by ajacobs12345 | Feb 28, 2016 | running
As your shoes wear, it can be helpful to modify them. Your natural thought might be to add shoe goo and cushioned insoles to the worn spots, but consider going the other way, especially if the wear is more pronounced on either the inside or outside of your foot.
In my case, I get some wear on the outside of my heels, even though I try to use a forefoot strike. When my heel becomes worn on the outside, I then trim the inside with a knife. This allows me to continue wearing the old shoes, and I feel it actually improves the mechanics of my gait and foot strike.
by ajacobs12345 | Feb 25, 2016 | running
You either shoot snot rockets, or you don’t.
I do.
The technique is to hold one nostril shut and forcefully exhale air out the nose, clearing the open nostril of all debris. It’s healthy and good for you to expel all that bad gunk, although don’t be so forceful that your ears pop.
The best way to learn the technique is by running in the rain. That tends to get the fluids flowing, and if you are sloppy, cleanup is much easier. Probably alone is best.
You should learn this. It’s good for you. Sometimes you just need to trust me.
by ajacobs12345 | Feb 25, 2016 | running
Today I will get soaked on my run. But the weather Gurus believe it will actually feel like the actual temperature actually. Go figure. Why don’t they calculate “Rain Chill?”
The concept of wind chill means it feels colder when it’s windy. For a runner, this just causes more extreme feelings. Running in to the wind I suppose you experience super-wind chill, but running with the wind, it sometimes feels like wind… warmth.
I tend to not believe the wind chill, but to read the actual temperature, and then not if it’s windy or not.
by ajacobs12345 | Feb 22, 2016 | running
Demons often hound the runner. They are tenacious and merciless. But run towards the morning and the demons are made irrelevant.
by ajacobs12345 | Feb 20, 2016 | running
There tend to be two philosophies for running with traffic. One is “Own the road,” and the other is to just be careful. I am completely in the “careful” camp.
My number one rule is: If there is going to be a car vs runner accident, don’t be there.
“Own the Road” runners like to be in the cartway, hold their line, and yell at cars who don’t give them wide berth. I find this frustrating, scary and dangerous.
Here are some of my rules.
- Run on the left, in to traffic (in the USA). You want to see imminent death with a clear eye.
- On rural roads, step off the road for oncoming traffic. Pull up and walk if approaching a dangerous intersection.
- Don’t always cross at the busiest place – for example, in small towns I prefer to run the alleys rather than the main streets, which allows for easier crossings one street at a time, rather than at four-way intersections.
- If an oncoming car is preparing to turn left, assume cars behind will swing out around them into the pedestrian lane.
- Assume every car is being driven by a 17 year old who is texting on her phone, while eating and crying. It’s up to you to get out of the way and not be an accident.
- If something looks the least bit dangerous, remove yourself from that situation quickly.
- Cars are big and heavy – they will win.
Wear something reflective. At night wear a headlamp up front and a red flashy in back.
