Why Chafing Happens and How to Prevent It It’s an annoying little problem that happens to many runners and athletes who enjoy a number of sports. Let’s talk about why chafing happens and more importantly how to prevent it so we can get on with the business of enjoying being out on the trail. A Fraction Too Much Friction It all comes down to friction, whether it be skin-on-skin friction or fabric-on-skin friction. Common areas include the thighs, the groin,…
Jim is 33 year old runner from northern NSW Australia, near the beautiful beaches of Coolangatta. Andrew first met Jim at a running group “Border Striders” and they soon became great training buddies as well as great mates. Jim has recently come over to Portugal where he got the chance to run in some new and exciting places and we got the chance to sit down with him and talk about running. So Jim, how long have you been a…
Runner Profile – Margie O’Brien About My First Marathon is our very first runner profile and we are super excited that our very first runner is Andrew’s Mum Margie! Margie O’Brien is an active 67-year old who likes to run regularly to maintain her fitness. Margie is a big believer in the “Use it or Lose It” mentality and does not want or expect to be idle at any stage of her life. She lives in the beautiful seaside…
Time for a Little Getaway We have been living in and enjoying the beautiful area of Cascais for several months now. While it has been great I have longed for the opportunity to get out and explore more of Portugal. Last week the opportunity arose. A very good friend from Australia has come over and is touring around a bit while he is here. Jim and his girlfriend Amy hired a van big enough to fit five people so that…
We have been having an expat experience in the wonderful country of Portugal for the last few months and absolutely loving it. A Whole New Culture Living somewhere overseas and experiencing a whole new culture is something I have always wanted to do. Finally getting the opportunity has been a dream come true. Portugal couldn’t be any further from Australia. In fact, as a delightful waiter recently pointed out, we could dig through the earth and come out in Sydney!…
Just When Things Were Going Well… So you were going along really well and had finally made some good breakthroughs in your fitness. And then suddenly a few hiccups, a few bumps in the road and you’re off the fitness “wagon”. I think it’s amazing how quickly we can become unstuck. This is where I’ve found myself this week after several late nights, increased alcohol and many poor food choices. All these adverse health choices have had a domino effect…
Runcation: Run + Vacation Trail running vacations – or “runcations” have become increasingly popular in the last few years and for good reason. But do we actually need to book a runcation or can we just be spontaneous and throw the shoes in before we leave? While the idea of a “runcation” is very appealing, it has also occurred to me that pretty much every holiday I’ve ever been on has included at least some running. As I like…
Blisters are those annoying little discomforts that can put a dampener on our running enjoyment. While generally not big enough of a problem to require our full attention, if not treated correctly they have the ability to side-line us altogether. The following article covers causes, treatment and blister prevention for running. CAUSES Blisters occur for three main reasons: Friction Heat Moisture This can be further exacerbated by foot abnormalities such as bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. Heat and moisture contribute…
Is It Too Late to Start? It is generally recognised that after forty years of age we start to see the initial signs of ageing or slowing down. If you have never run before, or if you haven’t run for years, you might be asking yourself if running after forty is the most advisable thing to take up. Can my body withstand the demands of this activity, is it even safe to do so? Am I too old to start…
Let’s face it, the biggest factor in preventing us from reaching our fitness goals all comes down to motivation, which is ultimately a mindset thing. At times it can feel impossible to balance everything going on in our lives and getting out there on a training run can be the easiest thing to drop first. If we can figure out how to stay motivated for exercise the main battle is already won. Below are my tips on how to stay…