Sunita Williams: Motivate Children To Be Fit

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School children hold portraits of Indian astronaut Sunita Williams and pray for her safe return from space, in Ahmadabad, India. Sunita Williams sets a record for the six month single space flight by a woman.

 

US astronaut to compete in marathon – in space

 

From http://space.newscientist.com

 

 

US astronaut Sunita Williams runs on the space station's treadmill. Bungee cords keep her from floating away (Image: NASA)

 

 

US astronaut Sunita Williams is set to run the Boston Marathon ... in space.

Williams is in the middle of a six- or seven-month rotation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She may in fact break the record for the longest stay in space by a US astronaut because it is not certain when a shuttle will launch to pick her up (see Space station astronaut set to break US flight record).

The 41-year-old will run the 42.2-kilometre (26.2-mile) race on the station's treadmill on 16 April and will circle the Earth at least twice during the event, putting her speed relative to Earth far above the other entrants.

She says she is doing it to motivate children to be fit. "I encourage kids to start making physical fitness part of their daily lives," Williams said. "I think a big goal like a marathon will help get this message out there."

Williams qualified for the Boston Marathon by finishing among the top 100 women in the Houston Marathon in January 2006.

Williams's sister, Dina Pandya, and her friend, astronaut Karen Nyberg, will be in Boston running the race on the ground that day. The marathon will begin at 1000 EDT (1500 GMT) on 16 April, but NASA is not certain whether Williams will run at the exact same time as the other women runners because the crew generally gets up much earlier in the day.

Williams runs at least four times a week in space, including two longer runs and two shorter ones, according to NASA. The ISS also has a stationary bicycle and a device that simulates weight training so astronauts can try to stem the loss of muscle mass and bone density due to microgravity.