The "Running" Thread

[Corcaigh]

I should just be working on building a base, but I get greedy.

As none of us are doing this to earn our living, do whatever is fun and motivates you.

I'm the type who's uninterested in entering a race unless I've done a certain level of preparation. I'm as much motivated by the program and executing it.

[Corcaigh]

...sounds like it won't be as fun or easy as I thought.

Just slow down.

[Titaw]

I ran a TON when I was in the Marines. I was clockin the 3 mile run in the low 19 minutes. Then I blew out my knee and the times whent up (partially due to the fact that Iwas somking like a chimney). Got out in 04 and hadn't ran, until Monday. I quit smoking over a year ago (most have seen my thread by now) and decided I needed to lose some weight (6'2" 250lbs, YIKES). I slapped on a new pair of ascics and went for a mile and a half run. Tuesday wasn't feeling sore so, ran again this time I pushed myself to a have a smother pace. Yesterday sore as hell. Today I am gettin back on it because I'll be going to the Strasburh gam tomorrow and will be unable to get the run in.

I am starting to look forward to my runs which I thought was never possible after the Marines.

[Obibyn23]

Just slow down.

Man it was tough for me just today, and it was only 84 degrees. I never go full speed though. Usually am a jogger as opposed to a runner. Slowing down is actually what got me going longer distances. Use to try and run it and would barely last a mile before wanting to walk...now I am doing 4-5 miles every other day at a decent pace.

[Obibyn23]

I ran a TON when I was in the Marines. I was clockin the 3 mile run in the low 19 minutes. Then I blew out my knee and the times whent up (partially due to the fact that Iwas somking like a chimney). Got out in 04 and hadn't ran, until Monday. I quit smoking over a year ago (most have seen my thread by now) and decided I needed to lose some weight (6'2" 250lbs, YIKES). I slapped on a new pair of ascics and went for a mile and a half run. Tuesday wasn't feeling sore so, ran again this time I pushed myself to a have a smother pace. Yesterday sore as hell. Today I am gettin back on it because I'll be going to the Strasburh gam tomorrow and will be unable to get the run in.

I am starting to look forward to my runs which I thought was never possible after the Marines.

Congrats man keep it up. Former smoker, and was overweight myself. Know the feeling of getting back into it. No better feeling then going beyond what you expected to do.

[Redskins Diehard]

Barefoot running can be anything from a cult to a practical way of strengthening your feet.

As kids we ran barefoot on grass (and on the beach) and when you do you more naturally land on your midsole.

With big cushioned-sole trainers it's possible to land on your heels which acts as a breaking action and can also cause injury as certain parts of your legs take an undue amount of strain. An expensive shoe can mask the problem but sooner or later the chickens will come home to roost. But you can just as easily get injured running in minimal footwear or barefoot.

If anything, it will happen sooner. That said, I know serious athletes who do warmups or drills barefoot on grass to help strengthen the muscles in the foot.

But it doesn't take barefoot running to make you land on your midsole. When you run you can focus a little on that. For most people it's fairly natural to have the foot land under rather than in front of your body.

Worrying about cadence seems a little too artificial. If you avoid over-striding you will typically run in an efficient way.

Whether it is more natural to land midfoot or not is probably debatable. I can assure you that it was not more natural for me. If you take 5 or 10 minutes on the side of the W&OD watching people run by you may be surprised by the results of just how may people overstride and heel strike.

What is artificial about cadence in your opinion? I have had both running coaches and physical therapists point out the value both in terms of performance and injury prevention. Ultimately I do agree that if you avoid over-striding you will run in an efficient way...with a higher cadence. If you run with a higher cadence you will run in an efficient way...and avoid over-striding.

[Redskins Diehard]

I am starting to look forward to my runs which I thought was never possible after the Marines.

I hear and identify with that! Although my time was in the Army. Pretty much never fast enough...no matter how fast I was. Running was definitely a chore in the military. Glad you are enjoying it now on your terms. It was a great feeling when I started to do that also.

[SC_RedskinsFan]

I hear and identify with that! Although my time was in the Army. Pretty much never fast enough...no matter how fast I was. Running was definitely a chore in the military. Glad you are enjoying it now on your terms. It was a great feeling when I started to do that also.

I agree with this! When i was in the Marines i hated runs because they were to slow. It took me a long time to start running on my own. I started about a year and a half ago, and love it!

[Elessar78]

I only buy into the argument that it's more natural because they showed slow-mo video of these rural african kids (Kenyan) who run without shoes and their natural landing surface is midsole/forefoot. But like Corc said, none of us is doing this for a living so there's really no push to change your running style.

My main sport is soccer and I use running as conditioning. There is something to be said for having stronger feet (which is what barefoot running and those simulator shoes can help with) in my sport.

Some of you are ex-smokers? I hope to be ex-overweight someday soon!

[Obibyn23]

Some of you are ex-smokers? I hope to be ex-overweight someday soon!

Yep smoked 16 years, it will be two year's quit this July 11th. Also lost 120+ lbs since Feb 2009. It's an amazing feeling running now, and knowing just a year before it wouldn't have been possible.

Good luck with the weight loss! Something tells me if you are out there running you are well on your way!

[Redskins Diehard]

I only buy into the argument that it's more natural because they showed slow-mo video of these rural african kids (Kenyan) who run without shoes and their natural landing surface is midsole/forefoot. But like Corc said, none of us is doing this for a living so there's really no push to change your running style.

My main sport is soccer and I use running as conditioning. There is something to be said for having stronger feet (which is what barefoot running and those simulator shoes can help with) in my sport.

Some of you are ex-smokers? I hope to be ex-overweight someday soon!

It is a more "natural" way to run. Meaning that is the way our body is designed. However as he mentioned running shoes turned into heel strike producing machines with the big cushioned heel. That coupled with a generally sedentary existence when not out exercising which causes all kinds of biomechanical issues.

Believe me, I never knew I was "running wrong" until I was well into my 30's. Adjusting form eliminated shin splints and sore knees from running experience. That and I got a little faster. By no means am I fast...or would even be competitive at the local 5k.

I certainly didn't mean to discount the barefoot running experience. The only "bad" thing I have heard/read about is to go out and go too far too soon and end up hurting themselves. If you give it a try I would love to hear your results/experiences with it.

[Corcaigh]

Whether it is more natural to land midfoot or not is probably debatable. I can assure you that it was not more natural for me. If you take 5 or 10 minutes on the side of the W&OD watching people run by you may be surprised by the results of just how may people overstride and heel strike.
.

I think we're sort of in agreement. My point was that a kid running barefoot doesn't heel strike typically because it's painful to put all the impact on the heel bone. If runners try to have their feet land under rather than in front of their body, they will land on their midsole, spread out the impact and avoid a breaking effect. Big cushioned shoes mask the problem for heel strikers, but aren't to blame. But attempting to run barefoot as if it were going to magically fix someone's form if they are a heel striker will probably end up too hurt to run.

What is artificial about cadence in your opinion? I have had both running coaches and physical therapists point out the value both in terms of performance and injury prevention. Ultimately I do agree that if you avoid over-striding you will run in an efficient way...with a higher cadence. If you run with a higher cadence you will run in an efficient way...and avoid over-striding.

It's the focus on cadence that's artificial to me. You see people with metronomes trying to run at the 'right' cadence.

Based on a number of factors the 'recommended' cadence of 180 may not be right for you and trying to maintain that (rather than a more natural higher or lower number for you) can lead to injury. Again, running so that your foot strike is under your body and maintaining a reasonable turnover will be more likely to get you running efficiently and injury free.

[Corcaigh]

I only buy into the argument that it's more natural because they showed slow-mo video of these rural african kids (Kenyan) who run without shoes and their natural landing surface is midsole/forefoot. But like Corc said, none of us is doing this for a living so there's really no push to change your running style.

If you land heel first you will be less efficient because of the breaking effect, dependent on how dramatic it is.

To repeat another point, if you think of the impact area , your midsole and forefoot have many bones and a wide area to spread the impact. If you land on your heel bone that's a lot of energy in a small space and will probably result in shin, knee or hip pain.

And sort of on the subject, here's a video in slo mo (and super slo mo) of the leaders at the Boston Marathon.

http://vimeo.com/11574380

http://vimeo.com/11574503

[Redskins Diehard]

If you land heel first you will be less efficient because of the breaking effect, dependent on how dramatic it is.

To repeat another point, if you think of the impact area , your midsole and forefoot have many bones and a wide area to spread the impact. If you land on your heel bone that's a lot of energy in a small space and will probably result in shin, knee or hip pain.

And sort of on the subject, here's a video in slo mo (and super slo mo) of the leaders at the Boston Marathon.

http://vimeo.com/11574380

http://vimeo.com/11574503

Thanks for the link. That video is awesome. What is Meb doing he needs to read this thread?

I'll let this thread go for a while before introducing lactic threshold training as a topic of discussion

[Corcaigh]

Thanks for the link. That video is awesome. What is Meb doing he needs to read this thread?

Yeah, Meb is a heel striker in that video. But as he won an Olympic silver and the NYC Marathon, he doesn't appear to be too impeded.