Ok, made it to the half century, the fiftieth post. Wanted to write this everyday, but such as life, sometimes things does not go as planned, but hey doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
So "You never walked on that mans show", is a quote may be said my somebody at there leisure, kicking back and thinking wow, you never know what goes in someone's head, why they do it that, what they think, how they interact and most importantly the words they say and the actions. Here we are interested in Running, not walking. So quote goes like "You never know how much that man had run". The thing is, after years of running and researching I think I have developed an instinct to notice good runners. By one glance you can tell how good a runner they are. The Beatles once said "Something in the way she moves". Hey dont look at women's parts for pleasure... ok. It cold be invasion of privacy. Just a glance keep running........
As they say to be good as something, have to have that focus, willing to work hard, commitment, time management, juggling life, blah blah blah.......... So to be a good runner you need all that. Some people are natural borne runners. It is like some wealthy people. Borne rich. So why try harder. The good runners are the people who have to work hard to achieve there dream. This is when those hours and hours of practice come in. The looooooong runs, short runs. (the number of letters for the word 'short' longer than the word 'long' - you got that) moving along....... speed drills, stretching, warm up, warm down, nutrition, strength exercises, muscle focused exercise. The good runners focus on these. That is how i guess they got there. One thing i forgot to mention is the word 'technique'. It is a key word. Without technique you are not going anywhere with running. It is way you use your body to go far far away without least effort. The stride, movement, lift, landing. They all make a one become a better runner.
So my friends what's the point. Weeeeeell what's the point of being a couch potato. Being out there running a way in the wee hours of the morning or late in evening or when ever give some time be active. I do understand, running is not everyone's cup of tea or in their agenda. It is hard work. I guess a good runner understands the need to be good at what she or he does. I personally know I would never in my wildest dreams be able to do a marathon in 2 hours. But would be nice to do that in 2:30 someday. It's a dream. Would be awesome to achieve that and give pad on my own back and say well done mate....., I guess this is not for an ego boost. Just another achievement in this journey.
So now 50 posts is done, looking forward to the next 50. Keep them writing coming along and guess have to do that no matter how crap this may sound;-)
One last thing-
When I see a good runner I always wish I do know what goes inside that persons heart. Because I may never know never know how much that man had run.
cheers
me
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Mood
Running and mood.
Without being too cynical get to the key word 'mood'. A ghost always has a 'mooooooooooood;-0 and it can be scary. In a proper persons' words a mood can be defined as a state of mind. What is that got to do with running. Weeeel my dear friends, it is sometimes very difficult to be on a hardcore exercising mode. It is so easy to say "I am not in my frigin mood....." It can be a continues struggle with one's self to come to a mood that is going to say. I think i can... I think i can and then just to it.
Just do it.....Easy as it sounds. To get out of the house and get on with the first steps is the hardest part. Then on it is going with the flow. Guess with anything, it is how you make out of this mood. Mood swings...... Swing the mood...
Now bringing me to the equation. Last Tuesday I donated blood. On top of that every day was on a old bike to and from work for 3 hours a day. Guess there is certain strain a body can take. Running was the last thing on my mind. Excuses galore. Only if the other bike is fixed by now than having to ride for 3 hours. Save the energy on the bike ride and transfer that to running. The natural healing works inside to replenish the donated blood. And then work demands... life demands...... all the other daily pressures... lack of time issues.....
What am I trying to get is- yesterday, i just couldn't get to the running mode.... one excuse after the other.... When i think about running, my face was becoming a face of a horse " Why the long face for". So to get a positive mode, I promised if you do a running session, i would treat myself for a loaf of fruit cake. You may say "What a fruitcake", but hey I am just me. Have to give carrots to a donkey..... So the promise of fruitcake changed the mode from an excuse mode to fruitcake mode and that to running mode.
I guess with anything, one of the best ways to live is keep to the promises for everybody and you. If I do not keep promises, people would lose faith in me. And I could not be depended up on. People would give me a chance and then one day if i push my luck they are gone. So after the run i decided to keep my promise and treat me with a world famous Safeway fruit cake for giving me that mood. My mode was positive.
On one hand if a character you don't like pisses you off how can you be on a positive mood. Better to tell them to piss off and try to shrug off. So there you go, it is difficult be on a positive mood all the the time. We are all people trying to live best as we can. It is so easy to create a negative mode, some people including me someway somehow find a negative thinking to create a negative mood. Find excuses one way or the other. Blaming, why me... transferring blame to anyone but me...... The countinues strugle ++++mode and -----mode Guess have to be responsible for what I have put in and get on with it. But then again like everything goes there is time for everything and having a positive mood as often you can would no doubt help you and me and take me a lone way.
So long live the Melbourne Marathon that gives me a positive motivation and mood to run and long live running and hope we all go a long way:-)
Without being too cynical get to the key word 'mood'. A ghost always has a 'mooooooooooood;-0 and it can be scary. In a proper persons' words a mood can be defined as a state of mind. What is that got to do with running. Weeeel my dear friends, it is sometimes very difficult to be on a hardcore exercising mode. It is so easy to say "I am not in my frigin mood....." It can be a continues struggle with one's self to come to a mood that is going to say. I think i can... I think i can and then just to it.
Just do it.....Easy as it sounds. To get out of the house and get on with the first steps is the hardest part. Then on it is going with the flow. Guess with anything, it is how you make out of this mood. Mood swings...... Swing the mood...
Now bringing me to the equation. Last Tuesday I donated blood. On top of that every day was on a old bike to and from work for 3 hours a day. Guess there is certain strain a body can take. Running was the last thing on my mind. Excuses galore. Only if the other bike is fixed by now than having to ride for 3 hours. Save the energy on the bike ride and transfer that to running. The natural healing works inside to replenish the donated blood. And then work demands... life demands...... all the other daily pressures... lack of time issues.....
What am I trying to get is- yesterday, i just couldn't get to the running mode.... one excuse after the other.... When i think about running, my face was becoming a face of a horse " Why the long face for". So to get a positive mode, I promised if you do a running session, i would treat myself for a loaf of fruit cake. You may say "What a fruitcake", but hey I am just me. Have to give carrots to a donkey..... So the promise of fruitcake changed the mode from an excuse mode to fruitcake mode and that to running mode.
I guess with anything, one of the best ways to live is keep to the promises for everybody and you. If I do not keep promises, people would lose faith in me. And I could not be depended up on. People would give me a chance and then one day if i push my luck they are gone. So after the run i decided to keep my promise and treat me with a world famous Safeway fruit cake for giving me that mood. My mode was positive.
On one hand if a character you don't like pisses you off how can you be on a positive mood. Better to tell them to piss off and try to shrug off. So there you go, it is difficult be on a positive mood all the the time. We are all people trying to live best as we can. It is so easy to create a negative mode, some people including me someway somehow find a negative thinking to create a negative mood. Find excuses one way or the other. Blaming, why me... transferring blame to anyone but me...... The countinues strugle ++++mode and -----mode Guess have to be responsible for what I have put in and get on with it. But then again like everything goes there is time for everything and having a positive mood as often you can would no doubt help you and me and take me a lone way.
So long live the Melbourne Marathon that gives me a positive motivation and mood to run and long live running and hope we all go a long way:-)
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Melbourne Marathon
Without a challenge, training is mostly a dream, never happens. Even if do happen, low focus, aimless drag. So the solution, find a challenge and work towards it. As anything goes a challenge comes with bucket loads of plans, thoughts, positives, negatives, aims, targets and lucky last excuses. So have to deal with all these as it comes in best possible way. Without getting too phycological get to the point.
Melbourne Marathon. Date is locked in for Sunday, 9 October 2011 and you may find more info @ http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/. Feels like time is runningout for training and wish it is in 2012. Guess there is one in 2012 as well. So attack for the plan in simple words is run all the way. Can i do it, weeeel who knows until 9th October. So as with any goals, no point going for it without giving a worthy fight.
Hopefully I may not sound biased, Melbourne is I must say the worlds best sport oasis. Run around this beautiful beautiful beautiful place with thousands of other runners would be magical. The course is well designed. Weeeeeel it is the streets of Melbourne sans cars, trucks and accidents. It is funny how there is a large team designing London Marathon Course. They all forgot one of the biggest dreams of any marathoner. The chance of finishing at the olympic stadium and going under the tunnel to get to the stadium. What is my point you may ask. The point is Melbourne Marathon finishes as the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. So what more can you ask for. So everybody gets than million dollar chance to go under the tunnel to get to the stadium plus do a lap around it. Now that's happy days.
Cant wait to see that day. Hope I would see the light at the end of the tunnel and come in the MSG with the head held high.
Melbourne Marathon. Date is locked in for Sunday, 9 October 2011 and you may find more info @ http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/. Feels like time is runningout for training and wish it is in 2012. Guess there is one in 2012 as well. So attack for the plan in simple words is run all the way. Can i do it, weeeel who knows until 9th October. So as with any goals, no point going for it without giving a worthy fight.
Hopefully I may not sound biased, Melbourne is I must say the worlds best sport oasis. Run around this beautiful beautiful beautiful place with thousands of other runners would be magical. The course is well designed. Weeeeeel it is the streets of Melbourne sans cars, trucks and accidents. It is funny how there is a large team designing London Marathon Course. They all forgot one of the biggest dreams of any marathoner. The chance of finishing at the olympic stadium and going under the tunnel to get to the stadium. What is my point you may ask. The point is Melbourne Marathon finishes as the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. So what more can you ask for. So everybody gets than million dollar chance to go under the tunnel to get to the stadium plus do a lap around it. Now that's happy days.
Cant wait to see that day. Hope I would see the light at the end of the tunnel and come in the MSG with the head held high.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
2011 London Maratho and Boston Marathon Videos
Ok here we go party people, some quality videos of 2011 London Marathon and 2011 Boston Marathon. Looked around for the videos for ever and couldn't find until i come across these ones.
It is in vuki language so no idea what the commentator talks about. No doubt it is about how good they run.
Now London marathon. Emmanuel Mutai, you champion. Pure humble human being, nailed the race solo. Second last year, this year winner. Would like to see if Samuel Wanjiru was in good shape and see how he would have reacted to Mutai's pace.
Boston Marathon, what can i say. Fastest ever marathon in the whole wide wonderful worlds. Just over 2 hours and 3 minutes, 2:03:02 to be exact and the lucky winner is Geoffrey Mutai. It looks like it's time for Mutai's as wines of both Boston and London Marathons. Ryan Hall, you legend, the best pacemaker in the world. For 30 kilometers he single-handedly led the race. Kept the tempo, he ended becoming 4th but by doing so he ended up becoming the fastest American marathoner. It was funny to see, looks like bunch of Africans chasing a white guy. Now the sad thing about this race is even though it was fasted ever race, it is not qualified for world record as the runners had favorable wind and down hill. Weeel personally i think it should count why, as tail wind is luck and luck as to be part of sport.
It is in vuki language so no idea what the commentator talks about. No doubt it is about how good they run.
Now London marathon. Emmanuel Mutai, you champion. Pure humble human being, nailed the race solo. Second last year, this year winner. Would like to see if Samuel Wanjiru was in good shape and see how he would have reacted to Mutai's pace.
Boston Marathon, what can i say. Fastest ever marathon in the whole wide wonderful worlds. Just over 2 hours and 3 minutes, 2:03:02 to be exact and the lucky winner is Geoffrey Mutai. It looks like it's time for Mutai's as wines of both Boston and London Marathons. Ryan Hall, you legend, the best pacemaker in the world. For 30 kilometers he single-handedly led the race. Kept the tempo, he ended becoming 4th but by doing so he ended up becoming the fastest American marathoner. It was funny to see, looks like bunch of Africans chasing a white guy. Now the sad thing about this race is even though it was fasted ever race, it is not qualified for world record as the runners had favorable wind and down hill. Weeel personally i think it should count why, as tail wind is luck and luck as to be part of sport.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Inspiration Inspiration and inspiration
2011 New York half marathon, what can i say, wish i was there. Here is an link to the entire race video. http://www.livestream.com/nyrr/video?clipId=pla_bf5bd51d-e6df-485c-8849-614a4256a580&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb
Mo Farah is awesome. Super super finish. Hopefully he'll take the 10000m gold at London Olympics. Who knows, he might win the marathon instead. Heaps of respect and really good example of work ethic.
Mo Farah is awesome. Super super finish. Hopefully he'll take the 10000m gold at London Olympics. Who knows, he might win the marathon instead. Heaps of respect and really good example of work ethic.
Monday, 7 March 2011
Nike Lunar Racer 2
Nike Lunar Racer 2
Hello to Earth from Lunar. When I saw Nike Lunar Racer 2 shoes online, i didn't know what I am into. Researched heavily on various blogs, forums, comments and Nike website. Couldn't find many negatives. So decided to give it a go. Most people said when you are buying these make sure to buy half size up. Say you are 8 1/2 UK size. So go for 9. So not being able to buy these in Melbourne. decided to try the luck online and that ship to Straaaaalia. Along came runningwarehouse.com This is a good website. Loads of info and options. Rather than going for one pair diced to try my luck in two. One size 8 1/2 and the other 9 and that being 9 1/2 and 10 in US size after add 1 to UK. Thought what ever shoe fits might as well wear it.
So place the order with a pair of brand spanking new Lunar Elite 2+_!@$* . Lunar Elite 2 deserves another post of its own. It is that good i say. So fedexed they say on the webiste. After 7 days it arrived So had to pick it up from their deport. Not going to write about why. But it was one of those missions across west Melbourne towards Airport. These rides across Melbourne are all accidental workouts. My client is at Highett, south east melbourne by the coast. I live in North Carlton. So the whole journey took 2 hours on my crappy push bike. Anyways when i opened the package, it was wow wow wow....... Big time running geek moments. The shoes felt right.
The shoes are extremely light weight. Packaging say's 7 ounces. So i decided to find out how many grams to an ounce. Rather than talking about how many grams to an ounce, brothers talking about how they got ripped off in weed deals about the wight not being correct. Any ways about 30 grams i found out. So 7 ounces by 30g equals 1Kg. They are feather weight. To my surprise the middle of the shoe sole is rigid and excellent support. It does not bent like Nike free range shoes. Cushioning is amazing.
So the first run, had my doubts as usual with a new pair. Injury worries, fitting worries, bounce worries, durability worries, blisters worries, toe nail rip off worries. To my surprise, none of that it was no worries mate. It hold really nice. Felt like flying. I dont think you can run slow with these ones. They have the inbuilt ingredients to fly. Definition of fling is, you let go and miss the ground. The further you are away from ground you are flying for the time being. It passed the first test and was very happy with the purchase. Only thing i didnt do with the Luanr Racer was making love with it. It was that good pair of shoes.
To my sadness found out that Nike has discontinued these shoes and now they have brought back the original Luanr Racer. Norah Jones said "Dont Know why". Me say the same. Duncan Kibbett did a marathon- Two Hours and 4 minuets wearing these once. So can be that bad to discontinue. Hopefully nike would come with a better one soon.
Hello to Earth from Lunar. When I saw Nike Lunar Racer 2 shoes online, i didn't know what I am into. Researched heavily on various blogs, forums, comments and Nike website. Couldn't find many negatives. So decided to give it a go. Most people said when you are buying these make sure to buy half size up. Say you are 8 1/2 UK size. So go for 9. So not being able to buy these in Melbourne. decided to try the luck online and that ship to Straaaaalia. Along came runningwarehouse.com This is a good website. Loads of info and options. Rather than going for one pair diced to try my luck in two. One size 8 1/2 and the other 9 and that being 9 1/2 and 10 in US size after add 1 to UK. Thought what ever shoe fits might as well wear it.
So place the order with a pair of brand spanking new Lunar Elite 2+_!@$* . Lunar Elite 2 deserves another post of its own. It is that good i say. So fedexed they say on the webiste. After 7 days it arrived So had to pick it up from their deport. Not going to write about why. But it was one of those missions across west Melbourne towards Airport. These rides across Melbourne are all accidental workouts. My client is at Highett, south east melbourne by the coast. I live in North Carlton. So the whole journey took 2 hours on my crappy push bike. Anyways when i opened the package, it was wow wow wow....... Big time running geek moments. The shoes felt right.
The shoes are extremely light weight. Packaging say's 7 ounces. So i decided to find out how many grams to an ounce. Rather than talking about how many grams to an ounce, brothers talking about how they got ripped off in weed deals about the wight not being correct. Any ways about 30 grams i found out. So 7 ounces by 30g equals 1Kg. They are feather weight. To my surprise the middle of the shoe sole is rigid and excellent support. It does not bent like Nike free range shoes. Cushioning is amazing.
So the first run, had my doubts as usual with a new pair. Injury worries, fitting worries, bounce worries, durability worries, blisters worries, toe nail rip off worries. To my surprise, none of that it was no worries mate. It hold really nice. Felt like flying. I dont think you can run slow with these ones. They have the inbuilt ingredients to fly. Definition of fling is, you let go and miss the ground. The further you are away from ground you are flying for the time being. It passed the first test and was very happy with the purchase. Only thing i didnt do with the Luanr Racer was making love with it. It was that good pair of shoes.
To my sadness found out that Nike has discontinued these shoes and now they have brought back the original Luanr Racer. Norah Jones said "Dont Know why". Me say the same. Duncan Kibbett did a marathon- Two Hours and 4 minuets wearing these once. So can be that bad to discontinue. Hopefully nike would come with a better one soon.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Me me me and my running dilemma
Dilemmas dilemmas and more dilemmas. I don't know whether this is an excuse or or whether listing to my heart. Why; it is monday and it is a running day and i cannot get my self out of the door. The excuse section of the mind; brings in the coldness, it is 17 Celsius out there. Many countries it is summer weather. It is dark. There is still sun light. Pain in the legs. After heavy weekend of training on the hilly track, yep the legs are bit sore. I have done enough exercises for today. May be. I was on the bike for nearly three hours. 1 1/2 in the morning and another same on the evening and that is thanks to my mini le Tour de France to work, from Carlton North - Melbourne to East Moorabin. Not the Princess park again, It is that awesome princess park is up the road from where i live and i like running there a lot. Sometimes too much of too good is bad.... So what other excuses can i find.......
One side of the brain says just go for it. The other side, stay put for today and train the next there days hard. The sun comes out tomorrow...... Ok there is a mood for everything. If you are not on the mood dont do it. Have to do something that i enjoy, like doing what make me happy. Running sure do make me happy and i enjoy it a lot. But sometimes the enthusiasm is not there. Today if i didn't do that bike ride, i know to be sure, to be sure i would have been out there and running away like a bird now. I cannot blame the bike ride as an excuse. Sure it is good training. Cycling i reckon is one of the best cross training for running. It works really good on all parts of the legs plus the impact on the joints are minimal. Weeeeeelll with running all those pounding on the concrete sure has it's effects. But same time it increases the muscle strength. Strength leads to less impact of the joints as muscles do a load balancing.
So; i think today have to give it a miss for running, but not going to be a couch potato. But shall do a cardio and a weight training session at my dodgy home gym. Personally i dont think there is any other sport that has the same constant intensity to the heart as running. It is that it is constant hard work on the legs for a long period of time. Going hard at it is a plus, the distance make it pure endurance work out. But with running, there are speed workouts, tempo runs there are slow runs, there are technical runs, there are run for your life sessions.... So take cross training as add value to running and get on with it.
Have a great day
One side of the brain says just go for it. The other side, stay put for today and train the next there days hard. The sun comes out tomorrow...... Ok there is a mood for everything. If you are not on the mood dont do it. Have to do something that i enjoy, like doing what make me happy. Running sure do make me happy and i enjoy it a lot. But sometimes the enthusiasm is not there. Today if i didn't do that bike ride, i know to be sure, to be sure i would have been out there and running away like a bird now. I cannot blame the bike ride as an excuse. Sure it is good training. Cycling i reckon is one of the best cross training for running. It works really good on all parts of the legs plus the impact on the joints are minimal. Weeeeeelll with running all those pounding on the concrete sure has it's effects. But same time it increases the muscle strength. Strength leads to less impact of the joints as muscles do a load balancing.
So; i think today have to give it a miss for running, but not going to be a couch potato. But shall do a cardio and a weight training session at my dodgy home gym. Personally i dont think there is any other sport that has the same constant intensity to the heart as running. It is that it is constant hard work on the legs for a long period of time. Going hard at it is a plus, the distance make it pure endurance work out. But with running, there are speed workouts, tempo runs there are slow runs, there are technical runs, there are run for your life sessions.... So take cross training as add value to running and get on with it.
Have a great day
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Heal the heal pain
Heal the pain, make it a better leg, for me and for you and every other runner. There people running with heel pain. If we care enough for the pain, it would go away, hopefully. This heel pain has been a nagging injury for the past two months and hoping that it would go away, so decided to take a week off from running.
Symptoms of the heel pain. The pain arise only if if i touch the heel or at the begging of the run. It is unberable at the beging of the run and give five minits or more, it is gone and dont even realise it was there. It is a bizzar injury. It does not affect running other than the first few minutes. Yes it hurts if you presurise that area. It is worring in a way.
Heel joint of the leg is like the axle of the body. Without that no more mobile, let alone running. So if the pain persist, best is to see a doctor but me being me dont consult a doctor, but going with the flow. I read somewhere the vitamin C is a good remedy for this. So been taking bucket loads of vitamin C. It is heart breaking to take a week off from running. Hey, such as life. If the this nagging injury does not go away. Have to keep on running with the pain. Cannot afford a lengthy break. If it gives a permanent damage. Be it. But do not recommend this approach unless you are a sort of, see what happens sort of a person.
What can i say; have to take things as it comes and see this as how i make out of this injury. Because of this i have been putting more emphasis on cross training. Especially body and arms strengthening. I even use the stationary bike to do arm work out. How, by removing the seat pole and use the arms to rotate the peddles. Very clever:-0 daaaaa......
Symptoms of the heel pain. The pain arise only if if i touch the heel or at the begging of the run. It is unberable at the beging of the run and give five minits or more, it is gone and dont even realise it was there. It is a bizzar injury. It does not affect running other than the first few minutes. Yes it hurts if you presurise that area. It is worring in a way.
Heel joint of the leg is like the axle of the body. Without that no more mobile, let alone running. So if the pain persist, best is to see a doctor but me being me dont consult a doctor, but going with the flow. I read somewhere the vitamin C is a good remedy for this. So been taking bucket loads of vitamin C. It is heart breaking to take a week off from running. Hey, such as life. If the this nagging injury does not go away. Have to keep on running with the pain. Cannot afford a lengthy break. If it gives a permanent damage. Be it. But do not recommend this approach unless you are a sort of, see what happens sort of a person.
What can i say; have to take things as it comes and see this as how i make out of this injury. Because of this i have been putting more emphasis on cross training. Especially body and arms strengthening. I even use the stationary bike to do arm work out. How, by removing the seat pole and use the arms to rotate the peddles. Very clever:-0 daaaaa......
Friday, 14 January 2011
Running and bouncing
Bounce is very important for running. I've seen folks humping up and down roads and paths as if there is no tomorrow. It is like humping like a rabbit!. Just you wait!
With wayward bounce, tomorrow is the concern path. Today is is all good, jumping, feels goods, feels fast and seems like it is all happening. I have experienced this as that is why i can write. I guess it is where I am going that matters rather than where I have been.
Say for example get a rubber ball and bounce it on the concrete, tarmac, gravel and grass. The bounce will be higher on concrete and then tarmac - then gravel and then grass. If you put rose peddles in to the equation if would be the lucky last and we can use that to out imagination as we are not going in to details about running on rose pedals. So as we run, with each step we put 2 to four times out body weight on our landing feet. That is lot of weight. The heavier you are more the the weight you put on your feet(no bull!). If you tend to bounce, the higher you go up with every stride and then one that goes up has to come down in the real world and the landing force is higher with higher you go. Why; that is thanks to a thing gravity. If you think I am lying ask Sir Newton if you can find him. If it wasnt for gravity i would be writing about flying than running. We all get high as kites. Happy days.......
So what are the consequences of bouncing. Weeeeelll it can be advantaged in one way and it can be disadvantaged in another way. Bounce is not bad. You need that reverse force from your stride to kick further. But has to be on a moderation. This would help you to increase the stride angle. If you increase your stride angel less number of strides for the same distance.
If you bounce way to much than you need. You just bounce up and down like a rabbit and going no where. I have seen folks just go up and down and their feet hit their back side but their stride angle is so small. That is waste of energy. It is like the bob effect in mountain biking. To much energy wasted on the shocks of the shoes and just going up and down. Also this is ingredients for leg knee and ankle injuries. It is the strain from landing from higher vertical elevation. If you tend to land on the back of your foot this makes this even worse as you are not letting your body properly balance your weight when you land and all the force goes directly on to lower part of the feet. The heavier you are the more strainer it gets.
So what is the best. If you closely study the professional long distance running athletes, there vertical movement is near zero. There head is always level parallel to the ground. So there is a bounce and bounce is offset by the stride angle. So when you run make sure you get a good vision rather than things around you go up and down. Just make sure it is like walking. Keep the head straight, body slightly forward and well relaxed. Also try to land on the ball of your feet (mid section) and then back of the feet and then kick forward. So it is not an overnight cure. Practice takes time. Best is to go slow for couple of days. Just concentrate on your feet and vision. Keep close attention to details on the stride angle.
These days i try to do two days of slow running between the long run and mid week fast run. This is purely to concentrate on the way i run. I may not be perfect but i always look out for things to improve myself. Doing it for me as no one else would do it for me i guess.
I personally think a video review would do a world of good to your running technique. I haven't done this personally but i guess it is good. Also on those slow recovery running days make sure you keep an eye on your own body parts rather than other passing bye opposite sexes body parts. Can be entertaining but may not be good for you in the long run!
With wayward bounce, tomorrow is the concern path. Today is is all good, jumping, feels goods, feels fast and seems like it is all happening. I have experienced this as that is why i can write. I guess it is where I am going that matters rather than where I have been.
Say for example get a rubber ball and bounce it on the concrete, tarmac, gravel and grass. The bounce will be higher on concrete and then tarmac - then gravel and then grass. If you put rose peddles in to the equation if would be the lucky last and we can use that to out imagination as we are not going in to details about running on rose pedals. So as we run, with each step we put 2 to four times out body weight on our landing feet. That is lot of weight. The heavier you are more the the weight you put on your feet(no bull!). If you tend to bounce, the higher you go up with every stride and then one that goes up has to come down in the real world and the landing force is higher with higher you go. Why; that is thanks to a thing gravity. If you think I am lying ask Sir Newton if you can find him. If it wasnt for gravity i would be writing about flying than running. We all get high as kites. Happy days.......
So what are the consequences of bouncing. Weeeeelll it can be advantaged in one way and it can be disadvantaged in another way. Bounce is not bad. You need that reverse force from your stride to kick further. But has to be on a moderation. This would help you to increase the stride angle. If you increase your stride angel less number of strides for the same distance.
If you bounce way to much than you need. You just bounce up and down like a rabbit and going no where. I have seen folks just go up and down and their feet hit their back side but their stride angle is so small. That is waste of energy. It is like the bob effect in mountain biking. To much energy wasted on the shocks of the shoes and just going up and down. Also this is ingredients for leg knee and ankle injuries. It is the strain from landing from higher vertical elevation. If you tend to land on the back of your foot this makes this even worse as you are not letting your body properly balance your weight when you land and all the force goes directly on to lower part of the feet. The heavier you are the more strainer it gets.
So what is the best. If you closely study the professional long distance running athletes, there vertical movement is near zero. There head is always level parallel to the ground. So there is a bounce and bounce is offset by the stride angle. So when you run make sure you get a good vision rather than things around you go up and down. Just make sure it is like walking. Keep the head straight, body slightly forward and well relaxed. Also try to land on the ball of your feet (mid section) and then back of the feet and then kick forward. So it is not an overnight cure. Practice takes time. Best is to go slow for couple of days. Just concentrate on your feet and vision. Keep close attention to details on the stride angle.
These days i try to do two days of slow running between the long run and mid week fast run. This is purely to concentrate on the way i run. I may not be perfect but i always look out for things to improve myself. Doing it for me as no one else would do it for me i guess.
I personally think a video review would do a world of good to your running technique. I haven't done this personally but i guess it is good. Also on those slow recovery running days make sure you keep an eye on your own body parts rather than other passing bye opposite sexes body parts. Can be entertaining but may not be good for you in the long run!
Sunday, 9 January 2011
The bike shed - awwwwwwwsome
So what does a bike shed got to do with running. It is like a fish needs a bicycle. I personally think cycling is the best form of cross traiing for runners. Why, is is less stress on the knees. Get a good worksout without giving much stress on the heart. Can do it stationary bike or anywhere. It is frees as beer other than spending few moolas to get the freedom machine.
Now the Bike Hut at the CERES(Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) and it is a community environment park. Where it is. It is based in sunny Melbourne- Australia and exact location is East Brunswick by the awesomely beautiful and ever flowing Merry Creek. It is heaven on earth. If you have agypsie heart, this is one of those places to be. If i can close your eyes and imagine what the Hobit Village in this day in age looks like. Weeeell this is it. It has lots of organicaly grown vegitable farms. People selling them all over the place. Organic retaurants, organinc clothig, organic frigin everything under the sun. So if you are an organinc sort of person no doubt you would like this. Only thing is you would get ant Wide Screen, HDTV LCD LED DVD ADHD WTF TVs in this place. It is a down to earth experience for all you wonderful peoples.
So the bike hut is part of this. They recycle the bikes and let the masses ride a pushie for the minimum cost. This joint bike heaven. Bikes galore. Bike everywhere. They have a arch made out from bike wheels. You would get Lance Armstrong sort of bikes here. But you can get a aetrage decenet bike for no cost. There are voultiers giving you advice how to fix the bikes. Tools are free to use. A membership is $10 for year if you are interested. Only cost is the parts and even they are cheap as chips. You can help your self for thousands of bkes and feel free to rip them apart to your wish as long as you pay for the parts.
Soon as i saw this place i knew this is a my kind of place. It just feels right to recycle bikes, rather than usning to fill junk dumps. Atleast some peron get to use an anwnted bike. All people work here are here to share a pashion like pashion fruit. I guess they use the proceeed to improve the awareness of bike riding and maintain the place.
What else can i tell you about the place. So my experence. I went there to buy couple of bike wheels as both bikes i have, had twisted back wheels. It is that my 3 hour bike ride to work and my stupid moves on bike paths may have caused them to twist and shout. Im like Come on, come on, come on, baby now...... have to get this bikes fixed. So they have separate section for bike wheels. A sea of wheels and jump right in to get what i want. So the the gentlmen who was in chargeIf you prefer a mechanic do all the work for you then it is best to go to any other bike shops. said i should chose an aluminum wheel and he is truly right. Cost for two near brand new wheel $15. It woudnt get reasonable than that. So lovely people if you want to get your bike fixed, place to be is where else but Bike Hut.
Now the Bike Hut at the CERES(Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) and it is a community environment park. Where it is. It is based in sunny Melbourne- Australia and exact location is East Brunswick by the awesomely beautiful and ever flowing Merry Creek. It is heaven on earth. If you have agypsie heart, this is one of those places to be. If i can close your eyes and imagine what the Hobit Village in this day in age looks like. Weeeell this is it. It has lots of organicaly grown vegitable farms. People selling them all over the place. Organic retaurants, organinc clothig, organic frigin everything under the sun. So if you are an organinc sort of person no doubt you would like this. Only thing is you would get ant Wide Screen, HDTV LCD LED DVD ADHD WTF TVs in this place. It is a down to earth experience for all you wonderful peoples.
So the bike hut is part of this. They recycle the bikes and let the masses ride a pushie for the minimum cost. This joint bike heaven. Bikes galore. Bike everywhere. They have a arch made out from bike wheels. You would get Lance Armstrong sort of bikes here. But you can get a aetrage decenet bike for no cost. There are voultiers giving you advice how to fix the bikes. Tools are free to use. A membership is $10 for year if you are interested. Only cost is the parts and even they are cheap as chips. You can help your self for thousands of bkes and feel free to rip them apart to your wish as long as you pay for the parts.
Soon as i saw this place i knew this is a my kind of place. It just feels right to recycle bikes, rather than usning to fill junk dumps. Atleast some peron get to use an anwnted bike. All people work here are here to share a pashion like pashion fruit. I guess they use the proceeed to improve the awareness of bike riding and maintain the place.
What else can i tell you about the place. So my experence. I went there to buy couple of bike wheels as both bikes i have, had twisted back wheels. It is that my 3 hour bike ride to work and my stupid moves on bike paths may have caused them to twist and shout. Im like Come on, come on, come on, baby now...... have to get this bikes fixed. So they have separate section for bike wheels. A sea of wheels and jump right in to get what i want. So the the gentlmen who was in chargeIf you prefer a mechanic do all the work for you then it is best to go to any other bike shops. said i should chose an aluminum wheel and he is truly right. Cost for two near brand new wheel $15. It woudnt get reasonable than that. So lovely people if you want to get your bike fixed, place to be is where else but Bike Hut.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
training update
This week it is all about increasing foot strength and stamina. To increase the foot strength cannot think about a better surface than a gravel hilly course. Thanks to being in Melbourne there is a great course; "The Mighty Tan Trak" The heart of Melbourne running scene. It has a very steep hilly section, a medium steep hill, the a flat section, mostly gravel but there is a paved section too. I avoid the really steep section; why i personally 'tis a health hazard. Too steep to give your best. So rather than do the whole circle i go up and down and avoid the steep part for my own peace of mind.
This week in a way introduce more mileage. Why; donated blood on the Christmas eve. So that is 4 donations an year. The giving part. With blood donation have to understand a pint of blood is a ninth of total blood circulation. So body is working hard to get back the lost blood as well you loose some of your energy. Not much, it all goes back to normal in no time. It is one of those things, you give and then wait few days to be fully fit.
So 18km's, 12km's, 18km's ,12 km's and 12km's for the week. Plus 40 minutes to 1 hour stationary bike ride in the morning. Also weight training in the morning. So running in the evening; start at about 7:30 thanks to the summer, sun is still out there but it is cooler. Comparing to last summer this summer is very mild in Melbourne. Last summer Melbourne had 3 months of consecutive over 20 degrees Celsius days. But this summer it is yo yo weather. Cold/warm/rain/sun/windy/cloudy and all sorts of funny weather. But have to take it as it comes and sometimes shout out "is that all you can give". Guess don't have to whinge; it has been snowing and ice built up in my beautiful roads of London. I miss my Hyde park, Kensington gardens and the other awesome parks of London. I call the my as i like them sooooooooo very much. Best things ever.
Anyways one of my training plans for this year is every Saturday do a two hour long run. Just two hours, no more no less. Dont care about the mileage. Keep it to two hours. What ever mileage i can fit in to those two hours is good enough. And go hard. Come what may, be 25kms(15.5 miles)/ 30km(18.5 miles) what ever. Hopefully by the end of the year can bring it to 35kms(22 miles) in two hour training run.
Guess a New year comes and the other goes from the other year. So have to work hard on to keep up with this promise.
It was a special night. The lights are glittering. More than anything her face was glittering million times than those colorful lights. I thought wow it the most beautiful face I have ever seen in my life. I am glad that I am here not somewhere else. It was the perfect night with classical tunes in the background. It is music to my ears. Everything seem right. She was smiling with me from the distance, doing that thing with her hair. I was happy as can be. With all the confidence in the world and with a million dollar smile I slowly approached her and politely asked "Would you like to dance with me" and she replied "Piss of man"
This week in a way introduce more mileage. Why; donated blood on the Christmas eve. So that is 4 donations an year. The giving part. With blood donation have to understand a pint of blood is a ninth of total blood circulation. So body is working hard to get back the lost blood as well you loose some of your energy. Not much, it all goes back to normal in no time. It is one of those things, you give and then wait few days to be fully fit.
So 18km's, 12km's, 18km's ,12 km's and 12km's for the week. Plus 40 minutes to 1 hour stationary bike ride in the morning. Also weight training in the morning. So running in the evening; start at about 7:30 thanks to the summer, sun is still out there but it is cooler. Comparing to last summer this summer is very mild in Melbourne. Last summer Melbourne had 3 months of consecutive over 20 degrees Celsius days. But this summer it is yo yo weather. Cold/warm/rain/sun/windy/cloudy and all sorts of funny weather. But have to take it as it comes and sometimes shout out "is that all you can give". Guess don't have to whinge; it has been snowing and ice built up in my beautiful roads of London. I miss my Hyde park, Kensington gardens and the other awesome parks of London. I call the my as i like them sooooooooo very much. Best things ever.
Anyways one of my training plans for this year is every Saturday do a two hour long run. Just two hours, no more no less. Dont care about the mileage. Keep it to two hours. What ever mileage i can fit in to those two hours is good enough. And go hard. Come what may, be 25kms(15.5 miles)/ 30km(18.5 miles) what ever. Hopefully by the end of the year can bring it to 35kms(22 miles) in two hour training run.
Guess a New year comes and the other goes from the other year. So have to work hard on to keep up with this promise.
It was a special night. The lights are glittering. More than anything her face was glittering million times than those colorful lights. I thought wow it the most beautiful face I have ever seen in my life. I am glad that I am here not somewhere else. It was the perfect night with classical tunes in the background. It is music to my ears. Everything seem right. She was smiling with me from the distance, doing that thing with her hair. I was happy as can be. With all the confidence in the world and with a million dollar smile I slowly approached her and politely asked "Would you like to dance with me" and she replied "Piss of man"
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Racing Flats
Don't know about you but where have i been all these time. I just came across the kind of running shoes that I never knew existed. "The flats". Apparently these are for professionals and the elite as such. Not for the average Joe. Also not many people don't worry about these because Joneses don't wear them, why only professional use them. So don't have to keep up with the Joneses- ha ha..... lame i know.
So what are flats. Nothing to do with housing flats. They are called flats because they dont have tall heel nor tall sole/base/deck/platform. Ok this picture says a thousand words. This is the "Adidas adiZero Rocket"
As you can see the heel is minimal. Also the mid sole section is minimal too. No air, gel, lunar foam, shocks, springs or other gymnastics. Just minimal, lightweight and looks like it does the job. It is designed to be minimal, lightweight and let the feet do its talking. It feels right but i have not worn a single pair for running. It does not have any springy sole which leads to absorbing the energy with every foot strike. Also I like the minimal part. Minimal support, minimal cushioning just a well designed, do the job running shoe. Can wait to try one of these puppies.
Also one of the never answered question that have with running shoes is the height of the heel. I have rolled my leg few times and I think partly blame my self for that and side of me who is looking for someone else to blame says it is the high arch. If the shoe is low to the ground non of this rolling over landing on uneven surfaces, rocks would have happen. Rock and roll baby.......
Now the question. Do you think i should stop wearing traditional running shoes you asked. So i replied " No way ". All the cushioning, high heel, support, air, gel and all sorts of technology is there for a reason. No doubt there are hours of research gone in to designing these as well as the people who design them are not stupid and not coming up with these technologies and terms only for money. With the competition on hand, people have too many choices. People are free to make up their mind. The high arch/ hell is there for a reason, it to control the motion of the feet as well as give the feet enough support. I never understood the reason behind the huge plastic thing on the ankle section called the heel counters. Guess it is protect the Achilles tendon and that big joint.
So as for my research; racing flats are for racing purposes. But guess have to wear these on training runs as well. Reason being don't need any surprises on a racing day with, running 26 miles on a unfamiliar pair of shoes. Also i found out that elite runners use racing flats all the time due to not having to deal with all the additional support and protective thingo's that has been introduced in running shoes over the years.
So for the writing purposes and my own curiosity, went out there on my freedom machine to the Nike as well as new balance store in Melbourne to see and get a proper feel to these shoes. Nike had the Nike Zoom Speed Racer 2. It is extremely light weight. Couldn't even feel the shoe. They sure don't have that stiff part at the front of the hell. Extremely flexible like elastic. The heel counters are near extinct from the shoe. Very low to the ground. Looks to me this a good choice. But have to introduce these shoes for taring gradually. Until the foot get used to it.
So what are flats. Nothing to do with housing flats. They are called flats because they dont have tall heel nor tall sole/base/deck/platform. Ok this picture says a thousand words. This is the "Adidas adiZero Rocket"
As you can see the heel is minimal. Also the mid sole section is minimal too. No air, gel, lunar foam, shocks, springs or other gymnastics. Just minimal, lightweight and looks like it does the job. It is designed to be minimal, lightweight and let the feet do its talking. It feels right but i have not worn a single pair for running. It does not have any springy sole which leads to absorbing the energy with every foot strike. Also I like the minimal part. Minimal support, minimal cushioning just a well designed, do the job running shoe. Can wait to try one of these puppies.
Also one of the never answered question that have with running shoes is the height of the heel. I have rolled my leg few times and I think partly blame my self for that and side of me who is looking for someone else to blame says it is the high arch. If the shoe is low to the ground non of this rolling over landing on uneven surfaces, rocks would have happen. Rock and roll baby.......
Now the question. Do you think i should stop wearing traditional running shoes you asked. So i replied " No way ". All the cushioning, high heel, support, air, gel and all sorts of technology is there for a reason. No doubt there are hours of research gone in to designing these as well as the people who design them are not stupid and not coming up with these technologies and terms only for money. With the competition on hand, people have too many choices. People are free to make up their mind. The high arch/ hell is there for a reason, it to control the motion of the feet as well as give the feet enough support. I never understood the reason behind the huge plastic thing on the ankle section called the heel counters. Guess it is protect the Achilles tendon and that big joint.
So as for my research; racing flats are for racing purposes. But guess have to wear these on training runs as well. Reason being don't need any surprises on a racing day with, running 26 miles on a unfamiliar pair of shoes. Also i found out that elite runners use racing flats all the time due to not having to deal with all the additional support and protective thingo's that has been introduced in running shoes over the years.
So for the writing purposes and my own curiosity, went out there on my freedom machine to the Nike as well as new balance store in Melbourne to see and get a proper feel to these shoes. Nike had the Nike Zoom Speed Racer 2. It is extremely light weight. Couldn't even feel the shoe. They sure don't have that stiff part at the front of the hell. Extremely flexible like elastic. The heel counters are near extinct from the shoe. Very low to the ground. Looks to me this a good choice. But have to introduce these shoes for taring gradually. Until the foot get used to it.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Running and get started
Sometimes i wonder how the hell am i going to run today. Cant even walk properly. Reason, an injury in the heal. We are not here to talk about me, but to keep up with promises and continue what is said.
When i start to write this blog i promised my self i am going to write everyday no matter what. Even if there is no one reads, just keep writing. But it is not easy; mainly thanks to excuses. Main one is i'll do it tomorrow. That tomorrow never comes and days go by and here i am wring after a while.
Sometimes the tiredness after a run makes me just lye down and look at computer code. That is what i do most of the time thanks to work. Then with the marvels of internet add kicks in; i'll check the papers and see what's happening with the world, then go through programming blogs, then look at nice web designs, then look at marathon videos and when super boad look at good looking super models for kicks. O my days. No writing but reading and knowlede gathering. I guess they are all good and add value but how much of a add value for the future. As they say only thing we all have in common is 24 hours a day; guess have to use it wisely.
So now today for example; third of january; after two days in to weekly running schedule. Tired as hell. Yesterday it took some time to even to run properly. After running for 18km on a hilly gravel track - The mighty tan track on Saturday and follow up with 12 km the same plus some cross training; have been procrastination all day should i go or should i stay. Just like writing; should i write or should i not.
Guess i should, i think i can i think i can. No one else would do that for me. It is me who has to reach..... so i go... and hopefully i'll find what i am looking for.
When i start to write this blog i promised my self i am going to write everyday no matter what. Even if there is no one reads, just keep writing. But it is not easy; mainly thanks to excuses. Main one is i'll do it tomorrow. That tomorrow never comes and days go by and here i am wring after a while.
Sometimes the tiredness after a run makes me just lye down and look at computer code. That is what i do most of the time thanks to work. Then with the marvels of internet add kicks in; i'll check the papers and see what's happening with the world, then go through programming blogs, then look at nice web designs, then look at marathon videos and when super boad look at good looking super models for kicks. O my days. No writing but reading and knowlede gathering. I guess they are all good and add value but how much of a add value for the future. As they say only thing we all have in common is 24 hours a day; guess have to use it wisely.
So now today for example; third of january; after two days in to weekly running schedule. Tired as hell. Yesterday it took some time to even to run properly. After running for 18km on a hilly gravel track - The mighty tan track on Saturday and follow up with 12 km the same plus some cross training; have been procrastination all day should i go or should i stay. Just like writing; should i write or should i not.
Guess i should, i think i can i think i can. No one else would do that for me. It is me who has to reach..... so i go... and hopefully i'll find what i am looking for.
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