Barefoot running: There is as yet no conclusive evidence that either proves or disproves the benefits of shoes or barefoot running, or links the mechanical characteristics of barefoot running to a reduced risk of injury.
Good stuff continues to pour on on this podcast.
I like to think that I am generally a happy positive guy.
But occasionally, I am not. Today I was grumpy.
In fact, today I was downright pissy.
Pissed off about the wind. Pissed off that Christmas decorations are up. Pissed that I did not feel great. Pissed that I have been dicking around with my training and don’t do anything about it. Pissed that the days are shorter and colder. Pissed that we can’t have political leaders at the national level that make sense of anything. Pissed that I was raking leaves. Pissed that the kids were squabbling with each other again. Pissed that my gut was yelling at me the whole damn run. Pissed that I did not have the speed I had 20 years ago when I was even trying to have speed then. Pissed that I love beer so damn much that it might be a problem. Pissed that I am too damn lazy to actually do something different about this training thing. Pissed that I might be fighting a little sickness. Pissed that I have become scared of hard workouts.
Pissed.
And most of all – pissed that I was pissed because I could see how being pissy was just stupid, and a waste of time and energy when I live an incredibly blessed life.
So, I ran.
10 miles. Mile in the middle (half with the wind, half against), emptied stomach contents for the 20th time today, then a dozen 200s (trying to avoid the wind). These timed out at 37 almost every time but the GPS (liar) says I hit a few stretches of sub 4:40 pace. I am not sure I believe that.
The run did not leave me less pissed. But it gave me space to see how stupid it was.
I'm pissed that I ate a half a box of Fruity Pebbles before I went to bed last night.
ReplyDeleteI'm pissed that the first thing I read about this morning is you being pissed.
ReplyDeleteWe all have those days.
Running doesn't solve all problems, it cannot. But at least we are all fortunate enough to be able to get out, get the sweat pumping, and climb into our own mental box for awhile.
ReplyDeleteGuns and weapons, now those can solve a lot of problems. And sometimes really bad gas can too.
Rick - that pisses me off too. Anger on my brother.
ReplyDeleteJeff - by the way, I caught that comment about water coming down the hill. Nice.
Brett - by bad gas can do you mean pepper spray? Seriously, I wore a shirt during my run yesterday that my kids gave me. It says on the front: WARNING-contains dangerous gases.
How many beers do you drink per day on average? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteI like beer a lot too. I know I could be in better shape if I didn't drink it daily.
When I feel pissy, I yell at strangers in the parking lot of the public library. Try it.
No need to be pissed at beer. Pissed from beer or pissed at not having beer is fair game. But definitely not AT beer. Beer is afterall the nectar of the Gawds!
ReplyDeleteHahah. I have those pissy days...and why o why do we have to lose so much speed as we age? Not fair! Of course, if you're running stretches of a 4:40 pace, then that's pretty impressive!
ReplyDeleteAnon ... it comes and goes. The issue is that I when I have one, it is never one. The gates open and then it is at least three.
ReplyDeleteSince the 100, probably a 12, maybe a 12 and sixer a week. There have been a couple weeks where I just turn it off and I know I feel better.
Jill - the GPS is a liar but, in any case, it was sub 5k pace. And sub mile pace for that matter.
Derrick - I am not godly enough to partake as much as I do.
Clearly you should never go on vacation.
ReplyDeleteDerrick beat me to the "pissed FROM" beer comment :\
I do know of a study indicating that barefoot running entails less joint torque than shod running. The observation was that the peak of force is not heel impact, but at the end of each stride when the knee is flexed most (or thereabouts -- that’s my rough interpretation).
Probably non-coincidentally, I noticed this week that it’s joint rotation and inward movement that causes my knee discomfort. With a slight mechanics adjustment I can stop it. I was running in Cascadias at the time.