May 27 2009
Forrest? Are you STILL running?
To all of you cross country runners…skip this article. I don’t want to be the discouraging factor between you and some junior Olympic metal. All I’m going to say is running or leaping for extended periods of time can’t possibly be good for your overall health. ( sorry future hurdlers of America). Hey, I needed some convincing myself ( and I’m glad for it any excuse to mosey and I’m taking it). So GALORE’s chief movement expert, T.G., is going to take this one.
Happy Living,
Mia
Danger. This is the only reason to speed across any terrain. Think about it, how many animals do you know of, that run for extended periods of time, for no reason? I had trouble coming up with any myself. Most animals run to catch something or to prevent being caught. This process usually lasts a minute or two at the most. If in that amount of time you haven’t caught it….you won’t. That is the only purpose for running. On all other occasions, just like our animal friends do, we should be walking. Mind you, I’m no medical expert. This information is just common sense. We run when we feel threatened and is that a natural state of being? No Way! But for some odd reason in the 80’s or so people decided to “jog” around because it was faster than walking and therefore must be better for you. These are the people that you don’t want to drive your car or keep watch over your house while you are on vacation by the way! Faster is not always better!Walking is what our bodies were designed to do. Most people, if they actually tried it, could walk for an least an hour straight before they got winded. ( and a lot of people do, at malls, or nightclubs all of the time). Walking allows your body to get the exercise it needs, and after you have finished your walk, you typically have the best sleep you can hope for. Running on the other hand, is dangerous. Running is hard on your legs and back and keeps your body in a state of panic with adrenaline pumping through your veins with no end result. Have you met any long distance runners who had careers over 15 years? Typically after their big races they quit running for walking. Or if they decide to keep running, they must start taking enhancement drugs that make the whole situation worse!!I have walked for miles in a relaxed calm pace and lost more weight than people riding bikes or running have. A lot of times the short term effect for them is more defined muscles or some weight loss, but as soon as they stop running, the skin starts to sag and they look even worse than they did when they started! So for all you “keep life simple folks” like us, try walking. Mia tries to get in 10,000 steps a day. Let us know what you think…especially all the cross country runners Mia is afraid of…and hey, if you’re still into running ask yourself, what am I running for?
Always eating good,
T.G.
