Research project: Effects of yoga on flexibility, balance and lung capacity of recreational runners

Recruitment is being carried out for 40 to 50 interested participants for the research program which will commence in April 2009. Recruitment will be for inclusion in either of 2 groups ie: a yoga group or non yoga control group. A briefing will be held sometime in March before finalisation. To begin with, the basic qualifying inclusion criteria are as follow:

Inclusion criteria:
a) must not have any prior yoga or pilates experience for last 6months
b) Only recreational runners clocking total of 7 to 10km in a week

Commitment:
a) For those randomly selected into the yoga group, to attend all 17 yoga sessions (twice weekly, 1.5hrs each)
b) For those randomly selected into the non-yoga control group, to attend 2 assessment test sessions (2months apart).

Other incentives will be revealed during the briefing session

Research venue: Republic Polytechnic at Woodlands

For those who qualify and are interested, please write to the below aforementioned for more information. It will be ideal to have a preliminary chat before confirming your attendance for the no-obligation briefing session in mid-March which will be a platform to answer all queries and for you to decide if you are keen to participate.

Email zeeqy1873@hotmail.com by 10 March

To be confirmed: looking into some incentives for all participants (will keep all posted), especially those in the non-yoga group

Specific measurements taken:

1)Sit and reach test for flexibility
2)Balance platform test
3)Spirometric test for lung capacity
4)2.4km run test

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Participating in my 1st swim-run event, I approached the Tribob race with slight apprehension. Save for going kayaking more than a decade ago, there wasn’t opportunity to do an open water swim before. But the fact you are reading this meant that I did not become stepping board for other swimmers or prey for some mystical sea monster.

Weight: 269g (Size 9)
Forefoot Cushion: 10/10
Rearfoot Cushion: 7/10
Stability (pronation control/ medial support): 9/10
Responsiveness: 9/10
Overall: 9/10

Comments:
Having experienced the Men’s Stability Trainer, it was natural to want to try the Racer. Noticed that it is even lighter but yet provides good support. The heel provides less cushioning than the trainer as the sliver of polyurethane is omitted to make the shoe lighter. However, the heel counter is very snug.

Other than the above weight and colour (it is bright yellow with red laces), it is almost identical to the Trainer. The four external actuator lugs, the full mesh and the medial supports from the arch area to the metatarsal area makes long distance running for me with low arch much more pleasant.

I have run 10k, 15k and half marathons races in them and they are great.

Recommended for:
Runners with low arch and midfoot strike running form.

1. Bloggers or Writers

Bloggers and writers wanted to do Event, Gear and Wesbite Reviews. SGRunners.COM are looking for passionate runners who love to blog about their running experiences and who would love to share it with others. Regardless of how fast or how far or even how long you have run, it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is how much you love running.

Benefits:
Trying out latest running shoes and gears
Discount or free admission for clinic, races and events
Other special benefits
Free customise blogs, e.g. http://yournick.sgrunners.com

Requirement:
Must be a member of SGRunners.COM Forum
Currently blogging
Passionnate and sincere

TO APPLY (selected member will be notified through e-mail)

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Benefits:
Event goodie bags
Other special benefits

Requirement:
Must be a member of SGRunners.COM Forum
Outgoing, Passionnate and Sincere

TO APPLY (selected member will be notified through e-mail)

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Weight: 296g (Size 9)
Forefoot Cushion: 10/10
Rearfoot Cushion: 8/10
Stability (pronation control/ medial support): 9/10
Responsiveness: 9/10
Overall: 9/10

Comments:
For a over-pronator running with heavy shoes, the weight of this shoe is a godsend. Part of its lightness is that the shoe is full mesh. The medial support starts from the arch area to the metatarsal area to offset early and late stage pronation.

The four external actuator lugs (red colour – see attachment) is the unique feature of this shoe which absorbs the shock when the forefoot hits the ground and release the energy when you bend your knees to begin a new stride.

If you are new to midfoot strike running form, after running in Newton for a moderate distance for the first time, you may ache in places that have not ache before. This is because you are engaging those muscles. So, instead of breaking in your shoes, you are breaking in the muscles needed for the efficient running form.

Recommended for:
Runners with low arch who are transitioning to midfoot strike running form. Perfect for training and even races including marathons.

It started at 7am, Almost everyone had their dry fit event tee on. Couples, singles, family and even pets, turned up for the race. The organisers conducted a warm up session with the participants for about 20mins before the start of the race. Flag off was at 7:20am, there were road marshals at about every 0.5km, cheering & motivating the participants to push on to complete the 2 rounds around the reservoir. There were about 3 water points along the route.

One of the events for the upcoming Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival organised by DirTraction is the Dirty Duathlon, a marriage between trail running and off-road riding. I guess that would make me the bastard child? Since I love these two sports more than any other non-human thing in the world (together with rock-climbing, waking up late on weekends, durians and a host of other things), I decided to sign up for it, but for the Sprint event of course, because, um, I’m not sure if my bike can handle the full distance. Yes, the bike, not me. Read more…