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The marathon has its roots in Greek history. It’s been said that after the Persians were defeated at the Battle of Marathon, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran all the way to Athens to announce the victory. Once the message was delivered, he promptly expired.

No one dies running a marathon anymore (ideally), but it’s testament to how the sport has changed that when participants finish the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco Oct. 22, they will promptly be showered with jewelry and clothes –– an official 2006 Finisher Necklace designed by Tiffany & Co.(R) and a Nike Dri-FIT performance top.

One of the largest women’s races in the world –– this year’s sold-out event is expected to have 15,000 participants –– the marathon also offers a coat check to stash unwanted clothes, the Chocolate Mile - a mile of chocolate goodies from Ghirardelli - and a pedicure station.

According to running experts, much of the growth in running comes from a rise in Average Jane female runners.

“Women want to be more than moms and wives. They need to do something for themselves,” said Jane Lutz, campaign manager for the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training, which is sending 20-plus local women runners –– six of them Hispanic –– to compete in the Nike Marathon.
Lutz said almost 70 percent of all new runners are women.

“I think it’s socially acceptable and encouraged where it wasn’t 10 or 20 years ago,” said Lutz.

“It’s empowering,” said Team in Training member Martha Rincón after finishing an early-morning practice on the bike path on a recent Saturday. Rincón, who began training in May, will be running the half (13.1) marathon course.

“I just turned 40. It’s never too late to start,” said Rincón.

A local teacher, Rincón became involved with the organization –– the world’s largest endurance sports training program –– after one of her students was diagnosed with leukemia. The program provides training –– including personalized fitness training by certified coaches –– for a period of four to five months to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides. Seventy-five percent of the money generated by trainees goes toward services for leukemia and lymphoma cancer patients, as well as research to find cures for the deadly diseases.

Since 1988, more than 300,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than $700 million.

Each member of Rincón’s team is expected to raise $2,500 for the Nike run through individual letter writing campaigns and corporate sponsorships.

Local honorees include 7-year-old leukemia survivor Bryna Nathanson and 35-year-old Aimee Blaine, who has Hodgkin’s disease. She has had a bone marrow transplant and four relapses.

“Blaine is a 35-year-old mother fighting for her life,” said Lutz, who lost her cousin and, recently, her mother to cancer. “She came to a TNT meeting and told us she’s staying alive thanks to our research dollars.”

Lutz found a fulfillment through running she couldn’t in careers as a teacher and massage therapist.

“I finally feel like I’m making a difference,” she said. “I’m doing something that benefits both other people’s lives and my own.”

TNT members meet once a week as a group and three times a week on their own time.

First-time marathoner Delfina Galindo said finding the right shoes to train in was her biggest challenge. Now she finds her shoes –– and running –– to be the perfect fit.

“I have enjoyed training so much that I don’t ever want to stop,” she said.

When Galindo and her teammates cross the finish line at the Nike Marathon (that’s approximately three to four hours for the half marathon and five to seven for the full marathon), they will be part of an exclusive group. According to Lutz, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the population has participated in a marathon.

They are also making progress in the toughest race –– gender equality. While men still make up the majority of marathon finishers, female finishers are closing the distance between them.

In the process, they’re defining themselves as athletes and redefining themselves as women, they said.

For more information about the local chapter of Team in Training, call Jane Lutz at: 331-2904 or e-mail: jane_lutz@cox.net.



Treat your feet – Preparing for the marathon
1. Stretching - before & after
Stretching primes the body for the strenuous activity ahead (and a marathon definitely qualifies as strenuous).

2. Shoes
Running shoes, please. You might take more than 30,000 steps during the race. Each step will generate force equal to three to four times your body weight across your knees, ankles, and feet. That is well over 5,000 tons.

Running shoes are designed specifically to take this kind impact and in the right areas to best facilitate dissipation of the forces while running. Consider talcum powder in your shoes to help keep your feet dry.

3. Orthotics
Don’t even think of running 26 miles on hard streets without them. If you have arch or heel pain, you may be a perfect candidate for orthotics. A visit to your foot doctor can help for future races.

4. Socks
Cotton socks are good for absorbing moisture. However for a run of this magnitude, your feet will probably sweat, and sweat a lot.

Your best bet will be an synthetic sock (with acrylic) that can wick away moisture from your feet. Make especially sure that the seams of your socks are not in an area of pressure.

5. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil or Aleve
While it may be tempting to take a few before the race to help “prevent” aches during the race, do not do this. It will only mask any pain that is felt during the race and can lead to more serious injury. Pain is a valuable feedback mechanism that you need to pay attention to during a long run.

6. Clip your toenails
Make sure they are not too long (that is sticking out past the tip of your toe). The last thing you want is for your toenail to catch in your shoe and painfully get ripped out. Make sure they are cut straight across as well to help prevent an ingrown to nail. If you do damage your nails, have them checked out since that is often how fungal nails begin.

7. Toes
If you have hammertoes (toes that curl) and tend to get corn and calluses on the tips of your toes, you may want to put some padding underneath your toes to prevent this.

If your toes turn black or you notice black toenails after a few days (which is common), you probably have a subungual hematoma (bleeding under the nails).  The nail may fall off. Just keep the area clean and dry. This is how fungal infections start. If  the nail is painful, seek treatment.

8. Blisters
They happen because of excessive friction between the shoes and your feet. Again, make sure your shoes fit properly. 

If you already know that you tend to get blisters, then apply Vaseline to the problem areas before the run. Padded “blister proof” socks like those made by Thorlo are also a good investment. Do wear two pairs of socks since they usually add to the friction and increase temperatures.

9. If possible, visit your doctor

10. R.I.C.E. — When all is said and done
After crossing the finish line, congratulate yourself.
Remember RICE.
Rest, (that is obvious).
Ice — a nice ice water bath will help keep inflammation and swelling at bay.
Compression — such as ACE wraps will also help with swelling.
Elevation — keeping your feet up will help with rest, and will also help with swelling.

Source: www.SheKnows.com