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Back of the Pack

CBC News Online's consumer and health producer shares his take on trends in fitness and health.

The rewards and risks of extreme exercise

Monday, October 19, 2009 | 04:47 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

It's rare that someone dies running a marathon or half marathon. Extraordinarily rare when three people die. Yet that's what happened in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009.

Within 16 minutes, three men collapsed and died while running the half marathon in Detroit. All had trained to do the event and – according to news reports all were relatively healthy.

Emergency medical staff were on hand quickly for each man, but none could be saved.

It's a tragedy but unfortunately it happens. People who sign up for any organized race have to sign a waiver acknowledging that they understand the risk they are taking in participating in an extreme event.

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The golden age of running

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | 01:17 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

For those of us who like to lace up a pair of over-priced running shoes and move one foot in front of the other a little more quickly than most people would like to, this is the best time of year.

Yeah, the hours of daylight are rapidly diminishing as summer fades to fall – and mornings are a little cooler. But it's marathon season – and all the big ones are coming up.

People who have been prepping for the distance are getting ready to scale back, to peak just in time for their goal races.

It's nice to see that race season means 78-year-old Ed Whitlock will be back challenging himself on the streets of Toronto. This week, organizers of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon announced Whitlock may be running the half marathon.

Whitlock's a guy I really look up to. He's got two things I've had to some extent in the past – speed and a full head of hair.

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Late night calories could pack bigger punch for your paunch

Friday, September 11, 2009 | 04:49 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

We've all pretty much accepted the notion that if we burn as many calories as we consume, our weight will remain stable.

Add some exercise to the mix and your body will burn more than it takes in and you'll lose weight. Add an ice cream cone a day to your diet without increasing your activity and you're well on your way to obesity.

Some weight-loss programs preach the virtue of not eating anything after eight in the evening. However, there's a fair bit of research that suggests a calorie is a calorie to your body: it doesn't distinguish between daytime or nighttime calories.

Well, it might not be that simple.

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Exercise, not 'guardian angels' key to avoiding falls

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 04:12 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Pope Benedict XVI wound up a two-week vacation at a mountain resort in Northern Italy on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, by telling reporters that his "guardian angel" let him down when he fell and broke his wrist earlier in the month. He said the angel was clearly acting "on superior orders."

No details about the fall were released – except that it was accidental and that it happened inside the chalet where he was staying. It was the first significant health issue in Benedict's papacy.

Among people over the age of 65, falls are the leading cause of deaths by injuries. Older people face a higher risk of falling as they tend to have more problems with eyesight, movement and balance.

"Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation," the 82-year-old pope added as he left the chalet.

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For the love of it

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 | 02:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

So Keizo Yamada is giving up racing marathons. Japan's Iron Man is conceding that he's not up to the training anymore.

He made the decision after running three marathons this year, including his 19th trip to Boston – a race he won in 1953. He ran the marathon for Japan the year before at the Olympics in Helsinki.

Yamada's 81. A pretty fit octogenarian.

He told Sports Hochi newspaper "I'm not getting any younger so I won't run any more 42-kilometre races."

"I will carry on running for fun to stay in shape," he added.

His "running for fun" is a daily 20-kilometre jaunt. That's more exercise than the vast majority of even the most active people get. If it's not fun, it's pretty tough to be motivated to enjoy that much exercise.

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Keep on exercising

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 02:50 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Despite frost warnings in parts of the country, it's almost June and definitely trending warmer. Time for all of us to get more active.

Except that teenager who's probably still asleep in his or her basement lair.

There's a good reason for that, according to a recent study out of the Université de Montréal. It found – surprise, surprise – that teens are more active in the warmer months than during the dead of winter.

No shocker there. However, the study — published in the Annals of Epidemiology — also found that the winter drop-off continues and builds each year. Your kid may be getting a little more active in the spring and summer, but not active enough to compensate for the previous winter's drop-off.

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Massage: not all it's cracked up to be?

Friday, May 8, 2009 | 02:04 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Just when you think you're all up to date on the latest science regarding getting into shape and keeping your body in a state where you can keep on getting fitter, some researcher comes along and blows your accepted truth out of the water.

We were all led to believe that our bodies need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy. Turned out that not only is that a myth, but most normal people don't need to take in lots of water unless they live in hot, dry climates or are high performance athletes.

Now they're taking aim at massage.

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Sports drinks: playing with your brain

Friday, April 17, 2009 | 03:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Athletes – elite and weekend warrior alike – are always looking for a competitive edge. Even legal ones.

They'll fiddle with their diets. Take supplements. And take in sports drinks.

Two years ago, the American College of Sports Medicine issued revised guidelines on how much fluid you need to take in while exercising.

The bottom line was: it varies. But it did note that if you're exercising for more than an hour, you need to do more than just replace the fluid you're losing. You also need to replace electrolytes and take in carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. Don't do it and you run the risk of running out of gas or – as marathon runners will say – hitting the wall.

It's big business selling sports drinks.

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Exactly what do you mean by moderate?

Friday, March 20, 2009 | 02:31 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

You've seen them – those lean and lanky, fit people who credit their ability to maintain that look to eating moderate amounts of a well-balanced diet combined with a moderate amount of exercise.

They're the people who can eat a few bites of the yummiest dishes and say they've had enough. It's a trick I've yet to learn.

I like to run marathons, so moderation is something that doesn't come naturally to me. I put in a lot of kilometres in training – last week, almost 110. That's good and bad. I'm burning a lot of calories, but also developing a substantial appetite.

Think Michael Phelps – the diet, not the bong.

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Share the road

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | 04:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

So there's a bit of a brouhaha in Fredericton over runners taking their exercise to the streets in the middle of winter. Seems a cab driver is worried that runners are adding a level of danger to his work.

He's got a point, you might be thinking. Why would anyone want to run on the streets in the middle of winter when there are perfectly good health clubs loaded with treadmills – and the odd indoor 200-metre university track?

Why not just run on the sidewalk?

Well we might, if they were cleared properly.

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Back of the Pack »

About the Author

Peter Hadzipetros is a producer for the Consumer and Health sites of CBC News Online. Until he got off the couch and got into long distance running a few years ago, he was a net importer of calories.

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World »

UN human rights committee votes to censure Iran: A United Nations committee has approved a Canadian-led resolution urging Iran to stop harassing political opponents in the wake of its disputed presidential elections.
Hundreds rescued from U.K. flooding: Raging floods engulfed northern England's picturesque Lake District on Friday following the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Britain. A police officer died and hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
Suicide bomb kills 16 people in Afghanistan: A suicide bomber on motorcycle has killed 16 people and wounded 23 others in a crowded square in the city of Farah in western Afghanistan.

Canada »

Flooding forces Vancouver Island evacuations: Flood waters on the Cowichan River and Koksilah River have forced the evacuation of about 300 to 400 homes in the Cowichan Valley and Duncan area of southeast Vancouver Island, officials have confirmed.
Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Auto parts strike would affect thousands: Employees at Johnson Controls, an automotive parts plant east of Windsor, Ont., could walk off the job if they don't reach a deal by midnight Friday. A strike would affect thousands at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant, which uses the components.

Politics »

Colvin's job safe despite Afghan torture testimony: The Conservatives will not try to remove Richard Colvin from his post in Washington, Defence Minister Peter MacKay says, even though they question the credibility of his testimony on Afghan prisoners.
Hillier didn't hear detainee torture allegations: Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier says he's never heard suggestions that Canada may have been complicit in the torture of detainees in Afghanistan.
Tories reject call for Afghan torture inquiry: The Canadian government is dismissing calls for a public inquiry into the alleged torture of prisoners handed over by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Health »

More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come: Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases.
Trade show pitches surgical passages to India: Exhibitors at a Toronto trade fair are hoping to add surgery to the list of reasons Canadians travel, but a medical ethicist questions the lack of oversight.
Weight gain in pregnancy guides updated: Health Canada is formally replacing its guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy to match new U.S. recommendations.

Arts & Entertainment»

Oprah describes tough decision to end show: An emotional Oprah Winfrey pledged to fans that she would "knock your socks off" with the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, set to end in 2011.
King Tut casts magic in Toronto: King Tutankhamun has returned to Toronto. A new exhibit of artifacts related to the Egyptian boy king went on display Friday at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Tom Thomson winter scene set for auction: A striking, snow-covered forest scene by Tom Thomson bearing intriguing inscriptions on the back of the canvas is set for sale in Toronto on Tuesday as Canada's fall auction season gets underway.

Technology & Science »

Bell quietly drops system access fee: The cellphone system access fee is all but extinct. Bell Canada has quietly axed the charge, joining rivals Rogers and Telus.
Beam sent around Large Hadron Collider: The operators of the Large Hadron Collider have successfully sent a beam of particles around the ring of the world's largest particle collider in Switzerland.
Asian carp close to Great Lakes: U.S. officials say the despised Asian carp may have breached an electronic barrier designed to prevent it from invading the Great Lakes.

Money »

Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Canada Post struggles to innovate: Canada's postal service is reinventing itself as it struggles to make up for dwindling demand in the face of a devastating global economic slowdown.
The 10-billion-barrel battle: Henry Lyatsky wants B.C.'s coast opened to oil drilling but environmentalists stand opposed.

Consumer Life »

Bullying is a public health issue: researcher: Bullying should be considered a public health problem and governments should adopt national strategies against it, says a Canadian professor who led a study of bullying in 40 countries.
Early Canadian stamps auction nets $3.2M US: A New York stamp collector auctioned parts of his collection in New York on Thursday, including a Canadian-issued stamp that is one of the world's rarest.
Susan Boyle album racks up record pre-orders online: Susan Boyle's transformation from dowdy church volunteer to TV singing sensation has hit a new high, with Amazon.com announcing that Boyle's forthcoming album has become its biggest global pre-order in history.

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Anderson, Avs seek vengeance in Vancouver: Craig Anderson and the Colorado Avalanche look to avenge their worst defeat of this charmed season when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (10 p.m. ET).
Rochette holds Skate Canada lead: Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette achieved a personal best in the short program on Friday to take the lead at the HomeSense Skate Canada International in Kitchener, Ont.
Flames lose top scorer Bourque: Rene Bourque, who leads the Calgary Flames with 21 points in 20 games, will miss at least two contests with an undisclosed injury, coach Brent Sutter said Friday.

Diversions »

Hugs, not harassment: Facebook groups slam day of violence against redheads
Tourism website includes Toronto museum addition on ugly buildings list
Florence museum: lost Galileo relics, a tooth and 2 of astronomer's fingers, found again

Health

Blog

Monday, October 19, 2009 | 04:47 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | 01:17 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Friday, September 11, 2009 | 04:49 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 04:12 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 | 02:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 02:50 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Friday, May 8, 2009 | 02:04 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Friday, April 17, 2009 | 03:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Friday, March 20, 2009 | 02:31 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 | 04:40 PM ET

By Peter Hadzipetros

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