Discussion: The Perfect Runner
in: Orienteering; General
Mar 16, 2012 2:32 AM
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no not me... ;-) but a great show aired earlier tonight on CBC's the Nature of Things on the science of the perfect runner.
some info here:
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/the-perfe...
some info here:
http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/the-perfe...
Mar 16, 2012 3:45 PM
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I really like that we are all HOMO Cursor instead of HOMO Sapiens. That changes it all. No excuses during long runs anymore. Just keep going, you were born to do that. Everyone should know this information. Should we make t-shirts?
Mar 16, 2012 4:51 PM
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Mar 16, 2012 10:36 PM
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Trav:
I was really looking forward to more scenes showing Hansel throwing up in the Death Race; other than that it was documentary television at its best.
Mar 19, 2012 10:53 PM
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Bash:
If you're on Facebook, you can contact the film maker Niobe Thompson to ask if it is available elsewhere. He has been posting in the Canadian Death Race Facebook group. According to his profile, he is from Canada and living in Denmark so he may have plans for showing the film on the other side of the pond!
Mar 20, 2012 3:39 AM
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W:
I've got the advance copy DVD sitting on my hall table.
You're welcome to come over and watch it. :)
< /brag >
You're welcome to come over and watch it. :)
< /brag >
Mar 20, 2012 4:02 AM
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Gil:
http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/03/14/the-perfec...
Personally I love this Q. and A.
Q: Are you a believer in minimalist shoes?
A: I am. The proof is in the running of the Ethiopians and Kenyans; they spend years running without much of a shoe and their foot strike and leg spring is a lesson for all of us.
Why I like this particular quote that you don't have to be rocket scientist to observe that long distance running has been dominated by runners from not the wealthiest countries in the world. But I have to give props to fancy shoe manufacturing companies that have convinced many regular runners (including myself for many years) to spend $100+ per pair of shoe and change them every 300-500 miles or increase risk of serious injury.
Personally I love this Q. and A.
Q: Are you a believer in minimalist shoes?
A: I am. The proof is in the running of the Ethiopians and Kenyans; they spend years running without much of a shoe and their foot strike and leg spring is a lesson for all of us.
Why I like this particular quote that you don't have to be rocket scientist to observe that long distance running has been dominated by runners from not the wealthiest countries in the world. But I have to give props to fancy shoe manufacturing companies that have convinced many regular runners (including myself for many years) to spend $100+ per pair of shoe and change them every 300-500 miles or increase risk of serious injury.
Mar 20, 2012 4:28 AM
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W:
Well, see, on the other hand, you have to give props to fancy shoe manufacturing companies to enable "regular runners" to, well, exist.
Just look at the approximate number of participants in marathons between 1976 (25,000) to 2010 (507,000). Or the fact that the median time has gone down (slower) by almost 45 minutes, or that the median age is four years old, or that the percentage of finishers in U.S. marathons that are women has gone from 10% to 41% and for masters from 26% to 46% - Link to all these claims. This increase of new, recreational runners who are now capable of running the once unattainable achievement of doing a marathon has to be attributed at least somewhat to the modern running shoe. Heck, have you seen the kind of people that can do ULTRA marathons now?
Having seen first hand the number of people who, by merely looking at their body shape would probably have no business running, can still do so thanks to some of those fancypants corrective running shoes, shows that they're not all bad. As they get better, I try very hard to wean them off those shoes.
Yeah, if you want to go fast, race flats are where its at, but if you just want to start running, a nice cushioned, supportive shoe, is really, really helpful.
Just look at the approximate number of participants in marathons between 1976 (25,000) to 2010 (507,000). Or the fact that the median time has gone down (slower) by almost 45 minutes, or that the median age is four years old, or that the percentage of finishers in U.S. marathons that are women has gone from 10% to 41% and for masters from 26% to 46% - Link to all these claims. This increase of new, recreational runners who are now capable of running the once unattainable achievement of doing a marathon has to be attributed at least somewhat to the modern running shoe. Heck, have you seen the kind of people that can do ULTRA marathons now?
Having seen first hand the number of people who, by merely looking at their body shape would probably have no business running, can still do so thanks to some of those fancypants corrective running shoes, shows that they're not all bad. As they get better, I try very hard to wean them off those shoes.
Yeah, if you want to go fast, race flats are where its at, but if you just want to start running, a nice cushioned, supportive shoe, is really, really helpful.
Mar 21, 2012 4:39 AM
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Bash:
One of the points made in The Perfect Runner is that African runners tend to develop foot strength and good running form when they're younger because they don't always have shoes (or very good shoes). But when they compete internationally, they put those strong feet into shoes - and not just because they're sponsored. Not much time is spent on this in the documentary but it seemed that the take-away lesson was to strengthen your feet and improve your running form - not to give up running shoes.
Mar 21, 2012 4:54 PM
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Gil:
@GirlDrinkDrunky - even I am pro-minimalist today - I agree with you that cushioned shoe is better for beginner runners. Last week I was running 10 miles with co-worker who is 5'8" and about 180# today however he used to be 240# before he got into running. He was inquiring about minimalist shoes and I told him that there is no way I would recommend minimalist shoe when he was at 240#.
However regarding topic of "regular runners" I question what came first - desire to complete marathon or to lose or maintain weight. According to statistics comparing 1960s and 2000s weight of average man increased by 30#, weight of average woman increased by 25#. Would we have as many "regular marathoners" today if average waistline remained as in 1975.
However regarding topic of "regular runners" I question what came first - desire to complete marathon or to lose or maintain weight. According to statistics comparing 1960s and 2000s weight of average man increased by 30#, weight of average woman increased by 25#. Would we have as many "regular marathoners" today if average waistline remained as in 1975.
This discussion thread is closed.