Running Coach Howard

Does staying healthy reduce your lifetime health care costs?

Howard — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:36:36 +0000

By Wei Sun, Anthony Webb, and Natalia Zhivan*

Medical and long-term care costs represent a substantial uninsured risk for most retired households. A recent brief from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reported new findings on average lifetime health care costs at selected ages and on the distribution of those costs. This second brief explores the relationship between health care costs and health status. That is, it considers whether current good health is a predictor of low health care costs over one’s remaining lifetime. If so, healthy households could set aside less for health care expenditures than the unhealthy, and households that stay healthy could release for general consumption money that they had previously set aside for health care costs.1

Our main finding is that although the current health care costs of healthy retirees are lower than those of the unhealthy, the healthy actually face higher total health care costs over their remaining lifetime. To illustrate, the expected present value of lifetime health care costs for a couple turning 65 in 2009 in which one or both spouses suffer from a chronic disease is $220,000, including insurance premiums2 and the cost of nursing home care, and 5 percent can expect to spend more than $465,000. The comparable numbers for couples free of chronic disease are substantially higher, at $260,000 and $570,000, respectively. This brief explains this somewhat counterintuitive finding.

Download and read this interesting article.

Medical and long-term care costs represent a substantial

uninsured risk for most retired households. A recent brief from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reported new findings on average lifetime health care costs at selected ages and on the distribution of those costs. This second brief explores the relationship between health care costs and health status. That is, it considers whether current good health is a predictor of low health care costs over one’s remaining lifetime. If so, healthy households could set aside less for health care expenditures than the unhealthy, and households that stay healthy could release for general consumption money that they had previously set aside for health care costs.1

Our main finding is that although the current health care costs of healthy retirees are lower than those of the unhealthy, the healthy actually face higher total health care costs over their remaining lifetime. To illustrate, the expected present value of lifetime health care costs for a couple turning 65 in 2009 in which one or both spouses suffer from a chronic disease is $220,000, including insurance premiums2 and the cost of nursing home care, and 5 percent can expect to spend more than $465,000. The comparable numbers for couples free of Medical and long-term care costs represent a substantial

Fruits & Vegetables: Reduced Disease Risk?

Howard — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:06:21 +0000

New findings suggest they lower cancer & cardiovascular disease risk.

Are you really what you eat? The latest research suggests eating fruits and vegetables just may lower your risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

What do the studies say?

• Comparing study participants in the highest quintile of consumption [fruits/vegetables] vs. those in the lowest = 6%-11% decreased cancer risk.

• Those consuming 5 or more servings daily [fruits/vegetables] vs. those eating less than 1.5 servings daily = 30% lower risk for cancer, incidence of heart disease or stroke.

Additional studies confirm these findings, so what you eat really does matter.

It’s time to get serious about your health. Read and share this information about the latest studies on fighting disease by eating more fruits and vegetables. Fruits & Vegetables: Reduced Disease Risk?

52nd Annual RRCA Convention, April 21 – 25, 2010 Lakeland, FL

Howard — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:50:17 +0000

Great Offer for RRCA Convention Attendees from Disney

RRCA Convention Attendee’s have a special opportunity to purchase tickets to Walt Disney World starting April 1 until April 25, 2010. Tickets purchased are valid until December 31, 2010 or 14-days after first use (i.e. if you have a 2 day ticket, it will expire 14 days after you use it the first time) and are available in 2 – 7 day increments.

The discounted rate is as follows:
2 day magic your way base ticket = $103.28
3 day magic your way base ticket = $140.84
4 day magic your way base ticket = $171.83
5 day magic your way base ticket = $199.06
6 day magic your way base ticket = $208.45
7 day magic your way base ticket = $217.84

If you have already registered for the RRCA Convention, you will receive an email at the beginning of April with the website and discount code for Disney ticket purchases. If you register for the RRCA Convention after April 1st, you will be given the website and discount code in your RRCA Convention registration confirmation message.

This offer is for RRCA attendee’s only and we kindly ask that you keep the discount code confidential.

RRCA to Honor National Running Award Winners at 2010 Annual Banquet

Since 1971, the RRCA has honored dedicated individuals for their outstanding service to the RRCA and the sport of distance running. We are delighted to announce the 2009 National Running Award recipients that will be honored at the 2010 RRCA Annual Banquet and National Running Awards Ceremony in Lakeland, FL.

RRCA DISTANCE RUNNING HALL OF FAME: Colleen De Reuck and Libby Hickman

OUTSTANDING CLUB PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN HONOR OF SCOTT HAMILTON: David Purinton – Huntsville Track Club – Huntsville, AL

BROWNING ROSS SPIRIT OF THE RRCA AWARD: Deborah D. “Debbie” Magilke – Yellowstone Rim Runners – Billings, MT

RRCA OUTSTANDING STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR IN HONOR OF AL BECKEN: George Rehmet – State Representative for California (Coastal Region)

ROAD RUNNERS OF THE YEAR:

Open Male – Meb Keflezighi – Mammoth Track Club – Mammoth Lakes, CA
Open Female – Amy Yoder Begley – Nike Oregon Project, Beaverton, OR
Masters Male – Jon Williams – Gold Coast Runners, Miami, FL
Masters Female – Joan Benoit Samuelson

EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARDS IN HONOR OF JERRY LITTLE

Small Club Newsletter: “Runners Hi!” – Editor, Ed Hardee – Amelia Island Runners – Fernandina Beach, FL
Large Club Newsletter: “The Running Account” – Editor, Esther Dill – North Carolina Running Club – Raleigh, NC
E-Newsletter: “Sooner Soundings” – Editor, Marlyss Bird – Pamakid Runners – San Francisco, CA
Club Writer of the Year: Mark Lucas, Cornbelt Running Club – Bettendorf, IA
Journalism Excellence: Roger Robinson, Running Times Magazine

OUTSTANDING CLUB WEBSITE AWARDS:

Overall Winner: Chattahoochee Road Runners (small club winner) www.crrclub.com, Chattahoochee, GA

Honorable mention: Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers (large club winner) www.runnersandwalkers.com, Lake Grapevine, TX

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR IN HONOR OF ROD STEELE: Diane Perriello - Summit Athletic Running Club – Cuyahoga Falls, OH

OUTSTANDING YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN HONOR OF KURT STEINER: Ron Beasley – Ann Arbor Track Club (AATC) – Ann Arbor, MI

OUTSTANDING BEGINNING RUNNING PROGRAM AWARD:Women Run/Walk Memphis led by Terri Clarke and DJ Watson – Memphis Runners Track Club, Memphis, TN

RRCA ROAD RACE OF THE YEAR: The Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon hosted by the Pamakid Runners, San Francisco, CA

Education Sessions for RRCA Convention

Friday General Sessions:

Insurance & Risk Management – Sponsored by Star Insurance and K&K Insurance
Lobbying for Nonprofit Running Clubs – Sponsored by the RRCA
Developing Grassroots Advocacy Campaigns – Sponsored by the RRCA

Friday Break-out Sessions:

Non-running Events and Creative Group Runs to Build Club Camaraderie
ChiRunning – Sponsored by ChiRunning
Managing Race Growth
Developing Programs for Older Runners & Walkers

Saturday Break-out Sessions:

“Join a Club” – Strategies for Growing Your Club
Kids Run the Nation
Hosting RRCA Programs: The Convention, Championship Events, and Coaching Certification Courses
Injury Prevention/Shoe Fit Clinic (RRCA & USAT CEC)
Nutrition, Supplements, and Performance Enhancers (RRCA & USAT CEC)
Putting on a Half Marathon & Marathon
Working with Charities
Writing about Running to Promote Your Club or Event

Click here for detailed information about the education sessions and speakers.

Continuing Education for Coaches

RRCA Convention CEC’s approved for both RRCA and USA Triathlon Coaches

Running Biometrics and injury prevention presented by Tim Hilden, MS, PT of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine and creator of Somnio Running Shoes.
Nutrition, Supplements, and Performance Enhancers presented by Certified Sports Nutritionist Cassie Dimmick MS, RD, LD will explain what you really need to be eating and drinking to perform at your best.

Click here for details.

Keynote Speakers and Social Events

Bill Rogers – RRCA Banquet and National Running Awards Ceremony Keynote Speaker (Saturday evening)
Pat Williams – RRCA Friday Luncheon Honoring the 2009 Outstanding State Rep of the Year
Keith Brantly – RRCA Saturday Luncheon

Social Events

Thursday: Welcome Reception 5:30 – 7:30 PM followed by Lakeland Dine Around
Friday: The annual “Derby Style” event staged on beautiful Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland.
Saturday: Reception, Live and Silent Auctions, and the RRCA Annual Banquet and National Running Awards Ceremony.

Race the Lakes – RRCA National 5K Championship

Race the Lakes is a spectacular course around beautiful Lake Mirror, Lake Morton, and Lake Hollingsworth and through the streets of downtown Lakeland. This event offers a 5k and 10k course or challenge yourself and run both consecutively in the 15k challenge.

Date: Saturday, April 24, 2010 at Lake Mirror, 121 South Lake Ave, Lakeland, FL 33811.

Click here for more information or to register today!
Race registration is not included in the Convention registration.

Fueling The Obesity Epidemic: High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Howard — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:41:07 +0000

Long-term consumption in lab animals spiked body fat & triglycerides

Fighting weight gain? Check your food and beverage labels. Princeton research showed that every lab rat in their study became obese by drinking high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—at levels far below those in that soda in your fridge.

“Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn’t true,” said Bart Hoebel, psychology professor, research team participant.

Duke University research also linked HFCS to liver scarring, while another study published four months ago linked artificial sweeteners to greater kidney decline.

Get serious about your health. Read and share this information about the latest studies on HFCS. Fueling The Obesity Epidemic: High-Fructose Corn Syrup.

Time magazine article on Running Barefoot

Howard — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:49:30 +0000

Go to www.time.com/barefoot

You should exercise

Howard — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:07:53 +0000

My doctor tells me that if my daily schedule is so busy that I can’t exercise I should think in terms of exercise for an hour a day or be dead for 24 hours a day. That’s why I run. Read my book it will help you.

ING Miami Marathon – January 31, 2010

Howard — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:03:54 +0000

Visit the Expo on Friday January 29, 12PM to 8PM and Saturday January 30, 9AM to 6PM. Visit the booth of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Running Club and visit with Coach Howard. Ask questions about injury free running. Autographed copies of his book “Stepping Forward – A runner’s Guide to Moving for Life” will be available for purchase.

The Hidden Benefits of Excercise

Howard — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:22:26 +0000

A WSJ article worth reading, about running and other excercises.

http://bit.ly/56cJQQ

Can Running Actually Help Your Knees?

Howard — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:14:42 +0000

Learn how motion groove may shield against arthritis: Can Running Actually Help Your Knees ?

Should we wear running shoes?

Howard — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:55:16 +0000

Find out and go to: http://tinyurl.com/lc2vk5