The July Project

I had quite some time to think a bit about things lately.

Vacations in Portugal helped.

It was actually a nice running playground. Even if I could not run as much as wanted.

Trail running in Portugal

Still fighting my various injuries, I am not yet able to trigger another training program for a major race, marathon or other. This is really frustrating. Roughly one year and half that I am limping.

It is time to act and reclaim my body.

Here is the project:

- Be Sober

- Eat Vegan

- Breath like the Ice Man

- Shower with cold water

- Drink Apple Cider Vinegar

Lately I heard that those practices can do miracles. Well, time to check them out.

To not bend the results, I will not change my calories intake, not my work out habits or running program (or what's left of it).

There is a rationale behind them. Mostly, you control the pH of your body and boost your immune system. Ideally, that would help to recover faster. As a bonus, I might lose some weight.

In any case, those are super healthy habits and I am curious how hard I can turn those practices into habits. As we are defined by those habits, if they are sustainable, it might be a good stepping stone for change.

And change is needed.

No big deal

we are just hard wired to self -destruct, Metallica (tm).

Cowspiracy

Just have to hope then after we self-extinct, something better would take our place on this planet.

(spoiler : being (mainly) vegan is the only sustainable way).

 The only issue I can see with feeding an entire generation with junk food and animal proteins is that people do not die fast enough from health diseases to actually let us a chance to save this planet. Maybe after the whole health care system collapse,  people will start to think a bit more about how they feed themselves.

http://www.richroll.com/podcast/what-the-health/

No comments.

We are what we eat

Nowadays, I totally dig Rich Roll podcast. Specially while working in the studio.
One of its best episodes:

http://www.richroll.com/podcast/overcoming-shame/

I read his first book a while ago, and certainly this was a main element of my "transformation".

Not sure why I am using quotes here.

Maybe I do not feel like "competing" with his own transformation - way more dramatic.

And yes, the studio is almost done:

Our soon to be fitness and yoga room

To the point,  I -literally- trained here today. Bring some old' good metal and let's move those glutes.

In the one with Dean Karnaze, toward the end - I think that one   - answering the question - How to change ? - Dean provide this insight :

We are people of habits. We are what we eat :P

Change your habits, slowly, one by one, at your pace, and you will change.

As easy as that.

Pick the habit you know is not helping.

Dig a bit.

You know which one.

Might not be easy, because it certainly bringing apparent comfort.

But you know it is not helping.

Could be as simple as eating too much. As drinking that last glass of wine. As not getting out of bed early enough. Whatever. Pick yours.

You know the one.

Pick that habit, and eradicate it.

Pick another one. One that bring your closer from who you want to be.
Just a bit closer.

Just one. And take it from there.

I let you think about yours.

I am almost **ALMOST** ready to give up mine.

And, of course, for me, it is a big one.

Listen to Rich. This guy is awesome. A bit crazy, of course. Extreme. Of course.

But moderation sucks. Moderation drives to the average. To fulfill your life, there must be a bit of insanity in you.

Do you think this guy is averaging his life ? think again.

Feet Picking

Since a couple of months, I have been running between 15 min to 40 min every day focusing only on form. No intensity, No pacing. Just form.

Today, 30 minutes thinking only about foot picking.

Left. Right. Left. Right. Repeat.

One of my favorite play-field, next door,  next town, few baseball fields in the park, mostly because it is (almost) flat.

The loop is short, little bit less than 1 mile.

And as always, on the Haleakala flank, there is the view.

Running at sunset got its perks.

Foot picking or pulling.
While running, instead of pushing forward and lifting your knee, imagine picking back your feet behind, bending the knees. Start like a Heel to Butt, but the foot ends at knee high.
It is a fast circular movement.

Here is the rational:
This is a reflex, low energy, highly efficient.

Chi Running is all about NOT using your muscles when you run.
Therefor you should never be tired and could run for ever.
As enlightenment  in yoga, this is certainly true, ...
... at the end of the path.

See you there.

All About the form

It seems that finding the perfect form is an ongoing battle for every runner.

Form does matter, specially if you want to run forever (tm).

Studies prove that running with correct form do not damage your joints or knee, it actually reinforce them. But run with poor form and likely past few marathons or few years, you will end up playing golf.

I am now convinced that my recurring single (right) leg injuries directly relate to a chronic hip imbalance, unsurprisingly built over the year of sitting in front of a computer. 

No secret. First you have to run and sit correctly - do not make it worst.

Sitting is a story by itself.

Running correctly. Doh.

People wrote books on the running technique.

I still recommend the 'Chi Running' or 'The Cool Impossible' ones.

Or a running camp. At least, video yourself and compare to one of the hundred YouTube video available.

Nowadays, I really like James Dunne's stuff:

I think I got tired of the All American Run Experience Ad program eventually.

Anyway. 

My personal story is : I learned the forefoot strike, but never really got the leaning part. When I started to try to go faster, I actually went back to a heel strike pattern and front leg extension. The faster I was running, the faster I was hurting myself.

I had to step back , and learn it again.

Few tips:

- Running with the core, from the belly button. Leaning lightly, Tall but not that tall

- scoop with the arms, helping for the hip rotation

- Forefoot striking, below the hips

- picking up the feet

No pulling, no pushing. Falling. With grace and effortless.

That last part is still WIP.

Slowly, I am starting to see some improvement. I hurt less. I am able to run between 45 min and one hour every other day. Heel tendonitis is healing. Hip pain is slowly resorbing itself.

Right knee is usually silent.

Running form is not everything though. You need some sort of stability in the body to support it.

The next natural step is to strengthen and rebalance your full kinetic chain. 

Core, more core and even more core.

I setup for a daily (almost) shorter and less painful (but more often) program:

- 3x 1min planks + side.

- 90x Squats, Lunges and SpiderMan pose.

- Bosu squats, single leg balance, Jumps, ...

Overall I can fit it in 30-45min per day, less the day I a trying to run 45-60 min.

I am hoping to be able to run pain free a couple of hours at slow pace in July, and be able to start train for a marathon afterward.

Future will tell.