Extra, Extra - Run All About It!

By Peter Washkowitz

Dear readers, let's take a look back at the week in running:

* As reported on CNN on March 30th, while Barack Obama may be the only United States President in the Obama family, he is not the only fitness junkie in the family. In her interview with Oprah Winfrey, first lady Michelle Obama discussed her love of working out and the importance it has in her life. Whether it's running on a treadmill, kickboxing, jumping rope or Pilates, Mrs. President Barack Obama can usually be found in the White House gym (accompanied by her husband, if one were to believe all the reports on Barack Obama's fitness regimen) at 4:30am every morning getting in her morning exercise. When asked by Winfrey what enables her to hit the gym so early, Lady Obama responded, "Well, I just started thinking, if I had to get up to go to work, I'd get up and go to work. If I had to get up to take care of my kids, I'd get up to do that. But when it comes to yourself, then it's suddenly, "Oh, I can't get up at 4:30." So I had to change that. If I don't exercise, I won't feel good. I'll get depressed". It's funny to think that, by the time most commercial gyms begin opening their doors in the morning, the President and his wife have already finished their morning routines. Maybe they should pass a law requiring gyms to open up at 4:30am so the American people, along with the first family, can all workout at the same time. Talk about national unity!!

* As reported on CrunchGear.com on March 31st, the U.S. Patent Office received an application from a company seeking to patent a cobblestone treadmill. Seeking to simulate the road conditions many experience while running outside, this treadmill would "be capable to affix prefabricated objects the like of simulated cobblestones of various size and configuration to the upper extremity of said endless belt and to be in contiguous fashion with lower extremity of simulated cobble stone". I have always thought it would be cool for someone to make a treadmill that simulates running on sand but, since as yet there are no treadmills offering anything other than a flat belt, I'll take those cobblestones!!!

As profiled on OregonLive.com on April 1st, in a running first, 27-year old conjoined twins, Lars and Olif Po, won the Twin Falls, Idaho Marathon last week in an impressive finishing time of 3:04:01 (2 hours and 37 minutes faster than Mario Lopez). Joined at the hip, the twin brothers each have a completely independent upper body and one leg, but they share a middle leg. Beginning their athletic careers as the goalkeeper for their high school soccer team, the Po brothers began running after they were banned from playing soccer due the collective anger of opposing coaches who argued that a goalkeeper with 4 arms and 3 legs was completely unfair. Wearing one size 10 shoe on their outer feet and a size 12 shoe on their middle foot, gradually, the twins found a system of running which would eventually lead to their marathon victory, "'We each control our 'own' leg. but we 'share' our middle leg.' Their standard stride has their outer legs running in unison, with the middle leg in opposition. When taking a sharp corner, the brothers roughly resemble a bicycle with training wheels: The inner two legs do the work in contact with the ground, while the outer leg "takes a break", the foot remaining a few inches off the pavement. On a straightaway the two outer legs and the middle leg take turns propelling the brothers forward in a symmetrical and powerful churning motion". From personal experience, by the end of each of my marathons, it was hard enough for me to control my body. My flailing limbs and hunched back only served to slow me down despite my already incredibly slow pace. I cannot imagine having to deal with controlling two bodies at once!! Congrats to both of you on a job incredibly well done!!

* As profiled on TampaBayOnline.com on April 3rd, while he may refer to himself as a geezer, 53-year old Tampa Bay resident Rick Clark's "Beat The Geezer" competitions have become anything but old. In 2006, after many many years of running races and marathons around the country, Clark decided he wanted to begin promoting indoor running as a means to encourage others to get in shape. In thinking about the most effective way to appeal to the greatest amount of people, Clark hosted a charity treadmill fitness challenge which required participants to race against him on a treadmill beginning at a pace of 5 mph and increasing by a half-mile per hour every minute until reaching 10 mph. Dubbed the "Beat The Geezer" challenge, the runner who lasted the longest was the winner. With each challenge, Clark's efforts became more and more successful and now, with three weeks until the next challenge (to be hosted at Bally's Total Fitness), he has become somewhat of a celebrity in his hometown. While no information was provided about the results of any of the past "Beat The Geezer" challenges, not only do I think this is a great way to get people going to gyms but I also know that I would dominate these challenges like no other!

* As reported on MSN.com on April 3rd, despite her professed skilled in all things Kabbalah, Madonna was injured in Malawi this past Thursday when she twisted her ankle while running on a treadmill. Accompanied by her three children, the Material Girl was staying at the Kumbali Lodge Hotel while waiting for the adoption of her second African child to be finalized (yesterday, the Malawian court rejected the adoption but Madonna has stated that she plans to appeal the decision). Madonna's injury was quickly treated by her trainer and she was ordered to rest for the day, forcing her to cancel her planned visits to local orphanages. It is unclear what led to Madonna's misstep but my guess is that she either was blinded by a Ray of Light or was harassed when a heckler threw an American Pie at her!

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Next Weekend's Marathons

Friday, April 10th
Look Matters Gopher Attack Marathon (Regina, SK Canada)

Saturday, April 11th
Davy Crockett Bear Chase (Groveton, TX)
Easter Marathon Runoff (Olympia, WA)
Viola Family Foundation Eisenhower Marathon (Abilene, KS)
Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon (Champaign/Urbana, IL)
Enviro-Sports Muir Woods Trail Marathon (Stinson Beach, CA)