Originally published February 4 2006
Fitness-related podcasts advise and inform
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The number of fitness-related podcasts has risen steadily in the last year. The people behind the podcasts range from recreational enthusiasts and personal trainers to physical therapists and major magazines.
When runners want sage advice on their sport, they can turn to a slick newsstand magazine -- or to a 31-year-old computer tech support rep from San Antonio, Texas, named Richard McCue.
Although he's completed four marathons, McCue has never graced the cover of a runners magazine, never been offered a mega-contract from a sponsor and never had adoring fans ask for his autograph.
But he does host "Runcast Weekly," a podcast about running in which he shares his experiences and dispenses advice and information.
McCue, who debuted his show from his home last April, does have the distinction of being one of the earlier fitness birds using podcast technology.
A podcast, the product of fusing "iPod" and "broadcast," is an Internet audio program that can be downloaded onto an iPod and an MP3 player, or listened to on a computer.
A scroll through podcast directories turns up recreational enthusiasts such as McCue, personal trainers doling out strength-training advice, physical therapists talking about sports injuries, interviews with top endurance athletes, numerous motivational messages -- and audio workouts to up-tempo music.
Podcasts offer exercise-minded listeners a few nuances that most magazines, Web sites and books do not: a human voice, a sense of environment (some podcasts are taped during a race or training session) and immediacy (most are taped and aired quickly).
With MP3 players and iPods, people can listen in their cars, on public transportation -- or while exercising.
One of McCue's recent segments described his decision to drop out of a marathon halfway through due to dehydration, illness and other factors.
"I debated for a long time whether I wanted to talk about it," he says, "and ultimately I thought it was important, so that people can understand that everyone does have a bad day from time to time."
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