watching the marathontitle 8urltext runners often complain of tight hamstrings but couch potatoes can also suffer from the same affliction if those hammies are feeling a bit bunchy throw your foot up onto a low coffee table or a thick book and lean forward until you feel a strong pull travel up the back of your thigh hold for 30 seconds repeat twice with each leg th recommended nyc marathon considers alternate staging area quicklist 9category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 9urltext another thing couch dwellers and runners often have in common poor posture a good stretch to counteract hunched shoulders sit or stand up tall with hands clasped behind your back keeping elbows locked raise arms up until you feel a strong pull through the shoulders and chest hold for 30 seconds repeat twice if you dont have the flexibility to clasp your hands hold onto a dish towel personal trainer jordan ciambrone quicklist 10category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 10urltext if you get overexcited while watching the race take a moment of zen close your eyes and take 10 slow deep breaths studies show this helps lower blood pressure and slow heart rate two physiological responses associated with relaxation jc quicklist 11category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 11urltext just because marathoners rely on the carbs and salt in sports drinks to keep them chugging along doesnt mean you should too save yourself from the 130 calories and 35 grams of sugar that a typical 20ounce bottle of sports drink delivers and drink plain or flavored water instead registered dietitian alysa bajenaru quicklist 12category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 12urltext marathoners also love to munch on protein bars to help replenish their muscles since you are doing more storing than replenishing while youre glued to the tube resist the urge to bite into a 200 calorie plus energy bar for a similar experience try a light granola or fruit and nut bar ab quicklist 13category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 13urltext every time a commercial comes on do a set of a universal exercise eg one that works many muscle groups at once a lunge is a good example stand tall with feet hipwidth apart step right foot forward a strides length when foot contacts floor bend both knees until front thigh is parallel to the floor and back thigh is perpendicular to it stand back up and repeat with left leg alternate for a total of 12 reps each leg works butt hips thighs lower legs and core michele olson professor of exercise science at auburn university in montgomery ala quicklist 14category 262 ways to get healthy while watching the marathontitle 14urltext getting some sympathy knee pains from watching all those miles sit on the floor and do two sets of 20 front leg raises then lie on the floor and do