Since I last had a chance or the strength to write, a lot has happened. I can't say that I've gotten a lot of sleep in the last 2 weeks or so but, I have gotten a lot of studying done, a lot of running done and a lot of resturant feasting done. Like I said on the 14th, I have had finals these last 2 weeks. I studied my brains out for the 1st one, it was super easy and I did well but it left me with hardly any energy to study for the rest of my exams. After my run to Mivaseret, I was a bit sore in the hips but nothing I wasnt expecting, it was a hard run on much different terrain than what I am used to. That next day my mom came for a 9 day visit. She brought me my new running shoes (!!) which are super comfortable and I can now know how far I've gone after an hour and a half of running. That Monday after sleeping again only 5 hours for no apparent reason, I ran an easy 3.2km (2 miles) to loosen up a bit and try out the new shoes. Tuesday was cross training day and full body workout. I did an hour of the elliptical and the basic weight training exercises and ab work. We went to Brian's school for lunch that day and the food he cooked for us was just heavenly. Better than some restaurants that we went to over the course of the week. Wednesday was speed work which consisted of 2 minute sprints with 1 minute slow running in between and a core bosu workout. (I got compliments at the end of my workout from one of the hotel guests who was inspired by seeing me to get a personal trainer when he got back home!) Wednesday afternoon was my second final, it went well considering the little effort I put into studying for it. We then went to Japanika for dinner which seems to be winning the sushi restaurant of the year with the frequency in which I go there for dinner. Thursday was pretty simple, no school but I did work so I went swimming in the afternoon for 25 minutes. Friday I ran outside for an hour at a nice pace but I was in a bit of pain in the usual areas. Along with the running shoes my mom brought me my Runner's World magazine which had some great new warmup exercises instead of plain static stretching so I have been doing the whole routine and I (knock on wood) have been feeling a lot better in the hip area. Of course after my run I did weights and ab work. You would think by now that I have abs of steel. I just have to run off all the food I consumed this week and they will hopefully be visible. Shabbas is my day of rest as well from running so aside from walking to and from lunch there wasn't much in terms of exercise done then. Sunday I did a 15km run around through most of the marathon route. It took me about 3kms to get over my nausea but in the end I think I did a pretty ok job at the run, there was a lot of walking though...
We were off to the Dead Sea Spa Club for a day and a half. I scheduled a deep tissue massage for that afternoon and I was extremely unimpressed, I even came out of the massage more stressed then when I went in. I could have done such a better job. When my mom was sitting by the pool, I was studying. When my mom was out shopping, I was studying. I spent most of the "vacation" studying for a test that was totally a waste of my effort since no one else knew what was going on either. So, if everyone fails, does that mean we all pass? Monday morning we went to the gym in the Spa bright and early at 8. I ran again 2 miles and tried to use the weight machines that were there and then went to breakfast. I scheduled a reflexology treatment for that morning which was much much better than the previous day's experience. Once that was over, we were on our way back to cold Jerusalem. That night we went out to eat at Selina with Brian. It was really good and I'm not such a fan of meat. Its always nice to get together with Brian so I think that wherever we would have gone we would have had a good time. Tuesday my mom went home but first went to see where my bro is living and gave me the morning to study. When she left I did about 2.5 hours at the gym. 1.5 hours cross training (bike for an hour and elliptical for the rest) plus an hour of weights and ab work. Wednesday morning was my test. After it went extremely horrible, I ran sprints at the gym. 30*20 sec intervals with 20 sec stops in between, starting at 13kmh up to 16kmh increasing .5 each 5 reps. It was hard but exactly what I need. Today I ran a fast fast 2 km and did some new ab exercises that I found, I didn't have much time.
Tomorrow is my last final and I will finally be able to live again. These 2 weeks have taken so much out of me. Depending on the weather, I will be running either outside or at the gym but no matter where, it will be a 10k and weight training, mostly leg exercises.
Wish me luck for my last final!
Stay tuned for some interesting topics of discussion in addition to my workouts...
Peace out.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
I have been running...
I just haven't had the time to write about it. Sorry!
This Friday will be the end of my hibernation (ie: end of my finals) and there will be a long recap of the past 2 weeks.
Speak soon.
Keep on keepin' on.
This Friday will be the end of my hibernation (ie: end of my finals) and there will be a long recap of the past 2 weeks.
Speak soon.
Keep on keepin' on.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
So hip, it hurts.
I thought I'd take this time to talk about running injuries. I have come across lots of people, especially in my field of work, who believe that running is the worst possible activity one could do. In my opinion its one of the best forms of exercise one can take on. However, I think that if it ends with running off a clif, then running can be extremely detrimental to your health. I do believe that certain cautions should be taken when one decides to run. Its not a smart idea to go from couch potato to running a marathon in one day and I don't believe that anyone out there would dream of such a thing or make it thru to the end of the 26.2 miles alive and breathing to talk about it. Didn't that guy who ran to marathon keel over and die once his message was delivered? I believe his name was Pheidippides... Anyway, the point is that running is great for you as long as you do it properly and safely and listen to what your body tells you.
In my many years of experience as a runner, there have been lots of times in which I should have listened to what my body was telling me. I should have taken a few days off when my shin splints came, that fateful first week of running the hills of Jerusalem. Or that time that I ran with a bag on my right hip (it wasn't on purpose, I was in a hurry) and the muscle on my left side got so tight that instead of stretching when I bent down it pulled my ilium out of place a month before the Jerusalem Half Marathon in 2008. I do believe that that has attributed to all my other ailments, since they all are on my left side, but when that all happened, I could hardly walk and I did go for physical therapy, which helped a lot. I probably should not have ran the 1/2 marathon, but I was raising money for Sderot, so there was no way I was backing out because I hurt my back, there were people who were under daily attacks who needed my help. Truth is, I don't know if there would be a time in which I would sit out of a race in which I was planning on doing, it would be like a failure to me and I don't know how I would handle that. Now that is something I have to work on. Since I know that missing out on one race to heal would mean that I could race in future events as opposed to racing once while injured and causing damage that could stop me from running altogether.
I am very stubborn and it is something that I am working on, listening to my body. In the meantime I am trying to prevent further injuries with different hip strengthening exercises. For some reason, I asked to workout this Wednesday with my boss, the head trainer at the KD. It was time for something new in my routine. Since this week was Purim, my whole running schedule was thrown off, so instead of my long run being on Sunday morning, it was Tuesday afternoon. I ran 18km. It was hard. I was tired. I told the trainer that I was tired in my legs especially. What did we work on? My whole body, yes, but it might has well been just my legs. Squats, jumps, lunges, all with the bench press bar, all dynamic and static and insane. I am still unable to walk normally or sit down on a chair like a normal human being without being in agony. Thursday was definitely brutal. I went for a run with Danielle in the morning, if it wasn't for the set time I would never had gotten out of bed. It was good to get my legs moving and let the lactic acid build up disperse itself but I was in so much pain I could hardly move forward. Thursday was my day off from school and I went to Tel Aviv with Danielle and Noa (yay!!) so that we could have a little fun, get lunch at my favorite bakery in Tel Aviv, Lechamim and analyze their feet so that we could buy running gear. Danielle bought new Brooks running shoes. I finally bought a fuel belt for my long runs and Noa bought an amazingly green fleece. (I love going to Pro:Sport, even thought I haven't worked there in 3 years, I am always welcome and feel right at home. If I lived back in Tel Aviv, I would definitely work there again.) Going up and down stairs took me forever, it was embarrasing. Friday was a little better. I was able to sit down a bit easier and stretch my legs without crying out in pain. I did speed work at the gym. The speed work loosened up my legs a lot more, but not 100%. I did 2 minutes slow running, 1 minute a bit faster, but not all out, 11.5kmh, for a total of 5 reps. I then amped it up to 1 minute moderate 30 seconds sprint for 8 reps and then I ran out the last 5 minutes with upping the speed each minute by .5kmh. I also went for a run right before shabbas and my legs were much better. I think that my muscles being so achy has taken the focus off of my left hip, which is a good thing, but tomorrow I will know for sure. No pain no gain, right?
Tomorrow I will be running with Danielle our last long run, since the 1/2 marathon is in 11 days (!!) We hopefully will be doing around 15-16 km. It all depends on how much time we have and how we are feeling. These next runs will be us tapering down and focusing on saving our energy for the big day. Keep us in your prayers, I just want to make the 2.5 hrs cut.
I will hopefully put up a link to the hip exercises in the next few days.
Have a great week!
Peace out.
In my many years of experience as a runner, there have been lots of times in which I should have listened to what my body was telling me. I should have taken a few days off when my shin splints came, that fateful first week of running the hills of Jerusalem. Or that time that I ran with a bag on my right hip (it wasn't on purpose, I was in a hurry) and the muscle on my left side got so tight that instead of stretching when I bent down it pulled my ilium out of place a month before the Jerusalem Half Marathon in 2008. I do believe that that has attributed to all my other ailments, since they all are on my left side, but when that all happened, I could hardly walk and I did go for physical therapy, which helped a lot. I probably should not have ran the 1/2 marathon, but I was raising money for Sderot, so there was no way I was backing out because I hurt my back, there were people who were under daily attacks who needed my help. Truth is, I don't know if there would be a time in which I would sit out of a race in which I was planning on doing, it would be like a failure to me and I don't know how I would handle that. Now that is something I have to work on. Since I know that missing out on one race to heal would mean that I could race in future events as opposed to racing once while injured and causing damage that could stop me from running altogether.
I am very stubborn and it is something that I am working on, listening to my body. In the meantime I am trying to prevent further injuries with different hip strengthening exercises. For some reason, I asked to workout this Wednesday with my boss, the head trainer at the KD. It was time for something new in my routine. Since this week was Purim, my whole running schedule was thrown off, so instead of my long run being on Sunday morning, it was Tuesday afternoon. I ran 18km. It was hard. I was tired. I told the trainer that I was tired in my legs especially. What did we work on? My whole body, yes, but it might has well been just my legs. Squats, jumps, lunges, all with the bench press bar, all dynamic and static and insane. I am still unable to walk normally or sit down on a chair like a normal human being without being in agony. Thursday was definitely brutal. I went for a run with Danielle in the morning, if it wasn't for the set time I would never had gotten out of bed. It was good to get my legs moving and let the lactic acid build up disperse itself but I was in so much pain I could hardly move forward. Thursday was my day off from school and I went to Tel Aviv with Danielle and Noa (yay!!) so that we could have a little fun, get lunch at my favorite bakery in Tel Aviv, Lechamim and analyze their feet so that we could buy running gear. Danielle bought new Brooks running shoes. I finally bought a fuel belt for my long runs and Noa bought an amazingly green fleece. (I love going to Pro:Sport, even thought I haven't worked there in 3 years, I am always welcome and feel right at home. If I lived back in Tel Aviv, I would definitely work there again.) Going up and down stairs took me forever, it was embarrasing. Friday was a little better. I was able to sit down a bit easier and stretch my legs without crying out in pain. I did speed work at the gym. The speed work loosened up my legs a lot more, but not 100%. I did 2 minutes slow running, 1 minute a bit faster, but not all out, 11.5kmh, for a total of 5 reps. I then amped it up to 1 minute moderate 30 seconds sprint for 8 reps and then I ran out the last 5 minutes with upping the speed each minute by .5kmh. I also went for a run right before shabbas and my legs were much better. I think that my muscles being so achy has taken the focus off of my left hip, which is a good thing, but tomorrow I will know for sure. No pain no gain, right?
Tomorrow I will be running with Danielle our last long run, since the 1/2 marathon is in 11 days (!!) We hopefully will be doing around 15-16 km. It all depends on how much time we have and how we are feeling. These next runs will be us tapering down and focusing on saving our energy for the big day. Keep us in your prayers, I just want to make the 2.5 hrs cut.
I will hopefully put up a link to the hip exercises in the next few days.
Have a great week!
Peace out.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sleep is over-rated.
This passed week for me has been as if I was living in a daze. I wake up and study acupuncture points. I go to work and study acupuncture points, I go to the gym and study acupuncture points. I have dreams about acupuncture points. I don't think that I have ever been so nervous about a test in my whole life. Throughout high school I used my hours of commute to school to my advantage and never touched a school book when I was home. Grades never bothered me. Apparently this one did. Acupuncture points have taken over my life and today that obsession came to rest, for the time being at least. I studied all last week, making lists and tables and diagrams galore. I studied 10 hrs on Shabbas with Rena with one hour break in the middle when we went for a walk and spoke about acupuncture points. I said that I wouldn't study after 10 last night and I held to my word but that didn't stop my body from waking me up at 530 this morning with no intention of going back to sleep. For an hour I tossed and turned in bed thinking about what I didn't know for the test. At around 630 I got out of bed, made myself a cup of coffee and sat down with my notes to go over them one last time. The test wasn't until 2pm... At 8 I couldn't take it anymore and I needed to get out of the house.
Since today is Sunday and time for my long run of the week I had decided already on Friday that I was going to run to Mivaseret in the morning, to Rena's house and together we would go to the final. I thought I would be waking up at 8 and get out by 9 and probably get to her by 11. I have no idea how many kilometers it is from my apartment to her house, when I get the chance to Google Earth it, I will let y'all know. Anyway, after pacing up and down the hallway in my apartment, I decided to get the hell out of here and take out my nerves on the road. I ran about 3km to the start of the Jerusalem Forest in Givat Shaul and from there I followed the road thru to Bet Zayit and then again in the Forest to Mivaseret. It was not easy but it did calm my nerves. I realized along the way that I really enjoy listening to Podcasts as I run, they give a different distraction than music. So I ran up and down the hills of the Jerusalem Forest, got a bit lost, turned around a few times, found a map and made my way to Mivaseret. The hill that never ends into Mivaseret was a bitch. I definitely walked most of it. I finally got to Rena's after an hour and 40 minutes. I can't say it was a great time since I don't know how long I ran but it was impressive altogether. We ate breakfast and studied some more but at 1230 I said it was enough and I took a 20 minute nap. When we got to the final everyone was sitting around discussing and cramming in the last bits of information they could and I was bouncing off the walls. I could have easily ran another 15km just from nerves.
The test I have to say was extremely and disappointingly easy. I don't think that it was worthy of the life it stole from me these passed couple of weeks but I do know the material. I was so strung out last week that on Friday I paid for a massage at the Inbal to calm me down. I'm usually a really good sleeper but apparently not when I have so much on my clouding my Mind. Its over and I find the need to sleep for a long time but it aint gonna happen. I have another week and a half until I get to sleep properly, until all my finals are over. Thankfully I have my nerves to keep my sleep deprived body going, like the energizer bunny.
Before I call it a night, I will fill you in on the hill/sprint repeats from last Wednesday. It was hard but it was good. I programmed the plan into the treadmill (which was awesome) and just ran, without having to worry about watching the clock and changing the speed and incline on time. I did 2 minutes of slow hill running and then one minute of flat out sprints with 10-15 second rests between hill to sprint. I did that about 6 times making it last 18 minutes. I then decided that the distance wasn't enough, so I walked 2 minutes and then did another 16 minutes of sprints, 1 minute on and one minute off. I then did a full body strength training workout.
My next workout was Friday. I ran 9km with splits aiming for faster returns, even though I was on the treadmill. It worked out nicely. I followed it with a full body strength training workout, cooking for shabbas and then a massage. I slept nicely Friday night from 9-9 and proceeded to study... and the rest you know.
Tomorrow is a short run and strength training at the gym. I hope I make it on time, my mom is coming in the afternoon, max I'll run outside. Hopefully I'll sleep tonight for tomorrow brings with it another final to study for.
Good night and be well.
Since today is Sunday and time for my long run of the week I had decided already on Friday that I was going to run to Mivaseret in the morning, to Rena's house and together we would go to the final. I thought I would be waking up at 8 and get out by 9 and probably get to her by 11. I have no idea how many kilometers it is from my apartment to her house, when I get the chance to Google Earth it, I will let y'all know. Anyway, after pacing up and down the hallway in my apartment, I decided to get the hell out of here and take out my nerves on the road. I ran about 3km to the start of the Jerusalem Forest in Givat Shaul and from there I followed the road thru to Bet Zayit and then again in the Forest to Mivaseret. It was not easy but it did calm my nerves. I realized along the way that I really enjoy listening to Podcasts as I run, they give a different distraction than music. So I ran up and down the hills of the Jerusalem Forest, got a bit lost, turned around a few times, found a map and made my way to Mivaseret. The hill that never ends into Mivaseret was a bitch. I definitely walked most of it. I finally got to Rena's after an hour and 40 minutes. I can't say it was a great time since I don't know how long I ran but it was impressive altogether. We ate breakfast and studied some more but at 1230 I said it was enough and I took a 20 minute nap. When we got to the final everyone was sitting around discussing and cramming in the last bits of information they could and I was bouncing off the walls. I could have easily ran another 15km just from nerves.
The test I have to say was extremely and disappointingly easy. I don't think that it was worthy of the life it stole from me these passed couple of weeks but I do know the material. I was so strung out last week that on Friday I paid for a massage at the Inbal to calm me down. I'm usually a really good sleeper but apparently not when I have so much on my clouding my Mind. Its over and I find the need to sleep for a long time but it aint gonna happen. I have another week and a half until I get to sleep properly, until all my finals are over. Thankfully I have my nerves to keep my sleep deprived body going, like the energizer bunny.
Before I call it a night, I will fill you in on the hill/sprint repeats from last Wednesday. It was hard but it was good. I programmed the plan into the treadmill (which was awesome) and just ran, without having to worry about watching the clock and changing the speed and incline on time. I did 2 minutes of slow hill running and then one minute of flat out sprints with 10-15 second rests between hill to sprint. I did that about 6 times making it last 18 minutes. I then decided that the distance wasn't enough, so I walked 2 minutes and then did another 16 minutes of sprints, 1 minute on and one minute off. I then did a full body strength training workout.
My next workout was Friday. I ran 9km with splits aiming for faster returns, even though I was on the treadmill. It worked out nicely. I followed it with a full body strength training workout, cooking for shabbas and then a massage. I slept nicely Friday night from 9-9 and proceeded to study... and the rest you know.
Tomorrow is a short run and strength training at the gym. I hope I make it on time, my mom is coming in the afternoon, max I'll run outside. Hopefully I'll sleep tonight for tomorrow brings with it another final to study for.
Good night and be well.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Drinking on the Run
http://www.runnersworld.com/topic/0,7122,s6-242-302-0-0,00.html
For the low down on hydration, check out the link above...
"Picture a blazing 90ºF Sunday in July. Your basic instinct tells you to lie panting in the breezeway with the dog, or poolside with a cold drink. But your so-called "higher reasoning" tells you that your success in October's marathon hinges on whether you complete today's long run. What's it going to be?" (Taken from: DRINK THIS The eight rules of fluid replacement, and how they'll energize your running. By John Brant - Runnersworld.com)
As I read this, the first thing that came to my mind was "I wish I had a dog...". Second I realized that I should most definitely be reading this article since I do have a marathon to complete in October and that means running in the heat of the Middle East over the summer. I will probably be getting in the better of my long runs at like 4am before the heat is unbearable but at the same time, I should know how to hydrate properly. I know the basics, I should drink before, during and after my runs and I love gatorade, but I would like to know the science behind it all to understand it better. So the obvious advice that they give is to drink steadily througout the day so that your pee is clear. As they say here in Israel: פיפי צהוב, לא טוב. פיפי לבן, מצוין! That's the way to go. Its extremely important to drink before running water or a sports drink. Brant says that an hour or 2 before running 160z should be guzzled to top off our fluid tanks. Throughout the run you should drink 5-12 oz of fluid every 15-20 minutes of your run. If you are running less than hour, water is fine. Longer than an hour a sports drink is recommended to restore the right amount of glycogen and electrolytes that the body needs inorder to function properly. Its carbs provide fuel, while its electrolytes--sodium and potassium--stave off cramps, nausea, and hyponatremia (a dangerous condition caused by drinking too much water). Not drinking soon enough can cause lots of things to go wrong. You'll start sweating out the liquids that keep your blood the right consistency and then your blood will thicken, causing your heart to work harder and your body temp to rise causing you to sweat more. Dehydration is not fun, but overhydration isn't a walk in the park either. Too much water can also be dangerous. Since I don't know much about it I will quote for you what Brant wrote about it: "7. Beware of hyponatremia, a potentially fatal condition caused by taking in too much water and too little salt. Hyponatremia, or "water intoxication," usually happens only during long, hot runs, when a runner loses a lot of sodium through sweat and consumes a great deal of plain water. This combination may unwittingly dilute sodium levels in your blood, which sets off an electrolyte imbalance. Hyponatremia can trigger seizures, coma, and even death. Initial warning signs mimic those of dehydration, including confusion, disorientation, muscle weakness, and vomiting. Women and slower, beginner endurance runners are at most risk of this condition. Still, the likelihood of developing hyponatremia remains small. Banish hyponatremia from your worry list by 1) including salt in your normal diet (particularly a few days before a long event), and 2) drinking sports drinks, rather than plain water, on runs over an hour."
That all said, just be conscious of how you are feeling before, during and after your run. But if you feel like you are slipping into fluid debt-symptoms include chills, dizziness, disorientation, and cessation of sweating-don't panic. Stop running, find shade or an air-conditioned building, and start drinking as soon as possible. If you don't quickly improve, ask for help or call 911. If you do start to feel better, resist running and walk or ask for a ride home. Then vow to never let yourself become dehydrated again.
Dehydration causes decline in performance starting at a loss of 3% of your body weight in sweat. A good way to check the effect of the weather on your body, weigh in before and after runs. "If you lose 1 pound, this means you sweated approximately 16 ounces of fluid. Two pounds means you sweated 32 ounces, and so on. If you lose a pound consistently during your 30-minute runs, you need to replenish your fluids at a rate of 16 ounces per 30 minutes of running."
Cool random piece of info: At long distance races, the aid stations have old school bathroom scales for the runners to track their progress and see if they are hydrating properly throughout the race.
Now that I have my super cool fuel belt, I will be filling the bottles most definitely with my
Gatorade packets and put it to good use.
Drink!
Peace out.
For the low down on hydration, check out the link above...
"Picture a blazing 90ºF Sunday in July. Your basic instinct tells you to lie panting in the breezeway with the dog, or poolside with a cold drink. But your so-called "higher reasoning" tells you that your success in October's marathon hinges on whether you complete today's long run. What's it going to be?" (Taken from: DRINK THIS The eight rules of fluid replacement, and how they'll energize your running. By John Brant - Runnersworld.com)
As I read this, the first thing that came to my mind was "I wish I had a dog...". Second I realized that I should most definitely be reading this article since I do have a marathon to complete in October and that means running in the heat of the Middle East over the summer. I will probably be getting in the better of my long runs at like 4am before the heat is unbearable but at the same time, I should know how to hydrate properly. I know the basics, I should drink before, during and after my runs and I love gatorade, but I would like to know the science behind it all to understand it better. So the obvious advice that they give is to drink steadily througout the day so that your pee is clear. As they say here in Israel: פיפי צהוב, לא טוב. פיפי לבן, מצוין! That's the way to go. Its extremely important to drink before running water or a sports drink. Brant says that an hour or 2 before running 160z should be guzzled to top off our fluid tanks. Throughout the run you should drink 5-12 oz of fluid every 15-20 minutes of your run. If you are running less than hour, water is fine. Longer than an hour a sports drink is recommended to restore the right amount of glycogen and electrolytes that the body needs inorder to function properly. Its carbs provide fuel, while its electrolytes--sodium and potassium--stave off cramps, nausea, and hyponatremia (a dangerous condition caused by drinking too much water). Not drinking soon enough can cause lots of things to go wrong. You'll start sweating out the liquids that keep your blood the right consistency and then your blood will thicken, causing your heart to work harder and your body temp to rise causing you to sweat more. Dehydration is not fun, but overhydration isn't a walk in the park either. Too much water can also be dangerous. Since I don't know much about it I will quote for you what Brant wrote about it: "7. Beware of hyponatremia, a potentially fatal condition caused by taking in too much water and too little salt. Hyponatremia, or "water intoxication," usually happens only during long, hot runs, when a runner loses a lot of sodium through sweat and consumes a great deal of plain water. This combination may unwittingly dilute sodium levels in your blood, which sets off an electrolyte imbalance. Hyponatremia can trigger seizures, coma, and even death. Initial warning signs mimic those of dehydration, including confusion, disorientation, muscle weakness, and vomiting. Women and slower, beginner endurance runners are at most risk of this condition. Still, the likelihood of developing hyponatremia remains small. Banish hyponatremia from your worry list by 1) including salt in your normal diet (particularly a few days before a long event), and 2) drinking sports drinks, rather than plain water, on runs over an hour."
That all said, just be conscious of how you are feeling before, during and after your run. But if you feel like you are slipping into fluid debt-symptoms include chills, dizziness, disorientation, and cessation of sweating-don't panic. Stop running, find shade or an air-conditioned building, and start drinking as soon as possible. If you don't quickly improve, ask for help or call 911. If you do start to feel better, resist running and walk or ask for a ride home. Then vow to never let yourself become dehydrated again.
Dehydration causes decline in performance starting at a loss of 3% of your body weight in sweat. A good way to check the effect of the weather on your body, weigh in before and after runs. "If you lose 1 pound, this means you sweated approximately 16 ounces of fluid. Two pounds means you sweated 32 ounces, and so on. If you lose a pound consistently during your 30-minute runs, you need to replenish your fluids at a rate of 16 ounces per 30 minutes of running."
Cool random piece of info: At long distance races, the aid stations have old school bathroom scales for the runners to track their progress and see if they are hydrating properly throughout the race.
Now that I have my super cool fuel belt, I will be filling the bottles most definitely with my
Gatorade packets and put it to good use.
Drink!
Peace out.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Walk this way, talk this way.
Since I finally took my running to the streets for real this time I thought it would be wise to know the rules of the road, as a runner that is. I am a very dedicated fan of Runner's World, both online and their monthly magazines (which I usually get in bulk considering they are delivered to my house in NJ...) and in their December 2009 publication there was an article on knowing the rules of the road which I would like to share and elaborate on.
It never was a question for me where to run, if I had the right of way when crossing the street, whether I should wear headphones or sunglasses or if I should acknowledge fellow runners I pass on my route. I always believed I had the right of way, it must be from growing up in the tri-state area and never worrying about getting ticketed for j-walking. I also didn't really care about annoying drivers when I cut them off as I ran across the street. I then came to the realization that I like my limbs whole and working and would rather slow down and wait for my turn than get hit by a car, especially in Israel... This article called "mile mannered" came in handy in knowing how to be friendly and safe when I am out on my runs. The first issue to focus on is where to run, on the sidewalk, street, trails or tracks. If you are running on the road, always run on the side facing the traffic so that both you and the traffic closest to you can see each other. Apparently there are places where there are rules against running on the sidewalk. If you aren't aware of any, the sidewalk is a great way to stay safe from 4+ wheeled traffic. I cannot guarentee safety from bicycles and other pedestrians, I personally cannot stand pedestrians who slow me down when I am on a misson so running in the street, for me, probably keeps others safe.
Always use the crosswalks to cross the street. Aside from being ticketed for not crossing the street on a green light or within the lines of the crosswalk, drivers in Israel are not particulary patient and will be more inclined to hit you then slow down while you jet across the street. I know it can be extremely annoying, but its better off slowing down than being plowed down.
How do you pass other runners? The time and place for that topic will come at a later date and in a different blog titled "Hey, wanna arm wrestle?", but there are manners in which to pass fellow runners depending on where you encounter them. On running paths you should keep traffic towards the right and pass on the left. If you are on a trail and there isn't any passing room, wait 30 seconds and then politely ask to slip passed. If you are on a track, pass on the right. When racing, pass on either side of the runner ahead of you.
How to keep hold of your company? If you are running with your dog, keep him close on a tight leash and move to the side so that other runners can pass without interruption. If you are running with another person, try and be sensitive to other runners around who might be trying to get passed, but then they should also be asking you to allow them to pass... When passing someone else, make a single file to make it a more friendly pass then a mob overtaking the slow guy.
How much acknowledgement should be given when you see fellow runners during your run? There are some people who prefer to zone out when running but others do feel energized when they wave and like the sense of camaraderie it provides. So the consensus is wave if you want but don't be insulted if you don't get an answer. I usually smile or give a nod/chin thrust when I see someone else out running, depending on my mood or how far into the run I am and how hard the hill is.
I have been trying to keep to these rules of the road as much as I can and I think this past run went rather smoothly, besides for the 1st car that we had to move over onto the dirt trail for and the slide I took into 1st base. Its nothing I'm not used to, I think I even might have menti0ned that I am prone to falling whenever possible and have many a scar to show for it. As Danielle put it, I now have battle wounds to show for the bitch of a run that the forest is. We ended up running close to 14km in 90 minutes which is extremely impressive considering the hills we conquered. The forest is a beautiful run and sometimes very much worth the torture. So I'm a bit scratched up, but nothing too serious that I couldn't just brush off and continue on with the run. I think I might even be extending the run in the forest this Sunday and try to make it to Mivaseret. I will keep up to date on that one, its pretty crazy, even for me, yet there is something so appealing about it...
Regarding other workouts for this week. Sunday was the 14km with Danielle outside on a big part of the race's route. Monday was my full body strength training workout and an easy 3.5 km run on the treadmill. Today was an hour of cross training on the elliptical and core workout with the Kinesis at work. Tomorrow, Wednesday will be speed work with hill repeats as the recovery time to help with the turnover from the hill to the flat/downhill surface and the ability to pick up the pace and not be so totally beat from the uphill segment. I will let you know how it goes.
My hip is still bothering me, which totally sucks, but I am still sticking my leg with acupuncture needles and it is helping. Tomorrow is my 6 hrs of massage class so hopefully we can work on all my ailments then.
Peace out and stay safe!
It never was a question for me where to run, if I had the right of way when crossing the street, whether I should wear headphones or sunglasses or if I should acknowledge fellow runners I pass on my route. I always believed I had the right of way, it must be from growing up in the tri-state area and never worrying about getting ticketed for j-walking. I also didn't really care about annoying drivers when I cut them off as I ran across the street. I then came to the realization that I like my limbs whole and working and would rather slow down and wait for my turn than get hit by a car, especially in Israel... This article called "mile mannered" came in handy in knowing how to be friendly and safe when I am out on my runs. The first issue to focus on is where to run, on the sidewalk, street, trails or tracks. If you are running on the road, always run on the side facing the traffic so that both you and the traffic closest to you can see each other. Apparently there are places where there are rules against running on the sidewalk. If you aren't aware of any, the sidewalk is a great way to stay safe from 4+ wheeled traffic. I cannot guarentee safety from bicycles and other pedestrians, I personally cannot stand pedestrians who slow me down when I am on a misson so running in the street, for me, probably keeps others safe.
Always use the crosswalks to cross the street. Aside from being ticketed for not crossing the street on a green light or within the lines of the crosswalk, drivers in Israel are not particulary patient and will be more inclined to hit you then slow down while you jet across the street. I know it can be extremely annoying, but its better off slowing down than being plowed down.
How do you pass other runners? The time and place for that topic will come at a later date and in a different blog titled "Hey, wanna arm wrestle?", but there are manners in which to pass fellow runners depending on where you encounter them. On running paths you should keep traffic towards the right and pass on the left. If you are on a trail and there isn't any passing room, wait 30 seconds and then politely ask to slip passed. If you are on a track, pass on the right. When racing, pass on either side of the runner ahead of you.
How to keep hold of your company? If you are running with your dog, keep him close on a tight leash and move to the side so that other runners can pass without interruption. If you are running with another person, try and be sensitive to other runners around who might be trying to get passed, but then they should also be asking you to allow them to pass... When passing someone else, make a single file to make it a more friendly pass then a mob overtaking the slow guy.
How much acknowledgement should be given when you see fellow runners during your run? There are some people who prefer to zone out when running but others do feel energized when they wave and like the sense of camaraderie it provides. So the consensus is wave if you want but don't be insulted if you don't get an answer. I usually smile or give a nod/chin thrust when I see someone else out running, depending on my mood or how far into the run I am and how hard the hill is.
I have been trying to keep to these rules of the road as much as I can and I think this past run went rather smoothly, besides for the 1st car that we had to move over onto the dirt trail for and the slide I took into 1st base. Its nothing I'm not used to, I think I even might have menti0ned that I am prone to falling whenever possible and have many a scar to show for it. As Danielle put it, I now have battle wounds to show for the bitch of a run that the forest is. We ended up running close to 14km in 90 minutes which is extremely impressive considering the hills we conquered. The forest is a beautiful run and sometimes very much worth the torture. So I'm a bit scratched up, but nothing too serious that I couldn't just brush off and continue on with the run. I think I might even be extending the run in the forest this Sunday and try to make it to Mivaseret. I will keep up to date on that one, its pretty crazy, even for me, yet there is something so appealing about it...
Regarding other workouts for this week. Sunday was the 14km with Danielle outside on a big part of the race's route. Monday was my full body strength training workout and an easy 3.5 km run on the treadmill. Today was an hour of cross training on the elliptical and core workout with the Kinesis at work. Tomorrow, Wednesday will be speed work with hill repeats as the recovery time to help with the turnover from the hill to the flat/downhill surface and the ability to pick up the pace and not be so totally beat from the uphill segment. I will let you know how it goes.
My hip is still bothering me, which totally sucks, but I am still sticking my leg with acupuncture needles and it is helping. Tomorrow is my 6 hrs of massage class so hopefully we can work on all my ailments then.
Peace out and stay safe!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Happiness, like yawning, is contagious.
The NY Times recently stated that "Staying healthy isn't just a matter of your genes and your diet - good health is also a product, in part, of your sheer proximity to other healthy people. " In conclusion the study said "If you want to improve the world with your good behavior, math is on your side. For most of us, within 3 degrees, we are connected to more than 1000 people - all of whom we can theoretically make healthier, fitter and happier just by our contagious example."
My house growing up was not what you would call unhealthy but it wasn't what its like today. We always had like 5 cartons of ice cream in the freezer and chocolate hidden in special places but if we wanted junk food, we went to the neighbors. Now, its even worse. The freezer is down to 3 cartons, no hidden chocolate anywhere and we still have to go to the neighbors for junk food. I have to say that as the years after I moved out continue to pass, the house becomes more and more "Rachel Friendly". Meaning, only whole wheat bread, quinoa, no cookies anywhere... Like I said, its not that we ever had any real junk food in the house, but I do like to think that I had some type of influence on how the members of my family eat now, even with me not there. But they are still cooking with margarine and eating dairy products, gross. We have a treadmill that my Mom uses, my Dad goes to the gym every day and my brother is on the RKYHS Soccer team. As a personal trainer, I do have an influence on people around me to persue a healthier lifestyle and it has worked on some of my classmates too. I would never force anyone to do something that they didn't want to do unless it was a life or death circumstance... Come to think of it, not exercising is a life or death circumstance. We are learning Internal Medicine now in school and every disease we have covered has sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor, that and smoking. Still, I hope that my healthy aura and toned delts and glutes have their effect on those around me :)
With that said, I continue on my quest in spreading the wealth and health of running. There are lots of ways to benefit from running other than shrinking a wasteline. I admit that I did start running as a means to get fit and it seems to be doing the trick now with the extra miles that I am logging each week. What I would like to share with the masses is that running can be as theraputic as a punching bag and believe me, I speak from experience. One day a while back, say 5 years ago, I was in a really bad mood and I was going to be having a boxing session that next morning but I needed to somehow get out my frustrations right then and there so I took to the pavement. It was the best thing I could have done. I felt so wiped after but yet so refreshed. Now, whenever I am in a bad mood you can guarentee that I will do 1 of 2 things, bake or run, sometimes even both, but not at the same time... Sprints are the best medicine for a bad mood. I go for a half hour, even 20 minutes and I am a happier person. I know for a fact that I am not the only person who this pertains to. Try it out for yourselves.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds up, please god (!), I will be logging 13-14km outside on the hills of Jerusalem with Danielle. (I can't wait for my new running shoes to come with my Mom!) I have no idea how long it will take us, probably an hour 45. We will be running part of the track of the 1/2 marathon through the Jerusalem Forest, one of the nicest places to run. Back when I was training for the 2008 1/2 marathon I ran through there every time I ran outside, it is my favorite place in this town to run, even if its hills are a bitch. Someone should piss me off tomorrow morning, maybe it will help me on those hills...
Now to log in my passed runs...
Wednesday was my speed work day. It went down like this: 8oo meters sprint, 400 meter walk x3 + 200 meters sprint, 100 meter walk x4 and the rest run = 5 km. It was hard, but obviously beneficial. Thursday was my rest day. Friday was also sprints since I didn't have time for a 10k. I ran 2km pretty fastly paced and the last 3 were 2 minute sprints 1 minute walk/jog until I finished the 5 kms. All days included some arm and ab work.
Hope y'all have a great happy and healthy week! Maybe some pictures from the forest will accompany the next log...
My house growing up was not what you would call unhealthy but it wasn't what its like today. We always had like 5 cartons of ice cream in the freezer and chocolate hidden in special places but if we wanted junk food, we went to the neighbors. Now, its even worse. The freezer is down to 3 cartons, no hidden chocolate anywhere and we still have to go to the neighbors for junk food. I have to say that as the years after I moved out continue to pass, the house becomes more and more "Rachel Friendly". Meaning, only whole wheat bread, quinoa, no cookies anywhere... Like I said, its not that we ever had any real junk food in the house, but I do like to think that I had some type of influence on how the members of my family eat now, even with me not there. But they are still cooking with margarine and eating dairy products, gross. We have a treadmill that my Mom uses, my Dad goes to the gym every day and my brother is on the RKYHS Soccer team. As a personal trainer, I do have an influence on people around me to persue a healthier lifestyle and it has worked on some of my classmates too. I would never force anyone to do something that they didn't want to do unless it was a life or death circumstance... Come to think of it, not exercising is a life or death circumstance. We are learning Internal Medicine now in school and every disease we have covered has sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor, that and smoking. Still, I hope that my healthy aura and toned delts and glutes have their effect on those around me :)
With that said, I continue on my quest in spreading the wealth and health of running. There are lots of ways to benefit from running other than shrinking a wasteline. I admit that I did start running as a means to get fit and it seems to be doing the trick now with the extra miles that I am logging each week. What I would like to share with the masses is that running can be as theraputic as a punching bag and believe me, I speak from experience. One day a while back, say 5 years ago, I was in a really bad mood and I was going to be having a boxing session that next morning but I needed to somehow get out my frustrations right then and there so I took to the pavement. It was the best thing I could have done. I felt so wiped after but yet so refreshed. Now, whenever I am in a bad mood you can guarentee that I will do 1 of 2 things, bake or run, sometimes even both, but not at the same time... Sprints are the best medicine for a bad mood. I go for a half hour, even 20 minutes and I am a happier person. I know for a fact that I am not the only person who this pertains to. Try it out for yourselves.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds up, please god (!), I will be logging 13-14km outside on the hills of Jerusalem with Danielle. (I can't wait for my new running shoes to come with my Mom!) I have no idea how long it will take us, probably an hour 45. We will be running part of the track of the 1/2 marathon through the Jerusalem Forest, one of the nicest places to run. Back when I was training for the 2008 1/2 marathon I ran through there every time I ran outside, it is my favorite place in this town to run, even if its hills are a bitch. Someone should piss me off tomorrow morning, maybe it will help me on those hills...
Now to log in my passed runs...
Wednesday was my speed work day. It went down like this: 8oo meters sprint, 400 meter walk x3 + 200 meters sprint, 100 meter walk x4 and the rest run = 5 km. It was hard, but obviously beneficial. Thursday was my rest day. Friday was also sprints since I didn't have time for a 10k. I ran 2km pretty fastly paced and the last 3 were 2 minute sprints 1 minute walk/jog until I finished the 5 kms. All days included some arm and ab work.
Hope y'all have a great happy and healthy week! Maybe some pictures from the forest will accompany the next log...
Monday, February 1, 2010
Everyone is addicted to something, sometime. Right?
I recently saw a perfect ad by Saucony for runners. It said, and I quote,
"We know:
Not all addictions require treatment.
Because we run."
It had a trifold of pictures: a pile of running shoes, a runner's legs caked in mud and the street lit at the crack of dawn with someone running. I think this ad sums up the addicted runner. The person, who if he hasn't run feels guilty about it. The person who schedules everything else around his runs. The person who needs new shoes every few months because he has worn out his current pair. The person who gets up at the crack of dawn to run 20 miles.
My addiction started with the shoes. I can blame it on that year I worked at Pro:Sport and sold running shoes and gear to Israel's population if runners. The whole science of the matter intrigued me, when it comes to the biomechanics of running, you have my attention. Now that I think about it, I can attribute my running to my 12th grade gym teacher. That and the fact that we had a track at my high school. If I hadn't lived so far away and liked my sleep, I would have joined the track team that year. Who knows where I'd be now... A former college track runner? Have a few marathons checked off? Probably not. I'd still be where I am today, training for the Jerusalem Half Marathon and NYC Marathon. I can tell you that I'd most definitely have a bigger pile of shoes at my back door... Now, you may ask, why so many shoes?? What do you do with all the old ones? Depending on the amount of miles put into a pair of running shoes, the average runner needs to replace their shoes every 3-4 months. I definitely can tell when I need to get a new pair, my knees start to hurt, my back gets stiff and they just aren't as comfortable anymore. The shock absorbers wear out. I have not kept all the shoes that I've ever worn. At the store we had a box of used running shoes that we donated to a mental hospital down in Beer Sheva. The sign on the box said "Shoes for Africa" because the owners saw that the public was more inclined to donate to the poor and needy of Africa than the needy in its own Country... I do believe that I donated a few pairs to the south. Others I gave to friends who thought I was crazy not to be using the shoes anymore. The rest I keep for rainy days or cross training. Like today's pair. After the shoes came the gear. I think I have more dri-fit sweat-wicking clothing than regular street clothes. Now that I wear workout clothing to work, its a bit justified. I am trying to balance out my wardrobe, but not having much success in that department, clothing styles today are atrocious, in Israel at least. After the shirts, came the socks and then Nike came out with its Nike+ Ipod line of running accessories. That's where they bought me, or more to the point, I bought them. I decided I needed an Ipod nano so that I can have the chip that goes in the shoe and sends all my running info straight to the Ipod that then loads to the computer and I can track all my runs; the time, the distance, at what point I slowed down or picked up the pace. I can also choose a song that can be my boost in the middle of the run and when I slow down the Ipod will automatically play it for me. Of course with the chip came the necessity for the Nike+ Running Shoe. I had 2 pairs... The first was the Nike+ Air Structure Triax, which were amazing and used to death. They were not donated since they literally fell apart, I didn't think it was nice. The 2nd pair was the Nike+ Air Zoom Vomero. These were even better then the Triax. There was something in the sole that made you just want to take another step or stride. When it was time to move on, I moved on to Brooks. I swear by them but they are missing that slot in the sole to put the Ipod chip into. I have been running for some time without the chip and it hasn't really bothered me. Now that each run I do outside really needs to count I need someway of tracking my outings other than checking on a map and approximating the distance. So, I bought the latest Nike+ Vomeros today. I will wear them for my outdoor runs and the Brooks I will wear at the gym when I do my speed work. I do not believe that there is a problem with the amount of running shoes that I own. Instead of buying boots or fancy shoes or just regular every day sneakers, I buy running shoes. At least I get the full use out of them before I move on to the next pair...
Now its time to fill you in on the last 3 runs that I did. Friday's run was a fast paced 10k that almost made me puke but it could be because I was up since 530 that morning to be at work on time. Shabbat was restful and really enjoyable and much needed. I got some studying done but most importantly go to hang with some really quality people and didn't even have to change out of my pajamas all day! Sunday was my long run. I am a little embarrassed to say that it was done on the treadmill but I did 13km in 90 minutes. It wasn't easy but it started out slow paced and each couple of kilometers I picked up the speed a bit. I realized that instead of being energized after my runs I was really wiped so I implemented pasta into my diet, whole wheat not to worry and I really feel the difference. Yesterday was strength training and a 3.5 km run at a decent pace. I decided to do the weights before the run and it really helped reduce the usual aches I feel the day after intense leg work. Today is my day off from running but I will be doing 105 minues on the bike...
I don't want to brag, but I think I'm going to be a great acupuncturist. I would like to specialize in sports rehabilitation and last night I tried the needles out on myself. I have been suffering from a really nagging discomfort/pain in my left hip/quadricep. I know which meridian the exact discomfort is on and all the muscles distal to the hip have been really tight. So last night, when I got to my friends' apartment I decided it couldn't wait any longer, I was going to treat my leg. I pulled out my needles as Chevi pulled out her camera and I stuck one needle in above my knee and one below my knee, each point has a specific meaning and instantly the pain/discomfort went away. I kept the needles in for a 1/2 hour and I felt the muscles just loosening up, it was amazing. This morning I woke up with some of the pain still in my left shin. When the gym emptied out I stuck 2 more needles in the same points as last night and the pain, again, instantly disappeared. I will probably do it again later tonight, hopefully it will be the end of my nagging hip...
"We know:
Not all addictions require treatment.
Because we run."
It had a trifold of pictures: a pile of running shoes, a runner's legs caked in mud and the street lit at the crack of dawn with someone running. I think this ad sums up the addicted runner. The person, who if he hasn't run feels guilty about it. The person who schedules everything else around his runs. The person who needs new shoes every few months because he has worn out his current pair. The person who gets up at the crack of dawn to run 20 miles.
My addiction started with the shoes. I can blame it on that year I worked at Pro:Sport and sold running shoes and gear to Israel's population if runners. The whole science of the matter intrigued me, when it comes to the biomechanics of running, you have my attention. Now that I think about it, I can attribute my running to my 12th grade gym teacher. That and the fact that we had a track at my high school. If I hadn't lived so far away and liked my sleep, I would have joined the track team that year. Who knows where I'd be now... A former college track runner? Have a few marathons checked off? Probably not. I'd still be where I am today, training for the Jerusalem Half Marathon and NYC Marathon. I can tell you that I'd most definitely have a bigger pile of shoes at my back door... Now, you may ask, why so many shoes?? What do you do with all the old ones? Depending on the amount of miles put into a pair of running shoes, the average runner needs to replace their shoes every 3-4 months. I definitely can tell when I need to get a new pair, my knees start to hurt, my back gets stiff and they just aren't as comfortable anymore. The shock absorbers wear out. I have not kept all the shoes that I've ever worn. At the store we had a box of used running shoes that we donated to a mental hospital down in Beer Sheva. The sign on the box said "Shoes for Africa" because the owners saw that the public was more inclined to donate to the poor and needy of Africa than the needy in its own Country... I do believe that I donated a few pairs to the south. Others I gave to friends who thought I was crazy not to be using the shoes anymore. The rest I keep for rainy days or cross training. Like today's pair. After the shoes came the gear. I think I have more dri-fit sweat-wicking clothing than regular street clothes. Now that I wear workout clothing to work, its a bit justified. I am trying to balance out my wardrobe, but not having much success in that department, clothing styles today are atrocious, in Israel at least. After the shirts, came the socks and then Nike came out with its Nike+ Ipod line of running accessories. That's where they bought me, or more to the point, I bought them. I decided I needed an Ipod nano so that I can have the chip that goes in the shoe and sends all my running info straight to the Ipod that then loads to the computer and I can track all my runs; the time, the distance, at what point I slowed down or picked up the pace. I can also choose a song that can be my boost in the middle of the run and when I slow down the Ipod will automatically play it for me. Of course with the chip came the necessity for the Nike+ Running Shoe. I had 2 pairs... The first was the Nike+ Air Structure Triax, which were amazing and used to death. They were not donated since they literally fell apart, I didn't think it was nice. The 2nd pair was the Nike+ Air Zoom Vomero. These were even better then the Triax. There was something in the sole that made you just want to take another step or stride. When it was time to move on, I moved on to Brooks. I swear by them but they are missing that slot in the sole to put the Ipod chip into. I have been running for some time without the chip and it hasn't really bothered me. Now that each run I do outside really needs to count I need someway of tracking my outings other than checking on a map and approximating the distance. So, I bought the latest Nike+ Vomeros today. I will wear them for my outdoor runs and the Brooks I will wear at the gym when I do my speed work. I do not believe that there is a problem with the amount of running shoes that I own. Instead of buying boots or fancy shoes or just regular every day sneakers, I buy running shoes. At least I get the full use out of them before I move on to the next pair...
Now its time to fill you in on the last 3 runs that I did. Friday's run was a fast paced 10k that almost made me puke but it could be because I was up since 530 that morning to be at work on time. Shabbat was restful and really enjoyable and much needed. I got some studying done but most importantly go to hang with some really quality people and didn't even have to change out of my pajamas all day! Sunday was my long run. I am a little embarrassed to say that it was done on the treadmill but I did 13km in 90 minutes. It wasn't easy but it started out slow paced and each couple of kilometers I picked up the speed a bit. I realized that instead of being energized after my runs I was really wiped so I implemented pasta into my diet, whole wheat not to worry and I really feel the difference. Yesterday was strength training and a 3.5 km run at a decent pace. I decided to do the weights before the run and it really helped reduce the usual aches I feel the day after intense leg work. Today is my day off from running but I will be doing 105 minues on the bike...
I don't want to brag, but I think I'm going to be a great acupuncturist. I would like to specialize in sports rehabilitation and last night I tried the needles out on myself. I have been suffering from a really nagging discomfort/pain in my left hip/quadricep. I know which meridian the exact discomfort is on and all the muscles distal to the hip have been really tight. So last night, when I got to my friends' apartment I decided it couldn't wait any longer, I was going to treat my leg. I pulled out my needles as Chevi pulled out her camera and I stuck one needle in above my knee and one below my knee, each point has a specific meaning and instantly the pain/discomfort went away. I kept the needles in for a 1/2 hour and I felt the muscles just loosening up, it was amazing. This morning I woke up with some of the pain still in my left shin. When the gym emptied out I stuck 2 more needles in the same points as last night and the pain, again, instantly disappeared. I will probably do it again later tonight, hopefully it will be the end of my nagging hip...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)