A Couple of Lessons Learned

Posted: August 14th, 2009 | Author: Arlo | Filed under: Exercise, Primal | No Comments »

Hesitant to exercise? Try something new.

This is precisely what happened to me recently in my voyage into barefoot running. I hadn’t been jogging in ages, choosing more to focus on eat habits and retaining and growing muscle mass. Not feeling like lifting yesterday, I considered going jogging, but I could feel myself hesitate. While I knew I’d feel good mentally and physically by getting some exercise, I was finding it hard face plodding along the concrete path without music to distract me. I got out there anyways and found myself revitalized for moving by doing something new that I had never tried before, namely, using the environment for exercise (climbing on things, jumping and running on concrete blocks) and taking off my shoes. I was ecstatic and spent all day today telling people who were no doubt bored out of their minds how life changing it felt.

Trying something new? Don’t overdo it!

The downside of course is that in my enthusiasm, I was feeling sluggish today too and decided, despite my soreness, to go out and play around again. It was a completely stupid move. I knew that the soreness wasn’t the kind that I’d occasionally feel after working out, but more the use of certain unused muscles, joints and ligaments. So, I over stressed them and I’m super sore. I almost felt sick to my stomach after my last sprints. Not a good sign, but I’ll rest and repair and learn my lesson! There’s plenty of time to run around outside!

Primal Barefoot Revelation

Posted: August 13th, 2009 | Author: Arlo | Filed under: Exercise, Primal | Tags: , , | No Comments »
I’ll admit that I’ve been a bad caveman the past couple of weeks, but I keep trying, and that’s what matters.
I was feeling restless and tired today, not up for lifting heavy things, so I figured I’d go down and go jogging.
In hindsight, I realize now why I was hesitant. I simply wasn’t looking forward to slogging along on the concrete path, despite the beauty of the area down by the river. Still, I found enough motivation to slap on my shoes (I really want some Vibrams) and get down there.
Started out with a slow warm-up jog and then spied a concrete picnic table in the distance. Some of the things I’ve been reading, and the videos I’ve been watching must have finally sunk in. Sprinted towards it, then up and over, then back to a very light jog. Now came some 3 foot high, 5 foot long concrete blocks. Up down up down up down. Hey, this is kind of interesting. Now some large rocks of various size and shape lining the path. Look! Jump! Look! Jump! Jump! Jump! Hey, this is pretty fun! Lots of variety here.
Now the biggest revelation. At the start of the path, which I hadn’t actually jogged on since it was snowy here, was a little dirt trail, which I decided to follow. To my genuine shock and delight I realized there was a virtual Grok wonderland 2 blocks away down by the river that had been hidden under the snow and ice. Dirt paths winding through long grass and clumps of trees, by the wide and fast flowing Columbia River. Wow! Off came the shoes for the first time ever.
BLEW. MY. MIND. I don’t think the endorphins are making me exaggerate either. You have to try it I think to fully appreciate it.
I think the biggest revelation was just how engaging, fully, mind and body it was. You have to consider each and every foot fall, thinking 3 or 4 foot falls in advance. No steady plodding here. Sand, dirt, rock, root. Curves or rocks? Slow down? Straight long dirt? Sprint. There’s a tree, pull-ups. Drop down into the dirt, push-ups. The whole time the wonderful feeling of dirt on the soles of your feet and really connecting with nature.
Speaking of feet, it was wonderful too, the diversity of running and how different speeds use your feet differently, and how every foot fall is different. No wonder steady state concrete jogging causes repetitive strain issues!
I’ve always loved going barefoot, but now shoes are going to seem like an absolute prison, despite the pain I know I’m going to feel tomorrow by using my feet, ankles and legs differently.
And, despite my mind and body being fully united into the task, I had a enough spare thought processes to envision that I was running along a well worn trail, spear in hand, with a few other Grok, our prey just on the other side of the trees. I felt like an animal that was raised in captivity, released and was connecting with the animal within.
How enlightening!