tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57602823944812032432010-07-31T12:02:59.422-04:00meditations on the running lifeeditorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-4212399650509921392010-07-23T17:53:00.001-04:002010-07-23T17:56:15.411-04:00

I want to like these shoes, I really do. I am totally behind the way the Star Shoes Run Amocs are made, and, as I wrote in my initial post, these are quality shoes with the minimalist in mind. The Run Amocs have a nice lightweight feel when tied on. The leather is very supple. Sure, my family thinks they make me look like a 17th century merchant or like I am walking around outside in my slippers

RiFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13839871410938319300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-77678401941762644942010-07-10T14:15:00.001-04:002010-07-10T14:49:09.509-04:00

You don't know how much you value running until you can't do it. It's been almost exactly a year since my last race, coping with chronic injury, and this morning I went out and ran the unbelievably brutal 32nd Annual Bear Swamp Run. Why brutal, you ask? Well, let me share the run's cross-section, courtesy of my Garmin: The organizers (Central Vermont Runners) announced at the start of the

RiFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13839871410938319300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-75774712743314222302010-07-08T10:06:00.002-04:002010-07-08T10:14:21.748-04:00

“If ever exercise enthusiasts wanted a rationale for what they’re doing, this should be it...” According to a July 7 NYT article, Researchers have found an explicit link between exercise and brain health. Through experiments on mice at Northwestern University, scientists have found that even moderate voluntary exercise suppresses bone-morphogenetic protein (BMP) activity. And this is a good thing

RiFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13839871410938319300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-88697548563724217512010-07-03T16:02:00.001-04:002010-07-03T16:07:54.516-04:00

As readers of this blog know, I love my VFFs. They are unparalleled for floor workouts at abs class, better than bare feet even for how well they grip the floor. And they are great for short runs as I learn to run barefoot. But I have not been liking them on hills. On downhills, as I land on my midfoot, the VFF soles get forced backward on the foot, leading the individualized toe sockets to jam

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-57960739446563484982010-06-07T09:52:00.000-04:002010-06-07T09:52:50.702-04:00

Ok, a rhetorical question: is there anything better than running on the beach? The ocean roaring on your left... feet dancing at the water's edge... salt air filling your lungs? Unbelievable, right? I thought so. A recent business trip took me to San Francisco, which meant I could not leave town without a side-trip to the coast. It's been a few years since I have seen the Pacific, and  in a few

RiFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13839871410938319300noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-88435790545923545982010-05-26T14:11:00.002-04:002010-05-26T14:24:44.615-04:00

"Just one bag?" "Yup." "What more do you need, am I right?" "Absolutely." The Jet Blue check-in agent was stocky, friendly and had the beginnings of a mohawk. "So, you a minimalist?" "Sorry?" I replied. "A minimalist." I didn't have a clue what he was on about and my face surely gave it away. "A minimalist? I'm not sure what you--" "I saw your Vibram Five Fingers shirt... you a

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-82476883257212127252010-05-20T11:29:00.001-04:002010-05-26T14:16:40.858-04:00

...it's not right to call it a "beer belly." It's visceral fat. And it happens for a variety of reasons well explained in an excellent book by the doctors Eades. Anyway, an interesting new study out today links visceral fat with higher risk of Alzheimers: A US study of more than 700 adults showed that being overweight is associated with smaller brain volume, a factor linked with dementia. BBC

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-825589100101788342010-05-20T08:28:00.000-04:002010-05-20T08:28:46.838-04:00

Now here's a guy who knows how to fly! Yijoo Kwon is running across the US to raise money for diabetes research, and doing 15-42 miles per day, every day. The goal: 3200 miles in 110 days. Lesson: no matter how far you run, someone else runs farther (unless perhaps you are Yijoo Kwon)... As of this writing, Yijoo has crossed into Missouri. You can track his progress on his website (of course).

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-64643022777912277132010-05-17T09:17:00.001-04:002010-05-19T16:16:27.840-04:00

Last week, when I was mowing the lawn for the first time in a very long time (my phenomenally responsible son does it for us each week), I wasn't paying attention and screwed off the oil reservoir lid instead of the gas tank lid and started pouring in the gas. Luckily, only a little bit got in there, and I didn't need to drain the oil and clean everything out. The mower ran ok, but did seem a

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-42288347339518687032010-05-08T10:04:00.003-04:002010-05-08T16:10:34.519-04:00

This morning (at least that's when it is broadcast here) there was an excellent report on McDougall's Born to Run on Only a Game, the NPR sports talk show. One of the interesting observations is that, while lots of people in Boston seemed taken by the message that barefoot running can be better for you and help you avoid injury, everyone running the Boston Marathon wore shoes. Thankfully, they

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-31900916883732248742010-05-06T13:38:00.001-04:002010-05-06T13:38:22.182-04:00

Clearly running genes are not distributed equally. My brother Mike, who is three years younger than me (yes, that makes him my "little brother"), did a triathlon last weekend. He swam 1.2 miles in 38:18, then biked 56 miles in three and three-quarters hours, then ran a half marathon in 2:07. Nearly 7 hours of punishment and he placed 967 out of a field of 1800+, so a very respectable mid-pack

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-17283509712742912002010-05-06T07:08:00.002-04:002010-05-06T07:39:00.998-04:00

Found out what book is next on the list, by the author behind RunBare: Author has a nice post on getting started with Vibrams, plus some good getting started tips. Upshot: start slow and let your feet and skin be your guide. But definitely have to get through the whole book to get the whole story. Nice summary from a review: Sandler’s personal journey to barefoot running began with his

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-57132223499418797972010-05-05T11:21:00.000-04:002010-05-05T11:21:52.409-04:00

Some of the blogs I follow (see right) have something very basic in common. They hone in on the pernicious effects of inflammation - brought on primarily by the wrong diet, the wrong sleep regime and the wrong sorts of stress. Art Ayers' great blog on Cooling Inflammation can be a tough slog (often written in science-speak), but if you stick with it, there is definite payoff. You can parse out

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-72988730015054578782010-05-03T16:11:00.002-04:002010-05-06T07:41:39.938-04:00

I have taken to calling my Vibrams "gorilla feet," half by way of self-deprecation, half because, well they look a lot like gorilla feet. I haven't been able to get outdoors running in them, due to achilles pain, but twice. Once the day after I got them. And once today. I have been using them - and really enjoying them - as shoes for core building class, which has become my workout three days

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-47965868800491248992010-02-27T12:11:00.004-05:002010-02-27T12:26:15.164-05:00

Been using the Vibram FFs at the gym for the past week. Sure, they get the occasional odd looks (or at least I think so; I don't wear my glasses during workouts, so most things are an impressionistic blur), but that's the price you pay for being cutting edge. I really like how the FFs work during abs workouts. When you have to do pushups or a front bridge, your toes actually grip the floor,

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-11291090052325761682010-02-20T16:11:00.001-05:002010-02-27T12:12:47.912-05:00

Just back from first outdoor run in the Vibram Five Fingers. Two toes up for the first run... The thermometer read 41 this noon, so I decided to take these things for their first test run. The high school track is still snowed under, but the bike path is free, so I did a short, 1.5 mile run. Everything I have read about running barefoot or in Vibrams is that you need to take it slow and easy,

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-17351255928078446862010-02-13T14:08:00.003-05:002010-05-06T07:39:33.777-04:00

Found this great PopSci interview with the author of Born to Run. Includes a nice video of his putting his feet where his mouth is. Best quote: I have the idea that running shoes are based on a kind of cult idea -- that our feet are flawed and we need shoes to correct those flaws. The shoe companies are in the business of selling shoes. But there's no evidence from running shoe manufacturers

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-64854815608477717942010-02-13T12:50:00.003-05:002010-05-06T07:41:13.084-04:00

That's it. My new Asics last September did nothing to help the achilles tendonitis that struck last August. Never had it before. Not even a twinge. Then, at the end of an easy 8 mile run, followed by some hill work, I was done. Could barely hobble home. That was six months ago. I have tried a few easy runs since then, but they always resulted in a couple of days of pain. I have been patient.

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-56628202379826911532009-09-01T09:50:00.006-04:002010-05-03T17:42:17.386-04:00

If you want to run, do not have size 13 4E feet. Life is just easier that way. I would suggest going with a 9D. Actually, probably anything up to an 11 will be OK. But don't go wide. "But wide gives me more support, more traction," you say. Sure, but at the cost of a much louder flap as you thwack down the road. But that's not the main thing. The main thing is the limits that fat feet impose on

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-74440191864093039412009-08-11T07:49:00.007-04:002009-08-12T06:12:40.715-04:00

Cover story on this week's TIME magazine proclaims that exercise does not contribute to weight loss. Sure, we all know/knew this. But did we need to be reminded? It's hard enough to get out there three times a week. At least there was the dim hope that maybe this was helping you edge, ever so slowly, back toward a 23-year-old's body...But, on the good news side of things, the NYT cites several

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-57927186326613660172009-08-07T14:28:00.000-04:002009-08-07T14:32:45.000-04:00

"No pain no gain." Or, as Emil Zapotek is reputed to have said: It's at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys."Yes, well, Zapotek was a machine. I'm no machine.Being sidelined by some achilles tendonitis, missing out on some of the best days to run here in Vermont (July and August), does not have me singing the praises of pain.Pain is not your friend. Pain is

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5760282394481203243.post-23203380461290367402009-08-01T09:00:00.000-04:002009-08-07T14:28:27.949-04:00

There are two types of runners in this world: those who like "out and backs" and those who like "circular runs." I am firmly rooted in the latter camp.Out and backs are simply too linear, rational and calculating. A run should not be sliced, diced or folded in half. Circular runs are zen-like, exploratory; they are about the process of running, rather than the goal. They emphasize the journey

editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18133389551135964846noreply@blogger.com0