Unless you consider yourself “a runner,” (you know who you are) running can kind of suck. A lot. Sometimes it feels great to feel the wind through your hair and know that you left the equivalent of a 5K in the dust, no sweat. Other times, you barely make it to the end of your block before thoughts of turning home to the comfort and safety of your couch and DVR creep into your head.

And then there’s the whole debate over whether running on a treadmill is the same as running outdoors. Some “runners” will swear up and down that running on a treadmill is inferior to running outside, belittling the 3 miles on the treadmill that you just called your workout as not as hard, not as fast, or not as long as the treadmill said.

Well, here’s your chance to put those people in their place. Studies have proven that treadmill running is just as hard (and good for you) as running outside! Yayyyy! For better or worse, the treadmill and the great outdoors will burn your booty just the same when running is the name of the game.

Although they’ve proven that running on a treadmill is just as good of a workout as running outside, we all know that there are still huge differences in the two! Sure, you can listen to your iPod in both situations, but only inside can you balance Cosmo on the magazine rack in front of you while Britney’s “3″ keeps you working.

Most people have a preference for one or the other, but if you’re unsure of which location is better for you, here are the pros and cons of both:

Running Outdoors:
When you run outside you get lots of fresh air, pretty scenery, and the thrill of exploring new routes. Lovely. But you’re also more at risk for being injured (either instantly by tripping and falling, or later on due to the effect of  the hard roads on your joints) or being attacked. Plus, it’s not always easy to gauge your speed or distance. Oh, and sometimes, the weather can suck.

If you do choose to run outside, you should wear bright and reflective colors, run in well-lit and populated areas, and carry your cell phone with you if possible. (This is one more reason I love my iPhone so much – iPod and phone!! Woooo!).

Running on the Treadmill:
Like I said, magazine reading material is a perk, and when on the treadmill you can see your speed, distance and time all right in front of you. I don’t know about you, but that forces me to push myself a little harder – to run a little faster and further. But while that’s a major perk to gym running, there is the nasty truth that gyms are germy! And crowded – you don’t want to spend your precious time waiting in line to get in a 5 mile run. And let us not forget that the treadmill can be BORING; even if there’s a TV on that badboy, it gets old running in place after awhile.

Both options have their goods and their bads, but wherever you choose to run, it’s the right choice. Running – either indoors or out – is a great form of cardio. The most important thing you can do is find out which works better for you and stick with it. And the second most important thing you can do is add some Miley to your running playlist. She’ll definitely pick you up when you’re feeling down and out and too tired to move on.

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This guy is the least of your germ problems.

Despite the fact that I ran around for weeks downing Airbourne and bathing myself in hand sanitizer, I couldn’t outrun the flu and it currently has me severely down and out (don’t worry I’m not about to sprout a curly tail over here, it’s just our regular old seasonal pal).

As I spent the weekend lying in bed, underneath a pile of tissues and cough drop wrappers, I attempted to retrace my steps. Where did I go wrong? The first thing that popped into my head was a toilet. I mean, aren’t public restrooms pretty much the dirtiest places we visit? But I am positive that I had maintained sturdy squats never losing balance and always flushing with my shoe…

So where could I have picked up this infections, atrocious and nastalicious flu?

Apparently, the possibilities are endless. Well, not totally endless. It turns out the toilet is the least likely culprit. The porcelain god may be dirty, but it is cleaner than a lot of things we encounter every day. The worst part? We don’t even realize the things that are swimming in bacteria. Gross bacteria. The kind that definitely caused whatever has taken over my poor little body.

Here’s a list of some of the culprits to watch out for. Be careful out there, people, or you may be joining me in my germ infested death bed come next weekend.

Purses. Researchers found hundreds of thousands of germs present on a woman’s purse, which included fecal bacteria, cold viruses and viruses that cause diarrhea. Pretty freakin’ gross. But I know none of us are going to throw out our gorgeous patent leather Kooba (or should I say Poo-ba) hobo, so if your bag has touched the ground (and who’s hasn’t) leave it there. Keep that beauty away from tables, desks or your bed so the germs stay as far away from you as possible.

Computer Keyboards. The gross truth is that you’d collect fewer bacteria if you rubbed your hands over a toilet seat than if you sat down and typed out an essay (one study found that the keyboard had 60 times more germs per square inch then a toilet in a public restroom). Bottom line: clean your keyboard! You can mix some dishwashing liquid on a damp towel and wipe the keyboard and screen down; you’d be amazed at how many of those little suckers you’d be killing off.

Towels. Since the majority of us live in dorms this couldn’t be more important. First off, NEVER put your towel down anywhere in a communal bathroom or let it sit in a heap on your bedroom floor. Regular old flu viruses are the least of your worries at this point; students have gotten staph infections that result in permanent scars and even death from having their wet towels laying around in a pile, or touching someone else’s and then reusing them. (Also, oils from your skin build up on towels creating bacteria that cause acne, so washing towels once a week is a must to keep our skin zit-free!)

Cell Phones. You know that device you have glued to your ear the entire day? It’s filthy (and I’m not talking about those naughty photos you’ve been sending around…). Bacteria that cause nasty annoyances like pimples and boils and life threatening illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis have all been found lurking on your Blackberry. Never lay your phone down on desks in class or tables in the caf, and disinfect it on a daily basis because our skin creates the most harmful bacteria. That’s right dropping our cells into a toilet would probably clean them off a little.

Lindsay Lohan. Or any other skanky starlet for that matter. Steer clear; you don’t need whatever they’re carrying lurking in your air space. This also applies to skanky starlet wannabe’s running around your campus swapping spit and bodily fluids with god knows who.

Grossed out? Me too. I’m going to go douse my entire life in Pine-Sol now.
I suggest you do the same.

Here are ten tips students should heed when battling the Swine Flu.

10.  Let’s take a look on the bright side. Swine flu is giving you a reason to avoid those all-nighters in the library. The best way to stay healthy is to get a good night’s sleep. Exhaustion will weaken your immune system. So if you happen to opt for sleep instead of a problem set, never fear. When you’re teacher asks where your homework is, just say the swine flu ate it.

9. Wash your hands frequently. I never leave the house without a bottle of Purell, and these days I’m getting stingy with sharing it. Hygiene is key. If you can’t take the flu, stay out of the pig’s pen.

8.  If you feel sick, stay home! You’re not going to impress the hottie in your Bio class if you come into Lab looking like death warmed over. You’ll be labeled the Swine-Spreader and there goes your good reputation.  Next thing you know, you’ll be have to eat your lunch with the Mono-Makeout Slut.

7. Speaking of makeout sluts… Now’s a good time to get your urge to kiss under wraps. Kissing may be like a handshake for you, but you’re going to be exchanging more than a hello with this swap of spit. The Swine Flu is sneaky and it’s looking to sow its wild oats. It will wait for you to put your beer goggles on and then it’ll plant a wet and germy one right on your lips. Beware.

6. Contain your cough, for your mother’s sake! This should be obvious. The basic rules of etiquette have preached the hand-over-cough move for years, but now we’ve got to take it seriously. Make your mama proud and swine flu-free!

5. While Mexico may be a popular spring break destination, perhaps you may want to rethink that trip to the Oasis Cancun this year. Mexico + Spring Break debauchery = breeding ground for Swine Flu. Even I can do that math.

4. Got an iPhone? Download the Swine Flu Tracker, created by IntuApps, and successfully avoid areas with high threat levels.  Yes, there’s even an app for that.

3. Retire from beer pong. Winning the game with an around-the-back bounce shot deserves a trophy, not the flu. But that’s what you’ll get when you’re drinking from the same solo cup as 15 people before you. Even if you can’t resist Beirut’s siren call, at least play with water cups and drink from your own beer can. This way you can maintain your frat-star skills and stay healthy at the same time.

2. If things around you are getting dire, and your peers are dropping like…. swine, you might think about investing in this flu-season’s latest fashion. The decorative face mask. Get em’ while they’re hot!

1. Eat an apple a day. Just in case.

But before you lock your doors and resign yourself to online courses, there are some things you can do to try to avoid getting sick, like protecting yourself against bacteria. As a self-described germaphobe, I am not embarrassed to say that I carry antibacterial wash with me everywhere (it comes in handy at frat parties), and you should consider doing the same since so many germs are on doorknobs, tables, and communal computers.  Plus, you’d be surprised how many of your friends and fellow students aren’t washing their hands after going to the bathroom! I see it all the time and I’m like, “Hey girlfriend, I’m standing right here and can see you aren’t washing your hands!”

But rather than yell at random strangers in the bathroom, even if they deserve it, you can protect yourself.  And that doesn’t mean squirting that nasty smelling Purell on your hands every 10 minutes; there are some really great smelling cleansing products out there that won’t leave your hands dry and cracking. Give some of these a try:

Hand wash: Indulgences Purifying Hand Wash in Coconut Nectar is a cheap antibacterial that cleans and moisturizes. Oh and it smells deeeelish.

Bodywash: Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish - This body scrub exfoliates but also includes real brown sugar, which is a natural antibacterial ingredient.  Fresh also makes a soap bar that has the same helpful sugar properties.  Who knew that sugar was good for more than just curing a sweet-tooth?

Lotion: This Bath & Body Works lotion is small enough to throw in your purse, and has moisturizing beads to leave your skin soft and germ-free.  Try Midnight Pomegranate, my fave new B&B scent.

Waterless Hand Foam: The Bath & Body Works hand foam is the quickest way to sanitize your hands after touching public surfaces, plus this Sea Island Cotton scent should take you on a mini-vacay.

All Rolled into One: Bath and Body Works: Spread Love, Not Germs Kit. It’s only $19.50 and you get tons of antibacterial products in top selling scents like Sweet-pea.

Stay clean, healthy, and smelling delish this year, ladies.

Your slate is clean (and your pants still fit!), so let this new school year be your opportunity to start fresh and make good, healthy choices.  It’s always good to start out with goals you actually will end up completing, so here are some small, completely doable changes for you to consider so that this year finds you healthier and even more fabulous than the last!

Dear Water: We Love You.
We all know water is muy importante. It keeps you feeling full, prevents dehydration, and clears your body of toxins. Sweating, drinking alcohol, and merely functioning every day (especially in college) cause a loss of said water and it’s up to you to replace it.

Yes, if you want to be healthy with a fabulous complexion, you need to drink the water.

That being said, don’t freak out about the eight glasses per day thing – its not just plain water that does the trick, and the amount you need depends on how active you are. Also, if you’re one of those people who hates drinking water by itself, don’t forget that fruits, vegetables, tea, and other things we consume everyday have water in them, too. And don’t forget about Crystal Light – make it your BFF this year.

Think Before You Eat.
You’re hungry – ohhh so hungry. You haven’t eaten in hours and you need food ASAP. Stop before you grab that takeout menu and order a dinner high in calories, sodium, and fat. Now don’t get me wrong; I love my Ramen as much as the next person. Take-out and pre-packaged foods are great every once in a while when you are in a hurry and need something fast. But if you plan your meals beforehand, you won’t have this dilemma. You can save time, stress, and calories simply by deciding what you are going to eat for that day before the day starts. Plan your meals in advance and you’ll make much healthier choices.

Go to Sleep, Woman!
You’ve heard it before, but this is one small change that almost goes without saying. Because one cannot be fabulous while yawning. Or while sporting dark circles under her eyes. One study by a Cornell psychology prof suggests that sleep deprivation is similar to operating while impaired. I think we’d all like to be fully functional (during weekdays, at least), so turn off the TV, close that laptop and get into bed. Before 2am.

Germs – You Don’t Even Know.
Germs are everywhere. There’s more bacteria on everyday items like your light switches, kitchen sponges, and television remote than there are on your toilet seat! If you want to avoid the sniffles (or the Swine Flu!) this year, grab some disinfectant wipes and have at it every now and then. And if your roomies think you’re OCD, tell them to go spend some quality time with the toilet seat….or just print out this article and tape it to their door. (Then go wash your hands.)

No Sweat! It’s Not All About the Gym Membership.
Even though getting a gym membership can help you regularly exercise if you’re like me (as I’m more likely to work out when I have a financial stake in the matter), it’s definitely not a necessity. You can fit in exercise any place, any time! Get an exercise ball instead of a chair to sit on at your desk (hell, it’s probably cheaper anyway). Then you can work your core while doing your homework (or more likely, while reading College Candy!). You can rent exercise videos or find a channel that has free workouts (one of the benefits of cable tv, ladies). Do squats while brushing your teeth. Forget that elevators were ever invented and take the stairs. Do tricep dips using the edge of your couch while watching television. Power walk to class. Do lunges while you’re heating up your dinner. Exercise improves your mood, prevents disease, and keeps you looking fabulous – and not having a gym membership can’t stop you! Just small, conscious changes can yield some serious benefits in the long run.

Forgive, Forget, and Move On.
One of my best friends and I stopped talking after we had an argument. And yesterday, for the first time in two years, we talked and cried and laughed over the silly little things we had missed about each other. When you think about it, there’s always a little something preventing you from starting fresh. Whether it’s drama with your friends, still missing your ex, or holding onto a grudge, forgiveness seems like a small task, but once it’s done, you just feel… better. Turns out forgiving and forgetting also helps reduce chronic pain, lower blood pressure, and maintain healthier relationships in general. So dig deep – what’s been bothering you? As cliche as it may seem, let the past be the past and let this year be your healthy, happy future.

So finally it is spring…well, at least the snow is sort of melting here, and the temperature is starting to average above freezing during the day. This is the time to be outside on the slushy grass or walking around campus, right?

Well, I wish. It seems like spring at college, I am realizing, is the time of the cold, the headache, the sore throat, and the contagious undergrads.

I’ve noticed everyone here is getting sick. I’m told it’s because I’ve never lived with so many people before, and that we’re all staying inside so much. Basically, germs are running wild. So drink your orange juice for Vitamin C and avoid sneezing classmates. Not that any of that really worked out well for me. And I must say, I’ve learned a very important lesson: taking care of yourself when you’re sick at college is the worst.

Despite feeling like death-slightly-warmed-over, I still have to get up and go to class, or at least go downstairs to get food. Unlike home, I don’t get chicken noodle soup and crackers (served to me in bed), but whatever is on the menu. All the way downstairs. Nope, there is no change in food or service just because I’m ill.

I have to get my own water, walk all the way down the hall to go to the bathroom, and share my room with a healthy person who is avoiding me like I have the plague. Which, thankfully, I don’t. Just a cold, and sore throat, and sinus headache and fever.

Even if I were home, with my family waiting on me hand and food, this week would’ve sucked. But at college, it’s even worse: I have to deal with it myself. I have to get myself to the health center if I think I need it, I have to walk to the pharmacy in town if I need a prescription, and I have to deal with the fact that everyone else on campus is dealing with this too, so no one is there to help me.

All that responsibility and independence I have loved at college has just become a nuisance.

Sure, I’m getting better. Somewhere between watching episodes of  House and making up fake diagnoses I began to recover. And I am grateful, because now I know that being sick is work here. It’s not a day-off or a sick day from school where you can just chill and relish in your bacteria. Life doesn’t stop when you get sick in college.

I guess that whole “college independence” isn’t so great when all you want to do is depend on getting better. There is nothing like a cold to make every college kid wish they were back home with mom.

In this weekly series, makeup expert Ali will use her makeup know-how to teach us all how to look flawless in class, out at a party, or grabbing coffee with that cutie from Psych 101.]

In order for makeup to keep you looking fresh and beautiful you need to keep up with fresh products. Yes, it can be a sad day to throw out your favorite MAC eyeshadow because its time has expired, but it is necessary for your skin and your overall look (and feel). Below is some important information about how long your makeup should last, and how to stretch out its shelf life. And don’t worry – we won’t judge you if you hold a moment of silence for your favorite products whose time has come.

Mascara: With such close contact to your eyes, mascara is likely to acquire bacteria and, as a result, should be thrown out after 3 months. Don’t believe me? Smell it. Go on, do it. If the mascara is ready to go you’ll notice a different smell, not to mention the mascara will likely not go on as well. Throw it out!

Foundation: Liquid and condensed powder foundations will likely become cakey or cracked after 6 months to a year and then it’s time to toss em. Loose powder foundation will likely last a little longer. Similar rules apply to blush.

Lip-gloss: Will stay fresh for 1 year, maximum 2. When the gloss becomes sticky or gooey it is time to purchase a new one.

Eyes Shadow: Powder shadow lasts about 2 years, and cream shadow should be tossed after 1 year. Again, the make up will become cakey and crease easily when it is past its shelf-life.

Nail Polish: Quality polish will last 2 years, with cheaper polish becoming less effective after a year. To keep polish working great, store it in the refrigerator, and when it becomes thick add a little nail-polish remover to the bottle.

Brushes: When bristles of brushes begin to fall out it is a good idea to throw them out (cheaper brushes will lose bristles first). As brushes are exposed to dirt and bacteria on your face it is important to keep them fresh. In order to preserve brushes make sure to wash them as often as possible, preferably weekly, but at least monthly. Using a small amount of shampoo on your fingers, kneed the brushes in warm water and rinse them thoroughly. Reshape them when they are still damp and allow them to air-dry. (You’ll be amazed how much will come out of the brushes when washing, and you’ll feel much cleaner when applying makeup!)

A few extra tips to extend your makeup’s life:

-Always use brushes instead of your fingers, which will transfer bacteria to the makeup. When applying eye-shadow, disposable applicators can be bought at drug stores and will work just fine.

-Label your makeup with the date you opened it, so you can keep an eye on when to throw it out.

-Don’t keep makeup hanging loosely in your purse where dirt could get in.

-If something smells funny, toss it. And just like with milk or leftovers, when in doubt, throw it out!

Saturday night: You’re at a frat party. You just won three consecutive games of beer pong. You don’t think twice about drinking your cups, despite the fact that you’ve seen the ball land in other peoples’ used cups, roll along the basement floor, and watched the ball pass between thirty-something unwashed hands.

What gives?!?

Obviously, beer pong isn’t the most sanitary party game out there. But you have the “water cup,” right? That cup of tepid, dirty water is totes gonna disinfect that old, recycled ping pong ball (that was most likely found under someone’s bed 10 minutes before party time). Or not.

Some microbiology students at George Washington University decided to test exactly how detrimental to your health beer pong can be. If you like beer pong, you may want to skip this article.

After a somewhat mild night of beer pong, consisting of eight students and thirty beers, the budding scientists collected samples from each of the beer pong cups and the water cup. What’d they find? A haven for germs. Bacteria from the E. Coli, salmonella, and pneumonia families were present in every single test tube containing samples from the game. Oh, and that water cup that everyone used to clean the balls? That was the most infected, and housed the most bacteria growth over night.

This study centered on beer pong only, but what about other potentially sickening games? When’s the last time you did a kegstand, putting your mouth on the tap that’s been who-knows-where after a dozen other people slurped down a few seconds worth of brew? How about the time you stood in for flip cup, and rotated through other peoples’ cups round after round?

We put our mouths everywhere when there’s cheap beer involved (and some of us really put our mouths everywhere), but we’re super cautious about where we place our ASS when we’re in a public place? Just some food for thought.

Not that you have to quit beer pong — hell, no! To be just a tad cleaner, change out the water cups and beer pong balls throughout the night, and keep your own beer cup to drink out of after the ball hits (just dump the shot’s worth of beer into your own cup).

Alcohol is bad enough for your immune system; don’t give germs a better opportunity to take up residence in your body.

However, neglecting your sheets for too long can result in some icky, unwanted guests– and I don’t mean the one-night mistake you made last Saturday. Here are the five nastiest things that should inspire you to grab the Tide and make a date with the washing machine.

1. Bed Bugs

Reports of bed bugs are rising on college campuses and even if you’re particularly clean, you may not be safe. The little bastards can catch a ride to your room on luggage, clothing, and old furniture (e.g. your hand-me-down futon). Plus, they can live up to a year without a feeding, so they could have been hiding out in your empty dorm room for the whole summer just waiting for you to move in and unpack. Luckily, pest control on college campuses is prepared to snuff the buggers via steam, extreme heat, or pesticides. If you wake up with little red welts from bedbug bites report it immediately before the infestation spreads down the hall.

2. Your Personal Sheddings

When we hit the sack every night, we shed dry, dead skin and hair. Gross. I gag at the site of a hair-clogged shower drain, and sleeping with hairballs seems just as unappealing. Girls with long hair shed a lot, so there’s also the chance that you’ve left your mark in your man’s bed as well. Of course, dead skin and strands of hair are a breeding ground for microorganisms, so bacteria can escalate after just a few nights of shedding in your sleep.

3. Bodily Fluids

Not only do we lose skin and hair while we sleep, but we also sweat every night. And that’s just one of the many bodily fluids that can collect in our sheets. We’ve all heard horror stories of hotels that don’t pass the black light test, but all of the things that go down in smarmy motels go on every night in college dorms, where there’s no maid service. Whether you’re snoozing in a sea of sweat or semen, or you are notorious for drooling on your pillow, soaking your sheets after a particularly hot night (or a hot one night stand) will flush out the bacteria.

4. Scabies

Another member of the bug family, scabies is caused by eight-legged parasitic itch mites. Though it is hard to catch scabies from brief physical contact, it is still possible to contract them from shaking hands or sharing infested bedclothes. Speaking of which, the most common form of transmitting scabies is through sexual contact, an act we all know runs rampant through college campuses. Scabies can produce small bumps or blisters, which are accompanied by relentless itching. Luckily, scabies can be treated fairly easily through mite-killing creams and sprays, and your sheets and clothes can be taken care of with one simple wash.

5. Whatever You’ve Been Carrying Around Campus

Good Morning America recently tested the sanitary habits of University of Maryland students. The students rubbed some lotions on to their hands and continued with their day. Hours later, the students’ hands were put through a black light test, which revealed how often the students had washed their hands after touching doorknobs, using the bathroom, eating lunch, and working on computers that thousands of other hands have touched. The black lights revealed remnants of the lotion around fingernails, crusted around bandages, and caked next to rings and watches. The lotion also proved to spread like bacteria, and showed up on clothes and other parts of the students’ bodies including near eyes and noses where infections could develop.

That said, all of the germs and bacteria you encounter each day as you trek from class to class sharing desks, computers, and books with hundreds of thousands of other students can ultimately end up in your sheets. Your bed is your final destination at the end of the day, so while it’s a good idea to keep your linens fresh, it’s also a good idea to go to bed clean yourself.

Sunday morning, though, was not so great. I felt like sh*t. I crawled out of bed and right onto the couch where I spent a good portion of my day watching TV and playing online. Which only made me feel worse. It turns out that feeling like crap was only the beginning of my problems. My weekend bender had me drinking crap.

And, no, I am not referring to lovely and magical alcohol as crap. I am literally talking about poop. In my drink.

According to a study discussed in this article, the little lemon wedges that adorn the top of water/soda/alcohol cups is not quite as clean and refreshing as we once thought. In fact, of the 76 lemons tested, “a total of 25 different types of germs were found.”

Ew.

It gets better. Of those 25, three were also found in fecal matter.

Double ew.

The germs could originate from the knife used to slice the fruit, the counter which they were cut on, or (barf) the hands of the person placing that little slice of citrus in your drink. I shudder at the thought of all those lovely little lime bits making their way into my cocktail. Especially since, contrary to popular belief, the alcohol does not kill anything.

The amount of grossness that was found on the lemons was not enough to make anyone sick, but knowing that it was there is making up for it. My stomach is churning. I am sure that has a lot to do with the excessive drinking followed closely by excessive French-fry-eating, but I am not going to rule this new bit of information out as a possible cause.

Looks like I’ll be sticking to bottled beers next weekend. Maybe I should even open them myself; you never know where those bottle openers have been. [Shudder]