Why Do We Run?
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Weekly Carb-Loading, your Sunday morning dose of running and fitness inspiration.
Interesting stories, runner profiles, home workouts and challenges straight to your inbox, to motivate you to exercise on a regular basis, and lead a healthier life!
Let’s get started!
Why Do We Run?
A question often faced by a runner, innocent and innocuous, lurking around corners in office over coffee, hiding between friends sipping a cold one while out for drinks on Friday night, and scratching the surface of our pot-bellied uncle’s curiosity at many-a-family gathering.
A question which playfully tickles the mind on early mornings, when staying in bed is so much more appealing than stepping out.
A question which burns bright as the sun beating down upon us, in the closing stages of a race, face sprinkled with the salt of dried sweat, every step an effort in concentration, mind willing the body towards the finish.
We run for the solitude.
An hour or more on the road, alone with our thoughts and our music. Body slicing through the silence of early dawn, kilometres ticking away quietly. A place of peace and calm, meditation and balance. A temple of solitude known only to us.
We run for the freedom.
A new path, a new route, a part of our city we have never been to, traversed on foot. Run fast, run slow, push the pace or take it easy. Freedom, from the four walls of home and office.
We run to discover ourselves.
Our ability to cope with mental and physical fatigue, our ability to respond to a challenge. Our ability to push the boundaries of what we thought was our limit, unlock and access that which is hidden deep inside us, and emerge stronger on the other side.
We run to write a story.
A story of drama, suspense and intrigue, its prologue several months in the making, with twists and turns around every corner. A story of emotion and human connection, a wild ride through ups and downs. A story so captivating, it brings us to tears at the finish, and keeps us hooked for the sequel the next day.
We run to share the energy.
The energy to be active, exercise regularly, stay healthy and fit. To absorb from those who inspire us, and magnify it. To add a few more years to our lives, and the lives of those around us.
We run to celebrate.
A new day, a healthy mind and body, a reason to smile. Each run, akin to the journey of life itself, one small step after another.
We run, for the joy of running.
"Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life — and for me, for writing as whole."
- Haruki Murakami
Beginner Workouts - Stretching and Flexibility
If you are new to workouts, and wondering how to get started, we have you covered!
This section will, over the next few weeks, get you started on the road to becoming a healthier and fitter version of yourself.
Last week, we started with Warming Up. This week, we have Stretching and Flexibility.
Stretching is a very important part of our pre-workout routine. A daily stretch keeps muscles loose and flexible, and enables a range of motion in the joints.
When called upon for an intense physical activity (like running), muscles and joints which have not been stretched may not extend all the way, increasing your chances of injury.
Stretching also improves posture, and relieves tension in a few muscles, which may have built up over the day due to physical and emotional stress.
This week, lets set aside 15 minutes every day for a simple Beginner Flexibility Routine via Tom Merrick on Youtube.
Note: Stretching muscles before they are warmed up may hurt them. It is beneficial to get a bit of blood flow to each area, with five or ten minutes of light activity before stretching. For more on warming up, you can read last week’s post in the link above.
Wall-Sit-Hold Challenge
Our plank challenge in the first week of June was a hit!
So, for our next challenge - What’s the longest you can hold a Wall-Sit? Record it, and screenshot a picture of your timings in the comments below! Of course, we’re doing it as well!
But wait, what is a Wall-Sit-Hold and how do I do it?
A Wall-Sit-Hold is an endurance exercise which targets your glutes, quads and hamstring, and requires no equipment.
Simply stand with your back against a wall, and walk your feet out away from it, knees shoulder-width apart, while sliding your back downwards.
Stop when you reach a 90-degree bend at the knees and the hip, with your back against the wall and head and neck in a neutral position. Your knees should be above your ankles and not your toes, and thighs parallel to the ground.
Your hands may be placed on the hips, crossed or held out in front of you. When you’re done, slide back up the wall instead of slumping to the ground!
Here’s a video to help you out, via Howcast on Youtube
If you’re not doing them already, a couple of Wall-Sits can be added to your existing routine every week. If it seems tough at first, record your hold time and progress over a month or two!
PS: The World Record for the Longest Static Wall-sit is 11 hr 51 min 14 sec held by Dr. Thienna Ho (Vietnam) since December 2008. Can you better it?
What We’re Reading
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami
A beautiful memoir from the best-selling Japanese author, revolving around his four-month preparation for the New York City Marathon, 2005, and weaving through his running journey of three decades at locations around the world.
Murakami combines his vivid memories and insights in twin-passions of writing and running, into a travelogue, training log and reminiscence, all rolled into one. At times contemplative, at times going through the motions of the daily grind, this book offers a look into the mind of a runner, brought alive by virtue of him also being a writer and author.
The book caused us to introspect and reminisce our own running journey, why we run, and what we think about while running. A must-read!
Fun Feature of the Week
We at WCL are definitely not normal. What about you? Let us know in the comments below!
Well, that’s a wrap from us this week.
We want to know why you run! What drives you put on the shoes and head out of the door? Shout out to us in the comments section below!
If you liked this post, share it with a friend, and subscribe to get the next one in your inbox!
To read any of our previous posts, head to the Archive.
Until next week, stay healthy, stay fit, and stay safe!
- Team WCL
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