Phedippidations

Greetings fellow canines; my name is Indiana Jones; I am NOT the fictional American Adventurer and Archeologist Dr. Henry Walton Jones Junior created by film maker George Lucas and portrayed by Harrison Ford and River Phoenix; I am the REAL Indiana Jones, a pure bred lemon beagle puppy born one year ago on March 28th, 2009. My full name, in fact, is Indiana Jones Walker…of the human family Walker; they being the creatures who serve me in every way and are the best-est family a dog could ever have. This is my house, I live here with Mathew, John, my Mom and my Dad: Steve. Dad is a runner; but he's not as good a runner as I am. I love to run, especially after bunny rabbits…and we have at least two living in our yard. I can smell them every day. Dad doesn't let me run after them, sometimes he let's me run through the yard sniffing for their trail. He doesn't seem to be able to smell them the way I can. I can smell really well. My nose has 200 million scent receptors compared to Dad's nose, which has only 5 million. My olfactory bulbs are four times as big as his so I can smell things from, far, far away. Dad's nose would have to be the size of a refrigerator in order to be as sensitive as my nose! I can smell that bunny rabbit, and I want to run after him, but Dad won't let me because he's afraid I'll get lost or get hit by one of those big "move-me" machines. But, I just want to play! Doesn't everyone love to play? Show Links: http://worldwidefestivalofraces.com The song "Mr. Jones" was by The Counting Crows http://www.countingcrows.com/

In this episode I review the abstract of a study released last March by Dr. Depina Kardara and his team at the Athens Medical School,Hippokration Hospital titled "Marathon Runners Have Increased Aortic Stiffness". It is important to note that my skepticism with this study is related to the implied suggestion that training for and running a marathon is considered extreme exercise. Maybe it is, or maybe after having run 21 of them…the last not much more than a controlled crawl, I see the marathon as an endurance event that homo sapiens have evolved to run as a means of hunting and gathering; chasing down our prey with persistence. As we listen to the results of this research, we need to understand the severity of the impact, and consider other factors which might invalidate the results; remember: 25,000 runners just finished the Boston Marathon a few weeks ago, not to mention the hundreds of thousands who will run such a distance this year; and yet the sample size for the test group in this study was only 49. This isn't to say that those 49 aren't representative of the entire human population of marathon runners; nor does it necessarily trivialize the results of this study; but it does put this study into perspective against the media interpretation that marathon's can kill you. Show Links: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aIOu08KfQ3LQ http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100255768 http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/637000/main.html http://www.examiner.com/x-25448-Boulder-Running-Examiner~y2010m3d15-Marathons-may-be-hazardous-to-your-health http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/reprint/55/10_MeetingAbstracts/A80.E751.pdf http://www.twitter.com/Frothyfroth http://twitter.com/reallynotarunnr http://twitter.com/Moultgard http://twitter.com/Kieran1209 http://worldwidefestivalofraces.com The song "Think For Yourself" was by George Hrab at http://www.geologicrecords.net

I had come to Hopkinton Massachusetts to run the 114th Boston Marathon, and found myself in the early miles facing the eventual breakdown of my body. From the joyful celebration of a New England town, I ran myself into the unchartered land of exhaustion and pain…and through modern technology I broadcasted my suffering live through my blog and social networking sites. I wasn't doing that to show off or incite pity, I did it because I wanted to share my experience with you in hopes that you might want to run this race one day, and perform better than I did. I know this course very well, it's an old friend that I've visited throughout my youth and into my middle age. I have experienced great things on this course, witnessed legendary athletes run with artistic form, felt intense ecstasy and crushing agony and run this race even when I had nothing left within me to get me to that finish line: but somehow, I always have. For all my efforts in trying to distract myself to finish this race, for trying to go, in my mind, to my happy place…I had forgotten to consider this truth: that This WAS my happy place…this race that is more than just a race, this marathon that is known by all simply by the name of the city within which it finishes: This is my race: Boston. This is my town: Boston. This is my home: Boston Beantown, the hub of the universe, the cradle of liberty, the Athens of America…we love that dirty water, we love our beloved Red Sox, we love our Samuel Adams beer, our Faneuil Hall, and our Patriots, Pilgrims, and minutemen…and we love our Marathon with 114 years of history dating back to the emergence of distance running in the world of athletics. Thank you for listening to this episode of Phedippidations, thank you for running with me as I took you with me on my way to Boston, thank you for your kind words and support and for following my progress on race day; at Intervals, on Twitter and Facebook but most of all: thank you for your friendship. You see, THIS is my happy place, running with fellow runners…and as the sky darkens upon the finishing line in the shadows of tall buildings and skyscrapers on and around Boylston Street, I can't see the sun anymore…I can't feel the ground anymore…but I don't mind…you're by my side…and I feel fine. Show Links: "The Curra Road" was by Fergus http://www.fergusband.com "See the Sun" was by Black Lab http://blacklabworld.com

The Czech Locomotive, Emil Zatopek, 3 time gold medalist in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki once said "If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon."The qualifying times of the Boston Marathon call us to experience a different life. It is not so important that we can meet the standards and run a BQ; it's the whole idea that there is this threshold for excellence out there: a target by which we can measure our own performance. I stand by the belief that anyone who runs and finishes a marathon, no matter what their time, has demonstrated an ability that marks them as athletically gifted within the human race. This is not to denigrate the importance or accomplishment of running or walking shorter distances such as a 5 or 10K road race; but in a world where only point one of one percent of our species has ever run an organized and official marathon road race to completion: the accomplishment deserves acknowledgement and admiration. But if you've qualified to run the Boston Marathon, you are a step above we mere mortals. You have proven that you are worthy of standing at a starting line in a town called Hopkinton to run with runners of similar abilities towards a finish line in downtown Boston marking your name for all time in the official races record book as one who set a BQ, a Boston Qualifying time: and that is an honor you must cherish for all your life. Show Links: http://www.randywhitedj.com/ http://www.bostonmarathon.com/BostonMarathon/114thMarathon.asp "Boston and St. John's" by Great Big Sea http://www.greatbigsea.com

In this episode of The Goofy Little Podcast, I run the first 18 miles of the Boston Marathon course and I'll let you know if there's anything new to look for on the road before you arrive to run this thing. If you've traveled from afar, you might want to find other things to do with your time in Boston besides driving out to the suburbs to check out the course. That's where this episode comes in, as I'll do my best to describe what I'm seeing: and what you'll see as you run the Boston Marathon. I'll also give you some recommendations for things to do while you're in Beantown, and finish with some history about the spot where we begin our run towards Boston: the starting line of the 114th Boston Marathon. Show Links: http://www.thefreedomtrail.org http://boston.redsox.mlb.com http://www.mbta.com Call (617) 368-5080 for more information about the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery tour: http://www.samueladams.com/contact_tour.aspx http://www.cheersboston.com http://www.harvardsquare.com http://www.johnharvards.com http://www.newbury-st.com http://www.jfklibrary.org http://www.northendboston.com http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ http://www.cityofboston.gov/FreedomTrail/bunkerhill.asp http://www.bostonducktours.com http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/ http://www.billrodgersrunningcenter.com/ The song "Charlie on the M.T.A." was performed by The Barleycorn from Ireland off their album "A Song for Ireland" released in 1995 by digitalpressure/The Dolphin Group.

Tarzan Brown was an amazing athlete who lived a hard, impoverished life but faced the world with dignity and strength. There are so many legendary and half-true mysteries about the man and his career as a runner that his many accomplishments might seem less interesting: but above all know this: that Tarzan Brown was a free spirit, a man who loved to run and his very life honored his brave tribal ancestors; the Narragansett people, one of the leading tribes of New England with a culture that has existed for thirty thousand years. His Algonquian name was Attuck-Quock-Wussete which means "Deerfoot"; he is a legend in our sport and one of the many reasons why the Boston Marathon is the greatest of all Marathons. Show Links: "Indian On The Mountain" by Red-Hawk http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/redhawkcountry

I like eggs. Show Links: http://www.fdiplive.blogspot.com http://qik.com/steverunner/videos http://feeds.feedburner.com/IntervalsAudio http://runningpodcasts.org “Final Broadcast” by the Statistics http://musicalley.com

Professor Daniel Leiberman’s (and his team) paper “Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners” looks into how and why human beings can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes. In it, he proves that experienced, habitual barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on our heels and land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. Most of their research looks into the mechanics of different kinds of foot strikes. He shows that most forefoot and some midfoot strikes, when running barefoot, do not cause sudden, momentary and major force impacts which occur when you land on your heel barefoot. In a previous episode of Phedippidations, I talked about how Professors Lieberman and Dennis Bramble have shown us that homo sapiens have evolved, and thus are born to run…and with this study “Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners” Professor Lieberman and his team have shown us that we should seriously reconsider the way that we run, with or without minimal running shoes. It turns out that we’ve had the proper biomechanics and shock absorbers with us all along…we’re not only born to run; but we’re born to run well! At the end of this episode I talk about why I didn’t produce an episode last week, what I’ve been up to lately, some “sad” news about Stephen Walker and changes in this show that are long over due. Show Links: http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu http://educatingforjustice.org http://www.teamsweat.org “Move Your Feet” by the Dogman Joe http://www.dogmanjoemusic.com

When you run, you’re body is under stress, and that causes your body to increase the levels of certain chemicals to kinda even things out. These chemicals, in turn, may lead to an increase in gastrointestinal problems in distance running. Our bodies are incredible machines, but while evolution has done a wonderful job of allow up to go forth and multiply; there are some sniggly little issues which come up from time to time to prevent us from going forth at our full potential. Gastrointestinal Problems in Distance Running are a lot more common than you might otherwise believe, and there’s a thirty to eighty-three percent chance that you are currently, or will one day suffer some kind of an issue with your digestive system that will slow you down or keep you off the road. Show Links: http://www.ismj.com/default.asp?pageID=611023489 http://runningfromthereaper.com http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=3716 “Die Alone” was by Ingrid Michaelson: http://www.ingridmichaelson.com

I’m never going to be asked to give a speech in front of a crowd of fellow runners. It’s not going to happen; and by saying that I’m not implying that the absent request is a travesty; there’s a good reason why I’ll never be asked: because while you and I are friends and there are at least ten of you listening right now: generally speaking I am not what you call: popular. I’m not very well known, and never expect to be burdened with fame…not enough at least to be asked to speak to a crowd of runners at the 2010 John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo - Runners Seminar. To be honest, that’s probably a good thing. I think you know that I tend to be a bit of a rogue; you never know when I’m going to go off on a goofy comedy riff or a screaming anger-thon…quite honestly, when I clip on this microphone I’m not even sure what’s going to happen…so, it’s probably in John Hancock’s best interest to suppress my speech at this and every Boston Marathon expo. As I was thinking about this, while out on a long run (where my best thoughts are formed) I asked myself what I would do if I got the call to speak? What if the event organizers called me up tomorrow and asked me to present the key note address at the Boston Marathon Health and Fitness Expo; one of the largest gatherings of runners in the world? Well, obviously the first thing I’d do is panic, then resolve to respectfully refuse: but opportunity is not a lengthy visitor, so as adverse as I am to speaking in public or standing in the spotlight of attention: I know that I’d have to somehow suck it up; and take to that podium and speak. I wouldn’t enjoy the experience; I would dread the days and hours prior to my presentation: but despite all that I know that I’d accept the invitation, because like it or not: I do have something to say. What I’d have to say to a large gathering of fellow runners would require a number of speeches. This being the 225th episode of Phedippidations, I’ve venture to guess that I’d have at least 225 themes that I’d want to cover…but if I only had time for one topic; one keynote message to transmit from my mouth to the ears of an audience of runners it would be what you’re about to hear. So imagine, if you will, that it’s 2:00 in the afternoon on Sunday, April 18th 2010; the day before the 114th running of the Boston Marathon. You’re sitting in a packed room at the Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street in Boston, just a quarter mile up the road from the finish line of the Boston Marathon. You’ve been walking around town and the expo floor for the past three days, and you’re just about ready to head back to your hotel to rest up for the night in preparation for the big race. You’re tired, a little anxious and your patience is getting a little frayed when someone familiar steps up to the podium…. Show Links: http://ww.runnetcommunity.org New Podcast: http://www.middleagedathlete.com Send in your race reports to [email protected] “Underground” by Black Lab off the Album Give Us Sugar http://blacklabworld.com/music/give-us-sugar/