The findingDulcinea Blog

Sweet Sites | Swim the Web to Find Water Activities This Summer

It's hot outside; why not head to the water? We're continuing with last week's theme as we go in search of sites to help you find pools, beaches and water sports near you.

Swim.com will help you find a pool, public or private, in your area. The site contains entries from around the world and offers detailed information about each pool, including the pool's shape, whether it contains chlorine and if a lifeguard is on duty.

Keep your kids safe in the water by signing them up for swimming lessons. If you've never learned how to swim yourself, it's never too late to start. Swim.com also provides a database of swim instructors, listing name, years of experience, reviews (if any), rate and distance from you.

If you long for sand between your toes and the splashing of waves, Dr. Beach has just the right prescription for you. Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman provides a beach overview by U.S. region, and also issues a yearly list of the nation's best beaches.

Have fun (mostly) above the water with GORP's Paddling page, which offers resources to plan your next canoeing, kayaking or rafting trip, including information about where to go, what you'll need and how to improve your paddling technique.

Amy Goldschlager
Editor

Find your own "eureka!" sites using SweetSearch.

Consult our Travel Guides for sites to help you with more location-specific fun this summer.

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The Boston Marathon Is the Heart of US Distance Running

Photo: Bizuayehu Tesfaye/AP

CEO Mark Moran is live tweeting as he runs the Boston Marathon. Follow him @markemoran.

As I write this, more than 26,000 people, who all qualified with previous marathon times, are running or have just completed the Boston Marathon, which weaves downhill and then gradually up Heartbreak Hill through several outlying towns and into Boston. Already, the top professional runners have finished, with Salina Kosgei of Kenya placing first for the women and Deriba Merga of Ethiopia finishing first for the men. The Americans Kara Goucher and Ryan Hall each finished in third place. For a play-by-play recap of the pro races, read the USA Today blog Game On. You can find complete, searchable results of all the athletes running the race at the Boston Athletic Association Web site.

Boston is in many senses the heart of U.S. distance running, even if the most talented running professionals now spend their time in verdant and high-altitude places like Mammoth Lakes, Calif. and Portland, Ore. to help them improve their fitness levels and compete with the Africans. The U.S. running boom, which started in the 1970s and called Boston its home, saw Americans like Bill Rodgers (who is running again this year after a 10-year hiatus), Amby Burfoot, Alberto Salazar, Frank Shorter and Grete Waitz burst on the scene, engaging in friendly rivalries and, in Rodgers' case, getting four Boston wins under his belt (for her part, Waitz won the New York City Marathon nine times between 1978 and 1988). They themselves were spurred by the efforts of athletes like Steve Prefontaine, who died prematurely and remains a god in runners' eyes.

Running Boston is no easy feat. It requires training for several months through the winter, which alone is enough to ward off a lot of runners. But our very own CEO Mark Moran is doing it, making this his fifth marathon in a handful of years and possibly his fastest, his previous record coming in Philadelphia last fall. Constantly adapting his training, Mark has shown that with a little Internet savvy, some creativity (he's added boxing to his cross-training routine), and a lot of patience, marathons can actually get easier, not to mention more enjoyable. (So much so that he was having trouble waiting for today to come).

Naturally, being an office of several distance runners—we're running the New York Ragnar Relays in May—we've compiled a series of inspirational and motivational articles, training resources and multimedia to help convert more peple to the Boston cause.

Liz Colville
Senior Writer
Audience Development

If you need another marathon to help you qualify for Boston, want to start running, or have other running-related queries, our Web Guide to Running can help with that.

Following the NFL Playoffs: Fans Have Their Say

The Philadelphia Eagles, about to snatch victory from the New York Giants in the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional playoff game on Jan. 11, 2009. (Kathy Willens/AP)

And then there were four… With the Super Bowl edging nearer, all eyes are on the AFC and NFC championship games and the four remaining teams set to take the field this Sunday.

With each team defying expectations by upsetting the league’s top seeds over the last two weeks, the final four have served up some of the most exciting ball of the year.

 As the final days tick away, all eyes are on injury lists and team rosters to see what lineup each team will bring to the field. Personnel updates can be followed on any number of news sites, including ESPN and CNNSI.

But to get a real read on how the teams may fare, one needs to look no further than the fan sites religiously kept up-to-date by the army of diehard fans who live and breathe their favorite teams. After all, the ones who love you most are sure to be the most honest.

For the Arizona Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds, a continually updated site with injury stats, team updates and plenty of opinion.

In their 76th year, the Philadelphia Eagles are well supported, as evidenced by the Millennium site, complete with news, updates and comprehensive rundowns of the previous games.

Letting the fans have their say, Ravens 24x7 is the one-stop shop for every detail about the Baltimore Ravens.

And finally, Behind the Steel Curtain is where the Pittsburgh Steelers’ true believers come to be among friends.

Chris Coats
Senior Writer

For more on everything NFL (and college football), visit findingDulcinea’s Football Web Guide.

Winter Sports That Ramp Up Your Workout

With the arrival of winter 2009, it’s time to turn your New Year’s resolutions into newly discovered passions. Are you feeling less-than-compelled by ordinary activities during these months? Spark your inner adrenaline junkie by tapping into cool winter sports that take place both indoors and outdoors.

Indoor rock climbing is good for those who fancy action, a great workout and cheap fun. Find climbing walls at local gyms and recreation centers before heading out to explore rugged cliffs and mountaintops.

Curling is a game of strategy and teamwork that involves sliding a rock on ice and sweeping its path; it’s described as “lawn bowling on ice.” Blogcritics Magazine discusses the mystique behind the sport that captivated Americans during the 2006 Olympics.

Ice biking allows you to be extreme, and can take place outside your front door—all you need is a bike, helmet and ice to fuel your wild side.

To change your routine a bit, try Nordic walking, the activity cross-country skiers take up to maintain their fitness during the off-season. The low-impact sport uses 90 percent of your body’s muscles, and can burn 40 percent more calories than walking alone. It’s also a way to discover parks, trails and city streets.

Need a little extra boost? Escape to one of Active.com’s “Top 5 Destinations to Try a New Sport.” A vacation is a great way to learn a new sport without having to endure harsh winter weather.

Jen O’Neill
Writer

FindingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Fitness will help jumpstart your fitness routine in the new year. Use it to find nutrition and exercise advice, and access online communities of health-oriented people.

 Our Web Guide to Sports has a section on buying equipment that will outfit you for your new activity.

BCS Breakdown: A Holiday Tradition

The Florida Gators' mascot, Albert, greets fans at a rally prior to the 2007 BCS Championship against Ohio State (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Another holiday season, another round of complaining about the state of the BCS championship series and how one team or another has been shafted out of the top spot. No matter what changes are made, year after year, one team finds itself called back just short of the goal line, due to some difficult-to-understand ranking average or, in this year’s case, a computer ranking overruling both on-field performance and live opinion.

The team in this case is the Texas Longhorns, who ended losing their slot in the championship game to the Oklahoma Sooners, even though Texas had shared a common record with Oklahoma, and had also beaten them by ten points in October.

While this year offers few clear solutions, there is no shortage of opinion on how to fix the system.

The College Man offers a slew of possible alternatives, including evening out the schedule of conference championship games to assure an equal amount of time on the field across the NCAA.

As if the federal government had nothing better to do, a few congressmen echoed President-elect Barack Obama, who called for a playoff system to replace the current computer polls, and introduced legislation to launch a DOJ investigation into the existing system.

Sports Illustrated’s Stewart Mandel expands on Obama’s theme, proposing that the other bowl games should act as semifinal contests to determine which final two teams will face off in the national championship.

Chris Coats
Senior Writer

Visit our Web Guide to Football for more quality sites on the BCS and everything else football-related. The guide has sections for finding player bios, stats on the NCAA and NFL, learning about the sport, and more.

Boxing: The Key to a Marathon PR?

I’ve been running off and on since high school. But for a 10-year stretch, there was more “off” than “on” going on. Law school at night, 80-hour weeks at a law firm, launching a dot-com, and three kids left me little time to run. Around 2000, I rejuvenated my routine. As I previously wrote, between 2004 to 2007 I ran three marathons. I struggled to finish the first two in just over 5 hours and was pleased. On my third try, I finished in 4:54 and suddenly realized that I was capable of much better.

This year, I trained harder and smarter, lost 31 pounds in four months and went to the start far fitter than before. My final time was 4:18, a 36-minute PR. Part of my success can be attributed to eating better and training more consistently. But a major boost came from an unexpected source: boxing class. Yes, two to three mornings per week since July, I have risen at 5 a.m. and participated in a boot camp-style boxing exercise workout, the apex of which is a three-minute sparring session with the instructor.

The short-duration, high-intensity style of boxing works your heart, lungs, and arms and legs in a much different way than a series of long runs. At the first class I attended, the instructor tried to talk me out of it. In the final class, my heart and lungs were stronger than they had been since high school, and the instructor extended our sparring session by 30 seconds because I had so much energy left.

Adding a different element to your fitness routine lets you work new muscles and extend the duration of your workouts without overtaxing the muscles you rely on to run. The Cardioblog explains how to add boxing to your own routine.

Mark Moran
Founder & CEO

Earlier this year we published an article on findingDulcinea on the benefits of cross-training: "Cross-training: Variety is the Spice of Sport."

Marathon Fever: Highly Contagious

Frank Franklin II/AP

The first New York City Marathon in 1970 had 100 entrants. Sunday’s running will have more than 40,000, and another 60,000 applicants were rejected. How does a 26-mile foot race grow from 100 participants to 100,000 applicants? Simple: marathon fever is contagious.

About ten years ago, I joined a gym and maxed out after a single mile in ten minutes. Two colleagues joined me, and we began to compete to run the fastest three-mile race, then six miles, then half-marathon. I suffered a setback in 2003, and the next thing I knew I was a spectator at that year’s NYC Marathon while my colleagues were running it. I caught the fever, and the three of us ran across the Verrazano Bridge (pictured) together to start the race in 2004.

I am persuasive, and enthusiastic when relating my experiences. As a result, in the past four years, a dozen friends and colleagues have completed a marathon with my encouragement, and now they are all recruiting converts of their own. Last fall, I ran the NYC Marathon for the third time, while three of my brothers joined me in their debuts. This year, one of them is back for his third marathon (he ran a second one in April), and he’s dragging a colleague with him. I’m running the Philadelphia Marathon in three weeks—with, of course, two colleagues who will be running their first marathon.

How is that that I’ve convinced 15 people to complete a grueling 18-week training program so they could then run a 26-mile race? I’d love to sit down and explain it, but be prepared to put your running shoes on at the end. As a prelude, read our article today, “Reasons to Run.”

Mark Moran
Founder and CEO

Rays, Phillies: No Holds Barred on the Internet

The Rays' Evan Longoria in Game 2 of the World Series (Winslow Townson/AP)

So the World Series is under way and chances are your team is not in it. But, unless you’re a Red Sox or a Dodgers fan, you’re probably done crying by now (note: if you are a Mets fan like me, you are not now, and will never be done crying).

Nevertheless, the World Series should not be ignored, no matter how much you despise both participating teams. (Another note: I do not despise the Rays, only the Phillies). Learning a thing or two about the teams might enhance your viewing experience.

If you want the lowdown on the Rays, check out the blogs DRaysBay and Rays Home Plate. All the vital Phillies information can be found on the Phillies Nation and Beerleaguer sites.

The Rays have reached the World Series for the first time in their short history. The Phillies haven’t won a championship since 1980. That may not seem like a long time when considering the Cubs’ hundred-year drought, but the city of Philadelphia allegedly suffers from a curse of its own. The Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers, have not won their city a championship since 1987, and some blame the curse of William Penn. Rumor has it, a 1901 “gentlemen’s agreement” said City Hall and its statue of William Penn would remain the tallest building in Philadelphia. But One Liberty Place eclipsed it in 1987, reputedly cursing the city’s athletics forever. The Philadelphia Soul won the Arena Football League this year, but many would argue that doesn’t count.

See, the World Series isn’t that bad without your favorite team—as long as your least favorite team remains cursed, that is.

Josh Katz
Writer

See our Web Guide to Baseball for more quality links on the sport.

Fantasy Football and You

“Fantasy football is stupid,” I used to say to my friends. “I’m not a loser with too much time on my hands like you people.” Two years ago, I gave in to peer pressure and joined the league; a day and a half later, I was hooked.

Fantasy football is more than just an activity for people with too much time on their hands. It is an activity for people with too much time on their hands who want to feel like they have more power than they really do. And it feels glorious--at least when you win.

Here are some sites to help you get serious (but not too serious) about fantasy football.

Fantasy Football Today offers in-depth analysis.

Fantasy Sharks is filled with writers debating every issue imaginable.

Pro Football Weekly will keep you up to date on the rumors.

Josh Katz
Writer

For even more resources, consult findingDulcinea’s Web Guide to Fantasy Sports.