Run for your lives

[boagrius]

Hey everybody,

By any chance has anyone signed up for the Saturday run that can't make it. I could buy there registration from them and run in there place. ( it's aloud per the website). I missed my chance to run with you guys and the only day available is now Sunday.

[hypo]

If its anything like Warrior Dash, no one is checking you for a pass. We are running for fun as our times will not be recorded. So you could in theory just show up and run with us.

[Fritz]

Speak for yourself. I've been trying to speed up my 5k intervals on the trail here at Manas. If I can get my cross-country 5k intervals around 21 minutes I have a shot at finishing at the 30 minute mark that seems to be common of the winners. I call shenanigans that I have to run in my own category.

[hypo]

Running for Fun is a term used when your time is not being recorded.

[MorGrendel]

Running is stupid.

[Berserker]

Hence why I chose to be a stumbling zombie. No running. Just chewing. ;)

[hypo]

On one hand I would fight you on the running is stupid, on the other hand my knees agree with you.

[MorGrendel]

I'm not totally against running, just the running that doesn't end with me NOt smashing someone. You all want exercise, come swing some stick with me. :)

[Fritz]

I'm not totally against running, just the running that doesn't end with me NOt smashing someone. You all want exercise, come swing some stick with me. :)

Your beer gut says hello.

I kid. However, you do seem to have a reverse philosophy compared to me. When I was playing tennis in high school there was a saying that was emerging largely thanks to Andre Agassi. You don't play to stay in shape; you stay in shape to play. That's how I've started viewing stick fighting. I don't fight to stay in shape; I stay in shape to fight (and, well, keep my job). If you don't do anything but fight to stay in shape you are at a much higher risk of injury. Think about it. Pre-Army I never made it through Pennsic without a nasty injury. I made it through my last Pennsic largely uninjured despite not having fought in over a year. The only injury I had was a minor muscle pull that was left over from Airborne school (50+ pull-ups every day a week is not recommended). Constant exercise helps immensely with those niggling injuries.

Doug, if you continue to have knee problems, I recommend considering barefoot running. That doesn't necessarily mean running without shoes, but rather running with a more natural posture. "Traditional" running first strikes with your heel. Your legs tend to be hyper-extended as well. This makes your knees and your back take tons of impact, even with the extra padding of modern running shoes. Take the shoes off and run for a few seconds (preferably on soft ground as opposed to hard asphalt). Take notice of how your feet will naturally strike the ground. The ball of your foot hits first and your leg remains slightly bent and bends a little more on impact. That's because your legs are naturally made shock absorbers. You wouldn't jump off of something and land straight legged would you? Of course not. You bend at the knees to absorb the impact. Why, then, would you repeatedly slam your leg straight into the ground while running? I've running like that for about 2 years now and I no longer have knee or back problems. The only cautionary tale I would give is be very gradual in increasing distance. Your feet and especially your calves have to get used to being used much more than they used to. Increasing the distance too fast can cause some pretty nasty shin splints. I went from 5 miles to 8 miles way too fast while over here and I'm still paying for it. Admittedly, that probably would have happened regardless of running style. Jumping up to 8 miles just stupid...

**Edit** Wikipedia has a pretty article explaining the whole thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

[MorGrendel]

My beer gut misses you too. Having been both 105 pounds and 165 pounds, I'm much happier at 165. Sure, Bruce Lee was 135 pounds, but he was shorter and a bad ass.

[Fritz]

My beer gut misses you too. Having been both 105 pounds and 165 pounds, I'm much happier at 165. Sure, Bruce Lee was 135 pounds, but he was shorter and a bad ass.

Damn it Jeff, you responded too fast. I started with the snarky comment and then realized I had a larger point. You posted before I was done my edit!

[Bash]

running is stupid. i fucking hate running. anyone that says running is fun should be shot. with that beeing said i am am start to miss my beer gut. I am almost down 80lb. I started the in April at 335, yes i know i am a fat ass, and as of 2 days again i am now 257. i am trying to break into the 230's before the race so i can say i last almost 100lb just to get ready for the zombies.

[Fritz]

I should be shot then. I'm doubling down and going with 'you're fucking doing it wrong.' Slow down the pace a little bit, go for about 5k, and run trails. Very relaxing 30 minutes of exercise. I just had a run here at Manas that was fan-freakin-tastic. Maybe it's because I haven't had anything but hard pavement to run on combined with air filled with burning shit for the last year, but trails are fucking awesome. More to look at, fresher air, and easier on the joints. Yes, 5 miles at a 7-8 minute pace on hard pavement blows. In fact, I would say pavement is the worst part of normal running. Fuck pavement. When you don't do it the Army/Marine way, running ain't that bad.

[MorGrendel]

Well, being as I had an injury/MRI less than a few months ago, I'm still rehabbing. My "shock absorbers" are not back yet, and running feels akward as their is a urchin in my knee. I fell doing suisides the other day, because I still don't have lateral strength. All in All, I think I'd like to be not-broken long enough, to start a consistant exercise regime.

All that said, I intend to push circuts again this year during Sunday Practices.

[Fritz]

Well, being as I had an injury/MRI less than a few months ago, I'm still rehabbing. My "shock absorbers" are not back yet, and running feels akward as their is a urchin in my knee. I fell doing suisides the other day, because I still don't have lateral strength. All in All, I think I'd like to be not-broken long enough, to start a consistant exercise regime.

All that said, I intend to push circuts again this year during Sunday Practices.

Yeah, those injuries are rough to come back from. Have you considered swimming? You have a swim center right next to you where you could try laps. It's much easier on the joints. I also find that it helps a lot with fighting since it increases upper body stamina.