Within/Without

Peace. I don’t just run… I research running. One of my biggest concerns was whether I should eat before a run or not. Not eating burns more fat. Eating makes increases performance. Now this is something I had to really teach myself. The doctor in me labored on this. The information is out there, but it’s very confusing to interpret if you are a novice. And I have a hard time taking advice on face value. So here is the skinny in case you were interested…. If all you’re interested in is losing weight, and not becoming a better runner and possibly competing, then don’t eat first. Running will burn through the glycogen stored in the body 1st and then move onto the fat. Yes you might pass out on your run because you get light headed, but you will burn off fat. And if that is your goal along with fitness then don’t eat before a run. The run will be harder because the body goes into debt because it’s not normal for it to want to burn fat. And because of the previous reason, the more you r...

Peace. This weekend marks my first time running 3 miles!!! It also marks the 1st time I actually got super dizzy on the trail and was actually afraid that I wouldn’t make it home. I have no idea why. The only difference was that additional .5 miles. My goal for September is twofold… (1) to get my 5k under 30 minutes or damn close to it and (2) to run every other day. There is only 1 way to achieve these goals….. The cool thing is that the weather is breaking. I’m going to eventually need to switch from morning running to evening. We’ll see how that works…. I think I have put to bed my concern about eating beforehand. I should, but I can’t. I run too early in the morning. And if I eat right before a run, I will get a stitch or vomit. So… that’s a done deal. It doesn’t make a difference as long as I can do it and not pass out. I don’t like the prescribed running clothes. I prefer cotton to the so called wicking fabrics. I have eczema and they mess with my skin. I shouldn’t be super ...

Peace. There is so much controversy attached to being a woman. The God told me recently the only reason he didn’t want to have girls (I only want to have girls and NO boys!!!!) is because it is so difficult in this world to be a girl. And he is not lying. This controversy extends to the exercise arena as well. I am still within my childbearing years. That mean I host company monthly. The question that has always been floating through my mind is whether I should be exercising during my cycle. Traditionally… and I am going back to the last century and beyond… the answer has been no. women are so fragile that we shouldn’t be exercising at all. But we know that woman can and do compete athletically. Taoism and Ayurveda say no to exercise during your period. That is the time a woman is most vulnerable outside of pregnancy. Also both modalities teach that there is a time and place for everything. But Western doctrine says go ahead and exercise to the fullest extent. Actually western doctr...

Peace. I am not a runner. This morning I woke up at the crack of snot to put 2.5 miles on the log. I only put 2. I got up, went out and did one of the worst runs in my recent Koran. I just don’t get it. I am supposed to be getting better, not worse. One I can say about my alternative route is there are many hills. My regular route is all flat and includes a high school track. Yes I have to run under the interstate, but there are no damn hills. I ran the alternative before and it seems like I should have known that. Oh well. Also, I went out in the dark with my reflector jacket on and I was SCARED. Y’all don’t know this, but I live in the hood. Not that I have a problem with my living situation. But I don’t necessarily feel like just chilling outside in the dead of night. Precise isn’t going to run with me so I have to do this thing on my own. If I wait until the circumstances are perfect, then I will only log miles in 2 days a week. I will never be ready for a race because I will...

Peace! I know it’s been a while. But I discovered Tumblr.com! Y’all can find me here: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/renewingmykoran that being said. I still need to keep y’all updated or end this blog. It’s not really fair to keep a blog open if your not going to update it. I have another blog that I am going to coalesce into this one… Righteous Urban Crunch. No need to have that one when it’s essentially the same as this one. So what’s new with me? I have started to run! I am not calling myself a runner until I complete my 1st race. I used to run track in high school. I only did it because I wanted to letter and my brother (a former football player) said I never would. I wasn’t very good at it but I stuck with it for 1 season. AND I LETTERED! I attempted cross country in the next season but I didn’t continue. There were plenty of reasons…. (a) I got a job, (b) I already had a letter, but most importantly… (c) I don’t like hills! But I did like running. And from time to time I would ru...