Phedippidations

Today’s episode is not about my love of this sport; it’s about how to help others to fall in love with this sport.  Running is an activity that fellow runners, like you and I, gather pleasure from.  We look forward to these feelings of pleasure every day when we lace up our shoes. To the non-runner, or someone who finds any physical activity abhorrent, this love of running is an alien emotion.  These sufferers on THE COUCH OF DOOM consider the act of running as equivalent to the act of smashing a brick into ones forehead: it neither seems like a good idea, nor would it bring pleasure to do so. So, how does one fall in love with running? Once you start paying more attention to your body in motion, you’ll begin to feel the urge to take that daily break out on the roads.  You’ll begin to feel an infatuation with eating and living healthier, to enhance and improve your daily performance.  You might even start subscribing to a few running related podcasts…especially as you start to realize that you could run f

The story behind the swoosh is much bigger than that of just Nike and its corporate policy of treating it’s workers as slaves: it’s a story that speaks to the working conditions of many of the products that you and I use every day, from iPhones to Droids, from large screen TV’s to these new tablet computers Steve Jobs keeps whining about.  What is the morally correct thing to do when we learn the truth about the working conditions for the people who make all this stuff we carry and use?  I can’t answer that for you, that’s something you have to figure out for yourself. I’m not here to talk philosophy with you; remember: I am just a doofus.  But I think that the very least any of us can do is to LEARN about what’s going on in places like Indonesia: just so we can answer the question, as athletes, regarding this aspect of the running shoes you and I wear every day. Think about it: right now you and I select our shoes based on fit, style, functionality, weight, price and reputation….what if we were to add to

Greetings fellow canines; my name is Indiana Jones; I am NOT the fictional American Adventurer and Archeologist Dr. Henry Walton Jones Junior created by film maker George Lucas and portrayed by Harrison Ford and River Phoenix; I am the REAL Indiana Jones, a pure bred lemon beagle puppy born one year ago on March 28th, 2009. My full name, in fact, is Indiana Jones Walker…of the human family Walker; they being the creatures who serve me in every way and are the best-est family a dog could ever have. This is my house, I live here with Mathew, John, my Mom and my Dad: Steve.  Dad is a runner; but he’s not as good a runner as I am. I love to run, especially after bunny rabbits…and we have at least two living in our yard.  I can smell them every day.  Dad doesn’t let me run after them, sometimes he let’s me run through the yard sniffing for their trail.  He doesn’t seem to be able to smell them the way I can. I can smell really well.  My nose has 200 million scent receptors compared to Dad’s nose, which has onl

In this episode I review the abstract of a study released last March by Dr. Depina Kardara and his team at the Athens Medical School,Hippokration Hospital titled “Marathon Runners Have Increased Aortic Stiffness”. It is important to note that my skepticism with this study is related to the implied suggestion that training for and running a marathon is considered extreme exercise.  Maybe it is, or maybe after having run 21 of them…the last not much more than a controlled crawl, I see the marathon as an endurance event that homo sapiens have evolved to run as a means of hunting and gathering; chasing down our prey with persistence.  As we listen to the results of this research, we need to understand the severity of the impact, and consider other factors which might invalidate the results; remember: 25,000 runners just finished the Boston Marathon a few weeks ago, not to mention the hundreds of thousands who will run such a distance this year; and yet the sample size for the test group in this study was only 4

I had come to Hopkinton Massachusetts to run the 114th Boston Marathon, and found myself in the early miles facing the eventual breakdown of my body.  From the joyful celebration of a New England town, I ran myself into the unchartered land of exhaustion and pain…and through modern technology I broadcasted my suffering live through my blog and social networking sites.  I wasn’t doing that to show off or incite pity, I did it because I wanted to share my experience with you in hopes that you might want to run this race one day, and perform better than I did. I know this course very well, it’s an old friend that I’ve visited throughout my youth and into my middle age.  I have experienced great things on this course, witnessed legendary athletes run with artistic form, felt intense ecstasy and crushing agony and run this race even when I had nothing left within me to get me to that finish line: but somehow, I always have. For all my efforts in trying to distract myself to finish this race, for trying to go, in

The Czech Locomotive, Emil Zatopek, 3 time gold medalist in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki once said “If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon.”The qualifying times of the Boston Marathon call us to experience a different life.  It is not so important that we can meet the standards and run a BQ; it’s the whole idea that there is this threshold for excellence out there: a target by which we can measure our own performance. I stand by the belief that anyone who runs and finishes a marathon, no matter what their time, has demonstrated an ability that marks them as athletically gifted within the human race.  This is not to denigrate the importance or accomplishment of running or walking shorter distances such as a 5 or 10K road race; but in a world where only point one of one percent of our species has ever run an organized and official marathon road race to completion: the accomplishment deserves acknowledgement and admiration. But if you’ve qualified to

In this episode of The Goofy Little Podcast, I run the first 18 miles of the Boston Marathon course and I’ll let you know if there’s anything new to look for on the road before you arrive to run this thing. If you’ve traveled from afar, you might want to find other things to do with your time in Boston besides driving out to the suburbs to check out the course.  That’s where this episode comes in, as I’ll do my best to describe what I’m seeing: and what you’ll see as you run the Boston Marathon. I’ll also give you some recommendations for things to do while you’re in Beantown, and finish with some history about the spot where we begin our run towards Boston: the starting line of the 114th Boston Marathon. Show Links: Call (617) 368-5080 for more information about the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery tour:  The song “Charlie on the M.T.A.” was performed by The Barleycorn from Ireland off their album “A Song for Ireland” released in 1995 by digitalpressure/The Dolphin Group.

Tarzan Brown was an amazing athlete who lived a hard, impoverished life but faced the world with dignity and strength.  There are so many legendary and half-true mysteries about the man and his career as a runner that his many accomplishments might seem less interesting: but above all know this: that Tarzan Brown was a free spirit, a man who loved to run and his very life honored his brave tribal ancestors; the Narragansett people, one of the leading tribes of New England with a culture that has existed for thirty thousand years. His Algonquian name was Attuck-Quock-Wussete which means “Deerfoot”; he is a legend in our sport and one of the many reasons why the Boston Marathon is the greatest of all Marathons. Show Links: “Indian On The Mountain” by Red-Hawk 

I like eggs. Show Links: “Final Broadcast” by the Statistics

Professor Daniel Leiberman’s (and his team) paper “Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners” looks into how and why human beings can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes.  In it, he proves that experienced, habitual barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on our heels and land with a forefoot or midfoot strike.    Most of their research looks into the mechanics of different kinds of foot strikes.  He shows that most forefoot and some midfoot strikes, when running barefoot, do not cause sudden, momentary and major force impacts which occur when you land on your heel barefoot.   In a previous episode of Phedippidations, I talked about how Professors Lieberman and Dennis Bramble have shown us that homo sapiens have evolved, and thus are born to run…and with this study “Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners” Professor Lieberman and his team have shown us that we should seriously reconsider the way that we ru

When you run, you’re body is under stress, and that causes your body to increase the levels of certain chemicals to kinda even things out.  These chemicals, in turn, may lead to an increase in gastrointestinal problems in distance running.   Our bodies are incredible machines, but while evolution has done a wonderful job of allow up to go forth and multiply; there are some sniggly little issues which come up from time to time to prevent us from going forth at our full potential.    Gastrointestinal Problems in Distance Running are a lot more common than you might otherwise believe, and there’s a thirty to eighty-three percent chance that you are currently, or will one day suffer some kind of an issue with your digestive system that will slow you down or keep you off the road.   Show Links: “Die Alone” was by Ingrid Michaelson:

I’m never going to be asked to give a speech in front of a crowd of fellow runners.  It’s not going to happen; and by saying that I’m not implying that the absent request is a travesty; there’s a good reason why I’ll never be asked: because while you and I are friends and there are at least ten of you listening right now: generally speaking I am not what you call: popular.   I’m not very well known, and never expect to be burdened with fame…not enough at least to be asked to speak to a crowd of runners at the 2010 John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo - Runners Seminar.   To be honest, that’s probably a good thing.  I think you know that I tend to be a bit of a rogue; you never know when I’m going to go off on a goofy comedy riff or a screaming anger-thon…quite honestly, when I clip on this microphone I’m not even sure what’s going to happen…so, it’s probably in John Hancock’s best interest to suppress my speech at this and every Boston Marathon expo.   As I was thinking about this, while out on a long run (wh

Today’s episode is the first to talk about the phenomenon of Ultra Marathons. There is obviously a lot more to this topic than I can fit in a single goofy little podcast, and as a homework assignment to you and myself, I recommend that we pick up a copy of the book “Ultra-Marathoning: The Next Challenge” by Tom Osler and Ed Dodd published by World Publications. The book appears to be out of print, but you can still pick up a few used copies over at Amazon.com. I’m intrigued about training for and running an ultra someday. This seems like a much different kind of race than I’m familiar with, and the idea of running 50 to 100 miles or kilometers seems to be an amazing test of the human spirit, and an accomplishment that: as a distance runner, I’d like to try. Human beings are evolved to be long distance runners; and an ultra-marathon seems like the natural next step progression for anyone who has conquered the marathon and is looking for a new adventure and challenge…out there, on the road. Show

In his essay, IS RUNNING A RELIGION, Dr. George Sheehan makes that point that running is a place, not a system of belief.  Running gives us an opportunity to renew ourselves while we’re out there on the road: both psychologically and spiritually. I’ve heard that phrase before: “Running is your religion” and it makes about as much sense as the phrases “cooking is your politics” or “singing is your manifesto”.  Every time you go out for a run, you are given an opportunity to commune with yourself, with your thoughts and with your God.  The sins of yesterday are forgiven on the roads; that extra slice of pizza you couldn’t help inhale; the frustration turned outward anger you expressed at someone who didn’t deserve the outlash is suppressed, your soul is made calm, your body serves it’s good purpose…running takes you to a place that cannot be defined by latitude and longitude. As you run, you develop the deepest commitment; the most serious mind…your mind begins to focus on “where you are and what you are doing

I know I’ve said this before, but I want you to understand that I read all of your email.  This problem I have with answering email is somewhat embarrassing for me; and when I starting having these problems…I considered not saying anything about it here on the show. I thought that for me to tell you that my inbox was overflowing, and that I couldn’t possibly answer every email I received would be a fairly vain, narcissistic thing to do.  But then, I realized that for me NOT to say anything about it, and still being unable to dedicate myself to the task of responding to every message sent to me: would be kind of arrogant and untruthful. My Grandmother, Helena Viola Walker, daughter of James and Mary MacDonald…taught me the importance of being truthful.  It doesn’t matter if your filling out a job application, speaking with friends or typing something on Facebook…you have to be truthful; especially with friends: because they will always be able to see through you, and if you’re dishonest, few will ever trust wh

This episode begins with another ice cold swim in Boston Harbor with friends, and a stated theory that will become my “law of thermodynamic refreshment”. Because athletes prefer to run distance races in more comfortable temperatures; the Spring and Fall are often preferred seasons for marathons.  Today, in January, we’re getting a couple of inches of snow, and the air temperature wind chill is 10 degrees below zero F, or minutes 23 degrees C; making it a bad day to schedule 114th running of the Boston Marathon or any other 26.2 mile road race. But come Spring, when the flora and fauna of the Northern Hemisphere begins again to flourish: marathoners around the world will toe the line at their races and run in relative comfort, for the most part. Today I want to list for some of the Spring Marathons, scheduled for the spring time: and while this will not be an all inclusive list, it should give you some ideas for races you might want to run as the March equinox draws nigh. Show Links:L Street Brownie Don Bravo

This is my first podcast episode of 2010, and my second episode regarding my intentions for running a sub Four Hour Marathon in the Autumn of this year. Endurance training and Aerobic development are critical elements in good marathon training program.  You have to put in the time without worried about the mileage, and you have to develop a base from which to launch yourself at your goal. This is the year I’m going to break 4 hours in a marathon NOT because I’ll be physically fit to do so, but because I’ll have trained carefully, with patience and dedication: when my friend John Ellis tells me to go out and run for an hour up and down the hills of Oxford: I’ll do it…I may not enjoy it at first but once I’ve got a good and healthy base, once my endurance is up to the point where running 26.2 miles non-stop isn’t such a big deal anymore: I can work on my stamina and then go into a taper period in preparation for the day that I’ll run a marathon in 3 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds; or less. Show Links: “Run Aw

Personally, I’ve never really needed the changing of the calendar year as a reason to set and keep a resolution: so any promises I’m going to make are probably a continuation of what I’ve been working towards for the past few years; although I do have a few running-specific resolutions that I’ve set and intend to see through.2009 is finally over and 2010 is upon us.  The phrase “Out with the old, in with the new” creates images of hope for a new year, where war and violence come to an end, where the hungry are fed, the sick are healed and the global economic crisis is resolved.  Albert Einstein said it best when he said “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow”.  The New Year gives us all a clean slate from which to re-create parts of our live for all the roles we play in life.  Here’s a wish that the runners in us, have an injury free, PR setting 2010, and that we all enjoy the happiness of a year in motion.Happy New Year. Show Links:“Maybe You Should Drive” by Craig Cardiff

In the spirit of all those old cheesy classic television holiday variety show specials by the Osmond Brothers, Bob Hope, Donny and Marie, and the Smothers Brothers: I present for you my first Holiday PodCast Variety Show Special complete with special guests, a musical act, and comedy sketches created to make your season merry and bright. I don’t expect this episode to become a holiday classic, but it will keep you company as you get a long run in on a cold winters day! Special appearances by: John Michael Walker, Terry Higgins, Gabby Sherman, Steve Chopper, Kevin Gwin, Toni Harvey, Adam Tinkoff, Mat Chasey, Nic Wong, Dan Medeiros, John Ellis, Joe Steindl, Lynn Runner, and Gordon Scott. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from my home to yours! Show Links: “Jingle Bells” by Skid Row (made available by the Podsafe Music Network) “Joy to the World” by Hairy Larry “Joy to the World” by Two Harps And a special gift to all by Gordon Scott:

Browning Ross was a talented runner, coach, spokesman, leader and proponent of distance running; at a time when there weren’t too many runners in the world who could actually finish a marathon. It was through his hard work and passion, that road races in the United States are so popular today.  He made it his mission to spread the word about long distance running, and create the buzz which would lead to the Great Running Boom of the 1970’s.   Also, rest in peace Larry “Legend” Olsen: coach, leader, mentor, and fellow runner.   Show Links: Please support Sharon’s run to fight blood cancer: Larry’s last race: “Go the Distance” by Danny the Multitracker (aka Danny Fong) from Ontario, Canada.