Newbie's Log 09/07/04

[Mel Rimmer]

I've been running for 28 days now. Some people say that's
how long it takes to form a habit, like smoking, or picking
your nose. If you do something daily for 28 days, after that
it takes more effort to give it up than it does to just keep
on doing it.

28 days - you could call that a month. The month in
question, of course, is February. But that's OK - it's been
so cold and wet and windy the last 28 days it could well
have been February.

In the last 28 days I have:
* Ran 24 days
* Rested 4 days
* Ran about 30 miles
* Worked up to running 20 minutes continuously
* Spent over £100 on running kit
* Trod on innumerable snails - that's a worthwhile
accomplishment in itself
* Got invaluable support and encouragement from this group,
and learned a lot of stuff from reading all the threads
(except the hopelessly troll-infested ones). Thanks.
* Learned some stuff about myself, including that I
like running.

I have also started stretching - I jog slowly for about 5
minutes, then I stop and stretch a bit, then I run my main
run. When I get home I jog a bit, walk a bit, then stretch a
bit more. Is this what you're supposed to do? I've read
stuff about stretching on websites and in magazines and
books, but I've found a lot of contradictory advice. For
example, on the realrunner.com website, there are 10
stretches:

http://www.realrunner.com/ukandeurope/membership/training/s-
tretchingpage .htm

But I'm not sure I even understand them all.
Runnersworld.co.uk has a better page with pictures, but only
8 stretches:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?UAN=484

Are these the same ones as the other site? Are you meant to
do all of these? Before and after running? What do you chaps
actually do?
--
Mel Rimmer

[Np426z]

"Mel Rimmer" <mel.rimmer@timelord.org.uk> wrote in message
news:YIOSQCAjho7AJwZW@dsl.pipex.com...

Once again, nice log. May I make an observation or two?

Firstly, though I'm no Buddhist, treading on snails (or, for
that matter, treading on anything) is not nice. One of the
Buddha's '20 difficult things for human to do' states that:

"It is hard to overcome selfishness and sloth."

As you've overcome it sufficiently to run, perhaps you
should overcome it sufficiently to learn to dodge snails?

Secondly, you mentioned that you failed to learn anything
from the troll-infested threads. As I'm in the mood to quote
the Buddha, may I point you towards another of his 20
difficult things? Namely:

"It is hard to refrain from defining things as being
something or not being something."

Try to think of trolls as little children who, through their
innocent and simplistic view of the world, notice that the
Emperor is completely naked. Their alterative viewpoint may
not alway be correct, or even interesting, but it makes a
useful contribution the the group dynamic nevertheless.

[Tim Downie]

Mel Rimmer wrote:
> I've been running for 28 days now. Some people say that's
> how long it takes to form a habit, like smoking, or
> picking your nose. If you do something daily for 28 days,
> after that it takes more effort to give it up than it does
> to just keep on doing it.
>
> 28 days - you could call that a month. The month in
> question, of course, is February. But that's OK - it's
> been so cold and wet and windy the last 28 days it could
> well have been February.
>
> In the last 28 days I have:
> * Ran 24 days

Mel, stop right there or I'm going to have to slap you.
Whilst I'm no grammarian I cannot standly idly by and
watch your reputation as a budding runner and writer go
down the tube by letting you get away with "I have RAN". I
have run or I ran.

> * Rested 4 days
> * Ran about 30 miles

Arrghhh!! You're just winding me up, aren't you?

> * Worked up to running 20 minutes continuously
> * Spent over £100 on running kit
> * Trod on innumerable snails - that's a worthwhile
> accomplishment in itself.

Only if they're the kind that carry bilharzia.

> * Got invaluable support and encouragement from this
> group, and learned a lot of stuff from reading all the
> threads (except the hopelessly troll-infested ones).
> Thanks.
> * Learned some stuff about myself, including that I like
> running.
>
> I have also started stretching - I jog slowly for about 5
> minutes, then I stop and stretch a bit, then I run my main
> run. When I get home I jog a bit, walk a bit, then stretch
> a bit more. Is this what you're supposed to do?
<snip>
> Are these the same ones as the other site? Are you meant
> to do all of these? Before and after running? What do you
> chaps actually do?

Unfortunately the benefits of stretching seems to be more of
an art than a science. It's hard to prove that it helps but
many people swear by it. If you can get into the habit of
doing a few basic stretches regularly it's probably not
going to do you any harm and may help you stay injury free.

Tim

--
Remove the obvious to reply by email.