Eat healthy
A student's lifestyle doesn't always cater to the ideal nutritional standard for marathon runners. Bryan Cisler, Leawood freshman, doesn't worry about it. Cisler says he doesn't go overboard on fatty foods. Until a couple weeks before running his first marathon this spring, he'll eat whatever he wants.
Collins says a well-balanced diet is the way to go. The key thing is to build up your immune system. You can do this by getting plenty of Vitamins C and B. He says that 70 percent of marathoners end up with a cold within two weeks after the race because their immune system is down. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and foods rich in carbohydrates.
Motivation is key
Carbs are essential for energy and muscle repair. Collins warns that you will hit a wall if you don't have enough. This is where you start to experience horrible muscle cramps and breakdown.
Many runners find that training with a partner or group keeps them going. Jayme Aschemeyer, Aurora, Colo., senior, founded the KU Marathon Trainers Club last spring. Together, the group train and share techniques. Aschemeyer has run shorter races, but has yet to run her first marathon. She put the club together because she wanted some additional motivation to actually go for it.
Choose a marathon location, register and aim for it. You are more likely to endure the entire length of your training if you choose a destination away from home. Collins says you should avoid smaller marathons where you can get out in a gap with no one in front or behind because you'll be likely to lose motivation. The Chicago Marathon is good for beginners because it's one of the largest in number, meaning there are plenty of people to pull you along.
Marathon Trainers
Get advice from other runners. Marathon Trainers is a new campus club of novice, intermediate and advanced runners. They meet monthly to share tips, techniques and support each other on the road to the big run. The next Marathon Trainers meeting is November 29 at 8:30 p.m. in the Kansas Union. For more information, contact Jayme Aschemeyer, jayMEhawk@aol.com.
Damage control
When unimpressing the family...
You're meeting your significant other's parents during Thanksgiving break, and you have a feeling their first impression of you is less than ideal. If your personalities just aren't clicking, don't overcompensate by acting differently. Impression management is the art of deception, says Dennis Karpowitz, associate professor of clinical psychology, which is the
last thing any relationship needs. If you're in a serious relationship, you will probably be spending more time with the family, and they will eventually see through the act. So be yourself — maybe just a more polite version who isn't waiting to grope their offspring.
—Misty Huber
minute fix
Dead Battery
A dead battery can be aggravating, especially when all you need are some jumper cables and there are none are to be bad. But if you have a stick shift vehicle, there's another solution. Stay in the driver's seat and get one or more people to push the car. Put the key in the "on" position. Press down the clutch. Then shift the car into first gear. Take off the emergency or hand brake. When the car gains momentum, release the clutch and give it some gas. This works best on a hill. That should start the car, but get the car to a mechanic ASAP.
Source: ehow.com
Stephanie Lovett