Day 91: Hot Yoga Hurts So Good: Taboo Tuesday

My friend Greg Bomhoff (Twitter @24hourrun4kids) and I have been dabbling in Hot Yoga. Called Bikram, this yoga is practiced in a room that is heated to 105+(f) degrees to intensify and cleanse while stretching and sweating out toxic build up. Oddly, the Bikram Studio is owned and operated by an old friend who I hadnt seen in 25 years.

Greg and I have patiently and humbly :) taking our places in the back of the room where the Newbies gather. Over a 90 minute session, a series of 26 poses are walked through, twice. At times gasping, most of the time aching, the Bikram Instructor, patiently challenges each attender to push further and stretch deeper than the time before.

Frustrating. Hot. Challenging. Painful. Relaxing. Each of theses words adequatley describes the range of emotion that I feel.

But what do you do when you are faced with a challenging environment that moves you to the brink of feeling vulnerable? What do you do when the pain and stress, the agony of potential failure hovers over you like a hurricain of insecurity.

Oddly, this is Taboo Tuesday.

The reality is many people skip things like running, exercise, pilates and in this case Bikram's because of a few reasons that NEVER get talked about.

1. Hatred of Pain
Sometimes pain, not injury, are the bodies false attempts to mutiny your motivation. Pain stimulates as a way to stop you from progressing further down a path of resistance. However, resistance and friction are the keys that develope muscle and strength. When being pushed beyond comfort, sometimes mental more than physical, the best version of you emerges.

2. Resistance to Calm
I enjoy the heat, the burn, the pain, the challenge. Yet, while in Hot Yoga, there is one pose that is constantly inserted in between other poses. Called Savasana - corpse pose- this seems simple and relaxing. But for me, its hardly that. Savasana is to lie on your back, eyes looking straight up, while breathing in a calm rhythm. It has great function:

•Returns cardiovascular circulation to normal
•Slows heart rate, reduces blood pressure•Teaches complete relaxation
•Stills and focuses the mind

"Stills and focuses the mind" is the part I struggle and resist. Lying still, I struggle. Taboo is walking down the trail that stillness leads to. A mine field of unfullfilled goals, shattered dreams, unreached summits, unused potential, pain, problems, etc, are what rushes in the moment I assume the Savasana position.

My first emotional or mental response if "flight." My first physical response is "fight." These two emotions joust as I lie still seeking to slow my mind down. To be still, to remain focused on "no-movement", to bask in the brokeness, some believe it makes you better. As Fight AND Flight fatigue, so does my rebellion towards calm. Chaos melts away. Confusion and self-criticism drip off my mind more abundant than sweat drips off my head.

Savasana - corpse pose


Today, recognize savasana is not new.

Its called rest.
Its called rhythm.
Its called renewal.

Sometimes stillness is more difficult to obtain than strength.

Today, seek to, just try to embrace one thing that makes you uncomfortable. Your mind is stronger than you may think.

"Don't mind the pain. The pain will block out the pain."
-Karen Ernst Fitzpatrick


Until then,
jas

Day 72: Running in the Rain

Some hate it. I like it. The rain brings a tranquility to a run. I pull the headphones out and listen to the rain hit the ground. Some have said to me that they hate it because they get wet. I don't mind it.

I definately layer up if its cold. UnderArmour and a rain layer usually allows me to stay warm. The reality is there will come a time when you have registered for a race and it will rain that day. Then what?

You definately don't pull out of the race. Do you? But if you have never made peace with the rain, you won't enjoy the run.

Consider the alternative...the heat in July.

Your call..heat or rain.

I'll take the rain.

Jas

Day 70: Post Race Recovery

For many runners, today represents the day after the big race. Locally, here in Sacramento, many of our Be Change runners ran Saturday in the Way Too Cool 50k. Yesterday, a whole slew of runners ran the Shamrock Half Marathon.

Regardless of distance, anything over a half marathon requires some recovery strategy. Sedentary post race sulking won’t get work. All of the below are under the assumption, you iced quickly post race. (IE: Ice Bath, Acute Ice Stick, Ice Packs, etc)



Here are three tips to consider.

1. Assess Your Body
Seated or standing flew your lower body. Flexing your legs and buttocks will help identify areas of soreness. Ice there again. An ice bath on Day 2 post run will help lessen any stored up swelling.

2. Run ASAP
Your body wants to sit around, but your legs need to get moving. Ironically, the only things that will make your body feel better is a run, or should I say, some type of movement. Lactic acid has built up in the muscles and movement causes blood flow to increase to the muscles that are broken down. A blood rush will flush the lactic acid into the circulatory system and help minimize soreness. Get moving. Two miles slow that mix jog, walk, jog.

3. Search Out Your Next Race
To avoid post-race mental meltdown, start searching for your next race. Get online and register for something of equal or longer distance in the next 30 days. Yes its possible. Continue to build on your running plan. Take the distance you ran and insert that into an equivalent running plan that has that distance as the long training run. If you did a half marathon, use the 13 as the long run of an 18 week training plan for a 26 miler. If you did a 50k, that was a 31 mile training run as you ramp up for a 50 miler.

Remember the best is yet to come.

Recap: Ice, Assess, Run, Register, Repeat.


JAS

Day 52: Strive For Impossible and Redefine It

When a person seeks to strive for the impossible, they may redefine it. For years, Dean Karnazes has been redefining what is possible. I met Dean for the first time a few years ago while he was running Badwater. Ray Sanchez was also running the race, and as his crew, we would set up along the road. For a day and a half running heroes would leap frog their support vehicle running to redefine impossible waiting for them at the top of Mt Whitney and the finish line.

He was kind and engaging. He focused and battling the heat. His book The Ultra Marathon Man is a must read for any person seeking to redefine their impossible. But now Karno is up to it again, this time with Regis and Kelly

"Runner Dean Karnazes is about to set out on what he calls "without a doubt the most intense endeavor I've ever undertaken.”

For a guy whose running resume includes 50 marathons in 50 days in all 50 states, that's saying a lot.

But running a mere 26.2 miles every day for less than two months is nothing compared with what he's setting out to do Friday from Disneyland. His plan is to run from California to New York, a trip of nearly 3,000 miles that will require up to 14 hours daily and an average of 50-60 miles a day.

And he's doing it on live television. The nationally syndicated show “Live! With Regis and Kelly” will be tracking his progress all the way, starting with a live sendoff during Friday's broadcast. A bus carrying a production crew will follow Karnazes, enabling the show to check in with him almost every day." - LA TIMES FULL ARTICLE

Some think he is crazy. I think he is committed to redefining whats possible.

What do you look at as impossible? What distance dwarfs reason to you? Are you seeking to lose some weight and are choked by the thoughts of what could never happen?

OR what could happen?
How far could you run? 5K, 10K, a Half Marathon? A full? Is there an Ultra in you?
Does the fear of the impossible scare you?

Redefine your life. Redefine whats possible. It starts with a single step.

Step off,
jas

Day 51: Runners You Need to Know: Diane VanDeren

FIXING DIANE'S BRAIN
BY BILL DONOHUE
For nearly 17 years, until she was 37, Van Deren suffered from epilepsy, enduring hundreds of seizures, sometimes as often as two or three times in a week. With each seizure, she lost consciousness for about a minute. Usually, her body just went limp as she stared off into space. But there were also the two dozen or so grand mal seizures she suffered, when her muscles radically contracted and her legs and arms flailed uncontrollably. With each seizure came the distinct chance that she could die. Rather than risk death, she did the next best thing: She let doctors drill a hole into her skull.

In 1997, Van Deren underwent a partial right temporal lobectomy. Doctors removed a portion of her brain that was the focal point of her seizures. The surgery ended her epilepsy; Van Deren hasn't seized once since the operation. But the surgeon's work created a blind spot in the upper left part of her vision. And there is also the residual neural damage from the seizures. She cannot track time well; she is always running late, and she has almost no sense of direction. Her memory is weak—she can't recall where, exactly, she took her honeymoon—and when she's confronted with excessive sensory noise, as she is now, at this clamorous starting line, she gets weary and irritable. Sometimes Van Deren needs to lie down and nap for hours.

She is an ultramarathoner with extraordinary limitations. In races she must cover hundreds of miles, and yet often has no idea how long she has been running—or where she is going.

Still, Van Deren's surgery may actually have aided her distance running. "The right side of the brain, where Diane had surgery, is involved in processing emotion," says one of her doctors, Don Gerber, a clinical neuropsychologist at Craig Hospital in Denver. "The surgery affected the way she processes her emotional reaction to pain. I'm not saying Diane doesn't feel pain, but pain is a complex process. You have a sensory input, and then the question is: How does the brain interpret that? Diane's brain interprets pain differently than yours or mine does."

Gerber's assessment is controversial among neurologists, and all that's certain, really, is that Van Deren has almost primordial gifts of endurance. In February 2008, in the Canadian Yukon, she won the Yukon Arctic Ultra, spending nearly eight days pulling a 50-pound supplies sled 300 miles and through temperatures that plunged to around 50 below. The next winter she covered 430 miles. And once, in Alaska, she trudged 85 miles through snow on a sprained ankle after stepping in a moose hole.

What would your running be like if you didnt know how far you had run or how long you had been running. Add to it, an inability to feel pain, and you have Diane who runs and runs and runs.

In the end, it makes you ponder how much is possible and how much our brain seeks to impede that process.

Day 43: Mind Tools: Resilience

A runner's edge is rooted in the ability to adapt to adversity. Long distance, even Ultra, has never been attempted and completed by anyone who lacks resilience of mind. Though they may not feel they are strong, ironically, the sheer fact that they finished, show a strong mental fortitude.

Are you resilient? Does your mind have the ability to over-throw your body's attemped mutiny when it comes to "pressing through?"

Resilience is similar to a rubber band that is stretched. Resilience has the ability to, through stretched, can flex and ply back to its original form without breaking.

Resilience is the ability to work with adversity in such a way that one comes through it unharmed or even better for the experience. Resilience means facing life’s difficulties with courage and patience – refusing to give up. It is the quality of character that allows a person or group of people rebound from misfortune, hardships and traumas.

"Resilience is rooted in a tenacity of spirit—a determination to embrace all that makes life worth living even in the face of overwhelming odds. When we have a clear sense of identity and purpose, we are more resilient, because we can hold fast to our vision of a better future."

Here are some of my favorite quotes that echo on the resilience stage.

"Resiliency is "the process of, capacity for, or the outcome of successful adaptation despite challenging or threatening circumstances."
(Masten, Best and Garmezy (1990)

Resiliency is "... the inherent and nurtured capacity of individuals to deal with life's stresses in ways that enable them to lead healthy and fulfilled lives"
(Howard & Johnson 1999 p 3).

"It always seems impossible ... until it's done."
Nelson Mandela

"You can't cross a sea by merely staring into the water."
Rabindranath Tagore

"I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value."
Hermann Hesse


AND THE BEST TO CARRY TODAY

"Victory belongs to the most persevering."
Napoleon Bonaparte

Remember, with that rubberband's resilience, the further it is stretched, the further it flies when released.

Run,
jas

Day 42: Runner's Cough

The past 2 weeks have been a battle. Head cold along with the rest of the world, the questions asked was "are you still running?" The short answer is yet. Beyond the aches and pains and less energy, I stumbled on to this article on LIVE STRONG.

In short, if the issues with your cold are above your neck; nose, neck, head...RUN with caution.
If the issues are below your neck; chest and lungs...Take some time off. Though bundled with layers, when I am sick, I feel like I am running shirtless in the snow. I find that I get cold and cant warm up.

Today, if you are battling the ailments, take some time to assess.

Much hope.
JAS

Day 40-41: Enough for Two

Taboo Topic #2 is enough to cover two days...

(actually, I just missed a post, and at some point I am sure I will catch up, but in the meantime...)

When running, I have often had a rumbling gut hit at the most inopportune time. Have you been there? Your cranking off the miles and then out of no where, your stomach hits a curve. You have a cramp, or four, and a rumbling. With fear consuming and focus collapsing, the internal dialog debates as to whether you can make it to the bathroom or should you drop back from the group and try to find a porta-potty. Worse than the port potty, that makes a Third World road-side gutter smell fresh, the cramping worsens.

Though taboo, talking about "funny-tummy" is important for those venturing into running. The fact is you will be hit with a slush gut, impromptu diarhea, and critical cramping at some point in your running career. Its causes can be physical, situational or nutritional – or could be combination of all three problems.

That said, two questions. One, what causes it. Two, what to do with it.

Runner's diarrhea is characterized by frequent, loose bowel movements during or immediately after a run. Runner's diarrhea is most common in long-distance or marathon runners.

The cause of runner's diarrhea isn't clear. One theory is that extreme exercise directs blood flow away from the intestines — contributing to diarrhea.

Often, simple dietary changes can help prevent runner's diarrhea:

■ At least one day before running, limit or avoid high-fiber and gas-producing foods, such as beans, bran, fruit and salad. If you run every day, experiment to find a tolerable level of fiber. Otherwise, simply eat those foods after you run.

■ At least one day before running, limit or avoid sweeteners called sugar alcohols — most often found in sugar-free candies, gum and ice cream.

■ For three to six hours before running, limit or avoid caffeine and high-fat foods.

■ For at least two hours before running, don't eat anything at all.

■ Before, during and after running, drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can lead to diarrhea. Avoid warm liquids, however, which can speed food through the digestive tract.

■ While running, use caution with energy gels and energy bars. In some people, these products can contribute to diarrhea.

■ If you're lactose intolerant, switch to lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk and milk products.

You are not alone. We all experience it. Apply the simply adjustments and remember to ALWAYS carrie Handy Wipes and Purell Hand Sanitizer... Then your prepared... kinda.

Empathizing with you,

JHARP

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Day 35: Ached.

Despite good runs, Friday and Saturday... the sickness is crippling my chest and my head. When I am sitting around, the aches are brutally consistent. Yet oddly, when I get out and move a bit and get the blood pumping, I feel better.

When I am sick, laying around does not make me feel better. Movement does.

What do you do when you are sick?

Forward is fast.

jas

Day 33: Amidst Sickness

Odd how it plays out. On a day when I feel horrendous, how is it that a minimal run can bring life back to the body. Lazing while trying to power through an early morning, I still wanted to get a run in. Brief as it was, a the minimum to qualify for a Running 365 Entry of 2 Miles, I ran.






I ran sick.
Body ached.
Lumbered along.
Still dark.
Nose plugged.
Head throbbed.
Lungs panted.
Heart rate soared
Pace plummetted.
Forward captured.
Finish completed.
Head cleared.
Focus gained.
I ran well.

Today, forward is fast.

If you are feeling like garbage recycled, read here to determine if its a day to skip the run.

Running 365: Day 24 : "Running Cold"

Granted this post wont mean jack to those headed to Arrowhead 135. Held in the "ice box" of the nation, runners this weekend can expect temps to dip 30 below. It was last year, that I headed there to support Ray in his 2nd of 3 in capturing the BAD CUP.

Here is a great article from Active.com on Four Tips For Cold Weather Running.

By Ben Davis
For Active.com

It's a great time to be a runner, but it can be a frustrating time if you've just started running and have never had to brave the elements.

The number one question heading into the chilly months is, "As a new runner, what can I expect with cold-weather running?"

First, let me share my worst cold-running experience.


My official getup consists of the following:
Underwear, full length thermal underwear, and wind pants
T-shirt, long sleeve T-shirt and a sweater
Face mask and beanie
Scarf

By mile one, I was so hot that I began shedding clothes with no concern about whether I’d get them back.

In all likelihood, this won’t be your experience, but it does bring me to what you should remember for cold-weather running:

1. You won’t need as much as you think you will. My rule now is shorts with short sleeve tech shirt down to 45 degrees and shorts plus long sleeve tech from 45 to 32. Anything below freezing calls for long thermals, shorts, and jacket with gloves (awesome running beanie, optional). As I mentioned earlier, I found out rather quickly that running will heat the body up relatively quickly and more often than not, you’ll regret that big puffy coat. Lower body stuff like leggings and tights aren’t as suffocating, so feel free to experiment, but err on the side of minimalist up top.

2. That awful lung burn thing after your first few cold runs? Don’t worry; it goes away. I can't tell you how many times I tried to "become a runner" in the winter months and got discouraged because of that awful burning sensation when I breathed; there is nothing worse than only being able to inhale half a breath out of fear of popping a lung. But don’t worry; you’ll get through it. It just takes a couple of runs to get your respiratory system adept to dealing with frosty air.

3. Nine of 10 scientists agree: runners look 50 percent cooler when wearing black gloves.OK, maybe not. But there’s no doubt about it; running in the winter is so great because it brings out so many fashion choices. First off, the aforementioned gloves. There's just something about them. You feel faster when wearing them; you feel professional. Next there is the headgear. Women have the trendy headbands and earmuffs and guys have the wintertime beanies. But, again, be your own fashionista. Try new things and mix it up a little bit. Whatever you do, though, don't be the guy running with his shirt off when it's below freezing. People aren't staring because they think you're really awesome... Trust me.

4. Hydration is still important.Yes, you obviously need more water in the summer months when you are sweating up a storm, but don’t think that just because it is cold you don’t need to hydrate. Ice cold water might be the last thing you want when the temps are low, but just be sure not to skip the water completely. Be smart and be healthy. Bonus: If you get snow where you are, you have all the water you need; just stop and eat some of the white stuff and go on your way.

Other than that, just get out there and do it. You’re going to be faster, and you’re going to learn to love it. It might be tough at first, but I guarantee people will envy your willpower when they see you braving the brutal conditions as they pass in their van with the heater at full blast. Anyone can run in the spring, summer, and fall; it takes a true champ to face mother nature in the dead of winter.

Ben Davis is the first Active.com ambassador. He recently lost 120 pounds and plans to lose the last 20 in the coming months. He runs, writes and blogs daily. You can read more about his journey at http://bendoeslife.com.




CUE to the 1:00 Min Mark to watch a 10 second clip of "What Its Like?"