Running with a Purpose

As most of you who read this blog know, I am Jewish. As a Jew I subscribe to the belief that we are all placed on this planet for a reason. No, you don't always know what that reason is and you should not expect to know. I do know that I was raised to help others who are less fortunate than me. As I studied the basic tenets of Judaism, I learned about the concept of tikkun olam. The basic definition of tikkun olam is "repair the world". The concept of repairing the world has come to mean so many things and has been interpreted in many different ways by Jewish people. I tend to define it as a requirement to strive to help those who can't help themselves.

The basic story from Lurianic Kabbalah is:

God contracted the divine self to make room for creation. Divine light became contained in special vessels, or kelim, some of which shattered and scattered. While most of the light returned to its divine source, some light attached itself to the broken shards. These shards constitute evil and are the basis for the material world; their trapped sparks of light give them power.

The first man, Adam, was intended to restore the divine sparks through mystical exercises, but his sin interfered. As a result, good and evil remained thoroughly mixed in the created world, and human souls (previously contained within Adam's) also became imprisoned within the shards.

The "repair," that is needed, therefore, is two-fold: the gathering of light and of souls, to be achieved by human beings through the contemplative performance of religious acts. The goal of such repair, which can only be effected by humans, is to separate what is holy from the created world, thus depriving the physical world of its very existence—and causing all things return to a world before disaster within the Godhead and before human sin, thus ending history.

What does this have to do with running? It is simple really. I have found that the running community is a very giving and altruistic group of people. When you sign up for a race have you ever noticed how many of them are raising money for some local charity. If you go on the internet you will find thousands of races who take their name or mission from the charities they are raising money to support. I know so many runners like myself who find motivation and inspiration by running a race to help support a greater cause. Isn't this one of the ways that we as runners can help with tikkun olam?

If you go back and read my race report from my running of the Boston Marathon last year you will see how I felt about running for a charity. I can say without any reservation that I was able to train effectively and set a PR because of the fact that I was running for a higher purpose. You may disagree. But, I know that there was something else out there that helped me on that given day that I can't explain. I can only say that it was my most satisfying running experience in all of my years of running.

All of this brings me to a new running organization that was created to help others. It is Jrunners. They were " recently founded in Brooklyn by three 30-ish Brooklynites, Steven Friedman, Matt Katz and Saul Rosenblum, family men and professionals who love to run. What they love even more is running for good causes—so when a neighbor contracted ALS, a severe degenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, they put together a non-profit organization to bring Jewish runners together to raise money for charity. Their tag line is “We Run for Those Who Can’t!” and their first race is for the benefit of that ALS family." As far as I know, this is the first Jewish running club created just to raise money for others. It is the perfect example of taking your passion to a higher level and performing an act of gemilut hasadim (acts of kindness). Plus the race they have set up looks like something I would love to try some time.

I am planning to run for a charity again in the future. Until then, I am going to support my friends and family who run to help repair our world. If you are a runner, I hope you will choose to run for a higher purpose. If you aren't a runner, take the time to support those runners who are running for a cause that is dear to your heart. We as runners should continue to work together to improve society through our running for those causes that move us.

Here are my training totals:

July 4 – 11.00 miles (1:39:41, 8:45 pace)
July 5 – 6.20 miles (53:33, 8:38 pace)
July 6 – 3.50 miles (29:50, 8:31 pace) – Speed work, Mile repeats
July 8 – 6.10 miles (48:55, 8:01 pace) – Tempo Run
July 9 – 6.20 miles (54:54, 8:51 pace)
July 10 – 10.20 miles (1:33:03, 9:07 pace)

Total Miles: 43.20 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 884.50 miles

A Brief Political Diatribe

I know that those of you who follow my blog come to it to read about running. But, sometimes there are more important things on my mind than running. Truth be told these are just the sort of things that run through my mind while I am out on my long runs. If you don't want to read on, feel free to skip this post and return to the blog later where you will again find information on running. But, I just cannot keep silent any longer with regard to the BP Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Chalk it up to my son's attending Tulane in the fall or my hippie sensibilities coming to the surface. I just feel strongly that our government has not done enough to find ways to fix the problem and to punish a company who clearly has show disregard for the environment in the past.

Let me share with you some of the side stories that have not come to the surface with regard to our government and their response to the crisis. Have any of you heard about the Jones Act of 1920? The Jones Act is a maritime law that was created to promote U.S. shipping interests. The law prevents foreign crews and foreign ships from transporting goods between U.S. ports. Unfortunately, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander for the oil spill cannot seem to get the waivers of this act needed to allow foreign skimmers to come into the gulf to help clean up the spill. The law as it is currently being interpreted in the Deepwater Horizon case considers the "ports" to be where the oil is collected offshore. This is severely hampering the foreign skimmers from coming into the gulf even though they are ready willing and able to do just that. It is not uncommon for this act to be suspended in the case of a natural disaster. In fact, President Bush suspended the act after Hurricane Katrina to allow international support to help with the rebuilding efforts.

The Jones Act isn't the only problem. We can't even get enough of our own domestic skimmers to the gulf due to the The Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This act requires regions to have minimum levels of equipment such as booms and skimmers, making it difficult for every oil-fighting resource to be directed to the Gulf of Mexico. It seems to me that our administration is not pulling out all the stops to get the right equipment to the gulf to start the clean up process while BP is still figuring out how to stop the gusher. As of last week, no Jones Act waivers had been granted. The administration also has not chosen to override the Oil Pollution Act. Based on these facts, it is my opinion that our government has created too many administrative hurdles and barriers that are allowing the crisis to deepen further and allow people's livelihoods, fish, birds, animals and entire ecosystems to be destroyed.

I would think that this administration would do everything in its power to try and prevent this crisis from becoming Obama's "Katrina". While I disagree with most of the right wing pundits who say that our government's response was slow, I do think that they are not doing enough to force BP to find a way to stop this leak. Remember that BP is the same company who in 2005 suffered a major explosion in its Texas City refinery killing 15 and injuring 170. They were fined $87 million for their negligence. BP is also the same company who in 2006 was fined $20 million for a leak of approximately 4,800 barrels of oil into Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, due to a corroded stretch of pipeline. BP knew about the corroded pipe four years earlier but did nothing about it. It is obvious that BP has a total disregard for the environment and the safety of its associates. Apparently, the fines were not large enough to force BP to change its methods of operation.

Currently, the Obama administration and congress are debating whether or not to take away BP’s control of its U.S. oil and natural gas wells and bar them from doing business with the federal government as punishment for the oil spill. In my opinion there is nothing to debate. BP has been convicted 3 times since 2000 of environmental violations. Now they are responsible for what will be known as the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history. Yet as of today, I can still find nothing that states what the Administration and Congress are going to do. I suspect that we will continue to see Congressional hearings where a lot of blow hard politicians pontificate in front of the cameras to make us believe they are actually doing something. In the end, they will probably not punish BP in the way they should be punished. As of this date, 96,302 claims have been opened against BP, from which more than $148.7 million have been disbursed. It seems a small drop in the bucket compared with the clean-up estimates rising to $3 billion and BP doesn’t seem to be stepping up to foot the bill.

Sadly, the effects of this spill will be felt for decades. Tar balls and oil slicks are now showing up in Lake Pontchitrain as Hurricane Alex pushes the Deepwater Horizon's oil into its waters. Families in the Gulf Region cannot enjoy their normal summer activities. There is no avoiding the fact that as the oil continues to leak we will see entire ecosystems destroyed in the region. I have seen many reports on the loss of wildlife. One of the more credible sources stated that approximately 30 mammals and 600 to 1,200 birds have been killed as a result of the spill with dolphins and pelicans being hit hardest. It has been more than 70 days since the rig burned and the crisis began and we are no closer to a solution.

I encourage all of you who read this blog to write your congressman, senator or our President and tell them how you feel about this crisis. Look at what our “leaders” are doing. They are putting forth bills to crack down on oil drilling equipment and the granting of subpoena powers to disaster investigators. Wow! Now that is important. It is akin to closing the barn door after all the animals have escaped. Obama, instead of trying to solve the problem and help the region, saw the crises as a chance to gain support for his energy bill and pushed, in a speech, for passage of the Cap and Trade (tax) bill. Again, is this what needed to be done? We need real leaders to step up and make those who were responsible for this disaster accountable for their actions and punish them accordingly. It won’t bring back the region any faster. But, it may make other corporations pay a little more attention to their associate’s safety and our environment.

Here are my training totals:
July 1 – 4.20 miles (39:33, 9:25 pace)
July 2 – 4.10 miles (36:42, 8:57 pace
July 3 – 9.30 miles (1:21:27, 8:45 pace)

Total Miles: 17.60 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 841.30 miles

Why I love to run

Someone once asked me why I get up and run 6 days a week. They just could not understand why someone would want to go out and run let alone at 5:30 am. They could not fathom what could entice me to go out in the rain, snow, cold, heat, or humidity. They figured it could only be one of two things – 1) trying to stay fit and lose weight or 2) simple insanity. As I listened to their questions and thoughts, I realized I really don’t have a simple answer as to why I do it. But, if forced to sum it up in a sentence, I would say that I just love to run. That begs the follow up question…why?

When I started running so many years ago, I did it to get back into shape. Like most people I started to run so that I could reap the benefits that running provided. I knew that running reduced the risk of stroke and heart attacks by strengthening the heart. It also helps lower blood pressure by keeping your arteries elastic. Running also helps to raise your HDL (the good cholesterol) levels and reduces the risk of blood clots. Your lung capacity improves greatly. Running can actually boost your immune system by creating a higher concentration of white blood cells that fight disease. Finally, you can burn an average of 100 calories for every mile you run. All great benefits gained through running. But, not something that would make you love the sport.

It was after several years of running regularly that I began feeling the need to run. I craved the endorphins that would pour through my body after a good run. When I would finish a particularly hard run, I would always feel exhilarated. I was truly experiencing the “runner’s high”. I also found that when I was particularly stressed at work, running provided a release for me. My morning runs gave me the time to think through problems as I ran and come up with solutions without interruption. I found that I was generally much happier on days when I would get in my runs.

It wasn’t until I started training for marathons that I truly began to love running. It became more of a passion at that point. I think the change came when I realized that my time out on the road was my way of actively meditating. I always heard about the benefits of meditation. But, those who know me well know that I have never been able to sit still long enough to be able to meditate in the traditional sense. It wasn’t until I realized that the rhythm of my footsteps and my breathing while out on the road produced a meditative state. When I reached that state, I truly could concentrate and contemplate at the same time. This is not something that I have a chance to do at any other time due to the distractions of my every day life.

When I am out on my runs, I spend time focusing on my breathing. I want to start to feel my feet strike the ground. I want to feel all of the muscles of my legs working. As I continue along, I find that I can feel every breath and heart beat. I concentrate on the world around me and try to take in all of the sights and sounds around me. Once I am centered in that place, I can finally begin to concentrate on those random thoughts that pop into my head. Some of them I dismiss immediately. Others I concentrate on as they can help me live in that moment in time. I am not thinking about the past few days and stress that occurred. I try not to think about what lies out there in the days ahead. I want to be centered and lose the stress of work, family and life in general. When I find that place inside myself (and it doesn’t happen on every run), I can then use my time on the road as my quiet time. It is during these minutes that I think about my life and evaluate what is important to me.

At the end of my run as I do my stretching routine, I slowly come out of the peaceful state I have achieved. I feel very calm and ready to take on any challenge that comes my way. I have found that I benefit from these running meditations. I find that I am more confident and have increased concentration skills and reduced stress level. The inner stillness gives me a feeling of greater emotional equilibrium. Of course this means that I am generally happier and calmer after my runs. My running therefore provides me not only significant health benefits but emotional benefits as well.

Here are my training totals:
June 6 – 10.50 miles (1:37:01, 9:14 pace)
June 7 – 6.10 miles (55:10, 9:02 pace
June 8 – 4.50 miles (38:45, 8:37 pace)
June 10 – 6.10 miles (48:50, 8:00 pace) – Tempo Run
June 11 – 6.20 miles (55:36, 8:58 pace)
June 12 – 10.00 miles (1:28:54 8:53 pace)
June 14 – 6.10 miles (55:51, 9:10 pace) --NOLA
June 15 – 3.10 miles (24:34, 7:56 pace) -- Speedwork, NOLA
June 17 – 6.10 miles (52:07, 8:33 pace)
June 18 – 6.20 miles (57:27, 9:16 pace)
June 19 – 10.10 miles (1:35:02, 9:24 pace)
June 20 – 10.20 miles (1:35:46, 9:23 pace)
June 21 – 6.20 miles (55:29, 9:05 pace)
June 22 – 3.50 miles (27:05, 7:43 pace) -- Speedwork

Total Miles: 94.90 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 823.70 miles

Calf Attack!

I had a very long trip home from Alaska. I had to take a flight from Juneau through Seattle and San Francisco which had me landing in Boston at 8:00 am on Saturday. I knew I was going to be attending my son’s District Championship Track Meet in Fitchburg when I got home. This meant that I would not be able to get out on the road for my normal Saturday long run. I figured that I would forgo that run and go out for a 10 miler on Sunday.

I woke up well rested on Sunday morning and decided to head out to one of my favorite loop routes. It has some nice rolling hills and keeps me out of the heavy trafficked areas of Westborough and Hopkinton. It was a beautiful morning for a run. I put in my headphones, turned on one of my favorite NPR podcasts and headed out. I was feeling great for the first 4 miles. Then I started to feel some cramping in my left calf muscle. I decided to turn around and start back home. The pain wasn’t too bad. Next, the right calf started to cramp up as well. The next thing I knew (at the 5 mile mark) was that I was in such pain from the cramping that I had to stop. The worst part was that I had a little over a mile to walk back home. I wasn’t sure if I could make it and I had not brought my cell phone with me to call my wife to come and pick me up.

I started the walk of shame with major pain in my calves. People driving by could see that I was limping and in pain. I tried not to look at them as they passed. I just wanted to get home, stretch and then ice them down. I did finally make it home and knew my calves were finished for the rest of the weekend. I would take Monday off and try to run on Tuesday if I felt up to it. I decided to look up what could have caused such severe cramps. After some research, I decided it was caused by two things – dehydration and poor nutrition. My lack of hydration and nutrition were caused by my week on the road. I never seem to get enough water when I travel and I am always off my diet when traveling, try as I might to stay on it.

Most people say that dehydration is linked to calf cramps. But, I could not find any clear correlation. It is mostly anecdotal evidence. As I read further, there were several articles that say improper hydration does correlate to muscle cramping as evidenced by the fact that many runners experience leg cramps during the night. As you know, you dehydrate quite a bit as you sleep. This is why I always drink about 4 - 6 ounces of water before I head out. I have not made a habit of drinking much water after dinner as it causes me to have to get up some time during the night to relieve myself thus disrupting my sleep.

When thinking about nutrition, runners all know that the biggest minerals we need in our diet to perform well are sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. There is clear evidence that if you are lacking in any of these nutrients, you will be prone to calf cramps. Like dehydration, leg cramps at night could be caused by the lack of nourishment we are getting while we sleep. I have noticed that I get minor cramps sometimes and that they tend to go away when I eat bananas which are good sources of potassium. One of my favorite pre-marathon foods is a banana and ½ peanut butter and honey sandwich. I have never cramped up during a marathon.

So exertion, dehydration and poor nutrition are all linked to muscle and calf cramps. Muscle and calf cramps are not something that you have to accept when you are out on the road. There are things we can do to avoid them. One of the key preventions is to complete a thorough warm up before heading out. A good warm up will stretch the cold muscles and increase the blood flow through your calves. This way your muscles are warm and pliable before putting the strain of running on them. But, don't forget the equally as important warm down. This should allow you to avoid your muscles tightening after a good work-out and have them recover quickly.

As I have discussed in previous entries, we must hydrate or die. Well, hydration is equally important in helping you avoid muscle cramps of all kinds. I have noticed that as the weather has been heating up, I have needed to drink more water while I am out on my runs. I sweat profusely and know that this is my body's natural cooling process. If I do not replace the water I am losing through sweat during my runs, I will not be able keep my calf cramps at bay. I am convinced that this current bout of cramps is caused mostly by dehydration and lack of potassium in my blood stream.

I noticed in my research that there is some controversy about whether or not lack of potassium causes muscle fatigue and cramping. But, from what I have read, the evidence for potassium deficiency being a cause of muscle cramping is more prevalent than the evidence against it. Besides, I had not been eating my normal healthy diet the past few weeks and suddenly I experience these severe muscle cramps. Coincidence...I don't think so.

Potassium is a mineral that works with sodium to balance the fluids and electrolyte levels in our body. Since steady fluid levels help to regulate your heartbeat and prevent muscles from cramping, potassium is of particular importance to runners. According to nutrition experts, you should be taking in 3,500 milligrams of potassium to meet your daily needs. But, high mileage runners should be taking in closer to 4,700 milligrams of potassium to prevent any type of fatigue or cramping. To help increase the potassium in my bloodstream I typically eat bananas, avocadoes and cantaloupe. But, according to Runner's World, if you don't like these foods, they suggest trying any of the following as they all have more than 225 milligrams of the mineral per half-cup serving: apricots, honeydew, kiwi, lima beans, milk, oranges, prunes, spinach, tomatoes, meats, poultry, or fish.

This week I made a conscious effort to drink more water and to eat foods rich in potassium. I did notice that my calf cramps did seem to ease up each day. Unfortunately, there is still a lingering tightness and soreness when I run. I am going to have to keep up my regimen and hope that my lower legs get back to normal. I am also planning to go and have a deep tissue massage which should also help.

Here are my training totals:
May 30 – 6.00 miles (57:39, 9:40 pace)
June 1 – 4.50 miles (37:39, 8:22 pace) – Tempo Run
June 2 – 6.20 miles (52:25, 8:27 pace)
June 3 – 6.00 miles (51:02, 8:20 pace) – Tempo Run
June 4 – 6.20 miles (55:38, 8:58pace)
June 5 – 10.30 miles (1:34:16, 9:09 pace)

Total Miles: 39.20 miles
2010 YTD Miles: 728.80 miles