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Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

nytimes.com

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Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#31

Post by trentmb »

Benjamin_Dobell wrote: post #22
trentmb wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah. Went to a clinic because I couldn't put any weight on my left foot without collapsing. Referred to a podiatrist. "Peroneal tendonitis". Flat feet. My legs are like > Doesn't really matter though. I've already developed arthritis in my knees and ankles at the age of 27, any sort of impact exercise is verboten. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'm also 27. When I was about 11 my left knee collapsed and I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter syndrome - the "syndrome" part of the name makes it sound a genetic, I don't believe it strictly is - it's just when the tendon tears off your patella. Anyway, recovered from that with physio. Later, teenage years, I was also diagnosed with flat feet, needed orthotics. I don't wear them now, I probably should though as m…

Thanks for the shaming brah

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#32

Post by 0xcde4c3db »

Benjamin_Dobell wrote: post #22
trentmb wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah. Went to a clinic because I couldn't put any weight on my left foot without collapsing. Referred to a podiatrist. "Peroneal tendonitis". Flat feet. My legs are like > Doesn't really matter though. I've already developed arthritis in my knees and ankles at the age of 27, any sort of impact exercise is verboten. Thanks for letting me vent.

I'm also 27. When I was about 11 my left knee collapsed and I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter syndrome - the "syndrome" part of the name makes it sound a genetic, I don't believe it strictly is - it's just when the tendon tears off your patella. Anyway, recovered from that with physio. Later, teenage years, I was also diagnosed with flat feet, needed orthotics. I don't wear them now, I probably should though as m…

> the "syndrome" part of the name makes it sound a genetic

That's one meaning of "syndrome", but it also shows up in the names of diseases that were discovered and characterized as unusual clusters of symptoms well before anyone knew what the underlying cause or disease process was (the most well-known example probably being AIDS).

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#33

Post by transposed »

eutectic wrote: post #11
gragas wrote: post #7

I hate how much the authors of this article imply causality. >There also, interestingly, was less activity among the runners in a part of the brain that tends to indicate lack of focus and mind wandering. Could it not be that people who have the willpower to run regularly also have the willpower to stay focused? >In essence, the runners seemed to have brains in which certain cognitive skills, including multitasking a…

There are plenty of compelling arguments against excessive running: 1) It is destructive to your joints and tendons. Injury rates are very high among runners. 2) It is stressful, resulting in chronically elevated cortisol levels. 3) It is time consuming and boring (of course this is subjective), and very inefficient at improving fitness.

2) Your premise is true but your conclusion is wrong: while cardiovascular induces an aroused state and increases cortisol levels, it is also conditioning the body to be able to quickly return to a resting state, so when it is aroused at a later time (from a stressful encounter with a coworker for example), it will spend less time in that state because it recovers faster.

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#34

Post by naasking »

projektir wrote: post #16
AJ007 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a tendency, from what I've observed, to use running as a way to have a really bad diet and still stay thin. There is a lot of pressure for people in their 20s and 30s who live in urban areas to both look fit and drink heavily. Not a good recipe for long term health.

Running is not great for losing weight, so I'm having doubts about this one...

> Running is not great for losing weight

Since when? I'd like a citation on that.

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#37

Post by 0xcde4c3db »

huac wrote: post #3

It'd be better if they started with control groups of people who don't exercise, and then measured the impact of participating in a running regimen. Pretty cool findings anyways.

Right. It's common for correlations with specific diet and exercise factors in observational studies to disappear when the same things are studied as interventions in randomized controlled trials.

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#38

Post by brianwawok »

naasking wrote: post #34
projektir wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running is not great for losing weight, so I'm having doubts about this one...

> Running is not great for losing weight Since when? I'd like a citation on that.

As a sometimes fat runner, I cite myself.

Weight is won or lost in the kitchen. Full stop.

A 1 hour run might burn 500 calories. If you go and eat till you are not hungry, you can easily eat 800 or 900 calories. You are not going to lose much weight at the method.

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#39

Post by drvdevd »

russellbeattie wrote: post #12

"There also, interestingly, was less activity among the runners in a part of the brain that tends to indicate lack of focus and mind wandering." That's also called "thinking". An unfocused, wandering mind is a creative mind. This article completely reinforces my general opinion of runners tending to be mindless automatons, obsessively rehashing their to-do list and daily schedule while out on their morning jog, befor…

Personally, I walk to let my thoughts ramble. I run to run past my thoughts. In both cases it's both the journey and destination that counts, but in the case of running, it's a little bit more about the destination for me. I feel it in my whole body for the next 6-12 hours and it feels good. My mind also feels more focused as a side effect.

Re: Running as a Thinking Person’s Sport

#40

Post by hueving »

notacoward wrote: post #23
eutectic wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are plenty of compelling arguments against excessive running: 1) It is destructive to your joints and tendons. Injury rates are very high among runners. 2) It is stressful, resulting in chronically elevated cortisol levels. 3) It is time consuming and boring (of course this is subjective), and very inefficient at improving fitness.

Anything done excessively can be unhealthy, by definition, but there's only a grain of truth to what you're saying. To your point 1: done properly, running isn't particularly harmful to joints and tendons, and some studies even seem to show that running can be beneficial in that regard[1]. The rapid changes in direction that cause the most stress are less prevalent in running than just about any other sport, not even…

Biking, swimming, and rowing are all better on the joints than the impact from running.

>P.S. Instead of getting your friends to downvote, how about suggesting an actually-healthy alternative?

Don't complain about downvotes, it makes for boring conversation.

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