Why do I run?

Not quite like Forrest Gump, but a long time ago, in a cornfield far, far away, I started running.  It has been a bit over 33 years ago that I started running for the sake of running.  Before that, it was strictly to get into shape for basketball, and I couldn't see why you just ran.  Of course, going back even farther in time, my Dad decided to wake up and jog around the block back when I was about 7 or 8.  He would wake up my sister and me, and we'd accompany him on a run a short run.  Even back then, I wasn't a morning person, so my morning runs were (and still are) painful.

I decided to go for a run yesterday afternoon.  It wasn't raining, but was a bit chilly.  Instead of trying to do a "workout," I just decided to go for a run:  no intervals, no tempo, just run.  And to change things up a bit, I decided to run along the water.  The sun was even out, although it was a bit chilly.  As I ran along the water, I looked around and remembered why I still love to run and ride.  The days of competitive racing may end, but the pure enjoyment of being out and moving along using my own body to propel myself will continue.  And yesterday, there were no distractions:  no headphones, only an occasional car, and even my legs and feet were cooperating.  And then I looked up and saw the eagle.  It was soaring above me, effortlessly moving along on the wind.  For a moment, it was just the eagle, the water, the sunshine, and me.   And that's why I run.

Exposing the flaws

I've learned a lot about asymmetry over the past couple of weeks.  I always tell my patients that, much as we like to believe we're symmetrical, we're not (as a species).  So, for instance, while we have two kidneys, they are not placed in exactly the same spot in our anatomy.  And while we have two lungs, the right has 3 lobes, while the left has 2.  And most of us are naturally right- or left-handed.  Using a couple of new devices, I've learned how asymmetric I am.

I bought a pair of Five Fingers several months ago.  I have been curious about them, and found them on sale, so I figured that I'd give them a try.  I hadn't used them until two weeks ago when I brought them to Arizona.  After one of my runs, I changed into them and took them out for a quick spin.  I immediately noticed that my left footstrike was funky, something I had never noticed before.  I'm not sure how it has evolved over time, whether I've always done this or this is something new over the past few years, but the VFF's exposed this.  Since then, I have been more conscious of this, especially when using the VFF's.  While I am only up to about 0.75 miles in them, they do feel good in an interesting way. 

This week, Ashley has designed a couple of sets with paddles.  I noticed that I'm not finishing my stroke with my right arm.  While I do finish my stroke on the left, my pull stops short on the right.  This didn't become apparent to me until I used the paddles.  When I finish my pull on the right (to the same point as my left), I generate a lot more distance, and I can definitely feel it in my muscles on the right.  Again, whether this is recent or has been present for awhile (my best guess is that is related to my clavicle) is uncertain.  But, certainly making my stroke more symmetric will help me swim better.

There are some people who have a lot of body awareness and don't need these kinds of tools to perceive how they move through space.  For those of us that do need the proprioceptive assistance, there are definitely things out there that can help us mere mortals.

It's a long time 'til summer

The weather here has been pretty good.  In truth, winter in the Pacific Northwest has been as mild as I can remember.  Now, that is a relative thing.  I don't like to train in the rain.  If I had my druthers, I'd take colder, drier weather over warmer, rainier weather.  So, I can't complain... much.  Of course, in the past 3 months, I've also spent a week in Hawaii and a week in Arizona.  While the temperature in Arizona was unseasonably cold, and we even had thunder, lightning, and hail on one day (and even snow? was reported), it was still a good bit nicer than it was in the Northwest.  While we were in Arizona, David and I swam on 4 out of 6 days.  Typically, the temperature in the mornings was in the upper 40's-low 50's: 

On the day that we left Arizona, I ran in the morning.  It was 37 degrees, but the sky was clear and blue, and the sun was shining brightly.  I can tell you that 37 degrees in Arizona felt a whole lot warmer than 50 degrees does in the Pacific NW.  My old body also feels a lot better in the Arizona sunshine than in the Pacific NW rain.