Category: Running

Throughout my years running, I’ve made lots of mistakes, had some successes, and, occasionally I’ve done some things worth sharing.

No gas. No shoes.

December 31, 2010By y2kemo

What a crazy two weeks it’s been. Last week temperatures rose into the upper 90Fs (mid 30C) and the barrios of Buenos Aires were intermittently without power and water. Luckily (or is it thankfully?).

This week there’s a petrol shortage that’s said to last until after the new year. As a result, cars have been lining up for several blocks just for a chance to fill up their tank. As I did for the power outage, I wanted to get in on the action. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way I planned, and the story ended up being about shoes instead of gas and street fires.

I Heart Running

July 9, 2010By y2kemo

I <3 running. All I need to do is throw on a pair of shorts, an optional shirt, and my Vibrams (also optional), and I’m out the door. Sure, that’s all I need but I tend to run with a visor, sunglasses, an iPod, Garmin Forerunner 305 w/HRM, and my dog, Bella.

Unfortunately, this past year has been a rough one. I’ve battled injuries (from shin splints to knee probs to a thrice torn calf ) and put on 35lbs (thanks to my reluctance to give up the high calorie runner’s diet). Yeah, this past year has sucked pretty bad.

Well, my leg is finally healthy (knock on wood), and I’m ready to get back to where I was. To motivate myself I’ve set a personal goal of 100 miles in 30 days.

Running, Injury, and Awakenings

May 7, 2010By y2kemo

In Awakenings, a doctor (Robin Williams) finds himself with a ward full of comatose patients; victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years prior. He tries out a possible cure on one of the patients (Robert De Niro) and it works. The patient has a blast, lives life to its fullest, but eventually falls back into a coma after only a short time.

In January, I tore my left calf. The doc gave me PT exercises and my leg got better after 5 weeks. My first run out and the calf tore again. Back to the doc. Back to the PT. Another 5 weeks and bam, the calf tore again! Sweet JMJ. Well, I took it easy. Completed the exercises. And it appeared I was ready to go.

Share the road

January 27, 2010By y2kemo

So I’m running the other day minding my own business when out of nowhere my right arm is clipped by the side mirror of a Ford Escape. I looked at the car as if to say, “Hey! Yeah you! I’m on the curb of a two-lane road! Why don’t you move over? Don’t honk at me. Don’t curse at me. And above all, don’t hit me!”

To the guy who hit me and left, let’s think about this for a moment. You’re in a car. A big friggin’ machine with no give. I’m a human. A little bigger than a bread basket and easily broken by big friggin’ machines. Perhaps you were in a hurry or perhaps you are just a prick. Whatever the reason, you (and all drivers) should yield the right-of-way to pedestrians like me.

If you’re in disagreement I kindly direct you to North Carolina law 20-174D which states:

Running Barefoot

January 20, 2010By y2kemo

When I run, I enjoy the fresh air, the wind in my face, and the ground beneath my feet. Back in December, I ran my first barefoot race—a 5K in sub-freezing temperatures. On Saturday, I kicked it up a notch and ran a solid 8 miles sans the feet-protecting injury-inducing coverings. Now, before you pass judgment and consider me an idiot (not that I would argue to the contrary) you should understand that running without pain is more important (to me) than running with shoes.

Running in Buenos Aires: Make a game of it

December 31, 2009By y2kemo

The first time I arrived in Buenos Aires I ran a round trip in the morning from Belgrano to el Centro (15 mi.). A trip more scenic than if I had forked over $$$ pesos ($US) and boarded a double-decker. To help pass the time, I came up with a game to play with every passing step.

A bit like an 80s 8-bit NES game, running in Buenos Aires (or any large city) has its own soundtrack, levels, obstacles, points, and characters.

Running a 5K as a Barefoot Present

December 14, 20092 commentsBy y2kemo

Back in August 2009, there was a great Daily Show piece on author Christopher McDougall whose book, Born to Run, tells the story of a bunch of Tarahumara Indians down in Mexico that ran hundreds of miles (out of necessity/fear) in sandals. Then there’s the endurance runner from Greensboro, NC, Charlie Engle, who ran 4,300 miles (6,920 kilometers for you metric folks) across Northern Africa in 111 days, and chronicled his (and his two running partners’) journey in the documentary film Running the Sahara.

The last bit of inspiration comes from a plug for BCBSNC. The guy in the commercial had a heart condition and shares how he lost a bunch of weight after taking up exercise (running). Stories like these inspire. They make me want to get my weight-gaining self off the couch and on the road. And that’s what I’ve been doing.