Alameda Runners – Get After It!

If you’re looking to run for an extended period of time (in this case, six or 12 hours), this is the blog entry for you!  Our friends at Brazen Racing are hosting the Dirty Dozen Endurance Run at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline.

Runners can tackle the event solo, or have teams of two or three runners.  The event circles a 5K mile loop that is mainly dirt fire trails that is best described as a “gentle” course.  (Course info is available here).

If you’ve been thinking about participating in a similar event but don’t know if you can do it, I’d like to point you to this race tip from Brazen:

Few are expected to run without any break the whole time. Walk breaks are advised. Runners will also pass through the start/finish area with each loop and will have the chance to stock up on fuel, change shoes or clothing, visit friends, etc.

Here is a FAQ page for the event, and here is a link to the main page.

If you’ll have some friends and family close by, they can create an unofficial aid station just for you.

Trying to become more eco-friendly is a popular trend among athletes, and a major problem is the use of plastic water and soda bottles. A common method to reduce the amount of plastic purchased is to purchase an aluminum or stainless steel water bottle. I chatted with Klean Kanteen to learn about its products and innovations for reusable bottles.

I’ve recently had a greater interest in plastic alternatives, and wanted to reach out to companies like Klean Kanteen to learn more.

A common complaint I have about aluminum and steel bottles is the learned lesson that many of them can be extremely difficult to clean. Convenience is an important perk that must be met by products aimed at being more Earth-friendly than the competition. 

“Klean Kanteen Classic bottles have wider openings than most aluminum bottles, (and) they are wide enough to fit ice cubes and put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning,” Klean Kanteen recently told Alameda Runners.  “We also make the WIDE bottles, which has a huge mouth at 2.125 inches. Take a look at this Klean Kanteen anatomy page for more details on the design of our bottles.”

Aluminum may be safer for the environment, but it has been discovered that it may not be the best for our bodies. There is a threat of bisphenol A (BPA), and the Klean Kanteen BPA info page can help inform you. When asked about why stainless steel is ideal over aluminum (related to safety), Klean Kanteen was more than happy to explain.

“Great question, not all metal bottles are created equal. While aluminum is lightweight, it can leach harmful substances and chemicals when it gets hot or comes in contact with anything acidic. Studies have also linked aluminum exposure to Alzheimer’s disease.”

To read the full interview, please visit after the jump. Read more… »