Running for my Life :)

You’ve been away from running for quite a while, but you’re finally ready to get back into the swing of things. Here are a few pointers on how to do it correctly.

Build a strong aerobic foundation – Everything that was and is great needs a strong foundation to build upon – buildings, cities, people. Running is no different. To do great things in running, such as completing a marathon or ultramarathon, you have to build a strong aerobic foundation. Start small, twenty minutes a day, three days a week. Make sure you have a day of rest in between. Make sure you run at pace that is difficult enough to get your heart pumping, but no so difficult that you can’t talk (that would put you in anaerobic mode which you are not ready for). When you can do this with relative ease, you’ve built a small, yet strong foundation. Add 10% each following week until you reach your ultimate distance goal. Then play with speed if you’d like.

Cross train – After several weeks you will find that you can recover very fast after your workouts. You’ll feel less sore, less stiff, less drained. But fight the temptation to run on your rest day. Instead, cross train with non impact activities. This will help develop your cardiovascular system without increasing your risk for injury. These non impact activities include walking, swimming, pool running, elliptical, biking, and circuit strength training.

Limit your racing, for now – When you are in a race, you’re going up against conditioned runners. Imagine how you’ll feel when you go out on a race unprepared, and even after giving it your all, finishing with dismal stats. This can crush your enthusiasm and scare you out of running for good. Be patient. Be disciplined. Slowly increase your pace and distance every week until you are truly ready to pin that bib.

Running is such a simple activity; it’s something that we can all do without even thinking. For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, it’s not so simple.

To improve running speed and performance many different variables have to be taken into consideration. Generally, the more information you have the easier it is to find out the causes of any performance problems.

For instance, if you had information that your heart rate exceeds the desired level whenever you run an incline greater than 30 degrees, you could add more incline training into your programme.

So, how do you get this information? There are a number of gadgets available on the market that you can purchase. They can do everything from measuring your heart rate, mapping your training route via GPS and measuring your stride length and distance covered.

Once you’ve got the data it needs to be collated and analyzed. Most of the gadgets can be connected to your computer and the data transferred into a training software. You can perform the analysis and determine your weaknesses.

If you don’t feel qualified to do the analysis or would like to get a second, or even third, opinion, you can share your results via the internet. There are various websites available for athletes and running enthusiasts. Everybody’s goal is to improve and while they can help you, maybe you can also offer other people advice.

Another fun feature of some websites is to engage in a virtual competition. You can, for example, challenge someone to a 10K run. It doesn’t matter where in the world your challenger is: you complete your runs separately and then upload the data and determine the winner! It can be a great way to keep your motivation.

First, tea can be good for heart health because it contains polyphenols which help to prevent cholesterol from damaging blood vessels. Also, green tea has been shown to help protect the cells lining the blood vessels which can help lower the risk for getting heart disease. The polyphenols can also help to prevent the growth or spread of cancer. They help to prevent cells from becoming injured, reduce tumor size, and help to prevent cancerous cells from growing. Tea can also be good for other diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Green tea and black tea have been shown to limit the activity of two enzymes in the brain that are linked to Alzheimer’s.

Tea is not only beneficial when we drink it but it can help to protect our skin when it is applied to it. Studies have shown that applying green tea to sunburned skin can help prevent cancerous growth. This is why many skin care products also now include green tea in them. The benefits of tea do not stop there though. It can also be good for our teeth. It helps to increase the acid resistance of the tooth’s enamel and also contains fluoride which is needed to keep teeth healthy and strong.

Tea may not be the first drink choice that many of us consider but maybe we need to rethink our choices. Tea can not only help relax and calm us when we are stressed but it clearly has many added health benefits as well. So the next time you think about what you want to drink, consider choosing tea over soda, you may be very glad that you did.

When you are a runner, you are bound to get an injury one way or another. It just comes with the territory. Here are some details about two common running injuries and how to treat them.

Plantar Fasciitis

Definition – Inflammation of the connective tissue which runs along the bottom of the foot. It is an overuse injury caused by continual overstretching of the plantar fascia. Seen in runners with high arches and in over pronators.

Symptoms – Pain usually starts at the base of the heel, more severe in the morning or at the beginning of a run. Pain may fade several minutes after you start your workout.

Cause – Tight Achilles tendon that puts stress on fascia. Or, high arches (rigid feet) or flat feet that over pronate are the most susceptible.

Self Treatment – Reduce running. Take aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. Ice the area for fifteen to twenty minutes after running.

Preventative Products – 1) Tandem Sports Night Splint – keeps the foot stretched out while sleeping. 2) Foot Log – massages arch to break up scar tissue. 3) Protec Arch Support – a special wrap that relieves stress on tissue.

Runner’s Knee (Chondromalacia)

Definition – Softening or wearing away of the cartilage under the knee cap. This often occurs when the knee cap moves in an abnormal pattern during running.

Symptoms – Gradual onset of pain around the knee cap with particular soreness along the medial side of the knee. It often becomes painful going downstairs, running down hill, and sitting with knees flexed.

Cause – Excessive over pronation which causes the knee cap to twist, weak quadricep muscles, downhill running, muscle imbalances between the quadriceps and hamstrings.

Self Treatment – Take aspirin or ibuprofen, strengthen the quads, increase flexibility, avoid downhill running, wear proper shoes, ice area for fifteen to twenty minutes.

Preventative Products – 1) The Stick – loosens tight muscles surrounding the knee. 2) X-Factor Knee Brace – provides support to injured area. 3) Knee Protec Strap – relieves pressure under the knee cap.

It is in the remote region of Patagonia – an area comprised of parts of Southern Chile and Argentina – that maqui berries are found. This land is also home to the Mapuche Indians. The tribe is notable not only because they are the only unconquered group of Native Americans, but also because they were the first people to consume this tiny berry.

For the Mapuche Indians, the maqui berry was much more than just a tasty food; it was the fruit of a sacred plant. The maqui tree symbolized peace and benevolence, which is why maqui berries were frequently placed on altars during religious ceremonies. The Mapuche also consumed a beverage made of the fermented berries several times a day, believing the drink would give them stamina and strength. According to local legend, it was the maqui berry that helped the Mapuche defeat both the Incas and the Spaniards in battle.

The maqui berry and leaves were also utilized by the Mapuche for a variety of uses in everyday life. The Mapuche tribe – which still makes up about 10% of Chile’s population – continues to consume this super fruit to this day.

Considering natives have eaten maqui berries for centuries, the claim that scientists recently discovered the fruit is somewhat inaccurate. It is true, however, that many people in the West have only heard about the berry in the last couple of years. Since then, its unique properties have led many to classify it as a super food. Because of high demand for this purple fruit, numerous companies are now producing maqui berry supplements in a variety of forms.

The kidneys are twin organs that are responsible for filtering the blood to remove all waste products. The kidneys also release hormones that regulate the blood pressure and the number of red blood cells. The blood enters the kidneys, with the waste materials diverted and sent via the ureter to the bladder to be eliminated from the body in the act of urination. The blood that has been filtered goes back to the body. The kidneys process over 18 gallons of blood every hour for a total of 432 gallons of blood filtered every day. The kidneys also filter over half of all fluids taken in by the body and release at least two quarts of urine every single day.

The kidneys can be subjected to a number of different disorders including kidney infections, kidney stones and a serious condition called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) any of these can grow worse and may lead to renal failure.

Renal failure can be either acute or chronic in nature and are typically detected with increased serum creatinine and decreased glomerular filtration rate. Renal failure may have several symptoms including:

- Increased levels of urea in the blood

- Vomiting or diarrhea which might be severe enough to cause dehydration

- Nausea

- Weight loss

- Nocturnal urination

- Foamy or bubbly urine

- Increased frequency or increased amounts of very pale urine

- Blood in the urine

- Pressure or difficult urination

Renal failure may also cause phosphates in the blood, itching, bone damage and muscle cramps which are caused by the low levels of calcium. Potassium will build up in the blood stream, a condition called hyperkalemia which may cause abnormal heart rhythms and eventual muscle paralysis (Source: surgeryideas.com/renalfailure )

Some of the risk factors for kidney diseases include hypertension, especially when it is untreated, gout, diabetes, prolonged shock and the use of certain drugs.

Chronic kidney disease affects 26 million Americans with millions more at high risk of developing the disease. Early detection is the key to keeping CKD from progressing to kidney failure. Heart disease is the major cause of death for those who have CKD. Hypertension is a major risk factor of CKD, but CKD is a major risk factor for developing hypertension as well. The two can be called interchangeable because they are so linked with one another. Virtually everyone with CKD will have hypertension and the majority of the people with hypertension are at much greater risk for developing CKD.

In addition to high blood pressure, the risk factors for CKD include: diabetes, family history of kidney diseases, and certain ethnic groups. Those of African-American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander or Native American descent are at increased risk for this and other kidney diseases.

Causes of Kidney Failure:

- Hypovolemia (a low blood volume) can result from extreme blood loss

- Dehydration

- The use of diuretics

- The obstruction of renal arteries or veins.

- Sepsis (an overwhelming infection)

- Rhabodmyolysis (significant muscle break down in the body)

- Trauma or crushing accidents

The diseases that affect the kidneys can be either temporary or potentially fatal. Treatment can be as simple as medications or can be as complicated as needing a new kidney. While you can live with only one kidney if something happens to one of them, it is never a good idea to do so because it puts so much stress on the remaining organ. There are three common tests to check for kidney failure including: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine. High blood pressure can be a symptom of kidney disease because the kidneys secrete hormones to regulate blood pressure.

Dietary Suggestions

Anyone with a chronic condition of any kind should seek the advice of their doctor regarding nutrition and the need for vitamins and minerals. Certain micronutrients can be dangerous to the system that is already over taxed. In addition, there are also some macronutrients that can be harmful to those with CKD or other kidney problems.

People with CKD should limit their protein intake within reason but only under the direction and guidance of a nutritionist (Source: National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse). Protein is an important part of a healthy diet, but there are some restrictions for those who have kidney disease. It may be important to limit the amount of protein so the protein that you do get should be of high quality and low fat.

Too much protein in the diet, changes the process of the metabolism to a state of ketosis. Ketosis occurs when the body stops burning carbohydrates for energy and reverts to burning fat instead. The fat is broken down into molecules of carbon that are called ketones. These ketones are released into the blood stream. Ketosis can be problematic because it suppresses the appetite while it increases the urinary output. The combination of the two can lead to dehydration, an electrolyte imbalance and osteoporosis (Source: Osterweil)

The American Heart Association suggests that the amount of protein in the diet be no more than 35% of the daily calories, however this may be too much for those who have beginning or worsening kidney disease. It is important to make sure that the doctors and nutritionists work to find the right amount of all three macronutrients, protein, fat and carbohydrates that will work with the kidney disease. The proteins that are eaten should be of the healthy, low fat variety including plant proteins.

Kidney Stones

In addition to the serious kidney conditions listed above, there are kidney stones as well. One of the most painful urologic disorders is suffering from kidney stones. It is also one of the most common as well. While most of the kidney stones that a person might develop will pass without medical intervention at all, some may actually need to have some treatment.

The most common type of stones are the calcium oxalate or the phosphate oxalate stone with a few other less common types that can develop as well. Kidney stones are most common in Caucasian men between the ages of 40-70. The threat of kidney stones in women peaks at the age of 50. Your chances of kidney stones go up: with family history, frequent UTIs, if you have cystic kidney disease, and certain metabolic disorders. Cystinuria and hyperoxaluria are both rare, inherited metabolic disorders that may often cause kidney stones. Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the blood) is also inherited and may be the cause of half of the kidney stones. Other causes: gout, excess Vitamin D, blockage of the urinary tract and the use of diuretics. (Source: surgeryideas.com/kidneystones)

Symptoms of Kidney Stones — There are a number of symptoms: extreme pain, sharp cramping pain in the back, nausea and vomiting, pink urine, frequent urination, burning upon urination, fever, chills. Most kidney stones are found by X-ray, CT scan or intravenous pyelogram in the course of ruling out other conditions.

References

The American Heart Association

Neil Osterweil The Benefits of Protein WebMd

The National Kidney and Urologic Disorders Information Clearinghouse

surgeryideas.com/kidneystones

surgeryideas.com/renalfailure

Asthma affects about 16 million people in the United States, with 70% more women than men affected. The disparity in the rate of asthma in men and women may be related to the hormonal fluctuations of the menstrual cycle which may inflame the airways. One of the ways to handle this for women with asthma may be choosing to use an oral contraceptive, however if it is not reasonable or safe to do so for health reasons, the doctor might have other suggestion. This latest recommendation is contradictory to older studies that suggested that birth control pills may make the symptoms of asthma worse in most cases.

In children, asthma affects twice as many boys but at the age of 20 it changes and the gender bias is three to one with women being more afflicted.

Risk factors, beyond the role of hormones, for developing or worsening asthma include obesity, allergies (especially to inhaled substances and foods), certain drugs, respiratory infections and cold air. Most people have perfectly normal lung function most of the time, but have occasional attacks. Some people rarely have attacks at all, while others may find it difficult to manage day to day activities because of the asthma. Getting control of the symptoms of asthma as well as managing as many of the risk factors and causes is vitally important. One of the easiest steps that people can take is losing weight and starting an exercise program. There are however some special guidelines for exercising with asthma:

- Use a bronchodilator before running or other strenuous exercise.
- Opt for indoor workouts, especially where there will be warm and humid air. An indoor swimming pool is ideal.
- Yoga, especially slow breathing focused yoga may be beneficial.
- Do not exercise in cold air if possible or wear a face mask to warm the air before you breathe it if you must.

In addition to these, it is important to know your triggers and to avoid them as much as possible. Common irritants include cigarette smoke, house dust, plant molds, cat dander, pollen and many perfumes or other sprays. It is important to take your medications as directed, including the emergency or rescue inhalers. Losing weight may make it easier to breath and may lessen the chance of having an asthma attack. To do so safely, it is important to use a healthy, well balanced diet, especially one that has been approved by the doctor who is treating you.

Weight problems can be the number one concern for nearly every person with asthma. Some of the medications that are prescribed to treat the condition may stimulate the appetite as well as cause fluid retention. It is also important to know that sulfites, a food preservative, are potentially dangerous in those who suffer from asthma. Although most of the most common foods that contain it have labels, there are other food sources that are not so obvious and not so clearly defined. These include: imported beers, shellfish, potatoes, salads and guacamole. If you are taking oral steroid drugs for your asthma control it is important to be careful with sodium content in food as well as added salt because of the increased risk of water retention.

Oily fish (mackerel, salmon, and swordfish) are anti-inflammatory as well as being a good source of lean protein. Replacing another protein food source with these fish once or twice a week is a good way to get enough of their beneficial oils in the healthy diet. There is a common myth that people (especially children) with asthma cannot drink milk or have dairy products because they create mucus in the lungs. This is not the case and should not be adhered to: children especially need the calcium in the dairy products. However, if dairy is a trigger food for the asthmatic, it should be avoided and calcium supplied with other foods and supplements.

The diet that you choose should have all of the three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and fats as well as the vitamins and minerals that will give antioxidant protection.

Proteins – Proteins come from both plant and animal sources. Protein is good in a weight loss program because it is used by the body to build lean muscle mass while it also works to suppress the appetite. Whey protein for instance, has two bioactive components that release hunger suppressing hormones, CCK and GLP-I. The leaner the protein, the better! Keep in mind the recommendations of limiting some of the foods that may be a trigger for many people. The best protein sources for those with asthma are fish and soy as well as protein supplements.

Protein supplements come in powder, shakes, bars, and liquid supplement shots. Protein powders can be made from four protein sources: rice, whey, soy and egg protein.

Whey Protein Powders – Whey protein is derived from milk so it is not for the lactose intolerant. Whey protein isolate powder has less lactose and may be acceptable. In addition to hunger reducing benefits, whey protein is an immunity booster and is also thought to maintain healthy blood pressure.

Soy Protein – Soy and soy products are often recommended for asthma sufferers and protein powders made from soy can be a very easy way to get them into the diet. Soy is beneficial for heart health by lowering the blood pressure and the blood cholesterol level.

Rice protein – Because so many of those who have asthma also have food related triggers, sensitivities and allergies, the need to find a good hypoallergenic food substitute or protein supplement is important. Rice protein is good for asthma suffers with food triggers as well as vegetarians and vegans.

Liquid Supplement Shots – Perfect for use as a before meals or as a between meal snack because it stabilizes the blood sugar so there is no sugar rush /insulin spike that can lead to increased weight gain.

Carbohydrates – Despite all of the fad diets that would suggest otherwise, carbohydrates are a very important part of the healthy and balanced diet. Complex carbs should make up about 50% of the diet. Simple carbs, (the white flour and white sugar kind) should be avoided because they are the ones that cause elevated blood sugar levels that will in turn lead to increased weight gain.

Fats – Fat should make up around 15-20% of the daily calories and should be of the healthy variety. Avoid the saturated fats, which are the ones that are solid at room temperature. Hydrogenated vegetable oil is also a saturated fat and should be avoided.

Learning how to build a strong immune system is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Although healthy immune system involves genetic risk factors to a certain degree, there are many other aspects that are within our individual control. In fact, there is nothing more powerful than the human design and our immune defense is the miracle of life that protects us from harmful germs, viruses, and foreign invaders.

The strength of your immune system largely depends on YOU and the choices you make such as:

1. Eating well
2. Reducing stress
3. Exercising
4. Getting restful sleep

Simple lifestyle changes can have huge impacts on boosting your immune health that can have major impacts on the quality as well as the length of your life. It’s never too late to take charge of your health by taking the necessary steps like eating healthfully and implementing an exercise program. When the immune system is strong you can FEEL it. Your energy levels may increase as well as your skin tone, and muscle vigor, providing a kind of “elixir of youth”. As you adjust your lifestyle to make changes for building a immune strength, you will be making choices that put your health in your own hands.

Top 10 Immune Boosters

• Eat your fruits and veggies, with a large % of raw foods to ensure high quality. Green leafy vegetables can be extremely beneficial to add to one’s diet.
• Enhance your diet with a good vitamin supplement. You may not be getting what you need from the food you eat for various reasons. Supplementation helps to fill in any missing pieces.
• Eat good fats. Stay away from highly processed fats and trans fats that are potentially harmful to the body.
• Discover the health benefits of exercise. Walking, hiking, jogging, swimming or whatever is fun for you. The exercise you choose should not feel like hard work it should feel like PLAY.
• Get plenty of sleep. The kind of sleep that is restorative. Most people need about 8 hours but there are of course exceptions. Only you can know how much makes you feel rested.
• Drink water! Make sure you are taking in a good amount of water daily, it is one of nature’s most important nutrients. On an average, most people are dehydrated which causes a whole slew of side effects.
• Enjoy a healthy sex life. Researchers at Wilkes University, Penn have shown that people who have sex 1-2 times weekly produce more immunoglobin.
• Make sure you are getting adequate amounts of Vit D through daily sun exposure. Most people today spend too much time indoors away from natural lighting.
• Get a massage and practice stress reduction techniques daily. Some feel relaxed when they are reading a book others through artist expression or meditation.
• Take herbs and superfoods that are high in antioxidants and protect the body with natural immune system boosting agents. The medicinal mushrooms like maitake or cordyceps can have huge effects on modulating and protecting the body.

Building immune strength is ultimately up to YOU. With a little focus and attention you can make rapid leaps and bounds to bring back and maintain a healthy radiant glow that lasts!

Is it okay for elite athletes to drop out of a race?

I don’t think there are many people that would question an athlete’s decision to drop out of a race if they were injured, but what about if the race just isn’t going their way and they know that on that particular day they aren’t going to finish in the money?

In my opinion, it depends upon the circumstances. If an elite athlete is being paid an appearance fee to run a race, then the only DNFs should come from an actual illness or injury. However, if they are not getting an appearance fee and need to actually win the race in order to get their cash, and they are convinced that they will be unable to do so, then it doesn’t bother me if they drop out.

I might lose a little respect for somebody for dropping out because it was too cold, but not if pressing on would prevent them from winning their race the next week and they had no chance of finishing in the money. As somebody who has won a minimal amount of money racing so far, I would not begrudge their pay day.

Elite athletes don’t casually run a few local races. They travel across the country and across the world for months at a time to both train and to compete. An elite or semi-elite runner may run a half dozen marathons or other big races in any given year; most amateur marathoners will only run one or two long races and a bunch of short local races.

That being said, if somebody makes a habit of dropping out of a race as soon as things do not go well, then I would expect that not only would their career be stunted by an inability to perform, but they would probably lose their sponsors fairly easily as well.

Some people may have the perception that one of the main things that separates us from the elites is the ability of those at the top of our sport to tough it out, to endure more pain than we can.

I would say that there is a bigger difference between whether or not they can gut out the distance. Elite athletes will generally tend to have more efficient cardiovascular systems than the majority (but not all) of the amateur athletes that they meet. Nobody who was not at least athletically inclined would be able to make a career in any professional sport. The largest advantage that elite athletes have over amateurs, though, is that they have more time to train. More importantly, they have more time to rest.

Amateur athletes have to hold down jobs, and even sitting behind a desk can be exhausting. Amateur athletes have to schedule their workouts around their work schedules and their family schedules, while professionals can generally just need to schedule their work around their family. A professional athlete may very well work much harder than somebody that sits in front of a computer, but the person that sits in front of a computer may spend nearly as much time actually exercising as the elite athlete.

However, did you ever wonder what the second oldest U.S. marathon was?

Even if you didnt, were going to tell you. Its the Culver City Western Hemisphere Marathon.

On Dec. 3 the Western Hemisphere Marathon will be run for the 53rd consecutive year, stepping off at 7 a.m. It’s the last qualifier of the year for the 2001 Boston Marathon, and is expected to draw more than 3,000 participants.

Culver City events also include a half-marathon, which starts at 7:15 a.m., and a 5K run/walk at 7:45 a.m. The half-marathon serves as an official warm-up race for the Los Angeles Marathon in March.

Last year only 225 participated in the marathon, but new race director and producer Cheryl Anker hope to change that.

A former Team in Training Coach for the Leukemia Societys Los Angeles Chapter, Anker trained runners and walkers in this nationwide charitable program to compete in the Alaska, Los Angeles, New York, Honolulu and Vancouver marathons. CNN featured her tips on running safety in a segment of All About Women.

Anker also created Off N Running Tours in 1994 to help visiting runners experience the beauty of the city of Los Angeles and some of its famous movie star and celebrity homes.

Anker is very much aware of the challenge she has in trying to make the Western Hemisphere Marathon bigger and better.

Its very exciting; theres a lot of work involved, Anker said. From September, weve really started from scratch. To be honest, in the last 52 years this race hasnt been promoted. Last year they built up back up to where the marathon drew 225 people.

Anker brought in some new people who helped create a new logo for the race and also found a sponsor who printed 10,000 race applications.

This marathon, when it was turned over to me, had a budget of $794, Anker said. So I have been frantically working getting people to donate things in kind as well as finding cash sponsors.”

Anker acknowledged that the biggest draw over the years has been the half-marathon.

Students Run LA has sent between 1,200 and 1,500 runners each year to the half-marathon, which is their official half for the Los Angeles Marathon.

Most of the Students Run LA use this half-marathon as part of their training in preparation for the L.A. Marathon, Anker said.

While Anker hopes to help create a new image for the Culver City Western Hemisphere Marathon in the new millennium, there is still some interesting history from the last half-century of the race worth noting.

In 1947, with World War II over, three men in Culver City, Calif. Paul H. Helms, the founder of Helms Bakery; William Schroeder, a local banker; and Syd Kronenthal, the City Parks and Recreation Director felt that it was time the West Coast should have an annual event that would stress physical fitness, community and athletic competition.

In honor of their race Helms and Schroeder had a special 3-foot-tall silver statue commissioned. It is considered to be on of the most expensive sports trophies around, with a present value $15,000 to $20,000 depending on the silver standard.

The first Western Hemisphere Marathon in 1948 was held in conjunction with the Los Angeles Coliseum Relays. The field was scheduled to run from Long Beach to the Coliseum, with the winner accurately timed to finish just before the start of the famous one-mile world record attempt.

However, because this was the era before freeways, the runners ran into badly congested Friday evening L.A. traffic. The leader, Gerald Cote of Canada, who apparently did not know of the race plan, took a short cut and arrived at the Coliseum before the gates were open.

When he finally gained entry into the stadium, Cote ran onto the track only to find a series of 39-inch hurdles awaiting a heat of eight of the worlds fastest hurdlers, who were on the track. Undaunted, Cote raced around the hurdles and completed the run.

While 70,000 fans applauded, Cote lit a cigar. Huffing and puffing like a locomotive, he ran his victory lap.

Despite this less-than-auspicious first marathon, Helms, Schroeder and Kronenthal pressed on. They contacted the City Council and mayor of Culver City and asked for official city sponsorship.

A deal was struck whereby the silver trophy would be housed in the mayors office, and the mayor would officially start the marathon by shooting the police chiefs gun in the air.

In 1950 an Alaskan prospector named Mainhardt Bredt competed in the marathon. Obviously a cold-weather runner, Bredt won the race in a slow three hours and 20 minutes after the leading eight favorites collapsed from the 100-degree temperature.

The following year in 1951, Lau Wen Ngau, a deaf-mute runner from Peking, China, ran a mile off the course before he could be persuaded to get back. Although Lau eventually won the race, the Peoples Party who had sponsored him was very upset. So Lau took the only way out: He defected. He is rumored to be living somewhere in the California mountains.

In 1964, the Western Hemisphere Marathon was chosen as the U.S. Olympic Trials for the Tokyo Olympiad. An unknown Navajo runner named Billy Mills competed. He not only won a berth on the Olympic team in this race, but later captured the Olympic gold in the 10,000-meter run in one of the greatest finishes in Olympic history.

In 1967, the first AAU-sanctioned race for women exceeding one mile (a 10-mile race) was held as part of the marathon event.

Four years later, the Western Hemisphere Marathon became the first marathon that allowed women to compete with men. Patricia (Cheryl) Bridges won that event in 2:49:40.

In that same race Bill Scobey set a course record of 2:15:21 that still stands today.

Womens world records were set in 1973 and 1974 by Miki Gorman (2:46:36) and Jacqueline Hansen (2:43:55) respectively. Hansens records still stands as the course record.