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Re: Rude runners on the trail

guest — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:23:30 GMT

Personally I love getting "the nod" from other runners. I generally let them do it first and it makes me smile because... well, I'm not a very good runner and its fun to be part of the team in someone's eyes who is what I would call a "real" runner. Like being noticed by one of the cool kids in high school, lol!

But I wouldn't take it personally. You never know what is going through someone's mind when they are running. They might be very focused, or you know they might REALLY be struggling. They might have social anxiety issues and not know how to respond. Nothing wrong with giving a nod and a smile and not getting it back... then you are being the bigger person and you can keep running knowing you did your best to keep things positive and light out there. It shouldn't be up to any of us how others act in cases like this if they are not hurting us. They did not go out to run to be social and we should respect that.

Just my 2 cents.

Re: What to do? I crave sweets and the like...

guest — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:08:25 GMT

I can totally relate! For me, sweets were available in abundance when I was a kid, with no limits. Other kids used to be jealous that I would get cakes and cookies in my lunch and I would wonder why their moms were so mean to deprive them.

I really believe that the post-industrial revolution and subsequent super-cheap sugar refinery, combined with reactions to food restrictions during the depression, lead to my parents generation of over indulgence. In both sugar and meat. During the depression, having some meat was a sure sign that you were doing ok and your family had good means to survive, more so than people who didn't. So when this ended and suddenly the mass market could provide meat for everyone through artificial means.... suddenly it became necessary to eat meat every day, but that is only because it was available. I don't think people were meant to eat a big chunk of meat every day and yet many people (especially my parents generation) feel that a meal is not complete without a big steak or full chicken breast etc.

As for sugar, (and again this is just what I believe, I have no references to anything to back me up here, just speaking from the heart) its the same thing. Sugar was rationed during those times around WW2 and then all of a sudden it was cheaper than anything and everyone could have as much as they want. Its no secret why, evolutionarily speaking, we are designed to crave sugar, fat and meat... the macronutrients that keep us alive. But we have introduced the abundance and availability of these things faster than our bodies could adapt to it.

Eating simple sugars causes enormous spikes in our bood sugar levels... exhausts the systems in place to deal with them, and our levels crash, leaving our bodies feeling like we are deficient in sugar. So we crave it like we will die if we don't have it (well, those of us who overindulge or have the habit to... NOW I am the one who is jealous of those kids that weren't allowed to eat sweets because they can sit next to a bag of M&M's and be able to not eat the whole bag or obsess over it).

The only answer, I believe, for people like us who have the uncontrollable cravings for sugar is to get rid of it. The poster above has a really good plan lined out... you have to get rid of it to get those spikes in bloodsugar levels to balance out. And then bring back the natural fruit sugars slowly and carry on like this for a long time. Type 2 diabetes can be completely controlled by diet so it is never too late.

Of course having said all of this from experience having once purged myself of sugar craving madness... I confess I didn't stick with it and eventually went back to old habits and I still get those insane cravings. Having just been ill for almost 2 months I can't wait to get back out running again because I find the only thing that helps is having enough exercise and slowly resisting the cravings until I can wean off of the sugar indulgences more and more...

For some of us its a battle and then for others, they have no desire for sweets at all. Can I blame my mother for my problems please? :^)

Re: Running in Cold Weather

guest — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:59:46 GMT

You should get yourself some moisture-wicking next-to skin layers first. Don't wear cotton next to your skin because you will get sweaty and once it is wet and gets cold, you're done for. As long as you have one layer of the moisture-wicking you can wear cotton over that but definitely not too much. You should feel pretty cold when you first get outside but once you get going you will be warm enough in that, a llong sleeved T, and running jacket.

Cotton - bad.

Re: get rid of cramps in ribs?

guest — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:54:59 GMT

If you specifically mean the stitches under the ribs on the right side, here is a great article that explains it:

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/injuries/a/aa053100a.htm

I've tried the thing about always landing on the left foot while exhaling and found it didn't always work. Taking longer, fuller breaths helps sometimes too.