The Fittest City in the U.S.

The American Fitness Index (AFI) recently released the ACSM American Fitness Index Data Report, offering a scientific snapshot of the health and fitness level for the major metropolitan areas in the US. Washington D.C., for the 3rd year in a row, ranks as the fittest city.

The American College of Sports Medicine and the Anthem Foundation have considered such factors as what percentage of the city's population reporting exercising within the past 30 days and accessibility to parks and green spaces, in order to determine how fit a city is. The top 10 cities are:

1. Washington D.C.
2. Minneapolis, MN
3. Denver, CO
4. Portland, OR
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Seattle, WA
7. Boston, MA
8. Salt Lake City, UT
9. Hartford, CT
10. San Diego, CA

Las Vegas ranks 41st among the bottom 10 cities.

Postcard US-3971221 to Germany shows a black and white map drawing of the D.C. area with a matching diamond shaped 37¢ commemorative stamp issued by USPS on September 23, 2003.

35,000 Marathon Runners Descend to Las Vegas

The 2014 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon has brought about 35,000 runners to Las Vegas for races, music, health and fitness expo, and parties from November 14 to November 16, 2014.

Comparing to most other marathons that take place in the early morning, it is a special nighttime event held under the neon glow of Sin City. The main races on Sunday November 16 start near the iconic "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, and finish by the Volcano at Mirage.

Races in Las Vegas will be incomplete without the infamous Running Elvi. Also as the wedding capital of the world, Las Vegas will set up a run-thru wedding chapel at Monte Carlo for couples to get married "on-the-run" or renew their vows in three minutes. With the recent recognition of same-sex marriage in Nevada, the ceremony will see same-sex couples for the first time. The Zappos.com 1/2 of the Half starts at 3:30 p.m. The full and half marathon will start at 4:30 p.m.

Running Elvi at the Health and Fitness Expo on November 15, 2014

Outgoing postcard US-2967689 to Russia features a runner at the debut of the popular Zappos.com 1/2 of the Half Marathon in 2013.

Hula Hoop

I have been looking for fitness themed postcards for a while but rarely receive one. So I am extremely please to receive NL-2257435 from the Netherlands, showing a lady exercising a hula hoop. The modern hula hoop, which is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck, was invented by Arthur K. Melin and Richard Knerr in 1958. However, various hoops have been twirled, rolled and thrown around the world throughout history.

Cirque Du Soleil shows have many hoop acts. The one from Quidam is unique and one of the best. Quidam is currently touring in London.