2013 Reader Survey

Thank you for reading Marathon & Beyond magazine. We care about what YOU think of Marathon & Beyond - Your opinions are important to us. Your participation in our Reader Survey can help us provide you with the best possible M&B experience. The first part of the survey contains general questions. The second part is specific to Marathon & Beyond. You will have the opportunity to tell us what aspects of Marathon & Beyond hold the most value for you. Thanks!!

Boston Marathon 2013

All of us at Marathon & Beyond magazine extend our sincere condolences to everyone affected by the recent tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone around the world.

Amid the chaos and tragedy, kindness was everywhere. Here are a few examples:

@billy_baker via Twitter: Runner just told me he’s been stopped numerous times by Bostonians asking if he needs a bed or a shower.

@rm via Twitter: <this was nice> Boston resident giving @AliHatfield & us orange juice and offering a bathroom to use#BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/1R6p9zOeBn

@ElPelonTaqueria via Twitter: anyone wanting to get out of the back bay come over plenty of tables and calm here and don’t worry you don’t have to buy a thing … and … open wifi, place to charge cell, or just don’t want to be alone, food and drinks,- pay only if you can #bostonhelp

@NBCSN via Twitter: Reports of Marathon Runners that crossed finish line and continued to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood to victims #PrayforBoston

@RedCross via Twitter: Thanks to generosity of volunteer blood donors there is currently enough blood on the shelves to meet demand.#BostonMarathon

Alternative to Traditional Chocolate Milk

Marathon & Beyond welcomes guest blogger, ultrarunner, and Wellness Coach, Sparkle Paterson, to our website. Sparkle offers an interesting alternative to traditional chocolate milk as a recovery drink.

Chocolate milk seems to be a popular recovery drink after a race or a long run. I could never really understand it as I am not a milk drinker, nor do I want artificial flavors and loads of sugar after a workout.

Most of the chocolate milks out there are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, some as high as 33 grams of sugar. In addition, most contain lots of sodium, some as high as 230 grams. That is why I started thinking of different ways to have healthy chocolate milk.

Here is what I came up with. I begin with 1 cup of non-sweetened coconut or almond milk and add 1-2 tablespoons of Dagoba organic cacao powder, a super food with great antioxidants. I then add 3 tablespoons of chia seeds which have fiber, protein, and omega-3, which we all know is a super anti-inflammatory. Sometimes, I like to add some honey which is a slow-burning sugar and is high in vitamin B. For a little extra flavor, you can also include a bit of pure vanilla. And, finally, I top if off with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Did you know that just ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol?  Studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes. Its noted qualities include anti-clotting, arthritis relief, anti-bacterial, and it is high in sources of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

Now that you have all your ingredients, it is best to make your chocolate milk sport drink the night before your long run or race. The chia seeds will expand during the night making it a rich, thick drink. This is one of my favorites, and I make it often.  Don’t be afraid to try some of your own special ingredients such as pure maple syrup instead of honey, or you can even blend in a banana. You will love it, and it is a terrific source of energy before a run or after.

You can read more about Sparkle and get lots of healthy recipes by visiting her website.

Enter to Win a FREE Entry into Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon

Have you dreamed of running Pikes Peak? Now’s your chance! Marathon & Beyond is giving away two (2) free entries into the 2013 Pikes Peak Ascent or Marathon – one (1) for the Ascent and one (1) for the Marathon. The Ascent is on Saturday, August 17. The Marathon is on Sunday, August 18.

The Pikes Peak Ascent^® and Pikes Peak Marathon^® will redefine what you call running. Sure, they start out like a lot of races on Any Street, USA. But your first left turn will have you turning in the direction of up! During the next 10 miles, as you gain almost 6,000 vertical feet, your legs, lungs, heart and mind will be worn to a ragged nothingness. But it won’t be until the next three miles, with still over 2,000′ of vertical to go, that you will realize where the Marathon got its moniker—America’s Ultimate Challenge.

In order to participate in either the Ascent or the Marathon, you must meet Pikes Peak qualification requirements. Please click here to review the requirements before entering. Your qualifying race must have been in the last 3 years. Please note that there are requirements for each of the two waves of the Ascent and the Marathon. Be sure to check requirements for BOTH waves.

In order to enter, all you have to do is sign up at the box on the right. When you register, you will put “YES” in the box for the event you would like to enter. The contest runs from Monday, March 11 – Sunday, March 17. Winners will be contacted via email on March 18, 2013 and will be announced on our Facebook page and our website. Good Luck!

Slammin’: Voices from the Middle of The Pack – Photos and stories of the runners in the 2013 Ultramarathon Grand Slam

Friend/photographer/subscriber of Marathon & Beyond, Michael Lebowitz is documenting the 2013 Ultra Grand Slam in a book called Slammin’: Voices from the Middle of the Pack.

Michael writes: “Many people consider summitting Everest to be one of the most difficult physical accomplishments. Yet, completing a series of 100-mile foot races across North America is perhaps even more challenging. There have been only 266 finishers of the Grand Slam since the event began in 1986 when Tom Green did it for the first time. In that same period 3500+ people have summitted Mt. Everest. Everest is 29,028 feet high, about 5.5 miles. There is a total of nearly 80,000 ft. of elevation gain during the 400 miles of the Slam, nearly two-and-a-half times more than Everest. Climbing Everest requires teams of people, weeks of hiking and climbing, expensive equipment, clothing, extensive training, guides. The Grand Slam is 400 miles and requires long-run training, a very small crew made up of wives/husbands /friends and several pairs of running shoes.

“There will be approximately 18 people on the starting line at Western States 100 mile whose dreams go much farther than 100 miles of this most famous of ultra courses with its 18,000 ft of elevation and legendary conditions. For these athletes, it is only the first step of a very long journey and will be followed, three weeks later, by the Vermont 100, with its 14,000 Ft of elevation gain. Four weeks later is the Leadville Trail 100 at 16,200 ft of gain, followed by the Wasatch Front 100, with an almost unimaginable elevation gain of 26,882 feet. It’s unlikely that more than 10 or 12 will cross the finish line at Wasatch, the Slam in hand. We’re going to be focusing on this group of ordinary people who have it in their hearts that they can and will accomplish this extraordinary thing.”

To learn more about Michael’s extraordinary project, click here.