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Chi Running, Pose Running, and New Things in General

6/25/2014

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I find skepticism annoying.  I'd much prefer to believe everything until proven otherwise.  It's just so tedious....always needing proof before you try anything.  Yawn...yawn.  Things don't become any truer the day they are proven.  It's fun to be open and try things and look for the value in unconventional ideas and theories and new ways of doing things...and not be eternally poo pooing everything new that comes along.

That said....this article about Chi Running was written by a true skeptic...Craig Payne.  He calls his web site The Running Research Junkie.  As it turns out...he's a skeptic...but a really, fair and helpful skeptic. It's an excellent web site. 

Craig took a Chi Running course and describes his experience here.  Like the Pose Method, Chi Running is a technique used to improve running form.  It's a very good article.  He explains that the Chi Running course was actually quite helpful.  However, the claims that were made along with the overall "selling" of the Chi Running technique were ridiculous...loads of BS.

As it turned out, he went to a course that was run by non-credential Chi Running coach. Nevertheless, his article highlights the problem with so many of today's running fads.  They hold value but they make absurd declarations in order to be more...more important...more revered and respected...more than all the other fads.  In doing so, they hurt their credibility and obscure the value that they do bring.

If you want to look at some of the research on things such as Chi Running or Pose Running or topics like minimalism, barefoot running, etc., check out the The Running Research Junkie web site and you'll get a very fair...albeit skeptical...evaluation. 

In the meantime...when it comes to new stuff...stay open...but be wary of unfounded claims.  Don't get swept away by all the hype.
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Little extra on creative use of walk breaks

6/11/2014

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A little while back, I wrote a bit about implementing walk breaks into your training runs.  It occurred to me I forgot to mention one of the nice side benefits of taking walk breaks while in a group setting.

When you run in a group...especially a larger group...the energy of the group is usually dissipated because some people run faster than others.  Consequently, the group fractures into little sub-groups.   A big group run turns into a lot of little group runs.  It's my feeling that it loses a little something.

If you use walk breaks...you can make it so everyone uses the walk break to return to each other...rather than forge ahead.  In other words...during the walk break...the people out ahead turn around and walk back to the folks running slower.  You can look at the person in the back as home base. They are, in a sense, leading the workout.   It's nice.

As long as the faster folks don't feel the need to put great amount of distance on the slower folks...and the slower folks don't have an ego problem...it works great. Everybody ends up running the pace that suits them and yet you still stick together.

I've done it many times...sometimes when I'm the fast guy and sometimes when I'm the slow guy...and I feel it keeps everything much more cohesive and you derive the intangible benefits of working as a group.

Remember to walk with fast cadence...and carry your arms in the running position.  It's not a rest...just a temporary switch to fast walking.

Imagine approaching the last 10 minutes of a 2 1/2 hour marathon-prep effort on the hilly Service Rd with 20 other people right alongside...as opposed to being by yourself or maybe with one other person who happens to be at your level.   Maybe give it a try.
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Wanna boost your energy and your spirits?

6/2/2014

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When you're weary...feeling small...and maybe a little old and slow and a little chubby and maybe a bit stressed...here's one thing that can help...fast.  Instead of jumping off the bridge into the troubled waters...jump into a cold shower.  Yes...a cold shower.  Despite the temporary discomfort..it will quickly lift your energy and your spirits. 

Cold showers have a myriad of benefits - everything from enhancing mood, to boosting your immunity, to promoting weight loss to  improving longevity.

All that is required is that you...well...suck it up and do it.  Anywhere from 2-5 minutes will do the trick.  Turn the dial to cold and get in.  You might prefer to get into a warm shower and then...when you get your resolve up...crank it to cold.  Rotating your body helps.  Make sure to breathe.  Like anything...start with a little and build up. But keep it doable.  It's best not to turn it into too big of an ordeal because you won't want to do it again.

Another good method is a contrast shower...alternating cold and hot water.  An example would be alternating 20 seconds cold with 10 seconds warm...for several minutes.  This really gets your circulation going.

But it's like anything...you really have to experience it to understand the benefits.  It's not something to read about and analyze.  It's something to do.

Give it a try.  Besides having so many benefits, it's a good little test of will.
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