Get Off Your Arse: A ran-dumb blog to get you moving, by a bit of a nudge and a bit of a push.
If you are not running on the edge...
We all are a sum total of all our experiences and interactions with all the people that we ever meet throughout our lives. They come into our lives to make us what we become. We almost always assume that the most cherished relationships will last forever. (Drawing by Mark Chilcott)
Value benefits of running, but preparation is crucial
A 64yr old gentleman came in walking for 4.2 km run but collapsed and died. No, that’s not ok! But it’s not running that kills. It’s not being prepared enough.
At times giving your best isn’t enough
Don’t let me fool you. It absolutely matters because it meant an immense lot to you. But yet again, it is what it is. Try, because that’s all you can do, yet again. Give it your very best. Learn from your mistakes rather than being in your la-la land.
Do we really know the human limits?
Who decides what we humans are capable of physically achieving? Is it the experts or is it our psychological self? It was amazing to witness ordinary people achieve extraordinary feats at this year’s La Ultra.
Every Breath You Take, Make it Count
The commonest complaint of beginner runners, even of walkers is that they get breathless very soon, instead it's their heart that is ready to jump out and go for a run. Most don’t even breathe optimally while sitting and then expect it to magically function to its best when they move. Here is a simple trick using a basic tool easily available that’ll be a game changer for you.
Running doesn’t cause knee arthritis, not running does
Contrary to what people think, it’s not running that causes the bad knee pains, but running with poor form. Unfortunately when you pick up running in 30s and beyond, you are trying too hard as you’ve forgotten how to move naturally, the way you did as a child.
There is no rocket science to it. You need to slow down and work on your strength training. Be patient as you’ve taken decades to master the art of moving inefficiently and unnaturally. It’ll all soon come together.
To be your best, be at peace with your pieces
Instead of hiding the imperfection, instead of shunning the brokenness, the implication is that there is value in being broken and coming back whole, there is value in falling down and bouncing back up. The cracks add to the beauty, to the experience.
Exercising & Running with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
A quarter to one-third of ladies experience heavy menstrual bleeding (periods). As if the society had done enough harm to repeatedly remind them that sports and exercises are very unladylike, these ‘painful’ periods acts like a massive deterrent to be themselves.
For Depression denial or outsourcing aren't solutions, Moving is
Depression doesn’t go away by being pressed away and is a real problem. An extremely big one at that. Here I share a recent Facebook Live conversation and a co-authored column in my series ‘Run & Bee’ in Hindustan Times with Divya Parashar, a psycho-analyst at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.
Me Monster
Last week I came a cross an amazing but sad piece piece by Ted Jackson on the underbelly of elite-sports no one wants to speak about. Very similar to medals being chased in elite sports, similar things are now happening in amateur runners. Aman Yadav has put something down that'll not make for comfortable reading. It might make you angry. You might get frustrated. That's ok. At least it might make you introspect.