High-energy play strengthens the muscles; gets the heart moving; improves the range of motion and balance; and builds endurance. Here are ways coaches make the schoolyard, track or a trail through the woods a playground, where kids have fun, and become athletic, fit, strong.

Gold mining was never a worthwhile endeavor in the state of Ohio, but if you are involved in track and/or cross-country, that will change when you discover a “gold mine” of opportunity at the Ohio LabCenter for Running Performance, located in Grover Center, on the beautiful Ohio University campus in Athens.

Columbus Westside Running Club’s first run was January 12, 2016—a dozen friends and neighbors running around Westgate, an old and historic neighborhood on the city’s west side.  We quickly outgrew the neighborhood streets, switched to the 1.1 mile Westgate Park loop, and our “Loopy Tuesdays” was born.  Still our most popular night, we have dozens of runners and walkers out every week to run in a circle. Its way more fun than it sounds—just ask the participants who come out in rain, sleet, snow, wind, sun or darkness, each and every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Keeping up with the latest science-based sports nutrition recommendations is a challenge. Runners are constantly bombarded with media messages touting the next miracle sports food or supplement that will enhance athletic performance, promote fat loss, build muscle, and help you be a super-athlete. At this year's Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm.org), a sports nutrition myth-busters session sponsored by Professionals In Nutrition for Exercise and Sport (www.PINESNutrition.org; a global network of sports dietitians) featured experts who addressed the myths that commonly confuse runners and all athletes.

We all have our “comfort zones”. We settle into a daily routine that brings stability and organization to our lives. We may eat the same foods on particular days of the week and watch the same shows on television. We may even have running “comfort zones” like running the same course or distance many days in a row, or even running in the same races every year. Being in our “comfort zones” makes us feel safe and at ease. At the same time, getting out of our “comfort zones” may mean uncertainty, anxiety and even worry.

U.S.A 2020 Olympic Marathon qualifying info and athletes to date