Month: July 2015

How Runners Can Prevent Blisters

Sharyn O’Halloran, PhD, is a well-known political scientist and economist currently serving as the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics at Columbia University. In her free time, Dr. Sharyn O’Halloran is an avid runner. She has run several marathons and half marathons and also completed a 60K ultra marathon.

Runners face a wide variety of injuries, but blisters are one of the most common and, arguably, most annoying problems. Friction is the primary cause of blisters, but wearing shoes that fit properly can greatly decrease the risk of blisters. Running shoes are meant to have some space between the end of the shoe and the longest toe, but should not be too loose. Loose shoes increase friction, as do shoes that are too small. If a shoe fits in some areas but not others, insole or padding may be required to fill in the empty areas and reduce friction.

Socks can also play a role in preventing blisters. Not only do they help decrease moisture, another cause of blisters, they also decrease friction between the shoes and feet. Nylon and polypropylene socks are typically best because they get rid of moisture and stay breathable unlike wool and cotton, which soak up moisture. Doubling up on socks may also provide extra support and keep the skin farther away from the shoe. In addition, there are several waterproof seals and friction powders that may help prevent blisters.

New York Road Runners Offer Entrance to City’s Marathon

Currently working the George Blumenthal professor of political economy and professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, Sharyn O’Halloran covers areas of trade and finance, political economy of regulation, minority representation, and democratic institutions. Prior to this endeavor, she worked at Stanford University School of Business as a visiting professor of public policy. When not instructing students, Sharyn O’Halloran enjoys running and belongs to the New York Road Runners (NYRR).

Established in 1958, the NYRR grew from a local running club into one of the world’s premier community running organizations. The nonprofit NYRR encourages individuals to become inspired while running, and it gains funds through supporters, participants, members, and partners.

Known for its world-class events, including the TCS New York City Marathon, the NYRR has 55,000 members participate. For the 2015 marathon event, scheduled for November 1, runners can receive guaranteed entry when they register with a charity. There are four levels of charity partners, all with different benefits and perks. Gold-level charities include the featured charity Team for Kids as well as NYRR Community Champions and Memorial Sloan Kettering Fred’s Team. The silver level provides race-day transportation and a tented start area. The bronze level and community level provide entry to the race once individuals meet their fundraising goal.

Community Impact Offers Student Health Outreach

A longtime political science researcher at Columbia University in New York City, Sharyn O’Halloran currently serves as the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economy and Professor of International and Public Affairs. Sharyn O’Halloran also belongs to the board of directors of Community Impact, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving disadvantaged populations in the Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, and Harlem communities. As part of its work with local residents, Community Impact sponsors a number of health and wellness programs, including the Student Health Outreach Program (SHOUT).

Participants in the SHOUT program work closely with families to educate them about government benefits and health insurance opportunities. Together with the nonprofits Children’s Defense Fund and SeedCo, the SHOUT program provides outreach with the help of a number of community organizations. Two days per week, the SHOUT program manages a food pantry and distributes fresh produce to members of the community.

To learn more about the SHOUT program at Community Impact, visit the official website at communityimpact.columbia.edu.

What to Eat the Night Before a Marathon

Throughout her career in the field of political science and international relations, Sharyn O’Halloran has established herself as an academic leader at Columbia University. In her free time, Sharyn O’Halloran enjoys running marathons and half-marathons.

When it comes to long-distance running, it’s no secret that nutrition plays an important role in performance. In particular, the topic of what to eat the night before a long run has been debated extensively for years.

At the most basic level, carbohydrates provide the fuel necessary to rebuild glycogen stores in muscles. As such, dinner the night before a race should ideally include a relatively large number of carbohydrates from pasta, rice, potatoes, and grains such as couscous and quinoa. On the other hand, high-fiber foods can lead to digestive discomfort during the race. Fats also take longer to digest than carbohydrates, making them much less useful in short-term preparation for a race.

At the end of the day, however, runners should stick with what they know. If a certain diet has produced good results during past runs, there is no reason to make any significant changes.