This happened to me. I graduated from college a lean 170lbs and then I woke up one day, tried to put on a suit for work and realized there wasn't enough fabric in my apartment to bridge the continental divide between my trouser's button and button-hole. Instead of the flat plain of my abdomen, a large planetoid created from Gatorade, ramen noodles and Baja Fresh had crash landed into my mid-section. Much like the theoretical meteorite who's crash blocked out the sun and killed the dinosaurs, this alien mass successfully blocked out the fantastic southern view of my naughty bits.
That was 10 years ago.
In the last year I took it upon myself to try and change the situation. I actually peaked at 250 lbs, started dieting and running and dropped down to about 200lbs and then over the winter have gotten back up to 230 lbs. Apparently I have climbed aboard the proverbial yo-yo.
I am fully aware that the condition in which I find myself is entirely my own doing. I am a horrible eater. I don't eat a lot of sweets, but what I do eat I eat in bulk. Portion control would be a wonderful thing to learn. I am also a soda addict and I am not even sure Dr. Drew could get me to quit my sugary caffeinated smack addiction. Is there a cola version of methadone? I also eat out everyday. I am not sure when or how this habit started but the idea of making my lunch and bringing it to work is just overwhelming; like asking a 5 year old to read War and Peace.
Regardless of my own battles, I did discover something along the way. I love to run. I am no longer fast or graceful like I was in my high school days. I can't do wind sprints all day like I did on the lacrosse field for most of my athletic career. But putting one foot in front of the other and focusing on my breathing until my mind goes blank and my eyes are only faintly aware of color and light is supremely gratifying. Every time I set out I tend to go a little faster or a little farther and I always feel a little stronger. It isn't easy and sometimes it gets frustrating. I might be older but I am still irrationally competitive. I don't care that the junior Olympic cross country team is running through my neighborhood I am going to run down every last one of those young punks like cheetah taking down a gazelle. Granted this usually ends in me puking, going so light-headed that I lose vision...but when I recover with a shower there is always a smile on my face.
So why don't I run more?
Because it freaking hurts. A lot.
It seems no matter how great a runner you are sooner or later you will become injured. I know from my personal experience that my knees began to misbehave, my lower back would hurt, ankle issues, etc. The ironic thing is all this issues would pop up after running and they would disappear during my actual workout. Now maybe I am mental, but everything from shin splints to Plantar fasciitis all seem to appear after running, not during. Which I have no explanation for...but there has to be a better way?
To the Internet I go! As I am researching about running techniques and how to stay injury free I keep seeing a few things pop up over and over again. Terms like "Natural Running" or "Barefoot Running" keep popping up, as well as methods of running "Chi" "Pose" etc. One thing that keeps catching my eye is a book called Born to Run.
Now I considered myself a pretty well read and informed person, but I've never heard of this book but it apparently has received all sorts of acclaim. Already I am skeptical but it keeps popping up in all these running discussions. I even spoke to a few people at work (I work on an Army base and many of them are fitness crazy) and they have all heard of this book. Well as usual with me, things come and go from my mind and I put all this running stuff on the back burner.
Then one weekend about two weeks ago I went into my local Barnes and Noble. Anytime I go to a bookstore I make the same loop through the sections. Comics, History, Sports then Art. I get to the Sports part of my trip and something catches my eye; Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
It's that book! So I grab it and for the next two days I couldn't put it down. It wasn't just a book about running, it was a book about everything! It talks about philosophy, medicine, science, nutrition, politics, evolution and of course running. Not just any running either. Ultra distance marathon running, which usually involves people running at least 50 miles over the course of one race.
50 miles! That is slightly less than the distance I drive to work everyday and it takes me an hour and a half...and I am going 80!
The book is a very easy read and McDougall's voice is clear and entertaining. The characters he comes across in his running Odyssey are intriguing to say the least. But the revelations he comes across about the art and science of running are fascinating. You may never wear shoes again!
Of particularly fascinating interest to me is the Running Man theory of human evolution. While I am not completely sure of its truth, the facts used to support the theory are certainly compelling. But what you are sure to come away with from reading this book is a desire to experience the freedom and euphoria of running that McDougall so eloquently describes and eventually experiences first hand.
If you love to run or at least want to start running you should read this book. If you are looking for a great literary distraction, you should read this book. If you are looking for a story with a cast of characters that rival some of the greatest works of fiction but are actually real, you should read this book. Go run and then read this book or read this book and then go run.
Did I mention you should read this book?
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