Women's Running Magazine

Jazz up your diet with these cool carbs.

Women runners seem to have a natural aversion to the C word. For many of us, consuming the usual carbs (think pasta and potatoes) seems like a bad idea when trying to lose weight and eat better. We lose sight of the fact that they are the primary energy for working muscles, helping us to run hard and recover well. Perhaps you’re blasé about carbs because you’re burnt out on the old standbys.

Try one or more of these alternatives for a fresh take on the usual fare.

Here are our picks for the top five trail running destinations in the U.S.

Many runners turn to the trails in search of a physical challenge. What they find when they leave the pavement behind is a love for getting off the beaten path, breaking new ground and pushing themselves in new directions. A perfect trail running community should have more than just a trail network diverse enough to challenge any level of runner. It also needs a strong sense of community that supports an active lifestyle and amenities that can’t be overlooked like a good coffee shop, fun attractions and cross-training activities.

These five locations across America have just those qualities.

There’s no reason why your hair shouldn’t look as conditioned as your body.

Don’t let your locks be a casualty of your active lifestyle. Los Angeles-based celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims, who has coifed the manes of celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Queen Latifah, Eva Longoria and Jennifer Lopez to name a few, offers tips for achieving stronger, healthier, more beautiful hair.