Enter

run “zone

WHEN Frank Shorter
a -won gold at the 1972

:, Olympics in the

: marathon event he
unwittingly started a
health craze which is

s still alive, well and
kicking.

The sport of putting one
foot in front of the other as
fast as possible has existed for
thousands of years but was

“Llargely restiicted to individu-
als who spent most of their

:. time competing at a highly
competitive level.

It is only since Mr.

i: Shorter’s success that North
mericans from all walks of
have found jogging/run-
has become their
favorite way of staying in
ood physical health and
maintaining their desired
evel of fitness.

Unfortunately, too many

Saspiring runners suffer need-
lessly because they do not
understand some. of the key

ingredients chat help alleviate
unnecessary discomfort and
llow them to experience the
unnéc’s high” thar every-

one talks about.

__ Ifyou pass some of these
people you will no doubr
hudder at their anguish.
Glazed eyes. focused intently
head like zombies.

"Fists clenched. Jaws tight-

closed and veins in the
neck looking like. they're
bout to *upture,.

¢’s and the real feeling
the intrepid athlete is only a
‘i second away from
g on you because
forced him or. her out of

ere the journey really can
s much or more satisfring
in the actual destination.
‘Tip 1: Get some decent
‘ frunning shoes that are
esigned for your own fect
~~ not your wife, husband,
i or daughter. Check
swhether you supinate,
@ pronate or have a high
tep. Heavier athletes gen-
z¢rally need more cushioning
Raiand many potential speed
lemons will find that correct-
y fitted ‘orthotics can help
remendously, More expen-

¢ does not necessarily

nean a better shoe for you so
f go somewhere with qualified
istatf that can answer your
uestions honestly and inrel-
igcatly without the priority

ing. your fiscal powential. A
ouple of suggestions would
¢ All-star Sports (Park Royal
North) and Footwerks (1400

ck Marine Drive in
mbleside),

Tip 2: Warm-up slow and
asy.and finish sterng. Don’t
retch until you’se finished

urirtin and even then’go

sy on those joints and mus-
es. I-see some peopic
retch-iike it’s the last day,
sembfing the wishbone

from last Thanksgiving’s
turkey about to be snapped
(ouch!).

Tip 3: If you’re trying to
increase your speed and want
to do interval work, cry hill
running instead of the track.
Work the climb, backing off
on the level and downhill
sections. There is much less
chance of injury and the aer-
abic system can be chal-
lenged at higher levels with
less skelctal stress.

Tip 4: We live in an
amazing environment with
trails everywhere so whenever
possible get on a soft surface
to reduce pounding and
potential injury. Failing that
you can always purchase
some gel insoles for your
running shoes, which defi-
nitely helps reduce the
impact.

Tip 5: Join a club. We are
social creatures (well most of
us anyway) and are usually.
happy interacting with other
members of our species.
Phone your local recreation
centre for information or
check out a local running
store.

Tip 6: Ifyou find you get
blisters, just grease the
offending area with vaseline
before you start. It only rakes
a moment. but can reaily
impact on your overall com-
fore. You can also toughen
your skin by applying rub-
bing alcohol on a regular
basis to vulnerable skin areas
(no drinking it though...
hic!). “Second skin” is anoth-

_ er good option, particularly if
"a blister iz already starting to

form.

Tip 7: Make it fun and
interesting by varying your
training environment —
incorporate trails, city parks
and scawails.

Tip 8: Listen to your
body. As you become inereas-
ingly achletic you'll be more
attuned to vour own piysiol-
ogy and will learn when to
pull back or take a brief break
and hit the swimming pool.

The single easiest way for
any athlete, recreational
through elite, te become
faster and stronger is not to
get injured.

These are just some of the
ideas that can help you enjoy,
challenge and reward yourself
in this wonderful athletic
arena, They say if you can’t
enjoy running in Vancouver
you won't enjoy it anywhere
so do some of the right
things and sign up for the
next local 5km, 10km, half”
marathon or whatever.

You'll never look back! !

Shane Collins is a physical
trainer and athletic caach as
well as an accomplished ultra
endurance runner and
marathon swimmer, He can te
reached at (604) 921-0726.

BC Transit 368 wee

Team best.
of the West

NORTH SHORE-BASED
B.C. Olympics Volleyball
Club (left) captured the
15-and-under Western
Canadian Midget voiley-
ball title with a two game

“sweep of number. one

ranked Grande Prairie in
Calgary. The select team
includes players from

.seven different North
“Shore schools. —

The provincial government is taking aciion to improve transit in the Greater Vancouver Region.
Together with the Greater Vancouver Regional! Disirict, the Government of BC is creating the new
Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (GVTA), This new authority
means transportation and transit decisions that affect the Lower Mainland

will be made in the Lower Mainland.

Soon, the GVTA will be responsible for the operation of BC Transit lmses,
SzyTrain, SeaBus, handyDART and West Coast Express in Greater Vancouver.

This transfer of responsibility will be completed by April 1999.

Improving our service is a
key focus at BC Transit.
That's why we are investing
in new buses and SkyTrain
cars, increasing the number

Check out our website: of buses on busy routes

www.lectransif.com

and making information
about our services easier
‘to find and use. Further’
‘ service improvements will
be announced threughout
the summer months.

eS
t.

ene ret

EN