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Running Nerds Unite

^ I've been doing my homework here, and it definitely confirms your experience -- apparently either no footwear OR what they call "minimalist" footwear (intended to simulate the barefoot experience while protecting your feet) is your best bet for encouraging a healthy and natural running technique.

It makes a lot of sense, when you think about it. For hundreds of thousands of years we've been running barefoot.


Considering the fact that I prefer to run on dirt trails through wooded / wilderness areas, my research pointed me to this shoe.

I plan on buying a pair within the next few days. I'll definitely be updating this thread as to how they work out!
 
^ Apparently the shoe I posted has a wide "toe box", which allows for splayed toes in much the same way that a Vibram would, but without exposing your toes and making them as vulnerable.

The only disadvantage is that it doesn't look as cool, or draw as much attention. :( Haha.
 
I actually saw some guy, in the semi-high-end restaurant I work at, wearing Vibrams with khakis, a sweater-vest, and a button-down/tie combo. Even though his fit was nicely put-together, it looked strange to see the combination-- just goes to show how pervasive they are now, though...
 
I learned today that I'd developed some pretty bad habits by running in traditional tennies. Total heel-striking.

The good news is, after concentrating on good form for a little while, it started to come quite naturally. It'll be interesting to see whether improving my technique allows me to cover greater distances without getting sore.
 
For me, good form, paradoxically, doesn't result in an ability to run further. Instead, when my form is taut, I seem to run faster.

I think body weight has more of an impact on distance than anything else... When I'm at 180 pounds, I can run a couple miles and tire out. At 165, I can run about 6 miles and feel drained. At 155, I can run 9 miles and feel okay. It might be more complex than weight, but that's been my experience....
 
Reclaiming the Runner's high?

I know not all runners get the runner's high and not all runners run to get such a high, but that has been my primary motivation. Anyway, since I'm feeling kind of lazy I'll just quote another of my postings on this:

Damn it, this isn't fair.

I used to love running, and there really IS a "runner's high". A REAL "Runner's High. I used to get that roughly 1 out of every 5 runs. I haven't gotten any enjoyment from any type of exercise at all since October 2010. As I suspected, it would seem Heroin most closely resembles a runner's high. Or would that be a speed ball? I've always ran when sober and I've never done anything "hard" but I'm desperately trying to recreate that pleasant euphoric mood I would get during and after runs. Is Heroin the key?
Click to expand...

So anyway, any suggestions. Do any runners here also do drugs? If so, what drug or combination of drugs do you feel most duplicates this high? I've personally found this high to be both stimulating and relaxing at the same time. At the same time of the cardiovascular stimulation, I also would have a sense of peace while feeling that "all is well with the world." It's kind of like a "glow". I'm THINKING this can be duplicated with both amphetamines and opiates at the same time, but that seems especially stupid and dangerous. I've never tried either type of drug before, so maybe only Heroin will suffice. Or recreational doses of Adderall. Or neither. Any ideas?
 
^ The entire point of the "runner's high" is to reward you for exercising your body, keeping it strong and limber. Trying to duplicate that by taking drugs is just self-destructive, and self-deluding.
 
I agree... However, I don't mind mixing a small amount of weed + running... kinda fun.

Just went for my first run in a month. Very humid in the jungle; was sweating like a biiitch. Also very slow, as I've been putting on (mostly) muscle from work. Felt good though.
 
Changed: Weight has a lot to do with it. I have 11kg more muscle than I did in high school (same height) and I notice a big difference. Kinda sucks but what can ya do. It's a tradeoff between looking attractive and looking like a gaunt marathoner.

TAC: Form is tricky IMO because sometimes individuals have imperfections that gotta be worked around instead of directly fixed. When you can find a flaw in your own form and fix it, it feels amazing because you become more efficient and run faster with same perceived effort. YEAH!

My own casual running footstrike starts with me landing on the outsole of my foot, that is the lateral portion I mean. The outside corner of my heel typically hits the ground first just slightly before the rest of my lateral foot follows. I then roll onto the balls of my feet before letting my foot come down. Usually my heel then touches the ground ever so briefly, but it doesn't always make it. Then I push off of my forefeet and continue on, ad. infinitum (I wish). When I am really trucking, I land on my forefeet instead of my outsoles. If you took a picture of my foot right before it hits the surface though, it would most likely look almost flat. These are minute details.

I injured my knee from overuse last week and havent run in 4 days. I am more irritable and less composed. Sometimes you dont know what ya got til it's gone.

I am such a running nerd
 
Are there any avid runners on here that also occasionally use amphetamines? If so, when is the best time to use an Amp so that it doesn't get in the way of the run? Would it be after the workout or only on a rest day?
 
I was wondering if you can potentiate endorphins with something like DXM. Anyway, a good topic, i love the runner high too, a much natural feeling. The more i run, the less i take drugs.
 
I am in my sixth steady month. I've stretched it to 25 miles a week. I hope to begin racing (5k and 10k) by winter.

Since quitting Xanax, it's the best I can do to relax. Sometimes it feels better than heroin. It's probably more dangerous than heroin too because Miami drivers are psycho.

so any current runners here? Any who run for enjoyment and not just to work out?
 
Hey numbers!! You must be psychic, or I must be, or something. I was just coming in to Healthy Living to bump this very thread!! It is awesome to hear you're in to running now. I'm sure you know the whole story about endorphins, but they actually act on the opioid receptors in the brain, hence their effects can feel akin to opiates ;)
You should find some 5k and 10k events and actually enter them. That can be really motivating, to have the date set, and to know that you've already signed up.

I am back in training for my next half marathon, which is in late November. I had a 2-month hiatus after having some (elective) surgery so it's been a bit difficult to get back in to the serious training headspace. But it's going well so far :)


I actually have a gripe to whinge about.
SHOES!!!!
Back in late 2008 when I was getting really serious about running I forked out a couple of hundred bucks on a really good pair of Brooks runners. They were absolute MAGIC. It was like running on clouds. I didn't have any serious problems with shin splints or knee pain (other than the expected slight ache afterwards). I only got blisters on my toes when running the longer distances e.g. 18-20 kilometres (11-12.5 miles), which is understandable and I accept that is going to happen in even the most amazingly superb pair of shoes.

So then that pair of shoes wore out and I needed a new pair.

I have no idea why, but I wanted to try Asics. So I did my research and found a pair of Asics which were the same price and assumedly the same calibre of shoe as the ones I previously had. And don't get me wrong, they've been GREAT!! But I if I run more than 3 times a week I get shin splints, and the shoes have basically not felt as good as my original Brooks did.

So now the Asics have worn out and I just bought a new pair of shoes last week. I have gone back to Brooks for obvious reasons. The shop I went to didn't have the exact style that I originally had (I can't even remember what it was called, but it wasn't any of the ones on the Brooks website so maybe they've discontinued it??). So I just went for the same kind of price range, tried the shoes on and it all felt good.

But this week I've been breaking the shoes in and it just feels awful!! I'm sure they will feel better once I've broken them in a bit more. But why oh why can't I just have those amazing shoes that I originally had?!! How can it feel so differently with just the type of shoe you are running in?

*sigh*


/end shoe rant :)
 
Yep! I was going to, but then I was concerned about taking up too much of my training time getting my legs used to the new running style. So I'm just sticking with regular shoes for now :)
I might get in to the Vibrams thing next year when I have more time to dedicate to it.
 
Oh that :)
One of our treasured Bluelighters Evad passed away last week. It's kind of a new tradition that when a really well-known and well-loved BLer passes, those who were close to them will adopt their avatar for a week or so, to commemorate them <3
 
people with shin pain: what kind of surface do you run on?

I can't understand why seemingly everyone in my city runs on sidewalks--sidewalks made of concrete--when there are so many low-traffic roads out here. Concrete is like 10 times harder than asphalt. If this is not immediately obvious, go hammer a nail into asphalt, then into concrete. I can't believe that virtually every runner I come across is on a sidewalk.

Plus, roads are a lot faster than sidewalks. I can't see doing any kind of speedwork on concrete. No matter how neat your stride is, you will hear STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP; all of that commotion is wasted energy, energy that would be propelling you on a better surface.
 
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