Pinning the bib

Waiting by start – post warm-up

Lining up

Running with the pack

Final kick

Just finished – Nothing left in the tank

Checking the results

Picking up the trophy

Can a group of marathoners run down a pronghorn?

OutsideOnline.com posted a really interesting article detailing what happens when you put the theory of persistence hunting (when groups of people capture and kill herd animals by running them to exhaustion) to the test today.  Nine elite marathoners gathered together in New Mexico to see if they could run down a pronghorn.

From the article:

Through the binoculars I see them: nine tiny men in bright jerseys running in formation across the vast short-grass prairie of eastern New Mexico. They’re chasing a tawny pronghorn antelope through the crackling stalks of late summer’s fading wild sunflowers. The buck weighs about 130 pounds, like the men racing after it, but that’s about the only thing they have in common.

The pronghorn is the second-fastest animal on earth, while the men are merely elite marathon runners who are trying to verify a theory about human evolution. Some scientists believe that our ancestors evolved into endurance athletes in order to hunt quad­rupeds by running them to exhaustion. If the theory holds up, the antelope I’m watching will eventually tire and the men will catch it. Then they’ll have to decide whether to kill it for food or let it go.

Read full article >

Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.

Taking us deep into the hills of northern Mexico to examine the reclusive Tarahumara Indian tribe (the Running People), high into the Colorado Rockies for the Leadville 100-mile Trail Race, and into the Kalahari where the bushmen practice persistence hunting (running down herds of animals to exhaustion), the book reveals a long history of running, while delving into the lives of some of the greatest endurance runners of all time.

It’ll make you want to get out the door and start running!

Buy Born to Run at Amazon »

Local film-maker Casey Neistat was commissioned by Nike to make a film while training for the New York Marathon. The short film explores the mind games runners play with themselves.

World Run Day, an international annual event that promotes running and its health benefits as well as charitable giving, will occur this year on November 7.

To participate, people are encouraged to run their own course that day either individually or in groups and to donate to charities.  You can also register on their website, runday.com and get a t-shirt and bib for the event.

Sunday, October 10, 2010
- Cornucopia Fest EWB 5K Run (Storrs, CT)

Saturday, October 16, 2010
- Ridgefield Chamber Pumpkin Run: A 5K Fall Road Race (Ridgefield, CT)

Sunday, October 17, 2010
- Great Pumpkin Classic – 4 Mile Run, 2 Mile Walk, Kids’ Fun Run (Trumbull, CT)
- Run for the Pumpkins 5K Race (Westerly, RI)
- Apple Harvest Festival Road Races – 5K, 1K Youth Race, and Kidz Fun Run (Glastonbury, CT)

Sunday, October 24, 2010
- 5K Pumpkin Run & Kids Fun Run (Higganum, CT)

Sunday, October 31, 2010
- Kent Pumpkin Run – 5 Mile Race (+ 1/2 Mile and 1 Mile Free Kids Fun Run) (Kent, CT)

For more information about these races, as well as a full list of races, see our Race page.

The 400-acre Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve houses several trails full of roots, rocks, fallen trees, and other varied terrain.  As I ran today, it felt like more of an agility drill; I was forced to keep my feet fast and light.  I careened down hills, chugged up hills, whipped around corners, all the while trying to dodge little obstacles along the path.  I twisted my ankle several times and nearly fell on my face, and despite all this extra effort I was putting in, I don’t think my pace was particularly fast. But it was fun.  Trail running definitely provides a refreshing alternative to road running: I had to stay focused the whole time so I didn’t trip, I was surrounded by pretty scenery and a fresh woodsy scent, and I ran in total peace- no cars beeping at me, no people catcalling- in fact, I only encountered a squirrel the whole time I was out.

If you’re interested in trying out Oswegatchie Nature Preserve on your next run, visit: www.oswhills.org. You can download a trail map here. I’m not sure about the exact mileage, but I think if you ran the outermost loop (red to blue trails), it would be about 3 miles. Parking is available at Veterans Field in Niantic.