Did you flun today?

According to estimations there are about 600.000 'flunners' running about in England. These runners don't just run for the joy of running, but to let their eyes wander!

I'm having a hard time imagining flirting during a run. Usually my face is contorted into a painful grimace, my head is tomato red, and I'm glistening with sweat. How do these 'flunners' do it? Are they such experienced runners they can easily multitask, thus combining running and flirting effortlessly? Or do they run really slow to remain attractive?

Are you a flunner?
Would you look kindly upon a fellow runner flunning with you?

When running hurts

Running is well known for its wide range of aches and pains. But running shouldn't hurt! And if it does, there's obviously a lesson to be learned.

For instance: does your back hurt during a run? Good chance you're bending at the waist when you land, instead of keeping your posture proud and high. Use those tummy muscles to stay upright, and there you go: no more achy back.*

Running is like breastfeeding in this respect. After that one moment, when your baby attacks your breast like there's no tomorrow, breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. If it does, your technique could use some improvements.

Unfortunately the same principle does not apply to life in general. When life hurts, it's not a matter of improving your technique. Shit just happens.

Motherhood is a bit in between: it can be painful, but sometimes an adjustment in technique can help. I used to tear my hair out in desperation during the mornings, trying to get the kids to school. I managed to reduce my stress levels by making sure everything was in place before I went to bed. Now I get out of bed and I'm all Zen and everything. No pain and lots of gain.

Luckily running can ease the pain of living and motherhood. As you run your way across our beautiful planet, your pain takes a backseat, and you feel part of something bigger.

So when life and motherhood kick you in the butt, and hurt like hell: go for a run.

And when running hurts: just improve your technique!

* You can find more info about running without pain in Danny Dreyer's book ChiRunning!

I run, therefore I am

Wordless Wednesday

Bad run

Today I had a horrible run! And I really don't know why. There was no reason for it to feel as it did, as far as I could see. Okay, I'd missed my Thursday run because I got my period, but that should make me feel well rested, not like puking my guts out or like laying down on the wayside.

So when I caught myself thinking 'Oh, this is going terrible!' I quickly made myself think: 'It's going really well, it's going really well.' But I don't think I believed me.

So after running 4 times for 10 minutes I just had to walk the final 10, something I really hate to do. It feels like cheating. And all the time I could feel my mobile burning a hole in my pocket, whispering: 'Why don't you call hubby to come and get you?' But since I could almost see my goal, the pancake house, I ploughed on.

After I had my coffee I felt a little bit better, so I decided to run home, and nót call hubby. This time I managed 3 times 10 minutes before I just had to stop and walk.

'Well at least you went the distance,' I told myself. Which I did: 16 kilometer, 8 kilometers per hour. That's not too bad.

So even though I had a terrible run, I still made it.

And the one good thing about such a bad run: the next run can only feel better.

Don't fight it, run with it

Part of Danny Dreyer's ChiRunning philosophy is: 'If it hurts, there's something to improve on how you're doing it.' It reminds me of breastfeeding advocates, saying the same thing: nursing isn't supposed to hurt, and if it does, there's a valuable lessen to be learnt!

I wonder if the same principle of pain equals opportunity to learn, applies to life in general. I suppose it does. Sometimes life hurts. Shit happens, as they say, and tears may fall. But when life hurts it's not necessarily because you're doing it wrong, it's just life being life. However, how múch it hurts dóes have something to do with you.

The harder you fight it, the harder your journey will be. So if life sucks big time, and you're hurting like crazy, just lean into it, like a runner leans into a steep hill. Listen to what it is telling you, and let it take you along on your journey.

So don't fight it, just run with it.

Mother and son run

The gym, that is the earth, never ceases to surprise me. It's just one of the many perks of running: you get to know your own environment in new and exciting ways. And today I discovered a new route!

It's a lovely route, along country roads and wooded areas, and there's no traffic or any urban activity. I had forgotten snow can be beautiful in my longing for Spring, but this morning I ran through pictures that were worthy of Christmas cards.

Normally I'm a bit hesitant to enjoy the lonely beauty of wooded areas, but this time I had my son Jan (13) with me on his bike. Together we ploughed our way through the snow, and I felt such joy, to be out running with my son beside me.

And at the end of this beautiful nature run, like the icing on a the cake, there's this beacon for those who would like to have cup of coffee: a big yellow M! So Jan and I had a coffee (me) and a hamburger + warm chocolate (Jan).

'Isn't life wonderful, on this Monday morning?' I mumbled.
And Jan nodded and took another bite out of his hamburger.

Isn't it great how well running and motherhood can be combined?!

Running made complicated

Running seems so easy: you put on some shoes and you run out the door. But you can make it complicated, if you want to.

So that's what the people at Asics did, and set about to create a woman's shoe that adjusts to your time of the month. It's called GEL-KAYANO 16.

The shoes consists of three layers: foam, air and plastic. When your arch is low (during ovulation) the foam is pushed into the air gap, and when your arch is high (during menstruation) the foams fills out.

In the meantime researchers at Harvard Univesity are saying it's best to run barefoot. That's not just easy, it's really cheap too.
The only thing you need is some calluses!

Then you can go out and buy a nice running skirt and have a Big Mac because you just saved yourself about 190 dollars.