2010/04/26
2010/04/21
One (more) Reason to Go Jogging
Last Monday I had a photo shoot with Diane Orrett for Kansai Scene magazine (follow the link for more information). It was the first time I had an assignment like this lined up (mind you, I have officially shot events, but never portraits) and I guess I felt a little more nervous than I thought since I woke up at 4:30 and could not fall asleep again. After an hour of tergiversations, I got out of bed, put on sweat pants and a fleece, and went for a run.
I use the word run here because from the beginning, I intended this outing to be a stress reliever, and thus I ran at a fast pace, for me, right from the start. Never underestimate the power of jogging/running to relief stress. I guess it must work with other forms of exercise, but when you decide to exert your body, it tends to relax your mind somehow, or at least to make you forget about other stuff. Yes, it is escapism, but in a healthy way.
Right out the building, I picked a fast pace that I kept for a while. After about a kilometer, it became it a little hard to keep up that pace, but I kept at it. And at almost exactly the 2km mark (and I know thanks to mapmyrun.com), I saw the Sun pierce through the cloud cover and the canopy of cherry blossom trees (almost no more flowers), and I heard an internal voice telling me that everything would be fine. I know it sound pretty metaphysical, but I deeply believed that thought and knew things would be alright. Not long after, I reached a temple where I like to meet a centenarian rooted friend, paused for greetings, and continued on my run.
Having started at such a pace, of course I had slow down later in the run, down to my usual if not slower pace. But that was not important at all. What counted was that through physical exercise, I had calmed my soul, and then felt much more prepared for what was ahead. And the photo shoot did go well. Not perfect, of course, there are still heaps of things I need keep in mind and to learn. But I got there much more relaxed and I'm sure it had an impact on the final results. I got an email from the magazine's graphic designer tonight saying that the shots were very good, my own self-criticism notwithstanding.
Of course I can only talk from personal experience, but I really believe that physical exercise can relief stress (there are numerous studies out there that validate my opinion, but reading and experimenting are two different things). I feel that jogging is the best exercise in this case for two reasons: first you can go jogging pretty much any time and anywhere.
Secondly, perhaps on a more profound level, jogging is what humans have been doing for aeons. Jogging is what allowed us to either evade or hunt stronger and faster animals. We are enduring and persistent. How many animals can jog more than 10 kilometers (some of us, not me, can do it for a few hundreds)? There is something primordial about jogging, I think, that is deeply rooted in our entity. When we are out there pounding the ground, while consciousness is focusing on a purely physical endeavor, our reptilian brains take over, allowing our 'superior' neural networks to relax and attain a desired equilibrium, not unlike Archimedes when he took his legendary bath and shouted 'Eureka' (I don't care for baths personally, although Japanese hot springs are pretty nice).
Of course, on most days when I head out the door for jogging, I am mainly concerned about my physical health. But always remember that jogging will also benefit your psyche. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be healthy in the mind than in the body, and jogging takes care of both, so to me, it is the perfect friend to my desired long and healthy life.
I use the word run here because from the beginning, I intended this outing to be a stress reliever, and thus I ran at a fast pace, for me, right from the start. Never underestimate the power of jogging/running to relief stress. I guess it must work with other forms of exercise, but when you decide to exert your body, it tends to relax your mind somehow, or at least to make you forget about other stuff. Yes, it is escapism, but in a healthy way.
Right out the building, I picked a fast pace that I kept for a while. After about a kilometer, it became it a little hard to keep up that pace, but I kept at it. And at almost exactly the 2km mark (and I know thanks to mapmyrun.com), I saw the Sun pierce through the cloud cover and the canopy of cherry blossom trees (almost no more flowers), and I heard an internal voice telling me that everything would be fine. I know it sound pretty metaphysical, but I deeply believed that thought and knew things would be alright. Not long after, I reached a temple where I like to meet a centenarian rooted friend, paused for greetings, and continued on my run.
Having started at such a pace, of course I had slow down later in the run, down to my usual if not slower pace. But that was not important at all. What counted was that through physical exercise, I had calmed my soul, and then felt much more prepared for what was ahead. And the photo shoot did go well. Not perfect, of course, there are still heaps of things I need keep in mind and to learn. But I got there much more relaxed and I'm sure it had an impact on the final results. I got an email from the magazine's graphic designer tonight saying that the shots were very good, my own self-criticism notwithstanding.
Of course I can only talk from personal experience, but I really believe that physical exercise can relief stress (there are numerous studies out there that validate my opinion, but reading and experimenting are two different things). I feel that jogging is the best exercise in this case for two reasons: first you can go jogging pretty much any time and anywhere.
Secondly, perhaps on a more profound level, jogging is what humans have been doing for aeons. Jogging is what allowed us to either evade or hunt stronger and faster animals. We are enduring and persistent. How many animals can jog more than 10 kilometers (some of us, not me, can do it for a few hundreds)? There is something primordial about jogging, I think, that is deeply rooted in our entity. When we are out there pounding the ground, while consciousness is focusing on a purely physical endeavor, our reptilian brains take over, allowing our 'superior' neural networks to relax and attain a desired equilibrium, not unlike Archimedes when he took his legendary bath and shouted 'Eureka' (I don't care for baths personally, although Japanese hot springs are pretty nice).
Of course, on most days when I head out the door for jogging, I am mainly concerned about my physical health. But always remember that jogging will also benefit your psyche. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be healthy in the mind than in the body, and jogging takes care of both, so to me, it is the perfect friend to my desired long and healthy life.
2010/04/12
Morning Runs and Motivation
These days I usually go jogging in the morning. My work starts in the afternoon, and I find that jogging in the morning allows me to be more productive, as otherwise I often just stay in bed or do nothing constructive in front of the computer.
It was pretty hard to get motivated to go running this morning. Actually, it's the case on many mornings. And it's like that for most people, including olympians. We are not the only ones who would rather stay in bed some days. But successful people dig within themselves and motivate themselves to a goal, and there is no reason why anyone can't do it.
What got me motivated this morning, actually, was this blog. Here I am, pretentious and all, writing about something I don't even excel at, telling people to do something that is challenging. If I can't get my oversized rear end out of bed for a run, I'd be the biggest hypocrite out there.
And as is usually the case, once outside my earlier resistance quickly vanished, and I felt good jogging. The switch happened rather quickly this morning, just as the second song on my music player was finishing, and the first song is very short, just an intro really (DJ Champion's Resistance if you care to know). Before the run, I had decided not to go very long today, just a warm up for a possibly longer outing tomorrow or Thursday. And because I could find my rhythm so quickly, I decided to up the tempo and go for a speed run (well, fast for me).
I took a different course from usual. I have several routes I often take, sometimes with little variations, and this morning I followed the general direction of a regular 6 or 10k course, but took different streets and ran along a bicycle path I never use. In the beginning, there was quite a bit of traffic next to it, so the air wasn't that good, but as it is long, straight and flat, it worked out good for my intense training objective. I then prolonged the course wanting a chance to maybe meet my wife on her way to work (her office is very near our place). In then end, according to mapmyrun.com, I ran just over 7k.
I sweated profusely because of my harder-than-usual efforts, but also because I was wearing a fleece, which proved perhaps too warm in these spring temperatures. I thought it might be too much before the run, but for some reason I didn't feel like wearing a light jacket. This had the positive outcome that like a boxer in training, it helped me burn some fat.
All in all, the run felt great, even if before I hard a time getting out there. And honestly speaking, it's almost like that, for me at least. It's hard to get going, but once I'm on trail, I usually enjoy it. And this is as true when I go jogging in the morning like today, or when I bring my running gear to work and run back home.
It was pretty hard to get motivated to go running this morning. Actually, it's the case on many mornings. And it's like that for most people, including olympians. We are not the only ones who would rather stay in bed some days. But successful people dig within themselves and motivate themselves to a goal, and there is no reason why anyone can't do it.
What got me motivated this morning, actually, was this blog. Here I am, pretentious and all, writing about something I don't even excel at, telling people to do something that is challenging. If I can't get my oversized rear end out of bed for a run, I'd be the biggest hypocrite out there.
And as is usually the case, once outside my earlier resistance quickly vanished, and I felt good jogging. The switch happened rather quickly this morning, just as the second song on my music player was finishing, and the first song is very short, just an intro really (DJ Champion's Resistance if you care to know). Before the run, I had decided not to go very long today, just a warm up for a possibly longer outing tomorrow or Thursday. And because I could find my rhythm so quickly, I decided to up the tempo and go for a speed run (well, fast for me).
I took a different course from usual. I have several routes I often take, sometimes with little variations, and this morning I followed the general direction of a regular 6 or 10k course, but took different streets and ran along a bicycle path I never use. In the beginning, there was quite a bit of traffic next to it, so the air wasn't that good, but as it is long, straight and flat, it worked out good for my intense training objective. I then prolonged the course wanting a chance to maybe meet my wife on her way to work (her office is very near our place). In then end, according to mapmyrun.com, I ran just over 7k.
I sweated profusely because of my harder-than-usual efforts, but also because I was wearing a fleece, which proved perhaps too warm in these spring temperatures. I thought it might be too much before the run, but for some reason I didn't feel like wearing a light jacket. This had the positive outcome that like a boxer in training, it helped me burn some fat.
All in all, the run felt great, even if before I hard a time getting out there. And honestly speaking, it's almost like that, for me at least. It's hard to get going, but once I'm on trail, I usually enjoy it. And this is as true when I go jogging in the morning like today, or when I bring my running gear to work and run back home.
2010/04/10
If Stu chews shoes, should Stu choose the shoes he chews?
I don't know the answer to this tongue twister. However, one thing I do know is the importance of selecting the correct shoe for jogging. Of course you can run in any shoes, but running shoes are designed for the kind of impact related to jogging, offer proper cushioning and are lighter than multisports.
I remember buying my first pairs of jogging shoes. It was early March in 2002, just before joining the Nagoya H3 St-Patrick's run (I remember because I had to drink beer from them)! At that time I didn't know anything about shoes, and after trying out a few pairs, I was lucky to select a model that worked out well for me. At the time, I had decided that since I was in Japan, it'd be good to buy a local brand. The only Japanese company I knew was Mizuno, and for many years, I continued to buy those because they fitted my feet well. But a few years ago, I guess when I started running more, all of a sudden the new models didn't feel comfortable and I since switched to Asics. Whether you prefer Saucony, Puma, Reebok or any other brand, they are all good and I couldn't say that one is better than the other, it's just a matter of preference.
What I do suggest is for you to go to a store that specializes in running to buy the shoes, especially for your first pair. Yes, it might be a little more expensive, although check out for last year's models, shoes don't evolve very much, no matter what the ads might say. In a running store, you will find qualified sales people who can guide you through your purchase. Where we spend our money is one of our last remaining power in society, and by buying in a running store, you are most likely supporting people who actually enjoy running, and often staff are serious amateurs who will appreciate your support. Proper running stores often have a foot scanner to check out your foot shape. Whether you have low, average or high arches, they can recommend the best fit. Prior to going, you can also take the wet test to know your basic shape. Do try different pairs, especially across brands, to find the shoe that feels best. They should feel comfortable from the get go. As with other shoes, they will stretch a little as you break them in. Remember to wear sport socks when going.
Personally, I don't go cheap with the shoes I buy, even if I'm not such a serious runner. As shoes last me over a year, the cost on a weekly or monthly basis is quite small. Think about how much you spend on restaurants, fashion, comic books, CDs, cosmetics and other non-essentials (but enjoyable!) per year and the price of good pair of shoes becomes not very relevant. On top it, they'll make you feel good and perhaps even motivate you to go out jogging. But for your first pair, I suggest not spending too much, because let's face it, many people who start running don't keep at it.
The good news is that shoes are really the only equipment you actually need to go jogging. Compared to gym subscriptions, snowboard or golf, jogging is one of the cheapest sport. Yes, over the years I have acquired other equipment such as tights (a present and I don't always wear them), backpack with water bladder (useful on longer trail runs to also carry my camera), pedometer (used twice), running socks (can't notice any real difference), but really, the only equipment I really need are the shoes. All the other stuff is not essential.
And this simplicity is one of the things I enjoy the most about jogging. Anywhere (countryside, Saipan, Korea, Montreal) and any time [hangover mornings (like this morning), after work, between classes], if I have my shoes with me, I am ready to go. Unlike swimming pools, the streets and trails are never closed for the night or for holidays, and I can go whenever and wherever I want. And that, to me, is true freedom.
I remember buying my first pairs of jogging shoes. It was early March in 2002, just before joining the Nagoya H3 St-Patrick's run (I remember because I had to drink beer from them)! At that time I didn't know anything about shoes, and after trying out a few pairs, I was lucky to select a model that worked out well for me. At the time, I had decided that since I was in Japan, it'd be good to buy a local brand. The only Japanese company I knew was Mizuno, and for many years, I continued to buy those because they fitted my feet well. But a few years ago, I guess when I started running more, all of a sudden the new models didn't feel comfortable and I since switched to Asics. Whether you prefer Saucony, Puma, Reebok or any other brand, they are all good and I couldn't say that one is better than the other, it's just a matter of preference.
What I do suggest is for you to go to a store that specializes in running to buy the shoes, especially for your first pair. Yes, it might be a little more expensive, although check out for last year's models, shoes don't evolve very much, no matter what the ads might say. In a running store, you will find qualified sales people who can guide you through your purchase. Where we spend our money is one of our last remaining power in society, and by buying in a running store, you are most likely supporting people who actually enjoy running, and often staff are serious amateurs who will appreciate your support. Proper running stores often have a foot scanner to check out your foot shape. Whether you have low, average or high arches, they can recommend the best fit. Prior to going, you can also take the wet test to know your basic shape. Do try different pairs, especially across brands, to find the shoe that feels best. They should feel comfortable from the get go. As with other shoes, they will stretch a little as you break them in. Remember to wear sport socks when going.
Personally, I don't go cheap with the shoes I buy, even if I'm not such a serious runner. As shoes last me over a year, the cost on a weekly or monthly basis is quite small. Think about how much you spend on restaurants, fashion, comic books, CDs, cosmetics and other non-essentials (but enjoyable!) per year and the price of good pair of shoes becomes not very relevant. On top it, they'll make you feel good and perhaps even motivate you to go out jogging. But for your first pair, I suggest not spending too much, because let's face it, many people who start running don't keep at it.
The good news is that shoes are really the only equipment you actually need to go jogging. Compared to gym subscriptions, snowboard or golf, jogging is one of the cheapest sport. Yes, over the years I have acquired other equipment such as tights (a present and I don't always wear them), backpack with water bladder (useful on longer trail runs to also carry my camera), pedometer (used twice), running socks (can't notice any real difference), but really, the only equipment I really need are the shoes. All the other stuff is not essential.
And this simplicity is one of the things I enjoy the most about jogging. Anywhere (countryside, Saipan, Korea, Montreal) and any time [hangover mornings (like this morning), after work, between classes], if I have my shoes with me, I am ready to go. Unlike swimming pools, the streets and trails are never closed for the night or for holidays, and I can go whenever and wherever I want. And that, to me, is true freedom.
2010/04/08
Congratulations!
Wow! Only my second post, but already I'm congratulating someone. Indeed my friend Simon, the inspiration for this blog, went out for his first jog yesterday. Way to go! He wrote:
I ran... the whole... thing. It was very hard for me. For most of you reading this it would probably be easy, but for me it was pretty (bleep) straining. This is why I hate you. But I hate you with love, so we're good.
I'm not going to lie to you; if, like him, you have not jogged, or worse, exercised much for a long time, the first few times are going to be hard. But then, no one said it would be easy. However, unless you were born with some specific handicap or had a serious injury, anyone can do it, you included.
So get out there and go for your first, second or 1,000th jog, you body and mind will be thankful down the road.
I ran... the whole... thing. It was very hard for me. For most of you reading this it would probably be easy, but for me it was pretty (bleep) straining. This is why I hate you. But I hate you with love, so we're good.
I'm not going to lie to you; if, like him, you have not jogged, or worse, exercised much for a long time, the first few times are going to be hard. But then, no one said it would be easy. However, unless you were born with some specific handicap or had a serious injury, anyone can do it, you included.
So get out there and go for your first, second or 1,000th jog, you body and mind will be thankful down the road.
2010/04/06
Welcome!
Welcome to my new blog dedicated to jogging. The idea came when an old friend mentioned that he was interested in picking up jogging to get back in shape. Instead of just sending him some e-mails, I thought that a blog might help others as well to start running.
In some elitist racist circles (racist is in the rat race), some make the distinction between jogging and running, the later deemed like a more serious endeavor. But who cares if it is more serious or not? If you know me, you will understand that I do not care much for such snobbish opinions. In this blog, I will use the terms jog and run intermittently, although run will often have a more serious connotation to it.
My goal with this blog is help motivate anyone interested in jogging, whether it is at a turtle or hare pace. Especially, the focus will be on those who are new to it and are looking for advice and motivation. On the purely technical side, I will not be much of help, as I am not a qualified trainer, nor an experienced expert. But I have been jogging for over eight years, and I wish to share with you some of the things I have learned on trail, from experienced friends, on the internet and from other sources. I will supplement my entries with links to others sites that are more serious about it than I.
I remember my first 'run', held on December 31, 2001. Then, I joined my uncle in Hong Kong on a Hash run. What is hashing? Well, follow the link to find out, but note that it is no way related to illegal drugs. Instead it refers to hashed food. But regardless, although no illegal drugs are involved, members do follow a trail to an often unspecified location where coolers of legal beer await! Needless to say, as an unfit dude back in the day (and I'm not that fit now), I did not enjoy the running much, but knowing that beer waited for me at the end proved to be good enough motivation to go on.
In the beginning, I only ran once a month, as the closest group only met at that frequency. And truth be told, I did not enjoy the running so much, although, as I was new to Japan, the trails always proved interesting since we went anywhere and everywhere, allowing me to discover the country a little more. But every time I went, my slow jogging and walking ratio increased. And then one day, much to my surprise, I finished the trail first, thanks in great part to luck at the last few checks.
Before long, I started jogging once in a while just on my own. When I moved to Osaka in 2003, where a local club was running every week, my running regimen increased. Still, I was far from a strong nor fast runner (and I am certainly not fast now!), but running every week did increase my stamina, and I even surprised myself at running on my own on top of the 1 or 2 runs I would do with the Hash every week.
Then, in 2006, a Hasher friend told me about an event that would take place the next year in 2005. The inaugural Oxfam Trailwalker Japan would be held the next May, and my curiosity was piqued. The Trailwalker is a 100km event in which teams of 4 must complete a course, after having amassed funds for Oxfam. I wondered if I could ever do such a thing. I talked about it with my Hasher friend Yuriko 'Wanda', who enjoys ultramarathons. She thought that with training I could probably do it, and with that, we decided to go on a longish hike (about 30km) in the mountains to get a taste of what it could be like. After completing it, I realized that I was not in such bad shape, and that indeed, with training, I could probably finish it. The rest, they say, is history (well, my story).
Training for the Trailwalker, I even tried to run a full marathon, but got beaten by the unseasonably warm weather; I missed the 30.6km cut-off time by less than a minute. But two month later at the Trailwalker, my team, composed of Hashers, not only walked-jogged the 100km event, but we rallied the finish line in 25hr 48min, 17th overall and 3rd in the mixed team category! I felt so good! It was unbelievable. I joined the event again in 2008, and I try to run the Kyoto Sanjurokumine Mountain Race (30km) every December (I missed it last year due to injury).
But these racist endeavor aside, I mostly jog, slowly, to keep in shape. Not only does it help with my physical shape, but I find that it helps my mental well-being as well. I will have entries on these specific topics in the future, but for now, let me just say that jogging sometimes allows me to relieve some stress, empty my mind, find inspiration (for work and photography), and think up of one plan or another, just like this blog. Working up the courage to put on my jogging shoes on cold rainy mornings or hot and muggy evenings after work also builds up my mental strength. I think jogging is a great lesson in life that we all can take advantage of.
With that, I hope you will enjoy these entries as they come and go. The next entry will deal with the only important equipment you will need, a pair of jogging shoes. For those new to the activity, it can be confusing choosing the correct footwear, and I will guide you through it.
In some elitist racist circles (racist is in the rat race), some make the distinction between jogging and running, the later deemed like a more serious endeavor. But who cares if it is more serious or not? If you know me, you will understand that I do not care much for such snobbish opinions. In this blog, I will use the terms jog and run intermittently, although run will often have a more serious connotation to it.
My goal with this blog is help motivate anyone interested in jogging, whether it is at a turtle or hare pace. Especially, the focus will be on those who are new to it and are looking for advice and motivation. On the purely technical side, I will not be much of help, as I am not a qualified trainer, nor an experienced expert. But I have been jogging for over eight years, and I wish to share with you some of the things I have learned on trail, from experienced friends, on the internet and from other sources. I will supplement my entries with links to others sites that are more serious about it than I.
I remember my first 'run', held on December 31, 2001. Then, I joined my uncle in Hong Kong on a Hash run. What is hashing? Well, follow the link to find out, but note that it is no way related to illegal drugs. Instead it refers to hashed food. But regardless, although no illegal drugs are involved, members do follow a trail to an often unspecified location where coolers of legal beer await! Needless to say, as an unfit dude back in the day (and I'm not that fit now), I did not enjoy the running much, but knowing that beer waited for me at the end proved to be good enough motivation to go on.
In the beginning, I only ran once a month, as the closest group only met at that frequency. And truth be told, I did not enjoy the running so much, although, as I was new to Japan, the trails always proved interesting since we went anywhere and everywhere, allowing me to discover the country a little more. But every time I went, my slow jogging and walking ratio increased. And then one day, much to my surprise, I finished the trail first, thanks in great part to luck at the last few checks.
Before long, I started jogging once in a while just on my own. When I moved to Osaka in 2003, where a local club was running every week, my running regimen increased. Still, I was far from a strong nor fast runner (and I am certainly not fast now!), but running every week did increase my stamina, and I even surprised myself at running on my own on top of the 1 or 2 runs I would do with the Hash every week.
Then, in 2006, a Hasher friend told me about an event that would take place the next year in 2005. The inaugural Oxfam Trailwalker Japan would be held the next May, and my curiosity was piqued. The Trailwalker is a 100km event in which teams of 4 must complete a course, after having amassed funds for Oxfam. I wondered if I could ever do such a thing. I talked about it with my Hasher friend Yuriko 'Wanda', who enjoys ultramarathons. She thought that with training I could probably do it, and with that, we decided to go on a longish hike (about 30km) in the mountains to get a taste of what it could be like. After completing it, I realized that I was not in such bad shape, and that indeed, with training, I could probably finish it. The rest, they say, is history (well, my story).
Training for the Trailwalker, I even tried to run a full marathon, but got beaten by the unseasonably warm weather; I missed the 30.6km cut-off time by less than a minute. But two month later at the Trailwalker, my team, composed of Hashers, not only walked-jogged the 100km event, but we rallied the finish line in 25hr 48min, 17th overall and 3rd in the mixed team category! I felt so good! It was unbelievable. I joined the event again in 2008, and I try to run the Kyoto Sanjurokumine Mountain Race (30km) every December (I missed it last year due to injury).
But these racist endeavor aside, I mostly jog, slowly, to keep in shape. Not only does it help with my physical shape, but I find that it helps my mental well-being as well. I will have entries on these specific topics in the future, but for now, let me just say that jogging sometimes allows me to relieve some stress, empty my mind, find inspiration (for work and photography), and think up of one plan or another, just like this blog. Working up the courage to put on my jogging shoes on cold rainy mornings or hot and muggy evenings after work also builds up my mental strength. I think jogging is a great lesson in life that we all can take advantage of.
With that, I hope you will enjoy these entries as they come and go. The next entry will deal with the only important equipment you will need, a pair of jogging shoes. For those new to the activity, it can be confusing choosing the correct footwear, and I will guide you through it.
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