Lost feelings of old

As I have moved on in age and consider my childhood more of a distant memory as opposed to reality, many of the joys in life have also become less significant to me. I suspect this is a natural feeling as one grows older. Life is a series of discoveries about yourself and as you age so to do your likes/wants/needs. The thing is, I am not so sure that my desires in life are any better now as opposed to then. I often feel less satisfied with my choices and the resulting consequences. I do not take pleasure out of the 'every day' as I once did. In fact, each new day feels much like the last. There just isn't the kind of joy that I used to experience in life.

Take riding my bike for instance. As a child, even into my teenage years, I loved to ride my bike. I had several different bikes over the years and each one holds a special place in my memory banks. My bike represented freedom. I often rode in packs of friends who also felt the same way I did about our bikes. It connected us. Once I turned 16, cars became the mode of transportation that took me from one place to another. Driving a car was great initially and even today I still harbor strong feelings about my cars for various reasons. The reality however that driving a car is nothing like riding a bike. Driving a car doesn't take effort so there is no physical reward. It is far more expensive and dangerous. It is often stressful to drive around where I live and I dread it more often than not. Like bike riding, I also drive in packs of other cars. But unlike bike riding that pack is made up with strangers who often do not care about my well-being or feelings about the fact that they drive like idiots. It is not a satisfying experience in the way that riding my bike used to be. I actually still own a bike and I do still ride it, mostly for exercise purposes. I do not ride it to get somewhere or to visit someone. Its sole purpose is to remind me that I need to move around or I will get fat. That doesn't feel special, just functional. My point here is that I miss that feeling of getting on my bike and riding out the day with friends traveling to what seemed like far away destinations and adventures. I just do not experience that anymore. I feel lesser because of it.

Perhaps the greatest example I can give is that of Christmas. Tis the season, and right now I am thoroughly ensconced in buying gifts, wrapping them, decorating my house, drinking the 'Nog, and trying to determine if my son knows Santa isn't real. Christmas as a child is a wondrous time. It's full of joyful music and celebration. Mystical creatures and characters are everywhere and not frowned upon. It represents the pinnacle of religious expression wrapped up in commercial packaging. There just isn't anything to rival it, at least in the United States of America. But much like my love of bike riding, the Christmas season has turned into an event of memory and lack of true meaning for me. I want to enjoy it and occasionally, usually after too many 'Nogs, I do feel that Christmas spirit that makes everything seem alive and awesome. But it is fleeting and these days life events have left me dreading Christmas to a larger extent. That is really a shame because the joy I felt at Christmas as a child was so amazing that losing it really feels significant. I have often lost something or other in my life, but there are really only a few instances of real loss. I mean the kind of loss that changes you as a person. To me, this is one of those losses. I want Christmas to be special. I want to be the happiest kid on the planet again. I want to look forward to Christmas morning and the joy of coming down the stairs to discover what Santa had brought. I can live that experience through my son to a degree and his joy does make me happy for him. But on a real personal level, it is not the same. I suspect that is because I often feel lonely these days due to the personal loss I have experienced on various levels through my recent life. Christmas should be a time to share with those that you love. However, when those that you love are no longer part of your life that can be a source of sadness that is hard to overcome.

I recognize that nothing lasts forever. Every aspect of your life is fleeting on some level. But there are a few things that I truly miss. Aspects of my life that will never be the same, but I wish they would. The progression through life is supposed to teach you about wisdom, the value of patience, the dual nature of love, and so on and so forth. These days I often view it more as a constant reminder of things I have lost and hope to find once again. Perhaps that is the real lesson. Life moves on and we must continue to find joy in the present and hope for the future and let the past linger no more.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May your every wish come true.

My lonely looking tree

Product Review: Brooks Cascadia 11 GTX

Let me start off by saying it has been a while since I have purchased trail running shoes. I have been wearing Asic GT-2000's for a few years now and generally have loved them. After dozens of trail races, it is now time to move on. My love for all things Brooks running has led me to believe that the Cascadia line is the perfect trail running shoe. Well, that and several people have told me how amazing they are. Seeing as Brooks has now issued 11 versions of this shoe I think it is safe to say that they are both high quality and popular in the running community. Let us examine the merits.

By the way, not only have I been giving thought to what trail running shoe I wanted to buy, I also decided that I was going to make it an excursion in the process. Seeing as Brooks is my first choice for running shoes, I wanted to physically go to the source. The pacific northwest is a beautiful part of our country known for its majestic mountains, seaside towns, and pristine lakes. It is a boon for trail running. Seeing as Brooks has it's headquarters and only retail location located in Seattle (Fremont), I had to go. What a trip! Go to Washington if you can. It is well worth your time. I cannot state adamantly enough how badly Brooks needs to open additional retail stores in other markets. I buy everything online, but there are certain stores where a physical visit is worth every penny. I pitched the DC market to the sales manager at the store and HOPE that he will set into motion the wheels of progress!

Getting in the way of beauty

Running Mecca!

Made from running medals

Ok, now onto the shoes! Brooks offers two versions of the Cascadia, which is their flagship trail runner. The regular Cascadia and the GTX. I purchased the GTX. The main difference is that the GTX features a Gore-Tex upper that will definitely help keep your feet dry through the wettest conditions. I tested this and it works. Brooks offers a couple of other trail running options. The Adrenaline ASR 13's and Pure Grit series both sacrifice protection and stability for speed. I tried on both and found them to be very solid shoes that felt comfortable, but in the end when I am trail running I want as much support and stability as I can get. The Cascadia line is built with those two features in mind. The shoe is built from the ground up with the idea that anything that a trail can throw at you, it will handle.

The one sacrifice you will have to make with the GTX version is with color scheme. There is only one as you can see above. I happen to like this color scheme, but your preferences may differ. The regular Cascadia line has several color options and some of them are much brighter. The GTX is also $50 more expensive, but you are getting more shoe for your buck. This shoe features some pretty awesome specs designed to make your trail running experience better.

Let us begin with the Gore-Tex upper. It works. I ran in Seattle through a driving rain storm and my feet were dry. I cannot tell you the value of having dry feet when running long distances. Your feet tend to take a lot of abuse when running and the damage to them is exacerbated when they are wet. Plus, being wet when it is cold outside is a double whammy. I was actually worried that my feet might get too hot with the Gore-Tex, but that was not the case. This bonus spec is worth the extra money spent.

The DNA midsole cushioning and four-point pivot control is not something that I can speak to accurately as of yet. I have only run about 16 miles in these shoes, but I will say that despite being a bit narrow in the middle, the shoe is comfortable. I surmise that as I break the shoe in more, this will only get better. Brooks characterizes these features as providing "ultimate" control. While it is not going to allow you to climb trees, it will give you a sense of better stability through the twists and turns of trail running. I have found that some extra confidence with footing goes a long way when you are traversing leaf covered, moss grown trails with hidden rocks and roots underfoot.

The full-length segmented crash pad is essential. I cannot tell you the full pain that is a sharp rock hitting your mid foot as you place all your weight down. If you have not experienced it, try to avoid it. It can derail a race. Having a shield to help protect you from that pain is really important. The Cascadia shield technology works. I ran on a very rocky trail for 3.5 miles of my half-marathon and my feet felt great. No impacts from the rocks that I could feel during the run. Some may find this to numb the experience a little, so if you prefer a more minimalist running shoe, the shield is likely going to deter you from buying these.

The rugged outsole is also an outstanding feature of the shoe. Dealing with a lot of water on my run, I never felt like I was slipping or sliding around. Again, this is a huge confidence booster and can mean the difference between a PR and a just miss during a race. In addition to confidence, this feature can be key to injury prevention. Slipping on wet trail or pavement can lead to injuries as most of you know. The more traction the better off you are in my mind.

The lacing system of the shoe is a little different as the third row juts in towards the middle of the tongue. I believe this provides better stability, but I will not judge it one way the other. It will be something that some will love and others will not. However, I find that to be true for almost all running shoes. Laces and the lace points on the shoe can make a big difference in how the shoe fits and feels during a run. I did not experience any issues with it. If anything the shoe fit more snugly across the middle of the foot providing more stability. This might be uncomfortable to some though.

My overall initial impression of the Cascadia GTX is that this is the mackdaddy of trail running shoes. If you are willing to sacrifice some additional weight and rigidity, your feet will thank you. I ran a trail half-marathon in Seattle and experienced no issues with the shoes whatsoever. While I did not PR, due to the conditions with rain and high winds, I ran a very good race. The price point may be a little high for some, but the additional features and the quality of the shoe more than make up for it. Your biggest decision is going to center around paying for the regular Cascadia or the GTX with the Gore-Tex. I believe that either way you go, the money is well worth it.

RATING: 5 out of 5

Questions for comments: 

Have you ever traveled anywhere fun to run a race? If so where?

Would you do it again?

Do you prefer to run trails or on the road?

Running Past the Pain

Heading into 2016, I had no clue what to expect with my running. 2015 had been such a difficult year dealing with several injuries. I had got to the point where when I ran I was more focused on what was hurting than actually running. This is not a good mental or physical place to be in when pounding pavement or traversing trails. I gutted it out because I wanted to run so badly, but I have to admit that I was not enjoying the experience. When the calendar turned to January 1st 2016, I had mostly rehabbed my plantar fasciitis that plagued me through the entire second half of 2015. At this point I had not run a race since the Cherry Blossom 10 miler in April of 2015. So I went into 2016 with cautious hope.

My initial goal was to just get out and run pain free. I had not signed up for any races and frankly had not intention of running one until I could get 5 miles in without any pain. Due to the weather in Virginia in January running outside is difficult. So things started out slowly. Which is probably a good thing in hindsight as one of the hardest things to do when you are coming off an injury is to stay restrained early on in your return to running. I only ran 7 times in January and most of those were on the dreadmill. I stayed at 4 miles or under and my pace times were slow. However, I ran without pain. It gave me hope.

As February came around I started to mix in some cycling on the stationary bike. Up to this point in my running career I had not really cross-trained all that much. While I was injured I did some reading about how cross-training can help reduce the likelihood and impact of running related injuries as well as benefit overall fitness. I had often done yoga to help with flexibility and recovery, but very little else. The interesting thing I started to realize was that doing other activities is stimulating in that it breaks up the monotony of doing the same routine all the time. It also requires more focus as you are learning something new. In addition to the cycling I also started doing a little strength training. Obviously the cold weather is conducive to being inside and the gym fortunately provides one access to many various forms of exercise. My running improved as I reached my 5 mile goal and continued to do so without pain. There was definite joy in what is otherwise a generally bleak month.

As March got into full swing and spring was on the horizon, I began having visions of racing again. I had run the last two Cherry Blossom races and although I had been denied a lottery entry into the 2016 race, my then girlfriend had been accepted and could not run due to her own injury suffered in the Marine Corps Marathon. I decided that I had just enough time to train and she was gracious enough to give up her bib so that I could run. This gave me the motivation I needed to ramp up my running. It was also at this time that I decided to get a personal trainer to continue with my cross-training. I needed to learn some better lifting techniques and flexibility training exercises that would benefit my running. This turned out to be a great idea and in combination with my continued use of cycling I saw very fast improvements in both distance and pace. By the end of March I was up to 9 miles and feeling pretty good about the upcoming race in early April.

The Cherry Blossom is one of DC's premiere running events every year. The race has 20k+ runners and walkers and a race course that starts at the Washington Monument and runs down into the River Basin where the cherry blossom trees line the street. When they are in full bloom it is a spectacular scene. 2016 unfortunately featured some early warm weather which induced the cherry blossoms out before the race, so they were mostly gone. The weather on race morning was less than ideal. It was in the low 40's with gusting winds of 30 MPH. I was in good spirits however. I had made it back. This was my first race in one year and I was excited. I truly believe that my cross-training played a huge role in getting me back to this point and healthy. I was not quite at peak running shape, but mentally I was all in. The race went well and despite the conditions I ran a solid 10 miles. My pace was well below my previous two attempts at running it, but finishing felt really good. This was a runner's win!

The rest of 2016 has been geared towards continuing my ascent to longer race distances. I am running two half marathons before the end of the year and have already run several 5 mile and 10 mile races. My conditioning has reached a peak level that I have not seen since my 2014 marathon training and most importantly I am healthy. I have continued to cross-train, even ramping up the amount of activities each week. This really has opened up my fitness levels to a new spectrum. I also believe it has gone a long way to keeping me from getting injured. Being in my 40's means paying close attention to my body. I do not recover the same way I did in my 20's and 30's. That does not mean that I cannot achieve outstanding results, however I just cannot take the same path to greatness. I truly believe that while 2015 was a trying year filled with disappointment, the process of going through those injuries has helped me to become a better runner. Who knows, perhaps another marathon is on the horizon in 2017! Baby steps.

So what injury stories do you have?
How did you overcome them?
What did you learn?

Our greatest triumphs often arise out of our most tragic defeats.

Product Review: Brooks PureFlow 5's (Initial Impressions)

As some of you may know, Brooks is my favorite running shoe manufacturer. Brooks shoes just fit my feet right and for the price they have been my go to since 2013. I have worn a number of various lines of Brooks over the last few years and feel that I am more qualified to start speaking to the various aspects of the shoes that make them good. Since I just received my PureFlow 5's via the delivery driver today, lets begin with these new slick kicks.

The PureFlow series is described by Brooks as a neutral show that emphasizes agility and light weight feel. I would definitely agree with this description. As soon as you put them on, the weight stands out noticeably. The other thing that stands out immediately is the tongue. It seems larger and has more cushion than other Brooks shoes I have tried. I don't know why they chose to do this, but I will say that due to the larger size you will have to adjust your socks accordingly. If you wear ankle high socks like me, the tongue will rub on your leg and I had a slight abrasion after my run. Nothing significant, but the longer your run the more that will be pronounced.

I have worn the PureFlow 3's previously and enjoyed the lighter feel, but with my heavy heel striking I had some issues with the lack of heel cushion. The 5's have definitely stepped that up a little and on my first run I did not experience any issues with my heels during or after my run. The heel area also features a rounding towards the back of the sole which is designed to help with joint pain. I cannot really tell from one run if that is true or not, but I will say if you are a heavy heel striker you will have to adjust a little to the feel of the shoe on that end. It isn't a big difference, but some might notice it more than others.

One of the big changes from previous models is the flexibility of the shoe. The shoe is very bendable through the mid area and as a result you get a more natural feel while running as the shoe contours to the terrain under your feet. Brooks also added a wrap-around collar to emphasize the shoes natural feel as you run. I like the collar and would love to see that applied to some of their other shoe lines as well. While you could not describer these shoes as being stability oriented, they offer a nice middle ground. I enjoyed the more foot to the ground feel as I ran. I personally do not think I could wear these shoes for longer than 10 mile runs, but I would likely focus on speed runs with these anyhow.

The PureFlow 5's come in 4 color sets. There is a disclaimer on Brooks product page that the shoe runs a little smaller than normal. They say to adjust 1/2 size. I wear a size 10, ordered a size 10 and they fit like a size 10. Obviously if you are at the extreme of a size, then you may need to consider adjusting one way or the other, but I didn't experience any problem.

Finally, lets talk price of the shoe. Perhaps this is the best aspect. I got my pair for $55 with a coupon off Brooks website. However, right now they are listing at $72 which is still very good for a good running shoe. If you are looking for a lightweight neutral shoe for running short to mid distances, these are a good option.

Rating: 3 out of 5 (adjusted due to problem with the tongue)

11/16 Update: After logging some additional miles in the shoes I have some thoughts that may change some of your opinions. First, the tongue of the shoe is a real problem if you like to wear low cut ankle high socks. The tongue is made of a more rigid plastic material and it basically hits against the front part of your ankle while you run. Because of its rigidity this does not feel good after about 6 miles or so. I recently went to the Brooks store in Seattle and was told by one of the sales people that some have been taping the top part down, but my experience with doing that has been mixed. These shoes may require socks that extend up past your ankles. Second, the shoes feel fast. The extra flexibility in the mid section is really ideal for your sprint work outs. The lightness of the shoe feels closer to a speed shoe than a neutral, but you still get better stability especially in the heel. One thing I have noticed is that the shoe runs loud. By this I mean the sound of foot striking seems to be pronounced more so than other Brooks shoes. I am not sure if this is due to the design of the sole of the shoe or what. Just an FYI.

My thoughts on Westworld - Episode 1 (SPOILER ALERT)

I love the premise of Westworld. I want Sci-Fi to go the way of Game of Thrones, because I think Sci-Fi has so much to offer as a genre. The themes and narratives are limitless and lets face it, unlike the fantasy genre, Sci-Fi represents the possible future for humanity. I think this is infinitely more exciting. Obviously HBO is banking on this fact to fill the huge void in their programming schedule for this fall since GoT is not going to be seen again until 2017. As two of my favorite geeks on Co-Optitude would likely say, Lets talk about this f*cker!

The show begins with an interview being conducted of a woman by a man. She is sitting in a dark room on a chair, naked. There is no context given at this point, but it is clear she is not a normal human being. She is asked if she knows where she is, and she responds that she is in a dream. She is asked if she has ever questioned the nature of your reality. She responds no. And this seems to be the driving conundrum you will face as a viewer as you watch the first episode of Westworld. What is the real world vs artificial? Who is good and who is bad? What is the point of all of it?

Westworld is a show based on an original movie directed by the late Michael Crichton back in the 70's. It centers on a luxury amusement park that allows people to purchase adventure in a artificial western world. Essentially they can play cowboys and indians with lifelike androids. These hosts have routines that play out according to "narratives" that the customers choose. The show introduces you to some of these "hosts" as well as the "newcomers" who enter this world to find heroic adventure or just escape reality. You are also introduced to the creators and administrators of this world as they struggle to manage their creations and maintain the experience for the customers.

One of the main differences between Michael Crichton's version of Westworld and this one is mainly about point of view. In the 70's, film the focus is on the newcomers as they enter into an artificial reality and interact with it. In Westworld, the PoV is shifted to that of the hosts and the technicians that monitor and manage the world. The distinction is important to the feel of the show and one that I feel will lead to more questions than answers as the show's creators continue to unveil its secrets. It is easy to root for the humans right? But what if you start to feel compassion for the androids? How would that make you feel about humanity. There are some themes here we have seen before in movies like the Matrix and the Terminator. I am hoping Westworld goes beyond those movies in terms of emotional depth.

As episode one moves forward, you quickly realize that something is wrong in Westworld. The hosts are not all acting according to their narratives. Their seems to be something wrong and the technicians are not able to determine the cause or the exact problem. Obviously, this is going to be a central theme of the show moving forward. For now thought the viewer is left trying to figure out who are the protagonists and antagonists. It is really not clear, and I am okay with that.

The show is really going to evolve around the idea of what does it mean to be human. Something that Sci-Fi has touched on for decades in various forms. These android hosts look real, act real, and can provide very real fantasies to the newcomers. However, they are machines created by humans to serve a purpose. What happens though when they start to act on their own accord and form their own intentions and purpose of action? This is where the show will either fail or succeed. Can it make us care about these non-humans so that we feel compassion for what they are going through. Does it make us choose a side? Perhaps we question our own humanity.

There will be violence, sex, love and hatred. Like Game of Thrones, Westworld is going to take the viewer through the emotional spectrum and leave them at the altar of despair and then do it again. It will push the envelope of what is acceptable. Already we have seen a powerful scene that features a dark mysterious character pulling one of the main hosts into a barn for nefarious purposes. These kind of themes have been explored in GoT and the media has had a field day with it. I suspect we will see the same kind of coverage, despite the fact that the hosts are not actually real people. Or are they? Hmmmmm. The potential is limitless here for discussion and emotional response.

Needless to say I am excited. The cast for this show is really powerful with some amazing actors, Anthony Hopkins anyone?!

If the writers can take this cast and produce a powerful and coherent story line, I believe we will all be hailing Westworld as the Sci-Fi version of GoT! That is something to be very excited about indeed.

Because coffee!

Coffee is like a dream that you wake up from feeling as if something amazing actually happened. Every morning I drag myself out of bed and the first thing that comes to mind is coffee. I count down the minutes until I can taste the first caffeine loaded sip hit my mouth. It empowers me and gives me hope that the rest of my day is going to be awesome. Why is coffee so good? Let me break it down for you.

First, coffee is an abundant source of energy that can be found almost anywhere. You can simply walk or drive to your local gas station, grocery store, book store, coffee house, restaurant, friend's house, street vendor for a delicious cup of java.

Second, it is the best bang for your buck. I know, I know. Starbucks continues to raise prices every year. However, as long as you steer clear of the ridiculous quadruple pump, soy latte's that do not count in my book you can get an amazing cup of coffee from some exotic place in the world and enjoy the complex flavors that a straight cup of joe will bring to your world. Just like bourbon, beer, and wine - drink it straight up no chaser. Trust me it is worth it.

Third, coffee makes breakfast that much better. I have yet to have anything for breakfast that coffee does not enhance. You want a danish? Coffee goes with that. Pancakes you say? Coffee is the perfect complement. How about eggs over easy with some turkey sausage? Yep, coffee will make it sing. Seriously, go try any breakfast dish with a coffee and I think you will agree with me.

Fourth, coffee is a great conversation stimulant. Some of us don't really need much help. However, if you want to enhance your conversation with your good friend about the latest internet happenings, coffee is going to be your best legal option. I do have to warn you to not over do the caffeinated portion of your convo or you will make it a very one sided discussion. Nobody likes a blabber mouth.

Fifth, and this is mainly for my runner friends, coffee makes run even better. Running is amazing and stimulates your mind and body. However, having some coffee before a run will really energize you and get your body moving. Dont over do it here either and do make sure you give yourself some time for a bathroom break prior to heading out.

Sixth, coffee can be enjoyed morning noon or night. It doesn't matter. Most people prefer it in the morning, but it is great for that late afternoon lull. You know the one around 3 PM everyday when your mind starts to wander and you want to just lay your head on your keyboard and snooze. I generally prefer a nice espresso at this time of the day, but any coffee type will be of assistance to you. If you love the taste of coffee and want to enjoy a nice post dinner cafe, then do it decaffeinated. All of the great taste without staying up all night.

There you have it. Undeniable proof of coffee's amazing-ness. Many places around this great country are giving away coffee today as homage to coffee's superiority over all other beverages. Go out and enjoy yourself some java today.

Running is healthy, maybe?

Like many people I know, I started running as a way to get healthier. I also wanted to feel better. I began my journey in earnest as an obese 39 year old who desperately needed to get in shape. My driver was my son more than my own personal feelings on the subject. I wanted to be a good dad and in order to keep up with a growing young boy, I felt like I needed to shed some pounds. So I began running. Mind you this was probably the 3rd or 4th time in my life that I had tried to run. i would start, keep it going for a time, then find reasons to let it go. Perhaps I just needed the right motivation. So this time I set some goals - concrete and attainable goals that turned into a 10 mile race, several half-marathons, and eventually a full marathon. I have never looked back and running is now as much part of my life as any other activity that I enjoy.

As part of my journey to become a more committed runner I have done a lot of research on the effects of running on my body. Not surprisingly it seems that not everyone thinks running is all that good for you. I mean there are always naysayers for every topic you can imagine, from coffee to video games, sides are always formed and opinions abundant. I first ran into opposition concerning long distance running with my doctor. He advised me while getting a physical prior to my first marathon that he was sure that running marathons reduced the life span of those individuals. This alarmed me initially as I was about to run my first marathon and again I was doing it to be healthier. Perhaps live a little longer. He pointed me to some research articles to see for myself. The funny thing is that when I started digging, I found evidence on both sides of the fence. The one consideration that seemed to trump all the others was that that running long distances does not lead to shorter life spans in and of itself. A proper assessment of the individual needs to be accounted for when determining how much running is healthy.

So lets start with the basis for the bad. In 2012 there was an editorial published in the British journal Heart. It was co-authored by a cardiologist who claimed in the editorial that, "excessive running may thicken the heart tissue, causing fibrosis or scarring, and this may lead to atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat. Prolonged exercise may also lead to "oxidative stress," a buildup of free radicals that may bind with cholesterol to create plaque in your arteries." This all sounds pretty bad to me. The hypothesis here is that unless done in moderation running can be a negative health factor. The immediate question that is raised by this assertion is how can this possibly apply to everyone? People have different bio-metric elements that are not being considered in this kind of study. It seems like a no-brainer that levels of good vs bad cholesterol, history of heart diseases, blood pressure, etc. must be taken into account when determining the impact of any exercise on the body. This would apply to short term or long term studies. No such considerations were made in this case.

Fortunately, the scientific community has continued to study the effects of endurance running over the long term. In 2014 a report was published by Duk-chul Lee on the wonderful health effects that running has on the human body. That study found that even modest amounts of running can lead to a 30 percent drop in all-cause mortality risk and an average increase of three years in lifespan and that persistent runners had the most significant benefits, with 29 percent and 50 percent lower risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, compared with never-runners. All of that sounds good! Well at the time of the study the authors cautioned that they need to do more research to determine if there is an upper limit to the positive benefits of running.

Fast forward to 2016. The same authors of the 2014 study held a symposium titled "Optimal Dose of Running for Health: Is More Better or Worse?" There were two studies conducted as part of this symposium. Lee (yes that Lee from the prior study) concluded that more is not worse, but it may not be better either. However, in the study conducted by Paul Williams, there is evidence that runners averaging 40+ miles per week (pretty serious) were 26% less likely to to develop coronary heart disease. This certainly seems good on its face. The main difference between the two studies is purely based on number of runners studied. Williams research followed over 156,000 runners; a far larger sample size than Lee's study.

So here are some interesting effects that were seen from these studies. Runners can have up to 50% larger hearts. That is more muscle to pump blood to those working muscles. I have certainly felt the impact of this. Since my running has ventured into the 20 to 30 mile per week range I have noticed increased muscle mass and decreased recovery times from run to run. Endurance runners also tend to have more abundant capillaries to assist with circulation. I no longer am prone to some of the lower extremity circulation issues I was dealing with before taking on running more seriously. So I can attest to this fact. Also, runners resting heart rates are lower which means less stress on the heart even while resting. I don't know about you, but I like what I am reading here.

Obviously, we all must make sure to listen to our bodies. There is little question that running can have significant impacts on your body. This is especially true for the feet, ankles, knees and hips. It is important that you get sufficient rest to let your body heal, especially after hard workouts. Wearing the proper shoes and paying attention to weather conditions is a must. Runners must hydrate and make sure they are getting proper nutrition, especially when running longer distances. Ignore these tips at the risk of turning something helpful and positive into something else entirely. Just like most things in life, there is a right and wrong way to run healthy. I recommend checking with your physician before starting a running regiment as you need to at least be aware of the risks associated with your body.

That being said, when you look at the overall health benefits of running at any distance, it seems like a no-brainer. Running should be something that every able-bodied person should at least attempt. Above and beyond all the wonderful health benefits of running is the psychological benefits. I have little doubt that my self-confidence and self-awareness have been enhanced due to running. Just go for a run and you will see what I am talking about. Physically you may be tired, but your mind and attitude will be on the up and up. In fact, I love to run when I am tired or depressed. It is the best way to inject energy and better thoughts into my world.  For the love of the run, I am better!

Here are some good links to articles about the positive relationship between running (specifically endurance running) and good health. Go check it out for yourself.

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3