"At Stanford University two sales representatives from Nike were watching the athletics team practise. Part of their job was to gather feedback from the company's sponsored runners about which shoes they preferred. Unfortunately, it was proving difficult that day as the runners all seemed to prefer... nothing" - from Christopher McDougall's forthcoming book "Born to Run" which looks at the story the growth of the $20 billion running shoe industry. Starting form Bill Bowerman's Cortez in 1972 onwards runners have seen a steady flow of innovations to improve performance and reduce injury rates. Only it would appear they may not work. By way of contrast the book includes coverage of the Mexican Tarahumara tribe who run ultramarathons with shoes made from car tyres on their feet.
posted by rongorongo on Apr 20, 2009 - 38 comments

Blagojevich impeached by State House. With only one dissenter Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives while out jogging (video). This is the first step for removing the governor from power. Next the state senate puts Blaggo on trail, and that is scheduled to happen shortly after Obama's inauguration in a couple of weeks. Capital Fax Blog is reporting that Blaggo is not going to resign, and the governer has scheduled a press conference this afternoon with an official response to the vote. Previously on Mefi [more inside]
posted by zenon on Jan 9, 2009 - 78 comments

Now we know what Mike Post has been up to lately. It's a treadmill. Powered by your feet. That you run on. Outdoors. On the road. Kind of like...running...on the road. The mind boggles.
posted by ericbop on Nov 22, 2008 - 56 comments

A runner's primer
posted by nthdegx on May 29, 2008 - 78 comments

Running a marathon a day for the next 100 days, across Africa. [more inside]
posted by joelf on Apr 14, 2008 - 22 comments

Once you go barefoot, you won't go back For many serious runners, the best running shoe is no shoe at all. Barefoot runners find themselves less prone to injuries such as plantar fascitis and ankle sprains, possibly because their feet get such a good workout. For those who would like to experience the benefits of barefoot running without the worry of road hazards like broken glass and cooties, Vibram Fivefingers are the next best thing.
posted by freshwater_pr0n on Mar 23, 2007 - 36 comments

dogblog, bogblog, fogblog, cogblog, logblog, zogblog, jogblog, yogblog, gogblog, wogblog, nogblog, vogblog, hogblog, smogblog, frogblog.
posted by reklaw on Aug 10, 2004 - 28 comments

1000 Miles in 1000 Hours - London Marathon organizers plan to reproduce the feat achieved almost 200 years ago by a legendary sportsman and gambler called Captain Robert Barclay. Five contestants will run 1000 miles in 1000 hours and then compete in the London Marathon to decide the winner.
posted by Frank Grimes on Dec 20, 2002 - 15 comments

The New York City Marathon is this Sunday. Last year I ran the distance in this race, organized by the New York Road Runner's Club. The Association of International Marathons and Road Races' website has plenty of information about marathons around the world. Maybe you can find one in your neck of the woods.
posted by tamim on Nov 3, 2000 - 1 comment