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Title details for Running Smart by Mariska van Sprundel - Available

Running Smart

How Science Can Improve Your Endurance and Performance

by Mariska van Sprundel
Danny Guinan
ebook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A science writer and recreational runner explores the science behind popularly held beliefs about shoes, injuries, nutrition, "runner's high," and more.
Conventional wisdom about running is passed down like folklore (and sometimes contradicts itself): the right kind of shoe prevents injury—or running barefoot, like our prehistoric ancestors, is best; eat a high-fat diet—and also carbo load before a race; running cures depression—but it might be addictive; running can save your life—although it can also destroy your knee cartilage. Often it's hard to know what to believe. In Running Smart, Mariska van Sprundel, a science journalist and recreational runner who has had her fair share of injuries, sets out to explore the science behind such claims.
In her quest, van Sprundel reviews the latest developments in sports science, consults with a variety of experts, and visits a sports lab to have her running technique analyzed. She learns, among other things, that according to evolutionary biology, humans are perfectly adapted to running long distances (even if our hunter-gatherer forebears suffered plenty of injuries); that running sets off a shockwave that spreads from foot to head, which may or may not be absorbed by cushioned shoes; and that a good sports bra controls the ping pong-like movements of a female runner's breasts. She explains how the body burns fuel, the best foods to eat before and after running, and what might cause "runner's high." More than fifty million Americans are runners (and a slight majority of them are women). This engaging and enlightening book will help both novice and seasoned runners run their smartest.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 14, 2021

  • Formats

    • Kindle Book

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780262365208

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780262365208
      • File size: 450 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      September 1, 2021
      Approximately 50-million Americans run regularly, according to one 2020 report. Not a huge surprise, considering that the activity is healthy, easily accessible, and inexpensive. Science journalist and recreational runner van Sprudel examines conventional running wisdom, probing many traditions, rituals, and assumptions. Her topics include the evolution of human running, biomechanics, different kinds of running shoes and running barefoot, supplements, stretching, sports nutrition, and the psychology of athletic performance. Runners may have different motivations: fitness, weight loss, stress relief, competitiveness, pleasure, or some combination. Training is a balancing act; running too fast, too far, and too frequently can be a recipe for overuse injuries. The science of the sport is intriguing. Is there an optimal running physique? Is there a ""secret"" to speed? One gene (ACTN3) has been linked to velocity and power, another gene (ACE) is associated with stamina. Running is certainly advantageous for physical and mental well-being. While most of the ground covered in this well-researched discussion is hardly revolutionary, wannabes and runners of all levels should be engaged by this expert investigation of their favorite activity.

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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