Tag: training

in the long run

Endurance training, Eagles lyrics, and b-grade running jokes aside, I’ve done more than just a little contemplation about the series of events that got me here. I’ve said before that every event in life has brought you up to this moment, and I believe that, but I also believe that we have a bit of selective memory when it comes to certain events. When you’re “in the thick of it” it can be hard to be objective – and that’s true of everything from running to arguing over who’s turn it is to do the dishes.

I genuinely try to live in the moment, and to fully immerse myself in what I’m doing and experiencing as it happens – I believe this is part of what makes me a proficient performer, and it’s why I want to spend as much time in nature as possible. When your surroundings are important, you tend to make those surroundings the best they can be, and join them as often as possible.

Even though personal reflection is; by definition, NOT living in the moment, I find myself doing that often as well. Like many of us, I’ve blocked out a lot of memories from my younger years that I’m certain are painful, and I think about people in a more positive or negative light than they may deserve. What I know definitively is that the path here has been a difficult one. There have been many mornings spent staring angrily at the scale, questioning my methods, analyzing and overanalyzing, dietary changes, early morning workouts, genuine sadness and self loathing and frustration, moodiness. I’ve spoken to people I love dearly in ways I would never tolerate from anyone, and as much as I owe more apologies than I’ve ever given out, I can say that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now.

I’ve said so before, but running is very contemplative for me, and if you’re a runner then you can probably relate. I solve all my problems on the trail, either solo or by bouncing them off my girlfriend & running partner. She does the same, but she’s quick to just stop and say “look around us… look what we’re doing… this is prosperity.” I will always defer to that take. It will always be a valid interruption in my self analysis.

Where am I right now? Objectively?
A little pudgy for my liking (though, you might not even notice), I’ve got some grey hair, and some loose skin… and I’m stronger and more immersed in my family, my art, and my fitness regimen than ever before… and I know how to resolve a lil’ pudge.

I’m in the moment and I love it here… even if I don’t always like it.
If ever I need to understand what it is to be in the moment, I look at my dog. He’ll do some of the most frustrating things ever, like pick up a chicken carcass out of the bushes and hold on for dear life. It’ll take me 10 minutes to wrestle it away from him and as soon as it’s gone, he’s back to being my best friend. If I could learn how to drop my emotional baggage as fast as him, I’d really have something to write about. When I say he’s my karmic instructor, I’m not joking.

Take this post as an encouragement in your life to stop & smell the roses (to exhaust an already tired cliche). It takes less time than you think, and will enhance your life in immeasurable ways.

Training this week has been tough, but I’m tougher. I am handling the long runs well and really rising to the challenge – the trick for me is getting out the door at the right time so that my morning stays successful. The program adjustments I’ve made have helped a lot, and so far I’ve been on top of it and I don’t aim to slip-up, but 4:30am wake-ups can be a tough go.

The biggest obstacle this week was getting a little too much beautiful weather, which knocked me around a little on Monday morning… but I will take it and enjoy it. And… I will (over)do it again.

My trusty girlfriend and running partner works a job that is not always conducive to early morning runs, but she makes it happen whenever she can and I always appreciate the company and perspective. Running solo is not better or worse – just different, and when I run the Edmonton Half Marathon next month, I’ll be doing it solo (in the physical sense) so maybe this is good conditioning.

… all a matter of perspective, I suppose.

inflammation and running

“Certainly fueling the body to recover more efficiently should also be part of ‘staying out of our own way’ and fortunately enough there are a great number of fruits and vegetables that are synonymous with recovery.”

I’m a runner; and if you knew me 5 years ago when I could barely run to the end of the block without hacking and wheezing, then you understand why to this day it’s a bit shocking to hear my own voice refer to me as such.

The benefits running has brought into my life are numerous, and in conversation, I’ve observed a great number of people have talked about the toll running takes on their knees and ankles. This (and I’ll preface this by stating that I am well aware of the role my perception plays in this statement, AND I know that ever situation is neutral until it’s viewed through the lens of personal opinion), is heartbreaking.

Not to discount the notion that; yes, running is classified as a ‘high impact‘ activity. I’ve been an obese runner in my brief history in the sport, and I am well aware of the perils of repetitive motion injuries – but what if the repetitive motion that was really inhibiting someone’s ability to run or take part in games that involve running had more to do with recovery than it did with motion. We all know that rest is an important part of fitness, and that the body’s ability to recover involves ‘staying out of our own way’ to a certain degree.

What about nutrition, though?

Certainly fueling the body to recover more efficiently should also be part of ‘staying out of our own way’ and fortunately enough there are a great number of fruits and vegetables that are synonymous with recovery. Vitamin D, C, B12, B6 A, E, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium (to name a few) are all readily available in a number of plant foods, along with the required fiber and carbohydrates that are the body’s preferred fuel source – but what if would happen if someone was overdoing it on protein?

Save for some of the side effects that any heavy lifter can tell you about, namely repugnant flatulence, I’ll try to get a little more specific – so please forgive the science talk as I try to break this down into everyday English, but: protein the the umbrella term we’ve given to the 9 essential amino acids that the human body doesn’t produce (there are another 11 that we do produce, and thus are ‘non-essential’). Now, amino acids are ACIDS, and acid is synonymous with inflammation, and that is true of plant-based sources, as well. The fundamental differences include the presence of fiber in plant-based protein sources allows for better digestion and utilization, and plant sources are lower in branch-chain amino acids which are harder to break down. Animal protein sources are also further up the food chain, meaning that consuming them means consuming the often questionable means by which the animals were raised (i.e. hormones, antibiotics, et al.)

Digestive function is something I know a little less about, but it’s true – a sudden increase in protein makes for a sudden increase in gas, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a plant or animal source.

Now, I’m not here to make you go vegan, as much as I’d love to see that happen. The merits of this are felt in people who subscribe to a number of diets that are more plant-centric than meat-centric including the Mediterranean diet, vegetarian diet, pescatarian diet, and other ways of eating that make plant-based sources the main event. If this has piqued your curiosity, but has not satisfied it, I’ve included a very informative and scientifically backed video:

‘Enough protein’ is an ongoing conversation between vegans and non-vegans that I don’t feel compelled to get into since this blog post is already long enough by my standards, but I’m sure I can touch on that in the future. Sufficed to say that “getting enough protein” is a priority, to be certain… but what is “enough protein” exactly? Maybe I’ll dig in on that in an upcoming post.

Training this week has seen it’s upticks in challenge, physically. The last few Thursdays, specifically, have incorporated more speed in the focus, which is a departure from the loads of ZONE 2 training I’ve been doing, and continue to do. I feel truly blessed to be able to participate in this sport and in my environment though. This is a true measure of prosperity and I aim to take in every ounce of it that I can in the moment – in real time.

Beyond that is some scheduling conflict and recovery time that needed to be addressed, so I’ve shuffled the training days a little bit. We’re spreading the long runs further apart and moving the shorter & faster runs as well, partly in an effort to keep things flowing optimally, and since my girlfriend does most of the running with me AND works evenings, we’re keeping that in mind.

Race day is getting closer and I am getting excited for my first real solo athlete event ever.