The Nike+ Human Race

Treadmills getting you down? It’s not too late to sign up for the Nike+ Human Race!

The Nike+ Human Race, in short, is a race that will take place in 25 cities around the world on August 31, 2008. From the moment you sign up and pay the $35 registration fee, you are already helping a good cause, with Nike forwarding proceeds to ninemillion.org, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund. In addition to this, Nike will donate accordingly for every mile you run.

The route, 10 kilometers in length (6.2 miles), starts near the Harlem Rivers Fields and then loops twice around Randall’s Island, ending in Icahn Stadium. Click here to see the route, courtesy of mapmyrun.com.

The race starts at 6:00pm, but remember, you won’t have forever to run this thing. All participants have to complete the course one hour and 15 minutes after the last runner crosses start line, leaving the course open for about one and a half hours.

So you might be asking yourself: why should I run this race, anyway? Well, if testing your personal fitness isn’t incentive enough, Nike will also give you a free official Nike+ Human Race Dri-Fit shirt to run the race in. Yes, you get to keep it after. In fact, you won’t be allowed to race without it, so make sure to pick up your free race packet before race-day. Each finisher will also receive an official Nike+ Human Race finisher’s medal, in addition to free admission to an All-American Rejects concert that will take place after the race.

So sign up! But don’t put this off until the last minute, because registration closes on August 27.

Race packets can be picked up from Niketown (6 East 57th Street) on the following days/at the following times:

 

Thursday, August 28th: 10am - 7pm

Friday, August 29th: 10am - 7pm

Saturday, August 30th: 10am - 5pm

There will also be a bag check available at the start of the race.

Don't Skip the Eggs

When you're living in U-Hall or Palladium, it's hard to ignore the persuasive convenience of the Dunkin' Donuts below you.  Trust me, I know. That thing stole half my Dining Dollars last semester. But skipping the morning bagel might not be a terrible idea.

According to Mercola.com, a recent study shows that eating two eggs in the morning is a much more efficient option for weight loss than a bagel breakfast adding up to the same amount of calories. Plus, you'll feel more energetic!

This confirms a previous study, in which subjects that ate eggs for breakfast felt more satisfied and ended up eating less calories in the following meal.

Compared to their bagel-eating counterparts, subjects that opted for eggs in the morning, as part of a reduced-calorie diet, lost 65% more weight, saw a 61% greater BMI reduction and experienced higher energy levels. And yes, both groups took in the same amount of calories.

So, as Dr. Mercola says, when it comes to breakfast, skip the grains (like bagels, cereal, pancakes etc.), and opt for higher quality proteins (like eggs), healthy fats, and low glycemic complex carbohydrates.

Along with regular exercise, this is a great (and fast) way to lose pounds and step up your overall health.

And no, those "eggs" they serve at DD don't count. 

Photo by BPheonix under the flickr Creative Commons Attribution License.

Men's Health Urbanathlon

Registration for the Men's Health New York Urbanathlon is now closed, so hopefully those of you interested were able to sign up in time.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the Men's Health Urbanathlon is an urban race in the truest sense. Taking place in New York City and Chicago, the Urbanathlon involves hurdling over cabs and barricades, bolting down streets you would normally be too afraid to cross and, well, doing it faster than everyone else.

Plus, Men's Health is now offering participants the opportunity to run for a good cause. The Challenged Athletes Foundation, an organization dedicated to encouraging people living with disabilities to pursue active and healthy lifestyles, has teamed up with the publication to make fundraising for a worthwhile cause extremely easy. Just click here to get the details.

The New York City Urbanathlon is scheduled for September 27, and it might be worth your while to stop by even if you're not racing. Men's Health will host a free festival following the race at South Street Seaport, where you can watch the Spazmatics perform, or just have fun with the event's various interactive activities.