Memory tripping with worn race shirts. Send me pictures of your old favorites and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on side bar for my email address.]
Amy, over at The Runners Lounge put out the question,
” Why we run? ” There were plenty of rationales - some quite entertaining.
I run because I have too. Sometimes my run is my only light of the day.
“There is a connection between being outside and running aimless for miles that keeps me sane.”I spent today’s 6.4 miles in the early sun – not to hot – just right.
I got up in the middle of the night to watch the Lunar Eclipse. Totality gave the moon a ponderous orange landscape. And as a few bats winged by – a rather rare meditative moment occurred.
Earlier I had listened to a podcast about Zuni Indian runners.
It explained how their running tradition helped them stay connected with the land. (Land they have lived on for 1,300 years.)
It spoke of a spiritual quest – the original “stick race”, and the passing of the medicine pouch from runner to runner...
“The Zuni religiously pilgrimage run barefoot every four years on the Barefoot Trail to Kolhu/wala:wa, also called Zuni Heaven.”- wikiThis connection between us and our landscape is not just the property of the Zuni – but for all runners.
The ABCs and running series: Today's topic the "X-Files."
Unexplainable occurrences enshrouded by all runners.
Lost Socks
Wormholes may target clothes dryers. Runner’s socks can be found behind refrigerators and under cars seats.
No Proof
You run the fastest race ever. The # on your bib was registered to another runner. No verification that you even ran the race.
Aura
You’re standing in-line at port-a-potty station when a total stranger befriends you.
Pirate Treasure
You finally run to the end of a brilliant rainbow only to find a squirrel with a nut.
Rain Control
Just as you get in the door - the rain really starts coming down.
Lucky Mojo
The outside temp is 77.7 f when you leave for a run.
Synchronicity
The color of your shorts match a house you run by.
Evidence
You note an abandoned car along side a field with a parking decal dangling in its review mirror - > “Area 51”.
Weird
Your shoe size increases every couple of years.
Superhuman
An elderly superhuman runner passes you at the start of the race; and you never see them again...
I thought running in water would be more strenuous on the body than a local headwind but apparently it is used as a variety of rehabilitation.
"Pool-based aquatic rehab can help overcome biomechanical alterations in gait mechanics, range-of-motion deficits, swelling, muscular-strength deficits, power deficits, and limited soft-tissue mobility at the site of injury.”The University of Oregon (here in Eugene, Oregon) has just opened its new posh Athletic Medicine Center. Besides having a juice bar, 2 waterfalls, a BOD Pod and numerous flat screen TVs; it has three pools with treadmills in them. Just in time for the Ducks Football season to start. Yahoo!
- Jodie Humphrey
Memory tripping with worn race shirts. Send me pictures of your old favorites and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on side bar for my email address.]
Lately, I've noticed a lot of runner’s posts about FOOD.
Average Joggler - Foods You Should Eat Everyday
Half-Fast - Vanilla milkshakes
Kristen at Run for Life - Kitchen Essentials
The ABCs and running series: Today's topic "Warm-up."
Instead of standing around waiting for the race to start, they are dashing back and forth on the tarmac. Why are these runners doing this?
a) To tire themselves out
b) To show off
c) To warm up physically and mentally
On non-race days I always walk about 2 blocks and then start off slow. This gives me time to acquaint myself with by body. I don’t know about you, but my body feels different every morning. Ranging from full of energy (to much coffee) to tired, painful, stiff, campy etc...
On race days – besides walking over to registration and then the start line, I really don't do anything to warm-up. (Do a couple of stretches count???)
Galloway suggests for a warm-up: walk 5 minutes and then jog slow for 10 – 20 minutes.
Physiologicalbabble
“Our muscle cells don't produce as much energy when they are cold, so we have to recruit more muscle cells early on, which leads to heavy breathing and the sensation that our extremities are made of lead. Muscle contractions produce energy and give off a lot of heat, so as we exercise the cells heat up, increase their metabolic rates, get more oxygen from the blood, and, presto! You're off and running.” - Mr Fit
How do warm-ups benefit the runner?
I decided to participate in blog action day – October 15th 2007.
Being environmentally mindful can be painful at times. And to be honest, many days I feel like Crabby.
I just want to yell when my enjoyable run is interrupted by someone else’s careless tossing of trash. Maybe they think the wind will pick it up?
Anyways I’m working on a 10 page dissertation about litter and the environment for blog action day. If for any reason, just to get it off my chest !
Yeah, some days I feel like Crabby...*#@&!
I did manage to have a decent 5 miler by the river.
start to finish
wrestle with my keychain
urban gardening = > 12 foot corn
a white goose
fallen leaves
stolen glances
Memory tripping with worn race shirts. Send me pictures of your old favorites and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on side bar for my email address.]
One of my old shirts from storage.
Stunned; as I ran along the roadway...the same roadway I ran by last week. Instead of a shady walkway – stumps. Not a branch or leaf remained.
Some of these stumps were 15 inches in diameter – shaved close to the ground so no one would notice. But I did. I counted each one…
Shame on you City of Eugene for cutting those trees down.
Thoreau said, "How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."
It always touches the center of my core when I see a lost dog.
As I ran along the streets yesterday – he shot out of nowhere. A small white dog, running as fast as his little legs could take him. With a fear/ survival stare in his eyes. And then he was gone.
I remember all the lost dogs I’ve seen. I feel sad...I can not help them all.
Years ago,a dog started following me - not too close… He had a mean looking studded collar on. I was worried he would get hit by a car as he darted off and on the sidewalk. (Not something you want to witness.) As I turned the block, a male runner going the other way, passed me. The dog instantly turned and followed him. Of course the person thought the dog was mine; I yelled back, “He’s a lost dog” and scurried away.
I wonder what other runners do when they encounter a lost dog.
Rolling Dog Ranch
A place that cares for animals with handicaps.
The ABCs and running series: Today's topic "VO2."
V02 – no it's not another caffeine laced sport drink. It is a measurement of the amount of oxygen you burn up during intense exercise. So the more oxygen you are able to utilize, the fitter – more efficient your body is.
Concepts
Your working muscles can take oxygen out of the blood three times as well as your resting muscles.
Room air is only 21% oxygen. A normal resting breath your lungs remove only about 5 percent of that oxygen.
V - Volume
O2 – Oxygen
Testing
Ever wonder what a V02 max test involves? Jeff gives an in-depth description of the test and his results. He also includes pictures of himself with the VO2 measuring device on.
(WTG Jeff with a result of 54.3 ml/kg*min.)
So during an intense workout, you a wear a mask that monitors your breathing - measuring inhaled and exhaled 02 and CO2. A fancy formula decides when you’re reached your limit –> your body can no longer burn the oxygen you inhale.
Excellent shape readings are:
Females 35-40
Males 45-49
(values in ml/kg/min)
BTW
Lance Armstrong’s VO2 is 85! (LIVESTRONG )
What factor affect your Oxygen?
Your lung's capacity to uptake the oxygen. (Rate and depth.)
Your heart’s ability to pump the blood. (CO)
The capacity of your blood to carry oxygen.
(The delivery of oxygen to muscle cells is limited by hemoglobin, the oxygen-binding protein in red blood cells (this is one of the reasons women tend to have lower VO2 max values than men.) – David Hampson
Your muscle cell exchange rate. (Think exercise as a currency.)
Improve your VO2?
Working out at intense levels – say 85 % level for at least 20 minute intervals; 3-5x a week.
Increase muscle mass – do squats. (Lately, I've been doing 30 squats everyday.)
Weight loss
And if you smoke; STOP now.
I noted on this page that VO2 max amounts drop after age 40…but doesn’t have too – So there!
References: Wiki, How Stuff Works, Oregon Adventures
Since I can’t find a local running group that suits me - I’m going to start up my own.
Not a group, but a gang. "The Runaways" - a gang for people who run to escape the daily ravages of living – to free themselves; to feel better.
M o t to
"I always feel better after a run."
H a n g - o u t
Starbucks - in the Barnes and Noble store.
I n s i g n i a
The Lemming – one jumps, we all follow.
I n i t i a t i o n
Must have a maniacal devotion to the running. Proof of this devotion – old runners, race memorabilia, etc. Must share one hard luck story. And show up wearing baggy shorts.
G a n g C o n d u c t
Remain mostly silent during the run.
Share playlists.
Complete one Sunrise run a month.
Respect each other regardless of the miles.
Another reason to work out on the track in the early morning.
I have no desire to run nude. (Folks with bedroom treadmills – let me know what it's like.) But I would like to let my hair down some day. I always tie it back for running. Just doesn’t seem right to be running with a mane of long hair tossing about.
How do you deal with a miserable workout? You know - one of those days when you have to drag your ass out the door.
Before I even start, my mind is flooded with a list of excuses:
The ABCs and running series: Today's topic "Units of Measure."
I grew up Canadian but never really adopted the metric system. In Canada it became widespread by 1980s, but I was just to set in my ways to disregard miles, pounds, or gallons. Fortunately I now reside in the USA where gallons and miles are the norm.
1.6 km= 1 mile
5 km= 3.1 miles
8 km= 4.97 miles
10 km= 6.2 miles
Half-marathon= 21.097 km, 13.1 miles
Marathon = 42.195 km, 26.2 miles
The days are getting shorter… Fall is right around the corner.
Great Things About August:
A new month and I find myself checking July’s mileage. I ran about 1 mile less than the previous month but 84 more miles than last year at this time – so very pleased.
[I attribute this gain on my half-marathon training.]
Year to Date: 469.53 Miles
Today’s 6 mile run took me along the city limits. On one side of the road – homes, on the other side, farms and orchards. Urban sprawl continues to spread.
Litter Patrol
Picked up 1 crushed water bottle, and 1 empty Sierra Mist.
Image courtesy Microsoft Maps via Fore Fitness.
