#boisementalhealth 
The following is an excerpt from The Runner's Bucket List: 200 Races to Run Before You Die by Denise Malan
Kacey Faberman wrote this race report in late 2012, before the tragic bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathon. After the bombing, [Editor Denise Malan] chose to leave the report as it was written, an untarnished tribute to the best race in the world. As runners, the greatest way we can honor the victims is to keep running Boston Strong.
I started running because I wanted to run the Boston Marathon.
Yes, you read that correctly. I didn't start running because I wanted to run a marathon, and I wasn't a marathon runner who set my sights on Boston. I started running because I wanted to participate in the best race in the world -- the Boston Marathon.
It took me six marathons to qualify, but when I did, I was elated and couldn't wait to register for and run the world's oldest annual marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors.
Training for and completing the 26.2 mile distance is tough, inspiring, challenging, enjoyable, time consuming, fulfilling, tear inducing, smile inducing and so much more. But it was the support, encouragement and sometimes looks of crazy that I've received from my family and closest friends over the years that was crucial in making my running-of-Boston dream come true.
To even enter Boston, runners must already have run a pretty fast marathon to meet the strict qualifying times, something only 10 percent of marathon finishers do. Having always obsessed about time in previous marathons, my Boston goal was to finish with a smile on my face. And I'm happy to say I achieved that goal. That smile came from the incredible organization, exciting but still somewhat nerve-calming Athlete's Village, the diverse towns from Hopkinton to Boston and the spectators who lined the entire course.
The Boston Marathon has been run continuously for well more than 100 years -- and it shows. The organization of this race is unlike any other race I've run. The expo is huge but easy to navigate -- you can find shoes, apparel (including the must-have jacket), last-minute race necessities you may have forgotten at home and nonessentials that celebrate the event (like a hand-embroidered pillow with all the towns you run through stitched in every color on the front). They even have a big-screen viewing of a video of the entire course, with Boston Marathon–associated personalities narrating the miles. This preview helped to set me at ease and prepared me for what to expect.
To get to the start, runners board school buses to the Athlete Village in Hopkinton. Shuttling 25,000 or so runners might sound like a challenge, but if it was for the organizers, I definitely didn't get that impression. Riding the bus from the Common in downtown Boston to the start was a great opportunity to connect with other runners. It's amazing to hear the stories of how people made their way to this famed running event.
After disembarking from the buses at the Athlete's Village, runners have an hour or two to chill before the waves start. The time leading up to a race start can often be tense, but the Athlete's Village had the opposite effect on me, and I found myself not stressing about the race I'd be starting around 10:00 that morning. The Village offered bagels, coffee, a replica of the "Welcome to Hopkinton" sign complete with photographers, a free pre-race massage tent and port-a-potties galore -- it was a runner's paradise!
When my wave was called to head toward the start line, I walked with the thousands of other runners who shared my preassigned wave start. After stepping into the corral that corresponded with the numbers printed on my bib, it wasn't long before I took my first steps along the world-renowned course. Because the course is point-to-point, runners have the opportunity to see many different locales. Before getting to the big city of Boston, I ran through many unique, small towns: Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton. Each town definitely had distinct personalities, but the commonality was that they proudly supported the race and loved to let the runners know it. Whether I was running past a biker bar (fully packed, at 11:00 a.m.) or a university where girls offered kisses, spectators were out in full force. More than 500,000 spectators take to the streets on this state holiday of Patriot's Day, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event. I'd say that half a million spectators is a conservative estimate.
I ran Boston in 2012, a year of record heat. The spectators really were fantastic in helping to beat the temperatures in the high 80s. They came out from their homes with extra cups of water, ice cubes and hoses with spray nozzles. The spectators along the course were phenomenal, and certainly a big reason why this big-city race is a success -- whole towns get behind it. They encourage, they cheer and they clang together anything and everything they can find to create enough noise to drown out any negative thoughts that crossed my mind -- whether because of the weather or the hills.
I had high expectations for Boston -- it is the marathon. My expectations were all completely exceeded. The organizers, the expo, the Athlete's Village, the towns, the spectators -- all top notch. No detail is spared in this marathon, and this commitment to excellence made me feel like an elite runner.
It's easy to say that everyone should run this race, though it's not always so easy to get there. But do whatever you can to toe that start line in Hopkinton, because it is completely worth it.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: third Monday in April
Distance: marathon
Field Size: 25,000
Website: BAA.org
Race Highlights: It's Boston, the most elite marathon in the world.
Not your cup of tea? Try one of these other races from The Runner's Bucket List:
Reprinted with permission of Triumph Books.
#idahomentalhealth
from Anxiety Agoraphobia Bipolar Disorder Evaluations and Treatment in Boise, Treasure Valley, Idaho http://ift.tt/1hRPvE5
Health and Fitness - The Huffington Post
The Painful Truth About Office Back Pain
Let's face it. Work can be a pain. Between deadlines, abrasive coworkers and budget cuts, the full-time office life often threatens to squelch even the cheeriest of employees. Now new research is proving what many of us have suspected for years -- work can be a literal pain, too. Back pain in the workplace is a common occurrence, and yet few workers (and even fewer employers) know what to do to combat it beyond the occasional five-minute stretch at the water cooler.
It's easy to make light of something we are usually able to just mentally push past, but the truth of the matter is, desk life is accelerating damage and even death to our bodies, and our work culture must be revamped in order for many to get out alive.
While it may sound dramatic, both professional statistics and the everyday experience of many office workers currently prove that back pain is an incredibly common problem in the office, and that it can often lead to more dire consequences.
How We Are Murdering Our Backs
Our bodies are not designed for a sedentary lifestyle, and yet in the face of such a technologically driven society, we often feel there is no choice but to spend generous portions of the day sitting in one spot. The average healthy person's back will take a beating from this low-energy lifestyle, leading to increased pain, stiffness and long-term problems. In other words, we prefer electronics over our physical well-being, and this needs to stop.
Our bodies are naturally designed to be active, and sedentary positions cause back muscles to tense up from supporting the rest of the body in a single stance for too long. The spine is also adversely affected and takes much longer to heal. We are unable to recover from much of this damage once it occurs, and women in particular will incur unsightly varicose veins that result in the same circulatory blockages that can cause the back pain.
Despite many companies promoting ergonomic working conditions, countless employees continue to practice poor posture and typing at their desk. This adds additional strain to the back, leading to long-term (and oftentimes permanent) damage to the lower back's ligaments. Outside of sitting all day at the office, some of us additionally sit in heavy traffic during our daily commute and also sit while eating lunch. This only adds to the stress on our back.
Finally, sitting contributes to obesity, which of course leads to undue strain on the back. Our joints and muscles are not designed to endure extra weight as the years go by, and as our bodies are aging and growing more frail, we are demanding they take on more work. It's a process that is detrimental to the whole of our systems, but often starts in the back. So, if you want to kill yourself while making a buck, consider continuing in your work routine. However if you're looking for a solution, read on.
If you already consider yourself to be particularly active, other things can cause back pain in the workplace, including excessive force upon the back or repetitive movements for multiple hours.
Stopping the Downward Spiral
For those who work in an office environment full time, there are steps you can take to minimize back pain and injury. It's simple to suggest you make a fuss at work until your employer abolishes chairs and replaces all standard work stations with standing or treadmill desks, but in all honesty, that is quite a task and often far from realistic. If you are not fortunate enough to work for a company that keeps employee health at the top of the priority list, there are still things you can do to save your back and potentially your life.
Stay active. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent and/or relieve back pain. If you are able to, take frequent breaks at work and walk/jog during your lunch hour. Once you're home, overcome end-of-day fatigue by hitting the gym or walking the dog. In other words, avoid the TV and Internet.
Speak to your employer about minimal adjustments you can make to reduce chronic pain. This could include getting a chair specifically designed to alleviate back pain or an adjusted schedule to allow for stretches and an active breather from your cubicle.
Don't call in sick and stay in bed if you're feeling mild to moderate pain -- the more you can continue to engage in active life and work to refine your daily desk routine, the better.
When pain is exceptionally bad, call a doctor. While rare, back pain can be a sign of something more serious. And, as mentioned prior, if your desk job is causing damage to your back, it could be causing damage to other parts of the body as well.
Employers Can Be Life Savers
While still far from the norm, employers are beginning to step up and recognize the issue of back pain and other mild injuries in the workplace. Some organizations who focus on the rights of the worker have begun to view employers as the enemy. This has led to many improvements in working conditions across the country, varying by profession. If you are an employer looking to preserve the health and wellness of your employees, there are some things you can do:
Encourage your staff to report symptoms in their early stages. This minimizes serious injury and also presents your company as a positive, caring environment that takes care of issues early.
Design your workplace with minimal risks, perhaps including a standing desk option or offering a free or very low cost exercise class at lunchtime.
Evaluate your company via a risk assessment and take necessary steps to improve based upon the findings.
Arrange for proper coverage during busy seasons so employees are not working excessive overtime or placing undue strain on their bodies.
Train employees on proper lifting or any other physical task that is applicable to your place of business.
Keep your workplace clean and free of any items that could be a tripping or falling hazard, potentially leading to back injury.
No matter what your position in the corporate world, make sure you are taking steps to protect your health and well-being. We may live in a society where we are expected to stay silent about every day aches and pains, but when it comes to the health of your back, it could quickly affect other parts of the body and turn into a company liability nobody wants to deal with.
It's easy to make light of something we are usually able to just mentally push past, but the truth of the matter is, desk life is accelerating damage and even death to our bodies, and our work culture must be revamped in order for many to get out alive.
While it may sound dramatic, both professional statistics and the everyday experience of many office workers currently prove that back pain is an incredibly common problem in the office, and that it can often lead to more dire consequences.
How We Are Murdering Our Backs
Our bodies are not designed for a sedentary lifestyle, and yet in the face of such a technologically driven society, we often feel there is no choice but to spend generous portions of the day sitting in one spot. The average healthy person's back will take a beating from this low-energy lifestyle, leading to increased pain, stiffness and long-term problems. In other words, we prefer electronics over our physical well-being, and this needs to stop.
Our bodies are naturally designed to be active, and sedentary positions cause back muscles to tense up from supporting the rest of the body in a single stance for too long. The spine is also adversely affected and takes much longer to heal. We are unable to recover from much of this damage once it occurs, and women in particular will incur unsightly varicose veins that result in the same circulatory blockages that can cause the back pain.
Despite many companies promoting ergonomic working conditions, countless employees continue to practice poor posture and typing at their desk. This adds additional strain to the back, leading to long-term (and oftentimes permanent) damage to the lower back's ligaments. Outside of sitting all day at the office, some of us additionally sit in heavy traffic during our daily commute and also sit while eating lunch. This only adds to the stress on our back.
Finally, sitting contributes to obesity, which of course leads to undue strain on the back. Our joints and muscles are not designed to endure extra weight as the years go by, and as our bodies are aging and growing more frail, we are demanding they take on more work. It's a process that is detrimental to the whole of our systems, but often starts in the back. So, if you want to kill yourself while making a buck, consider continuing in your work routine. However if you're looking for a solution, read on.
If you already consider yourself to be particularly active, other things can cause back pain in the workplace, including excessive force upon the back or repetitive movements for multiple hours.
Stopping the Downward Spiral
For those who work in an office environment full time, there are steps you can take to minimize back pain and injury. It's simple to suggest you make a fuss at work until your employer abolishes chairs and replaces all standard work stations with standing or treadmill desks, but in all honesty, that is quite a task and often far from realistic. If you are not fortunate enough to work for a company that keeps employee health at the top of the priority list, there are still things you can do to save your back and potentially your life.
Stay active. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent and/or relieve back pain. If you are able to, take frequent breaks at work and walk/jog during your lunch hour. Once you're home, overcome end-of-day fatigue by hitting the gym or walking the dog. In other words, avoid the TV and Internet.
Speak to your employer about minimal adjustments you can make to reduce chronic pain. This could include getting a chair specifically designed to alleviate back pain or an adjusted schedule to allow for stretches and an active breather from your cubicle.
Don't call in sick and stay in bed if you're feeling mild to moderate pain -- the more you can continue to engage in active life and work to refine your daily desk routine, the better.
When pain is exceptionally bad, call a doctor. While rare, back pain can be a sign of something more serious. And, as mentioned prior, if your desk job is causing damage to your back, it could be causing damage to other parts of the body as well.
Employers Can Be Life Savers
While still far from the norm, employers are beginning to step up and recognize the issue of back pain and other mild injuries in the workplace. Some organizations who focus on the rights of the worker have begun to view employers as the enemy. This has led to many improvements in working conditions across the country, varying by profession. If you are an employer looking to preserve the health and wellness of your employees, there are some things you can do:
Encourage your staff to report symptoms in their early stages. This minimizes serious injury and also presents your company as a positive, caring environment that takes care of issues early.
Design your workplace with minimal risks, perhaps including a standing desk option or offering a free or very low cost exercise class at lunchtime.
Evaluate your company via a risk assessment and take necessary steps to improve based upon the findings.
Arrange for proper coverage during busy seasons so employees are not working excessive overtime or placing undue strain on their bodies.
Train employees on proper lifting or any other physical task that is applicable to your place of business.
Keep your workplace clean and free of any items that could be a tripping or falling hazard, potentially leading to back injury.
No matter what your position in the corporate world, make sure you are taking steps to protect your health and well-being. We may live in a society where we are expected to stay silent about every day aches and pains, but when it comes to the health of your back, it could quickly affect other parts of the body and turn into a company liability nobody wants to deal with.
Why You Should Run The Boston Marathon (Plus 4 Other Races To Put On Your Bucket List)
The following is an excerpt from The Runner's Bucket List: 200 Races to Run Before You Die by Denise Malan
Kacey Faberman wrote this race report in late 2012, before the tragic bombing at the 2013 Boston Marathon. After the bombing, [Editor Denise Malan] chose to leave the report as it was written, an untarnished tribute to the best race in the world. As runners, the greatest way we can honor the victims is to keep running Boston Strong.
I started running because I wanted to run the Boston Marathon.
Yes, you read that correctly. I didn't start running because I wanted to run a marathon, and I wasn't a marathon runner who set my sights on Boston. I started running because I wanted to participate in the best race in the world -- the Boston Marathon.
It took me six marathons to qualify, but when I did, I was elated and couldn't wait to register for and run the world's oldest annual marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors.
Training for and completing the 26.2 mile distance is tough, inspiring, challenging, enjoyable, time consuming, fulfilling, tear inducing, smile inducing and so much more. But it was the support, encouragement and sometimes looks of crazy that I've received from my family and closest friends over the years that was crucial in making my running-of-Boston dream come true.
To even enter Boston, runners must already have run a pretty fast marathon to meet the strict qualifying times, something only 10 percent of marathon finishers do. Having always obsessed about time in previous marathons, my Boston goal was to finish with a smile on my face. And I'm happy to say I achieved that goal. That smile came from the incredible organization, exciting but still somewhat nerve-calming Athlete's Village, the diverse towns from Hopkinton to Boston and the spectators who lined the entire course.
The Boston Marathon has been run continuously for well more than 100 years -- and it shows. The organization of this race is unlike any other race I've run. The expo is huge but easy to navigate -- you can find shoes, apparel (including the must-have jacket), last-minute race necessities you may have forgotten at home and nonessentials that celebrate the event (like a hand-embroidered pillow with all the towns you run through stitched in every color on the front). They even have a big-screen viewing of a video of the entire course, with Boston Marathon–associated personalities narrating the miles. This preview helped to set me at ease and prepared me for what to expect.
To get to the start, runners board school buses to the Athlete Village in Hopkinton. Shuttling 25,000 or so runners might sound like a challenge, but if it was for the organizers, I definitely didn't get that impression. Riding the bus from the Common in downtown Boston to the start was a great opportunity to connect with other runners. It's amazing to hear the stories of how people made their way to this famed running event.
After disembarking from the buses at the Athlete's Village, runners have an hour or two to chill before the waves start. The time leading up to a race start can often be tense, but the Athlete's Village had the opposite effect on me, and I found myself not stressing about the race I'd be starting around 10:00 that morning. The Village offered bagels, coffee, a replica of the "Welcome to Hopkinton" sign complete with photographers, a free pre-race massage tent and port-a-potties galore -- it was a runner's paradise!
When my wave was called to head toward the start line, I walked with the thousands of other runners who shared my preassigned wave start. After stepping into the corral that corresponded with the numbers printed on my bib, it wasn't long before I took my first steps along the world-renowned course. Because the course is point-to-point, runners have the opportunity to see many different locales. Before getting to the big city of Boston, I ran through many unique, small towns: Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton. Each town definitely had distinct personalities, but the commonality was that they proudly supported the race and loved to let the runners know it. Whether I was running past a biker bar (fully packed, at 11:00 a.m.) or a university where girls offered kisses, spectators were out in full force. More than 500,000 spectators take to the streets on this state holiday of Patriot's Day, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event. I'd say that half a million spectators is a conservative estimate.
I ran Boston in 2012, a year of record heat. The spectators really were fantastic in helping to beat the temperatures in the high 80s. They came out from their homes with extra cups of water, ice cubes and hoses with spray nozzles. The spectators along the course were phenomenal, and certainly a big reason why this big-city race is a success -- whole towns get behind it. They encourage, they cheer and they clang together anything and everything they can find to create enough noise to drown out any negative thoughts that crossed my mind -- whether because of the weather or the hills.
I had high expectations for Boston -- it is the marathon. My expectations were all completely exceeded. The organizers, the expo, the Athlete's Village, the towns, the spectators -- all top notch. No detail is spared in this marathon, and this commitment to excellence made me feel like an elite runner.
It's easy to say that everyone should run this race, though it's not always so easy to get there. But do whatever you can to toe that start line in Hopkinton, because it is completely worth it.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Date: third Monday in April
Distance: marathon
Field Size: 25,000
Website: BAA.org
Race Highlights: It's Boston, the most elite marathon in the world.
Not your cup of tea? Try one of these other races from The Runner's Bucket List:
Reprinted with permission of Triumph Books.
#idahomentalhealth
from Anxiety Agoraphobia Bipolar Disorder Evaluations and Treatment in Boise, Treasure Valley, Idaho http://ift.tt/1hRPvE5