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Drawing the Line. Finding the Gems.

by Stephanie Mumford Brown
Banks redline districts that they think should be avoided when lending money. However, runners redline districts when they run through them "heatmapping" areas with GPS trackers indicating they have been charted. Stephanie ran in unmarked areas during ARE's Capital District Challenge and shares with us the treasures she found. For full article, click here

Healthy Runner: Gaiters – Masks and Life in the Slow Lane

by Benita Zahn
This month's Healthy Runner column centers on using gaiters and masks for running. Is one better than the other? What has research shown? A Duke University researcher published an article that created confusion about this issue. For full article, click here

Yeti Get Ready

by Mary Claire T. Walker
"We were at mile 52 of our 55-mile training run. The day had gone well for the most part. I knew this was only a small preview of the pain I would endure in just 38 days when I toed the line at the Yeti 100 Mile Endurance Run." For full article, click here

Race Brings Hope Back to Area Running

by Christine Myers
This year's Druther's Helderberg to Hudson Half Marathon (H2H) produced by the Albany Running Exchange was held under COVID-19 regulations, which changed the way and numbers of competitors. Even so, it did not diminish the happiness runners felt when once again a real race was afoot. Jon Lindinauer was the first male to cross the finish line and Christine Myers was the first female. For full article, click here

Toeing the Line at Thacher Park

by Jenna Robinson
”Do you remember what it is like to toe the line? To look down and see all of the worn sneakers pressed up to the freshly painted start line, ready to spring forward at the sound of the gun?" For full article, click here

The Landis Arboretum 5K: A Real Race!

by David Roy
Hope is spreading in the running world as actual races are being held. Virtual races are a good substitute in the time of COVID-19 but nothing gets a runner's blood circulating faster than a real race with people next to them ready to sprint out at the starting line. In addition to feeling alive again, runners were able to support the Landis Arboretum and its gardens that cover hundreds of acres. For full article, click here

Froggy Five Miler: Fractured Fairy Tales Part II

by Laura Clark
Laura loves trail races especially when they have story book characters leading runners on a merry pace over treacherous terrain and are lovingly organized by Josh Merlis. Her favorite part was "the Magical Mystery Tour through the swamp and the lake." Race results are included. For full article, click here

Trail Racing in the Time of COVID-19

by Lauren Carnahan
Lauren was plagued by injuries in 2019 and then, of course, in 2020 COVID-19 struck and road and trail races were cancelled and virtual ones dominated. However, in August races slowly began to appear, delighting Lauren who added a first place in the Hard as Hell Half Marathon to her record book. For full article, click here

2020 Hard as Hell Half-Marathon

by Stephen Hallgren
"What does a runner do when races are getting cancelled left and right because of a stupid virus called COVID-19? In my case, I signed up for the Hard as Hell Half-Marathon ..." For full article, click here

In the Time of COVID-19, Bikes Rule

by Matthew McGowen
"If you’ve attempted to buy a bike this year, I am sorry. Perhaps you were fast enough to break down the door of a bike shop or aggressive enough in someone’s DMs to nab something off Facebook Marketplace. As a ruthless, capitalistic pirate in the business of flipping bikes..." For full article, click here

Off The Road: Glycogen Depletion – The Energy Crisis

by Russ Ebbets
This month's Off the Road column deals with glycogen depletion and the deleterious effect it has on athletic performance. "In long distance running this state has achieved mythic status and is often referred to with colorful phrases as bonking, running on empty or hitting the wall." For full article, click here

Athlete Profile: Dallas DeVries

by Thomas O'Grady
Dallas is an athlete and computer specialist. Since the pandemic when he could not race, he has become one of the leading proponents of heatmapping and has documented broad swaths of the Capital District. Heatmapping uses GPS information that is transferred to a platform such as Strava to trace the streets that have been covered. For full article, click here

A Look at the Olympic Marathon

by Tom O'Grady
This summer could have seen a sharp competition between two runners who each could have met or broken the 2 hour marathon time barrier the world is anticipating. But COVID-19 reared its ugly head and hopefully the match will occur when the Tokyo Summer Olympics begin on July 23, 2021. In the meantime, we can read Tom's fascinating history of the event. For full article, click here

Taking That Deep Dive Into Your 70s and 80s – Water Wings Optional

by Laura Clark
"It used to be if you made it to the 70-year-old age group fairly intact, you were pretty much guaranteed an impressive medal collection to pass down to your grandkids. Not anymore." Laura examines 3 books about runners who defy age. For full article, click here

Mad About Beets

by Jake Stookey
Other than being one of our leading short and long distance runners, Jake is a gardener who knows how to grow healthy foods that keep his body in top form. He shares with us his love for beets and asks you, the reader, to contribute favorite recipes by using the comment field at the bottom of the article. For full article, click here

Delight in the Bounties of Summer While You Can!

by Anouk Booneman
"The early summer vegetables are still available, and my kitchen counter is overflowing with succulent corn, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon and peaches. Take advantage and appreciate the late summer bounty with these following recipes.” For full article, click here

Meet Our Runners

This month's column has a new question added that was contributed by Connie Smith: What was the strangest thing you saw on the side of the road while running? The answers may surprise you as will the responses of Josh Merlis, Dallas DeVries. Shelby Sayre, Stephen Hallgren and Shannon O'Meara. For full article, click here

Books to Read After Running

by Sally Drake and Mark Mindel
Sally's recommended books include one, Caste, that may give an understanding of the protests that are rocking America now. Mark's reviews include a list of his 5-star rated books for 2020. Depending on whether you want to deal with societal problems or be entertained, there is a book here for you to delve into after running. For full article, click here

Guide to Insomnia and Technology

compiled by Decision Data
Insomnia affects millions of people including athletes and can degrade the performance and quality of life of those afflicted by it. Neuroscientist Matthew Walker has said, “The decimation of sleep throughout industrialized nations is having a catastrophic impact on our health..." For full article, click here

Christine Bishop, Editor • Daniele Cherniak, Editorial Assistant

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