Running seems to be one of the most effective and popular ways to lose weight and stay in shape. For me, it is one of the few ways that I can get my heart rate up so that I can get a good cardiovascular workout. However good running may be for my heart and my waist, I know that running destroyed my body! I ran competitively for 7 years and now, 15 years after my last race, I am still suffering from the effects it had on my body.
FEET
I have horrible foot pain just about everyday. It does not surprise me that after spending 7 years running on roads, asphalt tracks, sidewalks, and just about any other hard surface provided at indoor track meets, that my feet took a beating. I had to have surgery on my left foot to correct the damage caused by running, and I also have constant bursitis on the balls of both feet. Not to mention, the damage done, even though it is fixed in one foot, still bothers me if I wear heals too long, jog too much, or just wear any shoes for too long. I have had fractured and chipped bones in my feet from all the running I have done and I still feel the pain.
ANKLES
My ankles are weak from the multiple times I sprained them on the cross-country course. My ankles have been sprained so many times that now I sometimes twist my ankles while just standing in one place. I have even sprained my ankle sitting in criss-cross position. While running tends to strengthen the muscles in the ankle, the holes and rocks in off-road running tend to be a hazard. Not only is it painful and annoying when I sprain my ankle at random times now that they are so weakened, but all the twisting has caused problems with the nerves in my ankles. I have been told by doctors that my ankles do not protect themselves from sprains because I have lost the reflex that most people have. I have lost most proprioception in both ankles so my body does not react to the twisting until it is too late to protect myself from the sprain.
KNEES
My knees are even worse than my feet and my ankles. During the 7 years I spent running hardcore, my knee caps continuously dislocated. Kneecaps can dislocate in runners because running develops the hamstrings more than it develops the quadriceps. This imbalance can cause the kneecap to get off track. All the times that my knees caps dislocated I developed scar tissue and weak knee tendons. I had to have surgery on both knees to repair the tendons and scrape out the scar tissue. This was just as painful as it sounds. Now my knees are still weakened and I have the tendency to dislocate them while kicking, twisting, or sometimes just standing up. This is painful and usually means I am not moving to well for a week or so. Also, there are days when my knees will just throb if I walk too much on hard surfaces or even if its just a cold, wet day.
I am not anti-running. I still run when I am not in too much pain, and I think running is a natural human activity. I AM anti-treadmill because there is nothing healthy or natural about running on a treadmill. Running is a great workout, and a great conditioning tool. I just think that people should know that running is not always a good thing and that anybody should proceed with caution before beginning a running regiment.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Strawberry Festival
I haven't been to a festival, fair, or carnival in quite awhile. I grew up in small towns, and I remember looking forward to our annual fairs. Growing up in a town of about 14,000 people, the summer fair was about the most exciting thing that happened. The summer fair in Danville, KY was a highlight for my friends and me who would go at least 2 or 3 times during the week long fair. I remember it only being about $7 to get into the fair, and another $7 or so for the bracelet that got you on all the rides. The fair had shows, vendors, rides, games, and truck pulls. I think we had about 5 rides and the most exciting ride for my friends and me was the Graviton.
In Mendota, IL (about 7,000 people) the most exciting thing in that town was the Sweet Corn Festival. It was free! My friends and I would ride our rollerblades to and around the festival. I know that riding the ferris wheel was the only thing worth doing, and I know that was not more than a buck to ride.
So when I heard that Plant City, FL, a town of 30,000 people and about that many strawberry fields, was having a festival, I was not sure what to expect. But hey, I loved the idea of celebrating my favorite fruit! I was completely shocked when we ended up spending over $200 for a family of five. Adult tickets for the fair were $10 a piece, and the kid price was $7 a piece. I thought that price was worth it, but the ride tickets were ridiculously high. The ferris wheel was $5 a person to ride, and most of the other rides were about $3-$4. We ended up buying the $25 bracelet that allowed the wearer to ride limitless rides.
Still, I was impressed by the size of the festival for a small town fair. Countless rides that included small roller coasters, tons of shows, and a crazy amount of vendors. We spent 8 hours at the festival walking, riding, walking, looking around, walking, watching shows, walking, playing games, walking, and even watching Trace Atkins. Oh, and we walked A LOT!
The Strawberry Festival was fun. The pig races made me laugh, the acrobatic pirates were cool, and just being outside and watching the kids have fun was a blast. We ended up with 3 fish, stuffed animals, and a flat of fresh strawberries...YUM! The crazy thing, though, is that my kids' favorite part was the Graviton!
In Mendota, IL (about 7,000 people) the most exciting thing in that town was the Sweet Corn Festival. It was free! My friends and I would ride our rollerblades to and around the festival. I know that riding the ferris wheel was the only thing worth doing, and I know that was not more than a buck to ride.
So when I heard that Plant City, FL, a town of 30,000 people and about that many strawberry fields, was having a festival, I was not sure what to expect. But hey, I loved the idea of celebrating my favorite fruit! I was completely shocked when we ended up spending over $200 for a family of five. Adult tickets for the fair were $10 a piece, and the kid price was $7 a piece. I thought that price was worth it, but the ride tickets were ridiculously high. The ferris wheel was $5 a person to ride, and most of the other rides were about $3-$4. We ended up buying the $25 bracelet that allowed the wearer to ride limitless rides.
Still, I was impressed by the size of the festival for a small town fair. Countless rides that included small roller coasters, tons of shows, and a crazy amount of vendors. We spent 8 hours at the festival walking, riding, walking, looking around, walking, watching shows, walking, playing games, walking, and even watching Trace Atkins. Oh, and we walked A LOT!
The Strawberry Festival was fun. The pig races made me laugh, the acrobatic pirates were cool, and just being outside and watching the kids have fun was a blast. We ended up with 3 fish, stuffed animals, and a flat of fresh strawberries...YUM! The crazy thing, though, is that my kids' favorite part was the Graviton!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Christian martial-artist can meditate
Many of the practices of martial-artists seem contrary to Christian beliefs to outsiders or to those who have been taught by non-Christians. One of the most confusing practices for Christian martial-artists is meditation.
Martial-artist usually spend time on meditation and concentration. Some people confuse this meditation with the Buddhist philosophy of meditating in order to sharpen and awaken the mind to find the "True Self." As a Christian martial-artist I know that meditation should not have this root or purpose.
Instead of emptying the mind, as in eastern religions, a Christian martial-artist should fill the mind. Luke 11:24-25 warns that if we empty our minds we are in danger of evil spirits entering. Instead, a Christian martial-artist can focus on martial-arts performance. I can use "meditation" to strategize and focus on a fight or form. In this sense, I "meditate" by picturing what I will be doing or how I will be doing it. Before a fight, for example, I try to picture some of the ways I will counter my opponent's attacks. Or sometimes it helps me to relax before a fight if I imagine myself winning or scoring points. Before doing forms I try to "meditate" on the moves and how the should be executed.
Another way to "meditate" is to focus on God, and by this I mean prayer or studying the Word. Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate on things that are "true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. If I am at a school where we are given meditation time, I will use that time to thank God for allowing me to practice or ask Him to keep me safe. I may pray that He helps me to win or perform at my best. A lot of times I pray for healing. Outside of the DoJang, I will pray and study the Bible during my quiet times.
Eastern meditation is a dangerous ground for Christians because it means you are practicing another religion. In Deuteronomy 12:29-32, we are warned that we should not take up any practices of pagan religions. "...God hates it all with a passion..." Deuteronomy 12:31. Instead of meditating like Buddhists or Taoists, martial-artist should learn how to meditate like Christians.
Meditation is not a requirement in the type of the Taekwondo I practice. I know of schools that have meditation time. If a Christian is careful to fill his or her mind with Godly things instead of emptying the mind or meditating as part of an eastern religion, a Christian martial-artist is safe to meditate.
Martial-artist usually spend time on meditation and concentration. Some people confuse this meditation with the Buddhist philosophy of meditating in order to sharpen and awaken the mind to find the "True Self." As a Christian martial-artist I know that meditation should not have this root or purpose.
Instead of emptying the mind, as in eastern religions, a Christian martial-artist should fill the mind. Luke 11:24-25 warns that if we empty our minds we are in danger of evil spirits entering. Instead, a Christian martial-artist can focus on martial-arts performance. I can use "meditation" to strategize and focus on a fight or form. In this sense, I "meditate" by picturing what I will be doing or how I will be doing it. Before a fight, for example, I try to picture some of the ways I will counter my opponent's attacks. Or sometimes it helps me to relax before a fight if I imagine myself winning or scoring points. Before doing forms I try to "meditate" on the moves and how the should be executed.
Another way to "meditate" is to focus on God, and by this I mean prayer or studying the Word. Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate on things that are "true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. If I am at a school where we are given meditation time, I will use that time to thank God for allowing me to practice or ask Him to keep me safe. I may pray that He helps me to win or perform at my best. A lot of times I pray for healing. Outside of the DoJang, I will pray and study the Bible during my quiet times.
Eastern meditation is a dangerous ground for Christians because it means you are practicing another religion. In Deuteronomy 12:29-32, we are warned that we should not take up any practices of pagan religions. "...God hates it all with a passion..." Deuteronomy 12:31. Instead of meditating like Buddhists or Taoists, martial-artist should learn how to meditate like Christians.
Meditation is not a requirement in the type of the Taekwondo I practice. I know of schools that have meditation time. If a Christian is careful to fill his or her mind with Godly things instead of emptying the mind or meditating as part of an eastern religion, a Christian martial-artist is safe to meditate.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Hamstring Stretch
I struggle keeping my leg straight during a supine hamstring stretch, so I have been contemplating how I can stretch my hamstring without anybody helping me to push my leg down and keep my knee straight at the same time. I ended up making up this stretch. It may already exist, but I have never seen it or done it so, in my mind, I invented this stretch.
If you are considering trying this stretch, let me just say that I am not your doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer. Stretch at your own risk!
The Wall-Assisted Ham Stretch:
I found a wall with an opening (like the entrance to a hallway). I laid flat on the floor with one leg pressed straight against the wall and my butt up against the wall. My other leg was straight in front of me going into the hallway. My legs, then, were making the letter L. To get the hamstring stretch I really had to focus on my legs being straight and my knee not rolling to the side. Therefore, my knee and toes were facing in the direction of my head, and not off to an angle.
I stayed in this position about 30 seconds just feeling the gentle stretch of my leg being straight. Then I pointed and flexed my foot. This was a whole new sensation. When my foot was flexed I could feel the stretch through my calf more. I would hold the flex for about 5 seconds, then hold the point for about 5 seconds. I did this a couple of times.
Next, I pushed up on my elbows, lifting my upper body toward the wall. This is where the stretch started to happen. Keeping my hips on the floor, my knee and toes pointing toward my head, and my back straight I lifted up toward my leg. Being on my elbows was stretch enough for my left leg. On my right side, I was able to push up on my hands lifting higher a bit more. Again, the stretch only worked if my leg was flat against the wall and pointing toward my head. Keeping my butt and hip on the floor and hinging from waist with a flat back was also key to getting a good stretch.
I did the same thing on both sides.
Enjoy!
If you are considering trying this stretch, let me just say that I am not your doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer. Stretch at your own risk!
The Wall-Assisted Ham Stretch:
I found a wall with an opening (like the entrance to a hallway). I laid flat on the floor with one leg pressed straight against the wall and my butt up against the wall. My other leg was straight in front of me going into the hallway. My legs, then, were making the letter L. To get the hamstring stretch I really had to focus on my legs being straight and my knee not rolling to the side. Therefore, my knee and toes were facing in the direction of my head, and not off to an angle.
I stayed in this position about 30 seconds just feeling the gentle stretch of my leg being straight. Then I pointed and flexed my foot. This was a whole new sensation. When my foot was flexed I could feel the stretch through my calf more. I would hold the flex for about 5 seconds, then hold the point for about 5 seconds. I did this a couple of times.
Next, I pushed up on my elbows, lifting my upper body toward the wall. This is where the stretch started to happen. Keeping my hips on the floor, my knee and toes pointing toward my head, and my back straight I lifted up toward my leg. Being on my elbows was stretch enough for my left leg. On my right side, I was able to push up on my hands lifting higher a bit more. Again, the stretch only worked if my leg was flat against the wall and pointing toward my head. Keeping my butt and hip on the floor and hinging from waist with a flat back was also key to getting a good stretch.
I did the same thing on both sides.
Enjoy!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Stretching Class
I did a stretching class this morning at the New Tampa YMCA. It was relaxing, but really boring. I've written this before, but I have to say again that I really hate to stretch.
The class was great, though. We started with about 10 minutes of neck stretches. I have stretched my neck before, but never so much. I have always known that the muscles in the low back are affected by other areas of the body, but I guess I never really realized how much stretching my neck would impact my aching lower back. We did several different neck stretches stretching every angle and getting into the shoulders too.
After neck stretches the instructor took us through upper back and chest stretches. This was hard for me because of my hyperflexibility. I did not "feel" any of the stretches we did for these areas.
Next were some cat cow stretches for back which, for me, help loosen up my sore back. Finally, we got into some hamstring stretches, and this was the reason I wanted to go to the class. I am super flexible all over except for my low back and my hamstrings. The stretches we did were basic stretches, but I really enjoyed having somebody talk me through them and hold me accountable for doing them. I'm concerned that I cannot straighten my leg all the way. My hamstring will not allow for my knee to lock out. I get told by grandmasters all the time that my square stance is bad because I bend my knee, but I can't help it. My hamstrings are just that tight!
I had to leave class early to go pick up my 5 year old from pre-school. I hope to make it to this class again.
If you can ever go to stretch class at the New Tampa YMCA, I highly recommend it. The instructor is sweet and the class is focused on stretching unlike yoga.
Now I just have to find a way to make myself stretch everyday on my own...it's sooooo boring!
The class was great, though. We started with about 10 minutes of neck stretches. I have stretched my neck before, but never so much. I have always known that the muscles in the low back are affected by other areas of the body, but I guess I never really realized how much stretching my neck would impact my aching lower back. We did several different neck stretches stretching every angle and getting into the shoulders too.
After neck stretches the instructor took us through upper back and chest stretches. This was hard for me because of my hyperflexibility. I did not "feel" any of the stretches we did for these areas.
Next were some cat cow stretches for back which, for me, help loosen up my sore back. Finally, we got into some hamstring stretches, and this was the reason I wanted to go to the class. I am super flexible all over except for my low back and my hamstrings. The stretches we did were basic stretches, but I really enjoyed having somebody talk me through them and hold me accountable for doing them. I'm concerned that I cannot straighten my leg all the way. My hamstring will not allow for my knee to lock out. I get told by grandmasters all the time that my square stance is bad because I bend my knee, but I can't help it. My hamstrings are just that tight!
I had to leave class early to go pick up my 5 year old from pre-school. I hope to make it to this class again.
If you can ever go to stretch class at the New Tampa YMCA, I highly recommend it. The instructor is sweet and the class is focused on stretching unlike yoga.
Now I just have to find a way to make myself stretch everyday on my own...it's sooooo boring!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Christian Martial-artist
I am both a Christian and a martial-artist, but I keep getting told by uniformed Christians that this is not possible. Judgemental or Christians that do not know enough about martial-arts tell me that studying martial-arts is a sin because of the origins and practices of martial-arts. Let me start off by saying that there are martial-arts that are deeply rooted in eastern religions, but I personally have never ever bowed to a bhudda or practiced emptying my mind during meditation in the 19 years that I have done martial-arts.
I have heard some people say that the bowing in martial-arts is a sin. Exodus 20:5 says not to bow down to idols or other gods. Bowing in the Taekwondo that I practice has nothing to do with revering somebody as a god. I do not bow as a form of submission. Bowing is a salute and a respectful greeting. I even think that it is more hygenic than a hand-shake. By bowing, I am saying that I recognize that person as a fellow or senior martial-artist. I would never consider a soldier saluting to a superior a form of ungodly submission, it is the same thing.
Christian's also get confused by the term master. They hear martial-artists use the term master and they confuse it with the title we give to God. I hate being called a master, but it is just a title of a teacher. A master in martial-arts for me is not somebody that I submit to. I am not worshipping them. They are not master over me, they are master over the martial-art that they study and teach. They have mastered certain skill sets, and when I refer to them as a master I am saying that I recognize that mastery. The master is not lord over me, there is only one true Lord!
I will admit that there is a risk of idol worship in martial-arts as with any thing (money, athletes, movie stars, etc). Spending too much time and energy on anything besides God is dangerous. God is jealous, and He only wants us to worship Him. By defining myself as a martial-artist I risk doing martial-arts for my own self-worth, and that is a sin. But giving thanks to God for allowing me to do something fun is a way for me to enjoy gifts from God. Taekwondo is fun and relaxing for me just like others enjoy jogging or golf. And just like any sport, it requires practice and hard work to excel. But working hard at sports does not make all athletes sinners, does it?
Certain Christians argue that Psalm 44:6 states that we should not rely on fighting, but we should instead rely on God to protect us. First, Taekwondo is a defensive art. We are taught (or should be taught) that we do not go out and attack people. What we learn is for self-defense. That is why our forms start with blocks instead of strikes or kicks. Second, even though I have been taught to defend myself, I still will rely on God for ultimate protection. I rely on God for everything, but that does not mean that I am going to sit at the dinner table and wait for my food to miraculously appear on my plate. Instead, I am going to prepare by going to the grocery store and cooking. Learning self-defense in preparation. It is a smart way to keep myself safe from all the crazy humans out there.
Some Christians attack martial-arts just because of its eastern origins. They argue that God does not want us doing things that have pagan origins and that we should not practice anything that comes from the east (Isaiah 2:6). This is true. You will not find a bhudda in my home, and I will not practice martial-arts in any school that has a bhudda or any form of eastern religion. But martial-arts is not an eastern religion. Sure, some bhuddists, hinduists, and other eastern religious people may practice martial-arts, but not all martial-artists practice these religions.
Some people think that the forms, patterns, poomse, or kata we practice are a method of worship. This may be true in some martial-arts, but none that I have practiced. The forms I do in Taekwondo are a way to practice movements and a method of exercise. They may have historical significance as a way to remember those who created the form or helped with the evolution of the martial-art, but practicing the form is not a way to worship those people. It is a way to remember them, just as history books and museums help us to remember ancestors or certain historically important people.
Because martial-arts comes from the east does not make it a pagan practice. Eating sushi with chopsticks is not a sin, and neither is fried rice. Though I would like to say I can't learn math for religious reasons, I do not believe anybody forbids the study of math just because it has muslim origins. Just because pagans have practiced it, does not make it always a pagan thing. December 25 was a pagan holiday, but the Christians took it over as the celebration of the birth of our savior, and Christmas is not a pagan holiday now.
I am not saying that all martial-artists are Christian. I can guarantee there are many that are not. But I guarantee that there are plenty of martial-artists who are Christians. I am one of them. I will use my martial-arts to glorify God anyway I can!
I have heard some people say that the bowing in martial-arts is a sin. Exodus 20:5 says not to bow down to idols or other gods. Bowing in the Taekwondo that I practice has nothing to do with revering somebody as a god. I do not bow as a form of submission. Bowing is a salute and a respectful greeting. I even think that it is more hygenic than a hand-shake. By bowing, I am saying that I recognize that person as a fellow or senior martial-artist. I would never consider a soldier saluting to a superior a form of ungodly submission, it is the same thing.
Christian's also get confused by the term master. They hear martial-artists use the term master and they confuse it with the title we give to God. I hate being called a master, but it is just a title of a teacher. A master in martial-arts for me is not somebody that I submit to. I am not worshipping them. They are not master over me, they are master over the martial-art that they study and teach. They have mastered certain skill sets, and when I refer to them as a master I am saying that I recognize that mastery. The master is not lord over me, there is only one true Lord!
I will admit that there is a risk of idol worship in martial-arts as with any thing (money, athletes, movie stars, etc). Spending too much time and energy on anything besides God is dangerous. God is jealous, and He only wants us to worship Him. By defining myself as a martial-artist I risk doing martial-arts for my own self-worth, and that is a sin. But giving thanks to God for allowing me to do something fun is a way for me to enjoy gifts from God. Taekwondo is fun and relaxing for me just like others enjoy jogging or golf. And just like any sport, it requires practice and hard work to excel. But working hard at sports does not make all athletes sinners, does it?
Certain Christians argue that Psalm 44:6 states that we should not rely on fighting, but we should instead rely on God to protect us. First, Taekwondo is a defensive art. We are taught (or should be taught) that we do not go out and attack people. What we learn is for self-defense. That is why our forms start with blocks instead of strikes or kicks. Second, even though I have been taught to defend myself, I still will rely on God for ultimate protection. I rely on God for everything, but that does not mean that I am going to sit at the dinner table and wait for my food to miraculously appear on my plate. Instead, I am going to prepare by going to the grocery store and cooking. Learning self-defense in preparation. It is a smart way to keep myself safe from all the crazy humans out there.
Some Christians attack martial-arts just because of its eastern origins. They argue that God does not want us doing things that have pagan origins and that we should not practice anything that comes from the east (Isaiah 2:6). This is true. You will not find a bhudda in my home, and I will not practice martial-arts in any school that has a bhudda or any form of eastern religion. But martial-arts is not an eastern religion. Sure, some bhuddists, hinduists, and other eastern religious people may practice martial-arts, but not all martial-artists practice these religions.
Some people think that the forms, patterns, poomse, or kata we practice are a method of worship. This may be true in some martial-arts, but none that I have practiced. The forms I do in Taekwondo are a way to practice movements and a method of exercise. They may have historical significance as a way to remember those who created the form or helped with the evolution of the martial-art, but practicing the form is not a way to worship those people. It is a way to remember them, just as history books and museums help us to remember ancestors or certain historically important people.
Because martial-arts comes from the east does not make it a pagan practice. Eating sushi with chopsticks is not a sin, and neither is fried rice. Though I would like to say I can't learn math for religious reasons, I do not believe anybody forbids the study of math just because it has muslim origins. Just because pagans have practiced it, does not make it always a pagan thing. December 25 was a pagan holiday, but the Christians took it over as the celebration of the birth of our savior, and Christmas is not a pagan holiday now.
I am not saying that all martial-artists are Christian. I can guarantee there are many that are not. But I guarantee that there are plenty of martial-artists who are Christians. I am one of them. I will use my martial-arts to glorify God anyway I can!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Frustration
I've rested, I've been on strong antibiotics for 2 weeks, and I have been stretching. Yet, I still ache, I'm still tired, and I still do not feel well. I want to move on. I have decided that my focus is on the Lord and not my exercise regiment or martial-arts, but still my body hurts. I'm not working out, and that is making me even more sluggish.
I am reminded that everything happens in God's time. When he is ready to heal me, I will be healed. In the meantime I need to stay focused on my relationship with God. I love walking with the Lord, but I am getting really frustrated with how my body feels. I need prayers!
I am reminded that everything happens in God's time. When he is ready to heal me, I will be healed. In the meantime I need to stay focused on my relationship with God. I love walking with the Lord, but I am getting really frustrated with how my body feels. I need prayers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)