Weight Training

The New York Times has a good article for runners and weight training.

DR. O’CONNOR, for example, lifts weights for health, for enjoyment and for vanity’s sake (he does not want an emaciated upper body, he said), but stops lifting when he is training to run a marathon. Those muscles, he said, “are just dead weight you have to carry around.” He adds that a sport like rowing, swimming or running requires specific muscles and nerve-firing patterns that may best be developed by actually doing the sport.

“If your goal is to improve running performance, then weight training should probably mimic the running pattern,” he said. “If you do leg extensions, you can get stronger, but people don’t run like that.”

And don’t worry about becoming too muscular, Dr. Kraemer said.

“The fear of getting really big is not plausible for most people,” he said. Competitive distance runners and cyclists, who are naturally slender and light, “don’t have the muscle fiber number to get really big,” Dr. Kraemer said. “I can train them until the cows come home and they are not going to have big muscles.”

Sunday Fun Run

A Sunday morning fun run around Lake Montebello is scheduled for 11am. Hopefully the weather will be conducive for an enjoyable run. See you there!!

A little something about Lake Montebello and surrounding Mayfield:

By 1881 Baltimore water engineers had created Lake Montebello from over 60 acres of farm and woodland at the City's northern edge. Along with Lake Clifton, a low dam at Loch Raven, and interconnecting tunnels, it represented the City's first step toward a modern reservoir system.

Previously, Baltimore's water supply had been drawn from Lake Roland, a man-made creation of the mid-nineteenth century. Lake Montebello, with a circumference of one and a half miles, was made by damming Tiffany's Run, a small stream which had formerly run into the nearby Herring Run. The lake was built to store water piped down from the Gunpowder River and other fresh streams. The excavation work and the job of digging the 12-foot wide brick-lined tunnels had to be done largely by man and animal power. This took about four yeers. When first filled, the lake appeared much as it does today, but the treatment did not begin until 1910. Used as a reservoir only until 1914 Montebello later provided water to clean the filter beds in the Montebello Filtration Plant. The filter building was constructed in 1915, with additional facilities added in the 1920s, to be followed by later improvements. An attractive cluster of nineteenth century structures has been retained and put to adaptive reuse at the filtration site.

The cross-gable house and stables constructed of local stone, like that used in the early Morgan State College buildings, were part of the "Union Grove" estate held by the Brodie family throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. During the 1920s the Northeast Baltimore Community Association asked the old water board to convert the reservoir into a boat lake. This proposal was turned down by a water engineer because of the expense of supervision and the danger of contamination of this reserve supply of water. By the mid-twentieth century, Lake Montebello had become a popular attraction for strollers, runners, and bicyclists.

Valentine 10k Wrap-Up

I frigid morning brought on a tough 6.2 miles at Loch Raven Reservoir on Saturday morning. Results have not been posted as of this posting. Chris, Darby and Todd all earned themselves 6 well earned points after the completion of the Baltimore Road Runners sponsored event.

The Big Blue Cup is looking at some early leaders. Chris, Darby and Todd are all tied for the lead at 9 points. Mike, Robyn and Alaina have yet to post for an organized event.

Speaking of organized events, The Big Blue Running schedule has no events for the next few weeks. If anyone has any ideas please forward them to other members. Maybe another Saturday fun run is in order?

Valentine's Day 10K

At this time, we have three confirmed for Saturday's Valentine's Day 10k @ Loch Raven, race starts at 8:00am. Per Pete Hens, arrive about 30 minutes before race time to register. Race cost is $6. We will meet at Morgan Mill Road.

Chris sent me an email to add the Clydes American 10k and Fun Run, in Columbia, to the BigBlue schedule.

A Saturday 6 Miler

The BigBlue Running Club enjoyed the sites and sounds of beautiful Glen Burnie, Maryland on Saturday morning. Thanks to all who attended. Is there any interest in running the B & A Half Marathon on March 2?? The entrance fee is $40 if registered by Feb. 14. After Feb. 14, the registration goes up to $55.

Remember, next Saturday morning is the Baltimore Road Runners Club Valentines 10k through Loch Raven Reservoir @ 8:00am. The entry fee is $6 for non members.

OC Half Marathon & 5k Registration Open

The registration for the Ocean City Half Marathon and 5K is now open. Thanks to Mike and Alaina for the link.

Follow Registration Link Here.

Superbowl 5k Results and More

Congratulations to Todd, Chris and Darby for completing the Superbowl 5k. A special congratulation to Todd for completing his first of many more 5ks to come. Time results will be posted when they become available. Race results can be found through this link. Please keep in mind that official BigBlue time was not kept in this event. Todd believes Charm City was off by 15 seconds and Holtz believes the results were off by 30 seconds. With the completion of the Superbowl 5k, Todd, Chris and Darby, each lead with 3 points in the BigBlue Standings.

This coming Saturday, Feb 9, Chris would like to sponsor a members only fun run at the Baltimore Annapolis Trail. We will meet at Chris's house at 8:30am. Distance has not been determined at this point. Please call or email Chris if you are interested.

Looking a little further into February, BigBlue Running will be taking part in the Valentines Day 10k at Loch Raven Reservoir. The race will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16, with a start time of 8:00am. BigBlue members will be able earn 6 points with the completion of this race.

BigBlue running has not confirmed participation in the March 2, 2008, B & A Marathon and Half Marathon. If there is significant interest, BigBlue running will participate in this event. Registration ends February 25 @ midnight or until 1,000 participants has been reached.