SparkPeople Member and Certified Running Coach
Nancy Howard has a degree in nursing. Her mission is to help others learn the process of living a healthy lifestyle and to let them know it is never too late to start. An avid runner, Nancy has competed in more than 100 road races since 2006, including 12 half marathons and Hood to Coast Relay--the largest in North America. She has lost 80 pounds--and kept it off--since joining SparkPeople in 2005. In 2009, she achieved two amazing goals: She became a Runners Club of America Certified Running Coach and ran the Chicago Marathon. She wants to inspire the world and let everyone know you don’t have to be an Olympian to run.
Read More of 's Blogs:
If Some is Good, More Must Be Better, Right?
Nine months ago while training for my first half-marathon I began experiencing issues with my sleep. That is, once I got to sleep, it was next to impossible to stay asleep. My appetite all but disappeared and most importantly I had lost my love for running. My mood was not too pleasant (just ask my husband), and I was becoming quite irritated with those around me, especially my running coach.
What in the world could be going on? My initial thought was the big M (you know, MENOPAUSE), but as I had not experienced any other symptoms, I thought peri-menopause? But my running coach had a whole different thought. He believed the symptoms I was experiencing were due to overtraining.
Posted 10/1/2008 6:05:01 AM By: : 63 comments 17,545 views
Wear Your Pink
For many years now, October has been known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year is no exception. Just walking through my local department store pink is everywhere...from vacuum cleaners to pots and pans to the traditional pink ribbons.
Breast cancer does not discriminate. We are all vulnerable to this disease, women more so than men, but men are not immune. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), so far this year alone over 182,000 women and men have been diagnosed with breast cancer; and of that number over 40,000 have succumbed to the disease.
Posted 9/27/2008 5:00:00 AM By: : 52 comments 13,996 views
NEATen Up Your Day
Have you always prided yourself as being a NEAT person? Do you think your life needs a little more NEATness to it?
According to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, adding just a little extra NEAT to our daily lives can make quite an impact not only in weight loss attempts but in our fitness goals as well.
Posted 9/21/2008 11:05:02 AM By: : 92 comments 21,535 views
Helpful Tips for Running Your First Race
Now that summer is mostly behind us and cooler temperatures are starting to drift in, the prime season for charity runs and walks begins. People of all abilities lace up their running/walking shoes and hit the pavement to raise money for many great charitable causes.
Posted 9/19/2008 2:00:00 PM By: : 33 comments 27,976 views
Global + Obesity = Globesity
Last month, while watching the 2008 Olympic coverage from Beijing on The Today Show, I viewed a very interesting segment by medical correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman. She was discussing the rising trend of childhood obesity in China. According to Dr. Snyderman, in the past 10 years, China has seen a 156% increase in overweight children. This figure is second only to the US. How should we stop this trend of rising obesity rates?
Posted 9/14/2008 5:00:00 PM By: : 47 comments 10,915 views
The Agony of Defeat or the Courage to Carry on
As many of us watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics from the safety and comfort of our homes, we witnessed several of the world’s top athletes succumb to injuries or deliver performances far from what the world expected. These athletes, many of whom spent thousands of hours training to reach this pinnacle, were forced to face these obstacles head-on while we were all left wondering how they had the courage to carry on.
Posted 9/13/2008 12:00:50 PM By: : 35 comments 6,104 views
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