12/24/11
So the bug was not as tough as Jen and got beaten down with a light twenty-five minutes of exercise yesterday. Unfortunately, while declining, it was tough enough to linger around for another 24 hours and so Jen chose to not do the BU mini-meet as a workout. Even a workout meet at its easiest can never be considered light exercise. It was a smart choice, made by experience and understanding. As an athlete you fine tune your relationship with your body all the time. However, with anybody, at any point in their life, that relationship is there. As an athlete, though, you work on the communication with your body daily. Instead of being young, neither in real years nor in running years as Jen is almost twenty-eight and has been running consistently since she was fourteen, and trying to race which likely would have led to a full blown sickness she opts for rest. A wise choice, unless it was the championship meet or some nonsense like that where she would have weeks or months of recovery time and if she didn't run would truly regret it or let down the team. No this was smart, by many athletes’ standards.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Tough like you
12/23/11
Jen is feeling sick. She called out of work this morning, slept a few more hours and has been sucking on zinc-lozenges. Still, between working a new job, outdoors each day, and just being exposed to a lot of people she is hit. There was a mild fever last night, but this morning there is no temperature. She does feel pretty crappy though. So the question is on whether to run. Some might say, no she should lie down and not go out. However, Jen feels differently as we head outside into the mid or low 30’ degree weather. See a light 15 min run, with some drills and strides for someone like Jen is not very strenuous. This is why, as we finish, she is beaming saying she is so glad she wanted to do this run, the bug gets beaten down a bit because it’s not tough like Jen
Jen is feeling sick. She called out of work this morning, slept a few more hours and has been sucking on zinc-lozenges. Still, between working a new job, outdoors each day, and just being exposed to a lot of people she is hit. There was a mild fever last night, but this morning there is no temperature. She does feel pretty crappy though. So the question is on whether to run. Some might say, no she should lie down and not go out. However, Jen feels differently as we head outside into the mid or low 30’ degree weather. See a light 15 min run, with some drills and strides for someone like Jen is not very strenuous. This is why, as we finish, she is beaming saying she is so glad she wanted to do this run, the bug gets beaten down a bit because it’s not tough like Jen
Chariots of Fire
12/22
It is nice watching the sprinters run 48’s for the 400 meter race, even more so on an Indoor Track. They move past you so fast for so long. A 48 is the fastest I can recall seeing in person, on an Indoor track. It is really the body acting in such unison that is intriguing, like watching a woman run a 53 400 meter, not the actual time because there are obviously much faster 400 meter runners. But this is so close to the best, that it captures in a large essence what the best ever have done. Autonomy of complete form with limbs, organs, skeletal muscles and so on all in synch. Not some melee of haste, but a timed approach to covering ground the quickest possible. The 400 meter is such a fun race to watch.
It is nice watching the sprinters run 48’s for the 400 meter race, even more so on an Indoor Track. They move past you so fast for so long. A 48 is the fastest I can recall seeing in person, on an Indoor track. It is really the body acting in such unison that is intriguing, like watching a woman run a 53 400 meter, not the actual time because there are obviously much faster 400 meter runners. But this is so close to the best, that it captures in a large essence what the best ever have done. Autonomy of complete form with limbs, organs, skeletal muscles and so on all in synch. Not some melee of haste, but a timed approach to covering ground the quickest possible. The 400 meter is such a fun race to watch.
Bounding Brendan
12/21
Most of the “drills” / dynamic stretching break down an aspect of the stride and exaggerate it as to explore the potential of using that motion, say high heal recovery or accelerating your foot to the ground, and / or to remind you of that aspect of running in a way that does not degrade your stretch reflex. The primary argument against prolonged static stretching during a warm-up for a workout or pre-competition is that it degrades your involuntary stretch reflex, something to do with the golgi nerve I think. Anyway, not all the drills are right for everyone to do all the time, just like there isn't any set long run right for everyone. Of course if you get into a marathon trainer vs. a 1500meter racer then you can start to make generalizations.
Regardless, of what is right for each individual, which is a long conversation best had one on one, lets talk about one drill in particular; bounds. Since Jenny and I just added it to our routine we are doing it as part of our supplemental day instead of as part of our hard day/ race warm-up. These are fun, and involve taking huge strides, really swinging your arms, but are kind of slow pace. Like slow sprints. Tonight we are leaping across a soft field feeling just a wee bit like grasshoppers. It is nice when you try something new and it just kind of clicks. It makes sense. You realize how it can help and you almost wonder how you haven’t been doing this all along.
Most of the “drills” / dynamic stretching break down an aspect of the stride and exaggerate it as to explore the potential of using that motion, say high heal recovery or accelerating your foot to the ground, and / or to remind you of that aspect of running in a way that does not degrade your stretch reflex. The primary argument against prolonged static stretching during a warm-up for a workout or pre-competition is that it degrades your involuntary stretch reflex, something to do with the golgi nerve I think. Anyway, not all the drills are right for everyone to do all the time, just like there isn't any set long run right for everyone. Of course if you get into a marathon trainer vs. a 1500meter racer then you can start to make generalizations.
Regardless, of what is right for each individual, which is a long conversation best had one on one, lets talk about one drill in particular; bounds. Since Jenny and I just added it to our routine we are doing it as part of our supplemental day instead of as part of our hard day/ race warm-up. These are fun, and involve taking huge strides, really swinging your arms, but are kind of slow pace. Like slow sprints. Tonight we are leaping across a soft field feeling just a wee bit like grasshoppers. It is nice when you try something new and it just kind of clicks. It makes sense. You realize how it can help and you almost wonder how you haven’t been doing this all along.
Whether weather?
12/20
This time of year outdoor training just kind of bites, as far as the track goes, in the North East. It kind of doesn’t matter where you have set your bio-rhythms as far as time of day to train, if you work a day job then strong chances are running, or at least part of it, is in the dark. The dark is not such a bummer but it comes with all the extra cold of a winter’s night. This of course means even if you are lucky enough to not have snow on the track there is the strong probability that it will be “iced over” a phenomenon where the track freezes and gets slippery and while I strongly believe water is the cause it is unclear if this is from actual ice. This makes running, even in spikes, a somewhat hesitant action. This is not what you want when trying to train. While you remain in relationship with the correct running effort, this should not be a hesitant action. So, it's indoor for us, we are thinking Reggie Lewis, I will let you know more when I do.
This time of year outdoor training just kind of bites, as far as the track goes, in the North East. It kind of doesn’t matter where you have set your bio-rhythms as far as time of day to train, if you work a day job then strong chances are running, or at least part of it, is in the dark. The dark is not such a bummer but it comes with all the extra cold of a winter’s night. This of course means even if you are lucky enough to not have snow on the track there is the strong probability that it will be “iced over” a phenomenon where the track freezes and gets slippery and while I strongly believe water is the cause it is unclear if this is from actual ice. This makes running, even in spikes, a somewhat hesitant action. This is not what you want when trying to train. While you remain in relationship with the correct running effort, this should not be a hesitant action. So, it's indoor for us, we are thinking Reggie Lewis, I will let you know more when I do.
Jumpy Legs
12/19
Sitting in the car can be the worst. If the training has changed up or the workout was particularly hard, it can be down right torture. The way the legs just move underneath you but don’t go anywhere; muscles rippling uncomfortably lending to the belief of movement which is what the lower limbs really crave. They scream to stretch, to stroll, to do anything but be locked underneath you and inside an automobile. This of course is completely impossible to convey to those who are traveling with you and have never felt this uncomfortable predicament. They will look at you semi-sympathetic and semi-weirded out and maybe ask why/ what in a slightly befuddled way. I try to accept it as a fact of running, just like hot days and blisters, but all of that is more of a retrospective point of view because being subjected to “jumpy” legs is anything but out of mind. I mean can you forget about having shiatsu done to you? Just another part of the runner’s burden I guess.
Sitting in the car can be the worst. If the training has changed up or the workout was particularly hard, it can be down right torture. The way the legs just move underneath you but don’t go anywhere; muscles rippling uncomfortably lending to the belief of movement which is what the lower limbs really crave. They scream to stretch, to stroll, to do anything but be locked underneath you and inside an automobile. This of course is completely impossible to convey to those who are traveling with you and have never felt this uncomfortable predicament. They will look at you semi-sympathetic and semi-weirded out and maybe ask why/ what in a slightly befuddled way. I try to accept it as a fact of running, just like hot days and blisters, but all of that is more of a retrospective point of view because being subjected to “jumpy” legs is anything but out of mind. I mean can you forget about having shiatsu done to you? Just another part of the runner’s burden I guess.
In the haystack
12/18
Sometimes people think they are just not tough. “I just can’t do what you can do, no way! Me, run!” they laugh with wrinkles crinkling the corners of their eyes.
You might explain something to the effect but not as succinctly, “Oh you can do it, it just takes time.” To which you will be told all sorts of reasons from genetics to the disposition of their mind on why this is simply not true. And they really believe it. It brings to mind a saying that goes something like this; the only books that impact you are those for which you are ready. Running greets many people who get into it at some point or another as an adult. They hated the act, looked at it as a form of punishment maybe, as a teenager doing basketball or football. Now as an adult, it becomes a way to meditate, to leave stress or to simply enjoy their body for they now know how precious it is to use the body the way it’s designed. They have found their needle, bright shiny and true; running can be great!
Sometimes people think they are just not tough. “I just can’t do what you can do, no way! Me, run!” they laugh with wrinkles crinkling the corners of their eyes.
You might explain something to the effect but not as succinctly, “Oh you can do it, it just takes time.” To which you will be told all sorts of reasons from genetics to the disposition of their mind on why this is simply not true. And they really believe it. It brings to mind a saying that goes something like this; the only books that impact you are those for which you are ready. Running greets many people who get into it at some point or another as an adult. They hated the act, looked at it as a form of punishment maybe, as a teenager doing basketball or football. Now as an adult, it becomes a way to meditate, to leave stress or to simply enjoy their body for they now know how precious it is to use the body the way it’s designed. They have found their needle, bright shiny and true; running can be great!
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