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Running with Moe

Common Sense in training

The activity of running has many advantages and benefits to the individuals that take up this sport. One of the benefits is that it is a healthful exercise that almost anyone can do, though it usually takes a few tries to really feel the good things that occur during a run.

For those individuals that are just starting out, and try to make that first mile, running is usually not all that much fun. It is actually hard. For the first time you find yourself with labored breathing and muscle tiredness. From experience in looking back at the start of my running adventures I didn’t really find it fun until after I could run at least three miles. Even then, the first mile was always the hardest.

Runners talk about a “runner’s high” on occasion. This is when the body is all in sync. The breathing is easy, the legs feel like they are not touching the ground, the pace is moderately fast, and you feel good cruising along. I think runners that say they felt a runners high after one mile are feeling something else. It usually takes a run of from six to eight miles to really get into a runner’s high. And it doesn’t happen every time.

What happens for most runners that can run up to five miles is that they just feel good. Runners seem to be more energetic, the body feels alive, and the muscles and breathing are in a sensation of awareness. This feeling often becomes an addiction, or a compulsion, that a runner looks forward to every day. A person looks forward to that daily run, and since the body is now in good shape, the run just adds to the feeling of well-being. I have talked to runners that for one reason or another find that they cannot run and almost stress out with being inactive. The problem with many runners is that they think they can run through the problem, or injury, and keep doing that daily run. In most cases this only makes the time off from running longer.

There are about three reasons a runner has to take a break from the daily routine. One is from an injury. It might be a sprained ankle from stepping on a rock in the road. It could happen if the runner hits a slick spot on the road and pulls a muscle. The best thing a runner can do is to see if they can find an activity that does not aggravate the injury. That may be something like lifting weights, bike riding, swimming, or yoga.

The second reason is over training. Besselink, in his book, ‘Run Smart’, stresses that one of the most important things to do if you want to remain injury free is to build in a few days of rest. Two things happen when you over train. One is that the muscles become tired and when pushed too hard will become strained. My experience with this came when my workout called for doing 16 quarter mile intervals. At the 12th interval I pulled a muscle in my hip flexor area. I could barely lift my leg.

But, being a compulsive runner, I thought I could run through the pain and complete the remaining four intervals. If someone was watching me hobble and limp around the track at the time they would think, “Boy, those runners are really crazy people.” After a couple of tries I finally came to the conclusion that completing 16 intervals was not going to happen. I was then forced into taking Besselink’s advice that I needed some rest.

The second part of over training usually occurs from runners training for a marathon. The long runs on weekends take time to recover from. The long runs of 18 to 20 miles really takes a toll on the body. You are tired, and in a few instances, the immune system needs time to recover. Pushing the limits will often result in a cold, or flu like, symptoms. It seems that this invariably happens about two weeks before the big race, and you hope that recovery will let you run.

The third thing that prevents some runners from taking part in a daily run is what happened this past week in Texas. That is the weather. If it is cold a runner can dress warmer. If it is raining you can wear a rain suit. It is best if you have two or three pairs of shoes as they will take time to dry out. On windy days you try to head out into the wind so that you can finish the run with the wind at your back. But, when you have cold, wet, and windy all on the same day things often make a runner hesitate about going for a run. Running is supposed to be fun. Running in cold, wet, and windy conditions will not be fun for anybody. My worst day was training for a marathon and my partner and I were running in cold, wet, and windy conditions, going uphill. After a few miles we both decided that we could enjoy doing something else and turned around and went home.

Running can become an addiction and the feeling of well-being is hard to resist. Somewhere along the line a runner needs to include common sense in training. With a few wise decisions they can keep running without injury or illness.

Dripping Springs Century-News

P.O. Box 732
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

Phone: (512) 858-4163
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