILS ON FIT AND PERFORMANCE, SEE OUR REVIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

DO YOU KNOW THE TYPE OF SHOE THAT WORKS WELL

FOR YOUR SIZE, STRIDE, AND PREFERRED RIDE?
Proceed directly to the grid below. Shoes
are arranged in terms of cushioning, weight,
sole height, fexibility, and stability features
as measured in the RW Shoe Lab. Youll fnd
lighter, less-supportive shoes in the bottom
left and highly cushioned, more stable shoes
in the top right. Shoes in the middle provide
a balance of performance and protection
features and can work well for many runners.

NO

Put yourself into a runner group using the

table at right, starting with Body Size at the
top, then working down. When youve arrived
at a color-coded group on the bottom of the
table, locate it on the grid below. Shoes in
that encircled group tend to work well for
runners like you. Start with shoes well within
your group, but feel free to consider models
along the border or in a neighboring group.

SHOES IN THIS REGION ARE LIGHT, FLEXIBLE, AND WELL CUSHIONED

WITHOUT STABILITY AND SUPPORT FEATURES.

MORE

C
361 Spire
p. 95

Saucony Kinvara 5
Reviewed Previously

LESS SHOE

Reviewed Previously
shoes are well-known
models, shown here
for reference. Visit
runnersworld.com/
shoesearch to read
reviews of them.

Adidas Supernova Glide 7

Reviewed Previously
New Balance 870v4
Reviewed Previously

Altra Impulse
p. 98
Puma Ignite
Pwrwarm
p. 100

A
Mizuno Wave
Sayonara 3
p. 100

EDITORS CHOICE
New Balance 1500v2
p. 100

Puma Faas 500 v4

Pwrwarm
p. 101

BEST UPDATE
Adidas Adizero Boston
Boost 5
p. 98

B
For every Shoe
Guide, mens and
womens models
are tested on the
road and in the
lab. Images here
are for womens.

361 KgM2
p. 101

SHOES IN THIS REGION OFFER A FIRM, CLOSE-TO-THE-GROUND RIDE

WITH LITTLE WEIGHT AND FEW RESTRICTIONS ON FOOT MOTION.

LESS

WE ANALYZED DATA FROM MORE THAN 3 MILLION USERS OF THE RW ONLINE SHOE FINDER TO SORT RUNNERS INTO
SEVEN GROUPS. RUNNERS IN EACH GROUP HAVE SIMILAR SHOE NEEDS BASED ON A FEW KEY VARIABLES.

RUNNER GROUPS

BODY SIZE
Body Mass Index is calculated from your weight and height,
and ofers a fairly reliable indication of body type.
BMI = Weight (pounds) / (Height [inches]) 2 x 703.
Or use the calculator at runnersworld.com/bmi.
Generally, the higher your BMI, the more shoe you need.

BMI < 23
Examples:
Under 160 lb. for 5'10" man
Under 134 lb. for 5'4" woman

BMI 2327
Examples:
161188 lb. for 5'10" man
135157 lb. for 5'4" woman

BMI > 27
Examples:
Over 189 lb. for 5'10" man
Over 158 lb. for 5'4" woman

RUNNING EXPERIENCE
This includes how long youve been running and how
much you run. Find your level here by estimating
your average miles per week over the past year.
The more you run, the more efcient you tend to become
and, generally, the less shoe you need.

More than
20 miles per
week

More than
15 miles per
week

More than
10 miles per
week

INJURY EXPERIENCE
During normal training, do you tend to develop problems in
your joints, bones, and connective tissue?
Those with higher incidence of injuries tend to need shoes
with more support.
Note: Shoes cannot cure injuries, and the causes of problems
vary greatly. If youre battling persistent injuries, you should
see a medical professional.
GROUPS

No

Fewer than
20 miles per
week

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Fewer than
10 miles per
week

Yes

Yes

No

SHOES IN THIS REGION COMBINE MAXIMAL CUSHIONING AND SUPPORT,

WITH PLENTY OF PROTECTIVE MATERIAL BETWEEN YOU AND THE GROUND.

CUSHION

No

Fewer than
15 miles per
week

EDITORS CHOICE
Saucony Triumph
ISO 2
p. 94

Hoka One One Clifton 2

Reviewed Previously

Asics Gel-Kayano 22
p. 95

Saucony Guide 9
p. 94

G
Nike Air Zoom Structure 19
p. 94

Asics Gel-Cumulus 16
Reviewed Previously

MORE SHOE

Adidas Supernova
Sequence Boost 8
p. 96

Mizuno Wave Paradox 2

p. 95
New Balance 860v6
p. 98
Brooks Adrenaline
GTS 16
p. 96

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 32

Reviewed Previously

Under Armour Charged Bandit

Reviewed Previously

CUSHION

Based on tests at the

RW Shoe Lab, we fxed
the shoes on this grid to
show how they compare.
Then we overlaid the grid
with runner groups to
show which shoes work
well for certain runners.

BEST DEBUT
Nike Air Zoom Odyssey
p. 96

F
SHOES IN THIS REGION COMBINE FIRM CUSHIONING AND AN ABUNDANCE
OF STABILITY FEATURES, PROVIDING CONTROL AND PROTECTION.

WINTER SHOE GUIDE 2015

Nike Air Zoom Structure 19 $120

Nike designers did major renovation on
the Air Zoom Structure last year, so this
year they focused attention only on the
upper. Advanced knitting techniques
allow them to create zones of support
and areas of fexibility and breathability in one layer of fabric, refning the
ft and hold without adding weight.
Those with average-shaped feet found
the ft comfortable and secure.

MENS
WOMENS

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS

MORE

Weight:
Height:

10.3 oz 8.5 oz
33.9 mm (heel); 23.4 mm (forefoot)
32.6 mm (heel); 24.0 mm (forefoot)

SAUCONY TRIUMPH ISO 2 $150

Saucony Guide 9 $120
The Guide gets its name from the long
wedge of frmer material under the
arch, intended to guide the foot from
touchdown to toe-of. This update
received an infusion of bouncy foam on
the top of the midsole for a strong improvement in bounce-back properties.
The best feature for me was great
cushioning without being squishy,
and nice support, said Meghan
Hogan of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The designers at Saucony didnt rest on their laurels after the Triumph ISO won our
Editors Choice award last March. In this update, they improved the adaptability
of the Isoft upper and added liveliness to the ride. A thin layer of Sauconys new,
bouncy Everun material lies beneath
the insole, while a larger chunk was
inserted into the sole under the heel.
HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM
SOFT
Our lab confrmed its efectiveness,
as the new material raised the
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
shoes bounce-back scores from a
FIRM
SOFT
little above average to the top 10
FLEXIBILITY
percent among shoes weve tested.
LESS
MORE
A combination of softer cushioning
Weight: 10.4 oz 8.6 oz
and high energy return is not easy to
Height: 36.7 mm (heel); 27.4 mm (forefoot)
accomplish, said Martyn Shorten,
35.5 mm (heel); 26.1 mm (forefoot)
Ph.D., head of our Shoe Lab.

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS
Weight:
Height:

MORE
10.0 oz 8.2 oz
33.5 mm (heel); 25.8 mm (forefoot)
32.0 mm (heel); 24.4 mm (forefoot)

94 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

TESTERS TAKE
NAME: Don Rochford
AGE: 45
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 188 lb.
MILES PER WEEK: 25
HOME: Dewitt, MI
OCCUPATION: Police

Ofcer

I was a little leery of trying this

shoe, as I most often go with a
motion control or stability shoe,
but it was without a doubt the
most comfortable and best-ftting
shoe I have worn in years. The
upper wrapped my foot well with
no points of rubbing, from the
snug heel to the toebox.

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y R YA N O L S Z E W S K I ( S H O E S T I L L S O N W H I T E ); S E T S T Y L I N G B Y N I CO L E H E F F R O N ; I L LU S T R AT I O N S B Y J O E L K I M M E L

361 Spire $140

Mizuno Wave Paradox 2 $135

Asics Gel-Kayano 22 $160

The Spire is 361s luxury model, and it

delivered the highest heel-cushioning
scores of any shoe in this guide. That
cushioning comes from a midsole made
from layers of diferent materials and
densities. Directly under the foot, the
insole and top layer of the midsole are
molded with rubber-infused Quickfoam
for a soft, cushioned feel. A slightly
denser, traditional foam forms the lower layer of the midsole under the heel
and on the inside of the forefoot. Some
loved the foot-coddling, while others
found the ride marshmallowy.

Credit the full-length double Wave

plate and the wide base of support for
the Paradoxs ultrastable feel that aligns
your stride and speeds you along to the
forefoot. In this update, Mizuno added
more blown rubber to the large outsole
pads, softened the material between
your foot and the midsole, and refned
the upper so it holds stronger around
the heel while being more open and
fexible around the forefoot. The
support impressed testers, at the cost
of feeling stif and heavy. Those who
crave control applauded this shoe.

If youve enjoyed the Kayanos ultraplush, moderately stable ride before,

number 22 should not disappoint.
Updates were focused on the upper.
A new engineered mesh requires fewer
overlays and is reinforced with internal
fexible plastic straps that hold the foot
more securely on the arch side. The
womens version isnt just smaller, its
made on a diferent last that allows
for more heel cushioning and a higher
heel-toe drop (height diference between heel and forefoot). Some weartesters found the toebox too narrow.

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

HEEL CUSHIONING
SOFT

FIRM

FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT

LESS

FIRM

FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
FIRM

FLEXIBILITY

Weight:
Height:

HEEL CUSHIONING
SOFT

SOFT

FIRM

FLEXIBILITY
MORE

10.3 oz 8.5 oz
36.1 mm (heel); 24.6 mm (forefoot)
34.5 mm (heel); 23.6 mm (forefoot)

LESS
Weight:
Height:

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

MORE
12.0 oz 9.8 oz
39.1 mm (heel); 25.7 mm (forefoot)
36.9 mm (heel); 24.7 mm (forefoot)

LESS

MORE

Weight:
Height:

11.6 oz 9.6 oz
35.5 mm (heel); 26.7 mm (forefoot)
37.6 mm (heel); 25.3 mm (forefoot)

NOW ON RUNNERSWORLD.COM
OTHER SHOES AND REVIEWS
In addition to the 17 in this guide,
our website gives you access to
hundreds of shoe reviews. Go to
runnersworld.com/shoefnder to
fnd more shoes that meet your
needs in ft and performance.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Runners World Brand Editor
Warren Greene (left) gives you
the lowdown on each pair of
running shoes reviewed in these
pages. Watch and learn at
runnersworld.com/shoevideos.

HOW WE TEST
You know we review running
shoes. But do you know how
much time, sweat, and science
are involved? To see everything
that goes into a Shoe Guide, visit
runnersworld.com/how-we-test.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 95

WINTER SHOE GUIDE 2015

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 16 $120

You dont fx what isnt broken, and
the Adrenaline has worked well for 15
iterations, winning multiple awards
and a loyal following. Brooks focused
on refning the upper this time around,
changing the location of overlays to
better hug around the arch and open
up the toebox. The upper is much
more comfortable, said Christopher
Garges of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
who has worn multiple GTS versions.

MENS
WOMENS

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS

MORE

Weight:
Height:

11.1 oz 9.5 oz
36.5 mm (heel); 23.2 mm (forefoot)
35.3 mm (heel); 23.7 mm (forefoot)

NIKE AIR ZOOM ODYSSEY $150

Adidas Supernova Sequence

Boost 8 $130
The Supernova Sequence delivers
serious stability that doesnt feel
clunky. A slab of bouncy Boost foam
provides cushioning, while frmer foam
on top of the midsole and under the
arch serves as a supportive platform.
The upper also holds the midfoot
securely, with more substantial overlays
than in most current shoes.

The Odyssey, a new premium stability shoe, is one of Nikes frst new models since
the company declared a return to taking running more seriouslyand the commitment shows. Designers combined several proprietary features to create a shoe that
deserves to be named after Nikes
classic stability model from the late
80s. Zoom Air provides responsive
HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM
SOFT
cushioning underfoot. A three-density,
segmented midsole supports the
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
entire arch side while letting the foot
FIRM
SOFT
transition smoothly through the stride.
FLEXIBILITY
An engineered mesh upper locks the
LESS
MORE
foot down. Testers commented on
Weight: 10.3 oz 8.4 oz
how comfortable the shoe felt, and
Height: 33.5 mm (heel); 22.2 mm (forefoot)
on the smooth, light ride it provided
33.7 mm (heel); 23.0 mm (forefoot)
without sacrifcing control.

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS
Weight:
Height:

MORE
11.4 oz 9.5 oz
31.2 mm (heel); 23.5 mm (forefoot)
29.7 mm (heel); 22.5 mm (forefoot)

96 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

TESTERS TAKE
NAME: Janelle Hesse
AGE: 33
HEIGHT: 5'9"
WEIGHT: 215 lb.
MILES PER WEEK: 15
HOME: Allentown, PA
OCCUPATION: Physician

The Odyssey was surprisingly

cushioned, comfortable, and
supportive for how lightweight
it was. The top was fexible but
had a good secure ft with a great
lacing system. It gave good support for a neutral stride and had
good medial support to prevent
overpronation.

YO U SH OULD GET YOUR FEET

ON thIS STuFF.

A breakthrough in cushioning livelier more responsive smoother landings stronger

takeoffs new construction puts cushioning closer to foot helps you run stronger longer

Check out the Triumph ISO 2 with EVERUN.

saucony.com/EVERUN

FIND YOUR STRONG

WINTER SHOE GUIDE 2015

Altra Impulse $120

At the heart of Altras new Impulse is a
varus wedge, a method of controlling
excess foot motion by building the
entire arch side of the sole thicker than
the outside. Testers liked the cushioning and support from such a light
shoe. I did not need to put my inserts
in this shoe, said Janice Spodarek of
Okemos, Michigan. It already provided the cushioning and arch support.

MENS
WOMENS

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS

MORE

Weight:
Height:

8.6 oz 6.9 oz
24.8 mm (heel); 23.4 mm (forefoot)
23.1 mm (heel); 22.3 mm (forefoot)

ADIDAS ADIZERO BOSTON BOOST 5 $120

New Balance 860v6 $120
Runners seeking a lot of support were
the most appreciative of the stable
860v6. For me, being on the larger
side for a competitive runner, the
shoe was a perfect balance: It ofers
support yet is lightweight and durable, said Jason Werner of Pewamo,
Michigan. Three densities of foam in
the midsole, a plastic bridge under the
arch, and a wide, fared-out sole help
control feet that want to roll inward.

What do women want? Thats what Adidas designers set out to answer before
they created the womens update to the Boston Boost 5 (the mens model remains
unchanged). They discovered that women, like men, want performance, but they
also want shoes that ft great and
make their feet look beautiful. So they
removed the aggressive toe-cap and
HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM
SOFT
forefoot overlays and replaced the
see-through fabric with a textile-feel,
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
engineered mesh that supports in
FIRM
SOFT
some areas and stretches in others.
FLEXIBILITY
The result is a shoe with sleek lines
LESS
MORE
that fts better and makes your feet
Weight: 8.4 oz 7.1 oz
look smaller: tighter around the heel
Height: 29.6 mm (heel); 19.6 mm (forefoot)
and arch, wider and more forgiving at
27.9 mm (heel); 19.0 mm (forefoot)
the ball of your foot. Testers loved it.

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS
Weight:
Height:

MORE
11.0 oz 8.8 oz
33.0 mm (heel); 23.4 mm (forefoot)
33.1 mm (heel); 22.2 mm (forefoot)

98 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

TESTERS TAKE
NAME: Kate Galinus
AGE: 58
HEIGHT: 5' 7.5"
WEIGHT: 152 lb.
MILES PER WEEK: 25
HOME: Lansdale, PA
OCCUPATION: Semi-

Retired Musician

My frst impression was that there

wasnt much to the shoe. But I
have to say, I really like it. It is
lightweight and comfortable. I
like the breathability of the mesh
upper and the ft: There is enough
room in the toebox, yet the midfoot and heel snug up the foot.
And it looks good.

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WINTER SHOE GUIDE 2015

Puma Ignite Pwrwarm $110

This is a simple shoe that highlights
two improved materials. Underfoot,
the midsole is made from a bouncy
polyurethane compound that matches
Adidass Boost foam in energy-return
scores. This version has a slightly
thicker midsole than the debut Ignite
model released last February. The result
is more cushioning, but the ride is
still more responsive than plush. The
upper is highly visible for darker runs.

MENS
WOMENS

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS

MORE

Weight:
Height:

10.7 oz 9.1 oz
33.8 mm (heel); 23.8 mm (forefoot)
31.9 mm (heel); 22.1 mm (forefoot)

NEW BALANCE 1500 2 $110

Mizuno Wave Sayonara 3 $110

Sayonara lovers, take note: This is
not the same low-profle, fast-feel,
lightweight trainer. Mizuno remade the
Sayonara as a neutral-cushioned shoe
with more material underfoot and a
softer feel. Those who knew and liked
the original Sayonara found the ride
changed beyond recognition. Minus
expectations, newcomers found more
to like in the update that remains light.

When youre racing long, you dont want a shoe to weigh you down, but you need
cushioning and support to keep your stride in line as you fatigue. Thats where
testers say the New Balance 1500v2 excels, with its light, responsive ride combined
with the support of a dual-density
midsole and a plastic bridge under the
arch. Several found the shoe worked
HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM
SOFT
well for long training runs, while
others reserved it for shorter racing. In
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
either context, testers loved the fexFIRM
SOFT
ibility, Goldilocks cushioning, and
FLEXIBILITY
comfortable upperand gave it the
LESS
MORE
highest overall marks among shoes in
Weight: 7.6 oz 6.3 oz
this guide. Outsole rubber was added
Height: 27.6 mm (heel); 21.2 mm (forefoot)
to increase durability. The ft of the
25.5 mm (heel); 20.5 mm (forefoot)
tongue and midfoot wrap improved.

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT
FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FIRM

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

LESS
Weight:
Height:

MORE
9.1 oz 7.3 oz
32.3 mm (heel); 22.6 mm (forefoot)
28.5 mm (heel); 20.6 mm (forefoot)

100 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

TESTERS TAKE
NAME: Craig VanSumeren
AGE: 54
HEIGHT: 5' 11"
WEIGHT: 173 lb.
MILES PER WEEK: 35
HOME: Okemos, MI
OCCUPATION: Supply

Chain Manager

You cant help but feel fast in

these shoes. Super comfortable
and lightweight but still enough
support for longer runs. The heeltoe drop was just right for meit
really encourages and supports
good running form. Cushioning
was just right; there was plenty
for long runs, yet not too much.

Whether you are

new to running or a
world-class ultra runner,
361 KgM2 $110

Puma Faas 500 v4 Pwrwarm $110

Light, fexible, and fashy, the KgM2 is

a go-fast shoe with good heel cushioning and a touch of stability from its
dual-density, contoured midsole. Male
testers liked the ft and comfort of the
long toebox and soft, breathable mesh
upper, but were disappointed that the
decorative overlays started peeling of
quickly. Most said the shoes didnt provide enough support for longer runs,
but the low-to-ground stance and
grippy outsole made these versatile.
The shoe felt equally at home running
and weight lifting, said Nathan De
Winkle of Lansing, Michigan.

A natural ride that wont beat you up,

the Faas 500 v4 sports a low heel-toe
drop; a single-density midsole; and
just enough protective cushioning. The
fourth version weighs 1.4 ounces less,
due in part to a new midsole made from
a foam-rubber blend. Testers said it
provided a smooth ride with pop. The
upper is made of a refective, heatretaining material for winter running,
and the well-padded tongue has a locking system to better secure the midfoot. It didnt ft all testers, but when it
wrapped their foot right, they found the
shoe so comfortable it disappeared.
HEEL CUSHIONING

HEEL CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT

FIRM

SOFT

FIRM

MORE

LESS

Weight:
Height:

blisters, free from

discomfort, free to savor
the joy of the run
free to soar above the trail.

Better fit. Better feel.

Better run.

SOFT
FLEXIBILITY

FLEXIBILITY
LESS

let you run free free from

FOREFOOT CUSHIONING

FOREFOOT CUSHIONING
FIRM

SOFT

Feetures! performance socks

9.0 oz 7.1 oz
30.6 mm (heel); 21.0 mm (forefoot)
27.2 mm (heel); 19.4 mm (forefoot)

HOW IT FITS: Scans from Shoeftr, a company that

makes 3-D images showing how a shoe fts relative
to the average shoe, reveal that the mens version
of the KgM2 (shown here) has a slightly long toebox
that felt roomy. The womens version, however,
scanned short, and several female testers reported
a need to size up. To see scans of all shoes in this
guide, visit runnersworld.com/shoeguide.

MORE

Weight:
Height:

8.5 oz 7.0 oz
27.8 mm (heel); 21.0 mm (forefoot)
23.9 mm (heel); 20.0 mm (forefoot)

SNUG

LOOSE

feeturesrunning.com

2GS
DML
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'@THLFESL@LCQR@WHLFGD@JRGW
HQRGDADQRFHMSRRGDPD3GHQ
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2SLC@W NPHJ
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D BMK

RACES+PLACES

TIPS, TRENDS,
and MUST-RUN
EVENTS

This bare-bones
ultra includes the
Italian Market,
South Philly, and
a few stairs.

ROCKY 50K FAT ASS RUN

SAY CHEERS
After youve gone the distance,
kick back with a craft cocktail
(or three) at Center Citys
Franklin Bar, where the dark
basement space says speakeasy. thefranklinbar.com

PHOTOGRAPHS BY RYAN HULVAT

December 5, Philadelphia
rocky50K.com

Few flm clichs are as beloved as the training montage depicting the hero getting
ft for the big gameor in the case of the Rocky movies, the title fght. Since 2013,
intrepid runners have spent the frst Saturday in December retracing the steps of the
Italian Stallion as he prepped for his rematch with Apollo Creed. Beftting a character
who socked it to slabs of raw meat, this is no frilly, Liberty-Bell-and-Betsy-Ross take on
Philly: Much of the 31-mile route winds through areas tourists rarely see, and because its
a free fat ass run, organizers provide only a website with a mapno water, potties, or
awards. Turn the page to learn why its worth donning sweats to be Rocky for a day.
DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 103

RUNNERS REVIEW

R O C K Y 5 0 K F AT A S S R U N

CINEMATIC START
As we were getting ready to begin
[theres no starting linejust a group of
100 or so runners gathered in a parking
lot], I recognized Rockys house in the
movie. Its the one with the rail he jumps
over to start his run. I thought, Im gonna
run where Rocky ran!
JO BUYSKE, 55, PHILADELPHIA

AMUSED ONLOOKERS
I hadnt run through the Italian Market
since I went to college in Philly in the
late 1980s. Back then, the guys selling
fresh fruit and vegetables sometimes
would belt out a few bars from the
Rocky theme as my teammates and
I jogged by. This time, when we ran
between the rows of vendors lining 9th
Street, someone yelled, Yo, Adrian! Not
hecklingjust paying homage to the
movie and a group of hardy souls out
running on a chilly December morning.
ADAM BUCKLEY COHEN (RW CONTRIBUTOR), 47,
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA

BIG FINISH

The group I was running with decided

to take a fuel break at a 7-Eleven at mile
15. Although there was talk of buying
a dozen eggs and eating them raw in a
Rocky-esque manner, I opted for a chili
cheese dog and a Cokemuch tastier
than a gel and a Gatorade.

Whats your recovery like after a

Turkey Day race?
Thanksgiving tends to be a day with
lots of driving and sitting around,
which I try to take into account. Compression socks defnitely help. Stopping and moving around, depending
on how long the drive is, can help.
Any particular downsides to racing
on an eating day?

ROADS LESS TRAVELED

CLARK PERKS, 48, MEDFORD, NEW JERSEY

Because Im just coming back after

my post-track-season break, its more
about running for fun and enjoyment.
One of the beauties of a Turkey Trot is
that its just a big community festival:
There are people running in costumes
and bands playing along the way. Im
running more for the vibe and the
excitement and the camaraderie, as
opposed to other races that are more
performance-focused.

TERRI WALLACE, 48, AUDUBON, NEW JERSEY

BOBBY LONGENECKER, 26, LITITZ, PENNSYLVANIA

I got to experience areas of Philadelphia Id never seen before. I particularly

liked running along the Delaware
River around miles four and fve.
Without course markers, we had to
navigate ourselves, which was fun.
I made a cheat sheet of the route from
the map on the website and pinned it
to my jacket.

How is your mind-set diferent

before a holiday race?

REFUEL
Grab a cheesesteak at one of South Phillys
sandwich kingpins: Genos (genosteaks
.com) or Pats (patskingofsteaks.com). Order
like a local: Choose provolone or Cheez
Whiz, and specify wit or wit-out onions.

Yeah, getting the schedule worked

out so that youre able to race and still
meet up with family in time to feast.
Luckily, the idea of doing some kind
of athletic endeavor the morning
of Thanksgiving is something thats
been in my family for a while. When
I was growing up, we would always
do something active in the morning,
like going to the high school to play a
pickup game of soccer with a bunch of
friends. You go out and exercise a little
bit to get ready to gorge yourself.

Fun Finale Cap of your racing year with a just-for-kicks event.

SANTA HUSTLE HALF MARATHON AND 5K
Refuel like the big man from up
north would, with a cookie station
before mile one and a candy station before mile two. The course
winds under roller coasters in the
Cedar Point amusement park, and
a Santa hat and beard come in
every swag bag.
December 20, Sandusky, Ohio
santahustle.com

104 RUNNERS WORLD DECEMBER 2015

HANGOVER HALF SERIES

The 5K Resolution Run at 5 p.m.
on New Years Eve includes four
beer (or root beer) aid stations.
Rehydrate, then line up for the
Run in the New Year 5K at 11:45
p.m. Complete the series with
the hilly Hangover Half Marathon
and 5K the next morning.
December 31 and January 1, Wichita,
Kansas, hangoverhalf.com

HOT BUTTERED RUN

This 10K runs around San Diegos
Paradise Point and along Mission
Bay before ending in a chute lined
with Christmas trees. Finishers
toast their accomplishment with
a Hot Buttered Rum, a warmed
drink that mixes nutmeg, butter,
and of course, rum.
December 20, San Diego, California
energyevents.com

RUNNER INTERVIEWS CONDENSED AND EDITED BY ADAM BUCKLEY COHEN

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y B R U C E WO D D E R / P H OTO R U N ( T R U E ); D B I M AG E S /A L A M Y (C H E E S E S T E A K ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F JA M E S S C H O O L I N G / U LT R A R AC E P H OTO S ( S A N TA H U S T L E )

DIY AID STATIONS

Theres no fnish line. But like in the

movie, you fnish by running up the
steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
(left), where you get a great view looking out over the Ben Franklin Parkway
and the citys skyline. The frst year I did
it, my running companion stopped at
26 miles, and I was alone for the fnal
fve miles. So it was great when my two
boys, who were 10 and 8, met me at the
bottom of the art museum steps. Then
we ran up together and did the requisite
victorious spin-around, pumping our
fsts in the air like champs.

Ask a Pro
Ben True, who won last
years Thanksgiving
Day Manchester Road
Race in Connecticut,
talks Turkey Trots.

RACE SPOTLIGHT
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RACE SPOTLIGHT
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RUN FOR GOOD

Saucony and the nonprofit Saucony Run for
Good Foundation are celebrating a decade of
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of a new round of grant winners, ensuring that
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a healthy weight by awarding more than $1 million
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According to the Centers for Disease Control
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We completely agree with the new AAP
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2014 ASME NOMINATION FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE

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For further information about the Saucony Run
for Good Foundation, including how to apply for a
grant, please visit saucony.com/runforgood.

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The Race

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 86

and its good to challenge science and to
challenge dogma, but I dont think he has
the science to back it up, says John Hawley,
Ph.D., the head of the Centre for Exercise
and Nutrition at the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research at Australian
Catholic University. He used to be Noakess
student and collaborator.
Hawley points to research that shows
that after a long period of fat adaptation,
an athlete doesnt really spare glycogen the
way she hopes to. Instead, long-term fueling of of fat can impair the bodys ability
to process glycogen, he says.
And the research on glycogen is pretty
clear: It is the far superior fuel for short,
fast, speed-focused eforts. Anytime you
ask the muscles to re rapidly, the power
is going to be dramatically reduced if your
glycogen stores are depleted, says Hawley.
At the end of the day, the muscles prefer
using carbohydrates. But he adds: The
longer the event, the more fat adaptation
is an advantage. The 54-mile Comrades
Marathon in South Africa is an example
of where fat adaptation might make sense.
Sports nutritionist Nancy Clark isnt sold
on the Noakes approach either. How long
do you really want to not eat carbs? she
asks, adding, I always wonder what the
[postdiet] backlash will be. For people who
try a low-carb diet, adding carbs back in can
be particularly discouraging. Clark says that
for every ounce of carbohydrate you eat,
your body stores three ounces of water. So
their weight shoots up and they go back to
the low-carb diet.
There are more moderate approaches to
fat adaptation. Seebohar advocates a 1-to-1
carb-to-protein or -fat ratio, but discourages
his clients from actually counting grams or
calories. I use the hand method, he says,
meaning if you eat a wrist-to-ngertip-sized
portion of protein, you need to eat the same
portion of vegetables, tooyour portions
should mirror each other like your right and
left hands. We look at every individuals
diet and say, What can you not live without? If its your morning oatmeal, maybe we
reduce it from one cup to half a cup and we
add in coconut oil and plain Greek yogurt
to reduce the carb load.

YOURE RUNNING SO WELL, was the consensus

from my local running team. Youre totally
going to run that sub-four.
Three weeks before my marathon, I began reintroducing some carbs to my long
runs. I did a trial half marathon and took
a gel at mile 10. I hadnt felt like Id needed itthats the beauty of this system, you
never feel low on energybut I slurped it
down anyway.
Reedy had said eating carbs after going
without would make me feel superhuman.
I waited. And waited. I ran to the nish
feeling no better or worse for having had
the maltodextrin boost. Perhaps my body
was already losing its ability to process glycogen, as Hawley had warned.
On marathon morningexactly 16
weeks after leaving carbs behind, and 13
pounds lighterI drank coffee blended
with butter and ate whole-milk yogurt
on my way to the starting line. I lined up
with a packet of almonds and a ask of gel
tucked into my shorts. I was the thinnest
Id been since college and I was sure a 3:58
marathon was in my reach.
The faster I run, the faster I can get to
the postrace pizza, I thought.
We took of, with Floridas sweaty morning air hanging heavy on our shoulders. At
mile six I sipped at my gel, as instructed.
At mile 12 things were still looking good,
and though I felt no diference whether I
took in gel or not, I swigged anyway. The
miles ticked by, and I was right on pace.
And then, at mile 16, I fell apart.
It was a total mental meltdown. My iPod
broke. My asthma ared. I had to make a
pit stop. There were two sun-seared miles
without a water stop. I found every excuse
why I couldnt run 3:58 and milked it, descending into that deep, dark brain crevasse that every runner knows and fears.
The one thing missing from my list of
reasons I wouldnt hit 3:58 was a lack of
fuel. I felt topped of the entire race. There
was no physical bonknot even the threat
of one. My meltdown was purely mental.
In the end, I ran a 4:07. It wasnt the
time I wanted, but it was a 16-minute PR.
And after ve years of being stuck at the
same time, it felt pretty damn good.
However, Im not sure Id stick with a
high-fat diet. Noakes argues that this is a
lifestyle change that someone must be committed to forever in order for it to really
work. Reedy lets his athletes go back to a
normal diet between races, but that means
re-fat-adapting every time you get back into
marathon mode. Seebohar has his athletes
periodize their diets depending on what
kind of training theyre doing. While he may

let some clients eat more carbs during certain times of the year, he doesnt advise they
yo-yo back and forth between a high-carb
and a low-carb diet. Lets nd something
that works for you long-term, he says.
I loved the steady supply of energy that
fat adaptation gave me, and Im the leanest
Ive been in several years. But I missed
drinking beers with friends and polishing of midnight pizzas with my husband.
I hated feeling guilty about grapes. And I
pined for cake. A lot.
As I lay in the grass just beyond the nish line, my husband asked if I was ready
to start heading home.
Home? I replied. Take me to Costco.
I have a carrot cake to buy.
STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND
CIRCULATION OF Runners World
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FILED, October 1, 2015
Publication Number: 0 8 9 7 - 1 7 0 6 Annual Subscription Price: 24.00
Contact Person: Joyce Shirer
Telephone: 610-967-8610
Runners World is published 11 times a year at 400 South 10th Street,
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Average no. of copies
each issue during
preceding 12 mos.

SEP 2015 Single

issue nearest to
filing date

A. TOTAL NO. COPIES (Net Press Run)

786,680

776,846

B. PAID CIRCULATION
1. Mailed Paid Subscriptions
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street vendors, counter sales,
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528,229
56,751

526,929
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584,980

577,269

35,177

38,649

F. TOTAL DISTRIBUTION (Sum of C and E) 620,157

615,918

G. COPIES NOT DISTRIBUTED

SINGLE COPY NOT DISTRIBUTED
OTHER NOT DISTRIBUTED

155,618
10,905

154,012
6,916

H. TOTAL (Sum of F and G)

786,680

776,846

I. PERCENT PAID

94.33%

93.72%

15. EXTENT AND NATURE

OF CIRCULATION

C. TOTAL PAID CIRCULATION

(Sum of B1 and B3)
D1,E. FREE OR NOMINAL
RATE DISTRIBUTION

16. ELECTRONIC COPY CIRCULATION

A. PAID ELECTRONIC COPIES

69,721

69,137

B. TOTAL PAID PRINT COPIES

+ PAID ELECTRONIC COPIES

654,701

646,406

C. TOTAL PRINT DISTRIBUTION

+ PAID ELECTRONIC COPIES

689,878

685,055

D. PERCENT PAID
(both Print & Electronic Copies)

94.90%

94.36%

50% of all distributed copies (electronic and print) are paid above a nominal price.
Publication of the Statement of Ownership is required. Will be printed in the
December issue of this publication.
Tom Pogash, EVP/CFO

9/26/2015

RUNNERS WORLD (ISSN 0897-1706) IS PUBLISHED 11 TIMES A

YEAR, MONTHLY EXCEPT BI-MONTHLY IN JANUARY/FEBRUARY, BY
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MAILING OFFICES. IN CANADA POSTAGE PAID AT GATEWAY MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT
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ALERT US THAT YOUR MAGAZINE IS
UNDELIVERABLE, WE HAVE NO FURTHER PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
OBLIGATION UNLESS WE RECEIVE A CORRECTED ADDRESS WITHIN 18 MONTHS.

DECEMBER 2015 RUNNERS WORLD 111

RACING AHEAD
A RUNNING FESTIVAL
WITH LAGNIAPPE

ADVERTISING SECTION

THE ORIGINAL PIG MARATHON 40 YEARS!

SOUTH ATLANTIC
DEC 19 - Surf-N-Santa 5 Miler
Virginia Beach, VA
Contact: J&A Racing,
3601 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
(757) 412-1056
info@surfnsanta5miler.com
www.surfnsanta5miler.com

JAN 17, 2016 - Naples Daily News Half Marathon

The Louisiana Marathon,

Half Marathon, Quarter
Marathon, 5K & Kids Marathon
JANUARY 15-17, 2016
BATON ROUGE, LA

HogeyeMarathon.com

Hogeye Marathon,
Half Marathon, Relays & 5K
APRIL 10, 2016
FAYETTEVILLE, AR

Contact: Danny Bourgeois

721 Government St., Suite 103, Box 295,
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(888) 786-2001 danny@thelouisianamarathon.com

Contact: Tabby Holmes

P.O. Box 8012, Fayetteville, AR 72703

www.thelouisianamarathon.com

www.hogeyemarathon.com

BEST SWAG IN TEXAS!

COME FOR THE RACE,

STAY FOR THE REST

Naples, FL
Contact: Perry Silverman,
224 6th Ave. South, Naples, FL 34102.
(678) 777-5622
psilvrman@aol.com
www.napleshalfmarathon.net

FEB 5-6, 2016 - Critz Tybee Run Fest 2016, 5K, 10K,
Half Marathon, 2.8 Mile Beach Run,
1 Mile Fun Run=26.2 Miles & Kids Run
Tybee Island, GA
Contact: Cornelia Stumpf - Marketing,
5507 Woodland Dr., Savannah, GA 31406.
(912) 692-8992
cornelia@cscpconsult.com
www.critztybeerun.com

5 Races over 2 Days: Certified 10K and Half Marathon courses,

along with a 5K, 2.8 Mile Beach Run and a 1 Mile Fun Run. Conquer
a one of a kind challenge and run all 5 races for a total distance of
26.2 miles. The run fest offers a distance for every runner and will
put smiles on the kids faces too!

FEB 7, 2016 - Publix Florida Marathon & Half Marathon

Melbourne, FL
Contact: Mitch Varnes,
P.O. Box 33100, Indialantic, FL 32903.
(321) 759-7200
www.thefloridamarathon.com

Beautiful Waterfront Course on Space Coast

FEB 12-14, 2016 - DONNA - The National Marathon to

Fresh 15, 15K, 5K & 1K

People's United Bank Vermont

City Marathon & Relay

MARCH 5, 2016
TYLER, TX

MAY 29, 2016

BURLINGTON, VT

Contact: Ashleigh Endicott

(903) 747-3503 fresh15@brookshires.com

www.fresh15k.com

Contact: Jess Cover

1 Main St., Suite 304, Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 863-8412 info@runvermont.org

Save $10 - use code RW16 (expires 3/1/16)

www.runvcm.org

NORTH ATLANTIC
MAR 20, 2016 - Ocean Drive Marathon, 10M & 5K
Cape May, NJ
Contact: Ocean Drive Run Club Inc.,
P.O. Box 1245, 1000 W. Valley Road, Southeastern, PA 19399.
(609) 523-0880
odmracedirector@comcast.net
www.odmarathon.org

APR 9, 2016 - Garden Spot Village Marathon

Publix Savannah Women's

Half Marathon & 5K
APRIL 2, 2016
SAVANNAH, GA
Contact: Jonathan Sykes
101 East Bay St., Savannah, GA 31401.
(912) 644-6452
jsykes@visitsavannah.com

www.savannahwomenshalf.com
Save $10 with code RW10

112

& Half Marathon

New Holland, PA
Contact: Kelly Sweigart,
433 South Kinzer Avenue, New Holland, PA 17557.
(717) 355-6000
marathon@gardenspotvillage.org
www.gardenspotvillagemarathon.org

Run in beautiful Amish Country with horse & buggies and one
room schoolhouses! Running this race makes you eligible for the
coveted Road Apple Award!

MAY 21, 2016 - Armed Forces Day Festival/Liberty

Lightning 9K
Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
Contact: AFDF Planning Coordinator,
549A Pompton Ave., Suite 195, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009.
(862) 217-4226
LL9K@libertyrun.org
www.libertyrun.org

The most scenic skyline in the world and the fastest 9K on the
Planet.

FINISH Breast Cancer, Marathon, Half Marathon, Ultra,

5K & Relay
Jacksonville Beach, FL
Contact: DONNA Headquarters,
11762 Marco Beach Drive, Suite 6, Jacksonville, FL 32224.
(904) 355-7465
info@breastcancermarathon.com
www.breastcancermarathon.com

FEB 13, 2016 - Publix Hilton Head Island Marathon,

Half Marathon & 5K
Hilton Head Island, SC
Contact: Bear Foot Sports,
20 Towne Drive, PMB #200, Bluffton, SC 29910.
(843) 757-8520
bfs@hargray.com
www.bearfootsports.com

FEB 20-21, 2016 - Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic

Race Weekend
20th - 15K & 5K
21st - Half Marathon & 8K
Tampa, FL
Contact: Susan Harmeling,
Executive Race Director, P.O. Box 1881, Tampa, FL 33601.
(813) 254-7866
susan@tampabayrun.com
www.tampabayrun.com

FLAT, FAST, RUNNER & FAMILY FRIENDLY, THE BEST OF RUNNER

BOOTY, BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT COURSES WITH A DISTANCE
FOR EVERYONE!

MAR 5, 2016 - Myrtle Beach Marathon, Half Marathon,

Team Relay, 5K & Fun Run
Myrtle Beach, SC
Contact: Myrtle Beach Marathon,
P.O. Box 8780, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578.
(843) 293-RACE
mbmarathon@yahoo.com
www.mbmarathon.com

MAR 5, 2016 - Snickers Marathon & Half Marathon

Albany, GA
Contact: 112 N. Front St., Albany, GA 31701.
(229) 317-4760
www.albanymarathon.com

MAR 19-20, 2016 - Yuengling Shamrock Marathon

Weekend, Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K & 1M
Virginia Beach, VA
Contact: J&A Racing,
3601 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455.
(757) 412-1056
info@shamrockmarathon.com
www.shamrockmarathon.com

FOR A DVERT I S I NG RAT ES C O NTACT JAC KIE COKER AT 801.668.6038 or ja c kiecoker @sb c glob a l.net

ADVERTISING SECTION
APR 3, 2016 - Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon,
Half Marathon, 5K & Relay
Knoxville, TN
Contact: Jason Altman,
P.O. Box 53442, Knoxville, TN 37950.
(865) 684-4294
info@knoxvillemarathon.com

SOUTH CENTRAL
JAN 15-17, 2016 - The Louisiana Marathon,
Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon, 5K & Kids Marathon
Baton Rouge, LA
Contact: Danny Bourgeois,

www.knoxvillemarathon.com

APR 17, 2016 - Kill Cliff Destin Marathon & Half Marathon
Destin, FL
Contact: Zane Holscher
(850) 659-7379
rd@destinmarathon.com
www.destinmarathon.com

MAY 1, 2016 - Divas Half Marathon & 5K in North

Myrtle Beach
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Contact: Continental Event & Sports Management,
P.O. Box 56-1154, Miami, FL 33256-1154.
info@runlikeadiva.com
www.runlikeadiva.com

Save 10% - Use RWNMBDEC15 (Exp. 12/31/15)

NORTH CENTRAL

721 Government St., Suite 103, Box 295, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
(504) 669-1530
danny@thelouisianamarathon.com

JUN 5, 2016 - Divas Half Marathon & 5K in San

Francisco Bay
Burlingame, CA
Contact: Continental Events & Sports Management,
P.O. Box 56-1154, Miami, FL 33256-1154.
info@runlikeadiva.com
www.runlikeadiva.com

Save 10% - Use RWSFDEC15 (Exp. 12/31/15)

INTERNATIONAL

www.thelouisianamarathon.com

A Running Festival with Lagniappe

FEB 20, 2016 - Jail Break Run, Half Marathon & 5K

Baytown, TX
Contact: Mary Pinney,
P.O. Box 893, Mt. Belvieu, TX 77580.
(832) 767-8535
mary@project-blue.org

FEB 28, 2016 - Kilimanjaro Marathon, Half Marathon

& 5K
Tanzania, Africa
Contact: Kathy Loper Events,
5173 Waring Rd., Suite 142, San Diego, CA 92120.
(619) 298-7400
info@kathyloperevents.com

www.jailbreakrun.org

www.kathyloperevents.com/kilimanjaro

FEB 21, 2016 - Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon,

Run the Villages & Farms at the Foot of Africas Mighty Mt.
Kilimanjaro!

Half Marathon & 5K

El Paso, TX
Contact: Mike Coulter,
P.O. Box 2443, El Paso, TX 79952.
(915) 274-5222
information@elpasomarathon.org
www.elpasomarathon.org

MAY 21, 2016 - Great Wall Marathon, Half Marathon

& 8.5K
Huangyaguan, China
Contact: Kathy Loper Events,
5173 Waring Rd., Suite 142, San Diego, CA 92120.
(619) 298-7400
info@kathyloperevents.com

APR 29 - MAY 1, 2016 - Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon,

APR 3, 2016 - 5th Annual Austin 10/20, Ten Miles

www.kathyloperevents.com/gwm

Half Marathon, 4-Person Relay, 10K & 5K

Cincinnati, OH
Contact: 644 Linn Street,
Suite 626, Cincinnati, OH 45203.
(513) 721-7447
info@flyingpigmarathon.com

Austin, TX
Contact: Turnkey Operations,
11100 Alterra Pkwy., Austin, TX 78758.
(512) 299-9190
info@austin1020.com

Optional tours to Xian, Shanghai, Hong Kong.

www.flyingpigmarathon.com

Austins Live Music Race! 10 Miles, 20 Rockin Bands, Headliner

Finish Concert! Save 10% with code RW1020.

www.austin1020.com

APR 30, 2016 - Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon,

APR 24, 2016 - Divas Half Marathon & 5K in Galveston

Galveston, TX
Contact: Continental Event & Sports Management,
P.O. Box 56-1154, Miami, FL 33256-1154.
info@runlikeadiva.com

Half Marathon, Relay, 10K, 5K & Youth Run

Champaign/Urbana, IL
Contact: Jan Seeley,
P.O. Box 262, Champaign, IL 61824.
(217) 369-8553
jan.c.seeley@gmail.com

www.runlikeadiva.com

Save 10% - Use RWTXDEC15 (Exp. 12/31/15)

www.illinoismarathon.com

MAY 7, 2016 - 40th Annual OneAmerica 500 Festival

Mini-Marathon (13.1Miles) & 5K
Indianapolis, IN
Contact: Brett Sanford,
21 Virginia Ave., Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
(317) 927-3378
raceinfo@500festival.com
www.indymini.com

MAY 15, 2016 - Divas Half Marathon & 5K Midwest at

Branson
Branson, MO
Contact: Continental Event & Sports Management,
P.O. Box 56-1154, Miami, FL 33256-1154.
info@runlikeadiva.com

MOUNTAIN PACIFIC
JAN 17, 2016 - Maui OceanFront Marathon,
Half Marathon, 15K, 10K, 5K & The Free Cookie Fun Run
Lahaina, HI
Contact: Les Wright,
P.O. Box 20000, So. Lake Tahoe, CA 96151.
(530) 559-2261
runmaui@gmail.com

www.runottawa.com

Run with over 49,000 runners in Canadas Capital!

NOV 13, 2016 - Athens Marathon, 10K & 5K, Original

Historical Course
Athens, Greece
Contact: Apostolos Greek Tours Inc.,
2685 S. Dayton Way #14, Denver, CO 80231.
(303) 755-2888
www.athensmarathon.com

Various Support Packages.

CLASSIFIED
RUNNING LIGHTS

www.runmaui.com

www.runlikeadiva.com

MAR 13, 2016 - Wine Country Runs, Half Marathon & 5K

Paso Robles, CA
Contact: Mary Ann Burke,
1191 Creston Rd #115, Paso Robles, CA 93446.
winecountryruns@gmail.com

Save 10% - Use RWMODEC15 (exp. 12/31/2015)

www.winecountryruns.com

MAY 15, 2016 - Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon,

Half Marathon, 10K, 5K & Kids Run
Cleveland, OH
Contact: Ralph Staph,
29525 Chagrin Blvd., #215, Pepper Pike, OH 44122.
(800) 467-3826
cmi@clevelandmarathon.com

MAR 20, 2016 - Bataan Memorial Death March

Marathon & 14.2 Mile
White Sands Missle Range, NM
Contact: Mark Vest,
Aberdeen Ave., Bld. 501, Rm. 10,
White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002.
(575) 674-4205
mark.d.vest3.naf@mail.mil

www.clevelandmarathon.com

MAY 29, 2016 - Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon,

Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K & Kids Marathon
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Contact: John Halvorsen,
5450 Canotek Rd., Unit 45, Ottawa, ON K1J 9G2.
(866) RUNOTTA
halvorsen@runottawa.ca

LED Light Vest - Ensuring the

safety of athlete and adventurer
alike. We make sure our LEDs
outshine our competition
so you can outshine yours.
www.ledlightvest.com

www.bataanmarch.com

AUG 20, 2016 - Madison Mini-Marathon, Half Marathon,

5K & Kids Run
Madison, WI
Contact: Sandra Chambers,
16851 Southpark Dr., Suite 100, Westfield, IN 46074.
(317) 354-7796
sandra@visioneventmanagement.com

Half Marathon & 10K

Weott, CA
Contact: Cynthia Timek,
P.O. Box 214, Arcata, CA 95518.
(707) 822-1861
ctimek@theave.org

www.madisonminimarathon.com

DETERGENT

MAY 1, 2016 - Avenue of the Giants Marathon,

www.theave.org

SEP 17, 2016 - Air Force Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K

MAY 15, 2016 - Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon,

& 5K
Dayton, OH
Contact: Race Director,
5030 Pearson Rd., Bldg 219, Rm 106, Wright-Patterson AFB,
OH 45433.
(937) 257-4350
usaf.marathon@us.af.mil

Half Marathon, Urban 10 Miler & Marathon Relay

City Park, Denver, CO
Contact: Melissa Bissett,
PO Box 6117, Denver, CO 80206.
(720) 218-4191
melissa@runcolfax.org

www.usafmarathon.com

Denvers Ultimate Urban Tour!

Dislodge odor-causing
bacteria and oils from fabric
and rinse them away with
Sport Suds laundry detergent.
Hypoallergenic, biodegradable,
non-toxic and fragrance free.

www.runcolfax.org

C LO S I NG DAT E FO R T H E MAR CH 2016 ISSUE IS D ECEM BER 7, 2015

www.sportsuds.com
113

IM A RUNNER
Interview by
Nick Weldon

ROBERT HERJAVEC
TECH ENTREPRENEUR & SHARK ON ABCS SHARK TANK, 53, TORONTO/L.A.
THATS JUST LIKE running. There
are a lot of fans at the nish line
of a marathon, but not as many
between miles three and 26.

In running,
you control your
own destiny.
On Shark Tank,
youre not in
control. I am.

MY PROUDEST running moment

was my rst marathon in Miami
in 2009. I trained only for a few
months, but I was really proud
that I even nished [in 4:40].
I RUN FIVE MILES daily, plus a long
run of eight to 10 miles on Sunday. Its hard to nd the time, but
if I dont, Im more tired, I need
to eat moreit afects me physically and mentally.
I APPEARED ON Dancing with the
Stars this year and made it to
week eight of 10 with no dance
experience. I attribute that to the
shape I was in from running.
THE BIGGEST LESSON I take out of
running is that pain is temporaryand so is accomplishment.
I CRINGE when people ask to run
with me. I love running alone. It
allows me to think. When I run
with others, I always feel the
need to socialize. Running isnt
social to me, its personal.
I GET BUSINESS IDEAS all the time
while running. I used to forget
them by the time I was done, so
now I bring a piece of paper with
me in case something comes up.

when I was younger, started an Internet security

business, and that was that. Some
people have a vision to start a
business. Others adapt because
theyre forced to. I was the latter.
I GOT FIRED

I WAS A CASUAL RUNNER my whole

life, but I got serious eight years

ago when my mom became ill
with cancer. My company was
114

growing, my kids were little,

the days felt overwhelming. The
only thing that made me forget
about everything was running,
so I started doing it every day.
MOST PEOPLE THINK business is
the fun, sexy stuf we see on TV,
but success comes from the 22
things you have to do every day
that nobody notices.

GO TO RUNNERSWORLD.COM/IMARUNNER
FOR A VIDEO INTERVIEW.

Herjavec stars
as an investor
on the Emmy
awardwinning
ABC reality series
Shark Tank, which
is currently in its
seventh season
and airs Fridays
at 9:00 P.M.

I WANT TO qualify for BostonI

dont want to buy my way in [as a
charity runner]. Ill do that one of
two ways: get faster, or just stay
the same speed and get older so
the standards get slower.
AS LONG AS Im running consistently, thats success to me. I get
more out of running than I put
into it. It gives me energy to go
out and attack the day.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL LEWIS

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