Friday, September 18, 2009
The running and jogging culture in Lawrence is alive and well. But when the sun comes out and the sneakers go on, do you really know what you’re getting into?
Of course jogging up and down the hills of Lawrence and on campus has its merits. Science suggests that habitual jogging can increase the effectiveness of the blood’s ability to transport oxygen to the muscles. This in turn leads to better muscle efficiency, and the jogger ends up with better physical stamina.
The Lawrence landscape can provide health benefits. Studies conducted in New York City strongly suggested that those who trained alongside major streets did far more damage to their circulatory system because of pollution than joggers in enclosed spaces or heavily wooded areas. Even though campus does suffer from heavy traffic at certain times, trees and bushes are plentiful near Potter Lake and on Jayhawk Boulevard for convenience, fresh air and variability.
As many student athletes, club sport members and intramural players may know, poor form or improper running equipment can cause a miserable morning after or even slight-to-moderate injury. Common mistakes include running in the wrong type of shoe — department store sneakers, for instance — or wearing the incorrect shoe size.
Running form can be tricky, not to mention hilarious to watch. Many times I’ve seen a girl or guy zoom passed me with their arms practically flailing in the air. Improper form creates a sense of imbalance, wastes energy and puts strain on the lower back and upper legs.
Minor problems like inflammation of the knee and shin splints can temporarily render any sport or jogging enthusiast chair-ridden. I learned this lesson from when I went walking around the hills surrounding Alvamar Country Club with a friend. I didn’t warm up beforehand (a big no-no), I wore three-year-old shoes and I slouched while walking up and down steep hills. Needless to say, I could barely move five hours later.
Don’t despair. Looking to historical examples, it would appear that mankind was built to run. The deliverers of the quipu message system in the 15th century Inca Empire in South America traversed several miles to reach their destinations. Similar systems of cross-country mail delivery were in use thousands of years earlier in China and parts of Africa.
The great appeal of using your own two legs for exercise lies in the fact that it’s free, and almost anyone of any weight or fitness level can participate in running’s better half with all the health benefits intact: walking. Just for goodness sake, support the economy, and buy a new pair of quality running shoes.
— — Edited by Lauren Cunningham
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