Eyewear for Runners

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What's the difference between running glasses and other sunglasses?

While some brands offer sunglasses specifically marketed for running, there is a wide range of running-oriented features that are used in other athletic sunglasses.

You may come across some models offered in running and cycling versions: Normally the cycling glasses are identical, but they'll have straight temples to make it easy to put them on and take them off while wearing a helmet.

What features should I look for?

Impact-proof and scratchproof material - Makers may use any number of trademark names, but they're all going to use some form of polycarbonate for the lenses and frames.

Wrap-around lenses - This provides protection from both sunlight and wind. As an added bonus, this design also blocks UV rays more effectively than standard sunglasses.

Anti-reflective coating - This can be either a mirror or polarized coating. Some companies put a mirror coating on the inside of the lens as well, reducing glare coming from sunlight behind you. Polarized lenses work by blocking light, much like a venetian blind, removing glare while letting normal reflective light reach your eyes. However, this can make some monochrome LCD displays unreadable. Before buying, look through the lenses at any timers, digital watches, or other devices you may carry on your run to make sure the display is still visible.

Removable lenses - Some frames allow you to change lenses to better suit the conditions you're running in. Some brands include lenses with the glasses, while others sell them separately. In some cases not all of the lenses will offer UV protection, particularly clear lenses, which are intended for low-light conditions. Whether or not it’s bright outside, there is still a chance of eye damage due to long-term exposure. Any lenses labeled “cosmetic” will not have UV protection.

Rubberized temple covers - These will help the glasses grip your head, keeping them on while you run.

Adjustability - Flexible frames and nose pads will help absorb shock, keeping the glasses in place while running on rough terrain.

Anti-fogging features - Anti-fogging lenses help, but most people overlook ventilation. There should be some airspace between the lenses and your face to keep moisture from being trapped.

How much do I need to spend?

Basically, you get what you pay for: All things being equal, a pair of cheap glasses will protect your eyes from UV light just as well as something costing five times as much. However, the more expensive pair will be more scratch and impact resistant, have more features, and stay together longer under normal use.

The cheapest usable sunglasses will start around $20. These will have set lenses and no anti-reflective coating. High quality sunglasses start around $60, with most pairs around the $120-$160 range. Add an additional $30 for each set of additional lenses. Prescription frames run from $80-$200; lenses will cost about the same as the ones in your regular glasses.

Sara Roberts writes for Just Eyewear, a discount eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses online retailer.

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Getting Your Kids Involved in Water Sports

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Every parent wants their child to take up a hobby that they can turn into a skill and a passion, but finding them a hobby they enjoy can be more difficult than it at first appears.

If musical instruments, ballet classes and tennis lessons have all been exhausted, there may be another option that might be just the ticket – water sports.

Getting your children involved in any hobby is undeniably fantastic for their brain development, whilst also helping to mould them into happy, passionate and skilful adults. However outdoor pursuits, whether team sports, athletics or water sports offer another benefit – they’re getting kids to embrace the outdoors. This has been proven to benefit their health and happiness even further than hobbies carried out indoors.

In fact, children who spend a significant amount of time embracing the joys of the great outdoors have been shown to possess lower stress levels and fewer symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, they tend to do better in school. Time outdoors also increases the levels of vitamin D that the body produces. Vitamin D is not only vital for everyday health but current studies are concluding that it may contribute to a lowered risk of cancer.

But what choices are there for outdoor hobbies? While sports such as tennis, football and hiking are all obvious choices, many children want to do something a little bit different, and that little bit more exciting. Water sports are a fantastic idea, as long as there is a facility nearby.

For those living near the sea, surfing is a cost-effective and highly enjoyable pursuit. If there are any lakes or water sports centres within the region then kayaking, canoeing and yachting are all fantastic options. Even if there are none of these facilities within a reasonable distance, the local swimming pool may well offer scuba diving lessons – a great skill to have in place for any future holidays abroad.

Yet many parents are deterred from getting their kids involved in such pursuits due to concerns for the costs. The initial expenses may involve the purchase of childrens wetsuits. A pair of kids waterproof trousers might also come in handy for time spent around the water areas while they are not actively participating.

However, childrens wetsuits and kids waterproof trousers do not need to be expensive and if funds are really tight, buying second hand is always an option.

In regards to the activities themselves, the cost of this can vary widely. While private lessons will in most cases be very expensive, lessons performed in large groups will cost considerably less, and even less so if the classes are booked in monthly, termly or yearly slots.

It’s also worth seeing the money spent as an investment for the future. Some children who learn these skills may make a career out of teaching others. Even those that don’t will learn skills such as team-building, quick thinking and independence that they will carry into the future and will help them in the working world. Even money spent on the childrens wetsuits, or on kids waterproof trousers can still stand as an investment – the clothes may still be useful in the future should the first sport they try out turn out not to be the one for them - and they can always be sold on or passed onto younger members of the family.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Little Terra. James writes on a number of subjects including outdoor activities and sports.

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Tips to use when Training for Boxing Sports

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Generally sports are designed in ways to promote competition, entertainment, recreation to individuals taking part in them. However, these activities require a lot of commitment, strategies as well as fair play in order to get the winner chosen via objective means. If you have the interest of excelling in boxing, it is highly recommended for you to do intense preparation both physically and mentally by training well. The technique of trail and error makes you more effective when taking the sport into account. The following tips will help you when training for the boxing sports.

• Blocking: When training for the boxing sports, you should know when to block your challenger by dropping your weight. This way you will offer yourself time to attack from the ground as well as enabling you to take harder blows via a fortified body structure. In addition, you will be able to block punches from stronger boxers who might shove you roughly while trying to block them. To achieve this, use a weighty punching bag by standing on the front side of the bag and sliding your chest lightly in order to touch it. You can add more thrust to it so as to make swaying motions away from your body. Doing this in the correct way will force the bag to move back to where you are. You can plunge your weight on seeing it swinging towards your face at the same time blocking it then exhaling outwards.
• Breathing: When training for this sport, it is crucial for you to breathe always. You can achieve this training aspect by holding back your breath then exhale it using short and sharp breaths as you do the punching. Failing to breathe during the activity may lead to dire consequences of you becoming breathless causing a lot of vulnerability.
• Skipping rope: A boxer training for the boxing sports should use a skipping rope as it helps in the coordination of a boxer’s body. A fighter is advised to skip around one hundred times on both feet, ten repeats of backward skipping as well as double jumps by alternating the right foot with the left one.
• Proper stance: When training for the boxing sports, it is always wise to keep a close focus on your challenger. Doing this attests that a lot of attention is being paid which shows the challenger that you are not afraid at all. In addition, practice how to pop in the chin, how to make arrangement of your arms as a way of protecting the lower body. Learn how spacing of the feet is done by flexing your knees to make it easier for you to move against your challenger.
• Staying Fit: Fitness at all times is the most important factor when it comes to boxing sports. A boxer should cut on high carbohydrates as well as sweets intake. In addition fluids e.g. soda or any other sugary products should be avoided. The food taken should be in smaller portions followed by an intense workout.

Author bio: Samantha is a health expert during the weekends but also has few websites on tattoo supplies and used trailers as a hobby. She hopes to do well from these websites and hopefully one day wants to own chains the Gym around the areas she lives in.

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Five Things That Will Keep You Coming Back To A Gym

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Countless people join a gym, only to cease attending shortly after. Often this is down to them failing to check the facilities for those little things that will keep them coming back. But what are these things? Even something as small as the quality of the lockers and cubicles matter, but here are five things you should always look for prior to signing on the dotted line:

The Staff

The help and attention received from staff is vital in regards to keeping members motivated and returning. Ideally you want staff that know your name, and are encouraging and motivating – offering to design you a programme while working with you regularly to check your progress and change your programme around.

The problem is that a quick look around the gym is not sufficient to determine if this level of service is commonplace. Don’t always trust the word of your tour guide – often they are a salesperson on commission, and will say whatever necessary in order to get you to join.

So how can you find out if you’re going to receive the help you need, or are going to get ignored once the gym has your money?

When you’re in the gym itself take a good look around – what are the staff doing? Are they helping members with equipment and their workouts or standing around chatting with each other? Or are they simply absent from the room altogether? Also if you have a chance, ask a few current members about the level of service they receive and whatever you do, don’t be pressured to sign on the day – go home and read some reviews, in order to gauge a true idea of what will happen once your monthly direct debit is safely in place.

The Facilities

While different people want and desire different facilities, it is beneficial to have all the facilities you would like included as part of your membership. Therefore, if you really want a swimming pool, and know you would make more use of it than you would of the gym equipment, don’t be pressured into joining a gym-only facility simply because the price is cheaper or the talented salesperson convinced you to.

Also, if you know you’re going to be showering and getting ready for work or a night out at the gym instead of home, choose a facility that provides adequate lockers and cubicles, as well as extras such as hairdryers and if needed, hair straighteners.

In essence, before beginning your search for a gym, ascertain exactly what facilities you would like. This will make sure you don’t get roped in by a fancy starter package or a convincing salesperson and will actually get the facilities and service you’re after.

Quality of Changing Facilities

Whilst it might seem insignificant, the quality, cleanliness and overall feel of the changing rooms are vital if you’re going to keep coming back. Not only should the environment be pleasant, but there should also be adequate cubicles (for privacy) and secure lockers (for reassurance).

Location

The location of the gym is vital. If it’s too far away from home or work you won’t go – fact. So ensure you choose a gym that is either near to your home or place of work, or is on your way home from work. There is simply no point joining a gym that is located on a route you never take since the effort and expense involved in attending will mean you will very quickly find yourself heading for the television instead of the treadmill.

In fact, location is the one area that I would recommend sacrificing on facilities or service.

Class Schedule

While fitness classes aren’t for everybody, they do provide a welcome diversion from the possible monotony of the gym. However, classes are timetabled, and if they don’t fit into your schedule then as far as you’re concerned, they might as well not exist. Therefore if classes are an aspect of the gym that interests you, don’t just look at the range of classes available - look properly at the times they are on. If the times aren’t suitable it may be worth looking at other facilities that hold more classes or classes at earlier or later times in the day.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of Prospec. Amy writes on a variety of topics including gym facilities such as lockers and cubicles.

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