Around The Web With Amby

Great stuff to ponder on your next run. A wrap up of this week’s articles on exercise science as tweeted by Amby Burfoot, Editor at Large of Runner’s World Magazine.
You can follow Amby’s tweets at http://twitter.com/exerscience and his Runner’s World blogs at http://peakperformance.runnersworld.com and http://footloose.runnersworld.com.

Exercise and appetite, what’s the deal? Answer: It’s highly variable. But you get health benefits even without weight loss. http://bit.ly/angC4U

New strength-training trial ranks low weight-high rep workouts over higher weight-low rep for “acute muscle anabolism.” http://bit.ly/cAgCnk

Beet juice works again, this time just 2.5 hrs after drinking. Produces 4 percent decrease in 02 use. http://bit.ly/aGbZZ4

Good study (150 young competitive female runners) finds that oral contraceptives add some muscle, not weight vs placebo. http://bit.ly/dC1fmw

“Science of Running” on strength training for runners. http://bit.ly/9siWDh New Scientist on muscle-building research. http://bit.ly/9TG9Gi

As walk pace drops to 13:12/mile, you switch to a run, raising calorie burn but decreasing carbohydrate consumption. Evolutionary? http://bit.ly/aNyK4I

Marathoners have changed heart function after 26 mile race but no arrythmias and “no ischemic injury to any chamber.” http://bit.ly/aXtkdR

The fittest live longest: In 20yr follow-up of 5000+ U.S. veterans, most fit have 61% lower death risk than least fit. http://bit.ly/cmLSds

Cold drinks better than lukewarm for body-temp control and performance in endurance cycling test. http://bit.ly/dqKzr9

In 9- & 10-yr olds, fitness associated with greater volume of some brain regions and “enhanced cognitive control.” http://bit.ly/9u6C2g

In hot, humid Malaysia, caffeine improves endurance running performance but not heat-stress measures. http://bit.ly/9KRSho

Positive addiction? In rats, aerobic exercise can reduce relapse to cocaine-seeking. http://bit.ly/9x1S3W

Swallowing a carbohydrate drink produces better endurance result for trained runners than rinsing and spitting the drink. http://bit.ly/cVtjFX

Head-hair reduces sweat rate (vs. baldness) but no other markers of heat regulation. http://bit.ly/dAURwz

Pre-competition massage doesn’t improve sprint performance. http://bit.ly/9lR4x0

Velocity at vo2 max is best predictor of 10-mile run performance, but the other usual suspects (ie, vo2 max) are close. http://bit.ly/bJsnMc

Well-trained professional cyclists respond well to the strain of a 4-day competition; don’t exhibit overload signs. http://bit.ly/9iRl7R

Mental well-being at older ages can be enhanced through exercise. http://bit.ly/9b9SB7