Overthinking my Running

I'm the poster boy for how to screw up the simple activity of running!  Three years of foot injuries beginning with Plantar Fasciitis leading to two rounds of broken foot bones is the result.

A few years ago I decided to change my running style.  I was caught up in the barefoot/minimalist running craze.  I wanted to be one of the cool kids.  Ignoring the fact that I had been running relatively injury-free for over 25 years, I totally absorbed myself in making the transition.  Never mind that there was really nothing wrong with my running style.

It began with 'Born to Run'.  This is the story of Caballo Blanco and his experience with the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyon region of Mexico.  These guys run basically barefoot up and down treacherous mountains.  They've been doing it for eons!  Great book...I took it too seriously to heart.

Next up was the theory that the crucial advantage humans have over every other mammal is that we can out run them.  We're not the fastest but we have the most endurance.  Again without any shoes to speak of humans can 'run all day' tracking animals and basically wearing them out.  Lots of Googling, documentaries and books on the subject.

With that spinning around in my head I began the transition from heel strike to forefoot running.  And the trouble began almost immediately.  I was ignorant to it, or too stubborn to stop.

At the time we were living in Wasaga Beach and had the benefit of miles of hard-packed sandy beach to run on.  I figured that running barefoot on the hard-but-soft surface would be a good way to speed the transition to forefoot running.  With my existing running shoes at that time, I made the abrupt transition to forefoot running.  I figured that the combination of beach and road running would get me through the transition. Unfortunately I went too fast.

Running is inherently a high-impact activity.  Bones, joints, muscles and tendons all take a beating. After 25 years of training my body to run a certain way, the transition to the forefoot style was simply too fast.  The basic difference between forefoot running and heel strike running are the muscles and tendons that are affected.  They are different.  Landing on the forefoot stretches the calf, Achilles and Plantar muscles and tendons differently than in the heel strike style.  Plus landing on the forefoot puts increased pressure on the much smaller bones in the forefoot area of the foot.  The injury to the Plantar in my right foot combined with my move to running shoes with less and less support contributed to the foot injuries I experienced next. The injuries affected the right side of my body:  all the injuries have been to my right foot...I've had no similar problems with my left foot.

Plain and simple, I've been overthinking my running.  Enough already!

Shortly after I published this blog post I received a really good article from my good friend Dan Cumming (he of Running In the Zone and Reggae Marathon).  In the article was a really, really good video on running technique for distance runners.  I watched it immediately and will be practicing this once I get back to running.  Injury Free!

I love running.  I want to keep running for a few more years. Yes I want to be that old running guy shuffling along with a grin on my face. Once these broken bones heal again I'll be back to the running style I started with all those years ago.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

How Content Generates Leads

Return On Investment (ROI) and Return on Marketing Invenstment (ROMI) are deeply ingrained now in the Marketing lexicon.  It was always like in the Direct Marketing days...pre-digital marketing.  Now that same ROI expectation has been applied to all marketing activities.  CEO's now demand that their CMO's forecast ROI...it's not good enough to talk the Brand Awareness Story.  

In many companies still Marketing (creating demand) is separate from Sales (making money). Digital Marketing marries the two:  Content created by Marketing (blogs, white papers, marketing communication, etc.) can be shared by the Sales Rep who wants to use Social Media more effectively.  Here's an infographic that illustrates how that can be done: 

I work with companies that want to improve the effectiveness of their entire marketing and sales operation. I help them find digital marketing experts who know how to create and deploy content;  I help them find and train Sales Reps who know how to take advantage of Social Media.  

  

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Chris Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

I could complain about a lot of things...

I could complain about the weather.  Here in Toronto this is one of the more 'Wintery' seasons we've experienced in quite some time.  It's been cold, snowy and generally 'Winter-like'.  Toronto for the past few years has in fact experienced some very mild conditions.  We've been spoiled. A few years ago when we had our place near Collingwood and I commuted each week into Toronto I was always amazed by the lack of snow and warmer temperatures in Toronto.  I left 'Winter' and traveled south to much milder conditions in Toronto.

I could complain about my re-injured foot.  I did it again!  Stress fractures in my right foot.  Again.  Different bones this time but 'broken bones' just the same. And this time it 'just happened'.  I swear!  Sally claims it's because I was back to intense work outs and while she may be right I think it's a function of the forefoot style that I've favored over the past 3 years.  Prior to that I ran injury free.  Since then no end to the foot injuries.  I think once this recovery is complete I'll go back to the running style that got me this far.  Heel Strike here I come again!

I could complain about the spare tire.  Yes I'm carrying a 'little extra weight' again this winter. I've tried to reduce the salty snacks but every once in a while this winter on a cold, snowy Saturday afternoon snoozing in front of the TV I enjoyed a cold Guinness or two with a bowl of Corn Chips.  I tried air-popped pop corn but the toppings negated the benefits.  Stretchy waits pants have been my friends.  Especially the jeans! Back to running soon!



Really though I don't have a lot to complain about.  I'm still in good health (the foot injury notwithstanding), have a fabulous wife and great kids. Once winter recedes we'll all be complaining about the summer heat and humidity.  And this foot injury will heal in time. I fully expect to be back running soon and as we runners know, running solves everything.  Well maybe not...there is the nagging issue of carrying too much weight around my middle...see, I do have something to complain about after all!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Dressing up to go running in the Polar Vortex

It sure feels like it this winter in Toronto!

After 6 years living along the shores of Georgian Bay running regularly on snowy roads with temperatures and wind chills well below freezing, I thought the move back to Toronto a couple of years ago meant those running days were over.  Wrong!  Now getting out for an early morning means dressing up in multiple layers just to keep cool...it's just not possible to fully warm up at the super cold temperatures we've experienced this winter.

My base layer is all polypropeline.  Tight to the skin socks, tights, top and balaclava. All this is designed to keep what little heat I generate close to my skin.

Layer two starts with a second pair of socks that pull up to mid-calf, my regular running tights, a fleece jacket and a fleece hat over the balaclava.

Layer three on the really cold days sees me pulling on a pair of windpants.  Otherwise it's just a zip-up running shell.

For my fingers I go with mittens.  I find these keep my fingers warmer than gloves.

Finally, I apply a thin coat of vaseline on my cheeks, lips and around my nose...anywhere there is exposed skin.  All of this to go our for a 'fun run' at Polar Vortex weather conditions!  No wonder non-runners think runners are crazy.

I suppose it would be easier to go to a gym and run indoors on a treadmill.  My sister and her husband do that during the winter months but I've never been a fan.  And now that we live in an apartment that would be totally impractical and extremely noisy for downstairs neighbours.  So it's outside I go.

Until next time...