As part of the resolution for 2009, I started jogging and I have been quite successful in shedding some fat. As the resolution became a habit, I impressed myself (I know, it is okay to boast sometimes) with my consistent achievements in scaling up the distance and time.
Meanwhile, I ran into quite a number of kith and kin (in the past few months) that have had knee problems. Some have consistent knee-jerks, agonizing knee-joint pains and some conditions as bad as knee replacement surgery.
This made me think over a few precautionary steps as I pictured myself engaging in an active lifestyle even during my old days (Being hopeful is a good thing ).
I took some simple steps which I thought are very effective in the long run. Knee-guards and right-shoes.
First, I started using knee-guards which made a huge difference in terms of knee pain. Then, as I was looking for a good shoe, I found some information which was very useful and a must for everyone, even if you are planning to walk or run as part of an physical-exercise routine.
I have been planning to do this for quite some time and finally did it!! I am sure there are so many who have thought about it but never did it. Hope you find this information useful.
Excerpt from www.time-to-run.com:
When buying your first pair of running shoes, you will have to select the shoe which is best suited to you. Without us complicating the matter there will be a few factors you will need to look at before plunging further into the world of the runner/jogger.
The factors you need to look at regarding yourself are:
• your foot shape
• the extent of your foot's movement
• your weight
• your budget
And in the future your weekly mileage will certainly determine the type of shoe you purchase.
Your foot shape
Some stores, have a facility to test the shape of your foot as well as to determine your biomechanics and gait. If you have a store such as that available to you, this should be your first port of call. However, if you do not have that luxury available to you, then it is possible to determine your foot shape the following way.
You have all probably seen your foot imprint when you step out of the bath, well that is one way of determining your foot shape. As a very basic tester you are able to determine the following, whether you have a normal, flat, or high-arched foot. Place your feet in a basin of water and the step onto a flat and dry surface. The following should appear :
A normal foot leaves an imprint with a flare, but shows the forefoot and heel connected by a wide band.
The Flat Foot has a low arch and will leave a nearly complete imprint, it looks like the whole sole of the foot.
The High-Arched Foot will leave an imprint with a very narrow showing between the forefoot and heel.
If your foot does all three, leave home now or re-do the test until you get a clear indicator.
Now that you have determined your foot shape you will need to address the extent of your foot's movement. This would be related to your foot shape as well as other biomechanics which may effect your running/jogging style.
Your footshape and its movement
The normal foot: The foot lands on the heel, then rolls inward (pronates) slightly to absorb shock. Runners with a normal foot and normal weight are usually considered biochemically efficient and don’t require motion-control shoes; stability shoes with moderate control features such as a two-density midsole are suitable.
The Flat Foot has a probability towards overpronation of the foot that strikes on the outside of the heel and rolls inward excessively; over a period of time this may lead to different types of overuse injuries. It is normally recommended to use motion-control or stability shoes with firm midsoles and control features that reduce the degree of pronation. Stay away from highly cushioned, curved-lasted shoes that lack stability and control.
The High-Arched Foot will leave an imprint with a very narrow showing between the forefoot and heel. A curved, high-arched foot is generally termed a supinated or underpronated foot; this means it normally isn’t an effective shock absorber. Cushioned shoes with plenty of flexibility to encourage foot motion are recommended. Stay away from motion-control or stability shoes that reduce foot mobility.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Spiderman cried….....
I had always encouraged my four year old son to be tough. As he is maturing from his fussy-missy baby world, I have tried to train him not to cry if he wanted something or if he fell down.
The other day he started crying while we were waiting in the hospital. He started wailing in high pitch. As he saw my grim face, the high pitch dropped at least a couple of octaves and his tight-lipped mouth was quivering trying to insulate the noise coming out of his mouth.
Although it was a bit heartbreaking to watch his eyes filled with tears, I managed to keep a tough face and talked to him with a calm tone.
Do you want to be strong?
He nods his head assertively and says, “Yes”.
If you want to be strong, you can not cry like a baby. You are a big boy.
Have you ever seen superman cry?
“No”
Have you every seen spiderman cry?
“No.”
As I was about to present the concluding punchline, he interrupted me. As if a truth had suddenly dawned on him, he raised his voice and said (emotionally), “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
I was perplexed.
What do you mean, “yes”?
Then he said something that cracked me up and completely blew me away.
“Yes dad, I have seen spiderman cry”. He continued to cry.
I had such a tough time controlling my laughter and put up a brave face. Tobey Maguire cries in the movie, Spiderman, when his uncle passes away.
I told him that it is okay to cry, but he should try not to cry for every incident.
These are constant reminders of the profound influence of TV on our lives, especially the lives of our children who do not have the ability to distinguish good from evil.
Well, this is an incident that I have treasured to share it with my son as he grows to be a man.
The other day he started crying while we were waiting in the hospital. He started wailing in high pitch. As he saw my grim face, the high pitch dropped at least a couple of octaves and his tight-lipped mouth was quivering trying to insulate the noise coming out of his mouth.
Although it was a bit heartbreaking to watch his eyes filled with tears, I managed to keep a tough face and talked to him with a calm tone.
Do you want to be strong?
He nods his head assertively and says, “Yes”.
If you want to be strong, you can not cry like a baby. You are a big boy.
Have you ever seen superman cry?
“No”
Have you every seen spiderman cry?
“No.”
As I was about to present the concluding punchline, he interrupted me. As if a truth had suddenly dawned on him, he raised his voice and said (emotionally), “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
I was perplexed.
What do you mean, “yes”?
Then he said something that cracked me up and completely blew me away.
“Yes dad, I have seen spiderman cry”. He continued to cry.
I had such a tough time controlling my laughter and put up a brave face. Tobey Maguire cries in the movie, Spiderman, when his uncle passes away.
I told him that it is okay to cry, but he should try not to cry for every incident.
These are constant reminders of the profound influence of TV on our lives, especially the lives of our children who do not have the ability to distinguish good from evil.
Well, this is an incident that I have treasured to share it with my son as he grows to be a man.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Everything happens for a reason?!
I decided to drive to Bangalore along with two of my good friends. The (married-bachelors) trip was conceived and planned over a couple of phone calls in a span of ten minutes. Although I felt that I was a bit rash in deciding on the trip, something told me that this was the way it was supposed to be. The excitement of the "bachelor" part lasted for a few days, by listing the pubs we would visit in Bangalore, before my two buddies dropped the “sorry” word with the usual excuses. I went on with the trip alone.
I am not the type who would go the extra mile to reach out to folks from my past. But, in some cosmic way, I met a very good friend (a senior from UG) of mine after over fourteen years. It was a very gratifying experience. We talked about how life has changed over the past decade and laughed about the crazy things we had done during our rebellious college days.
This pleasant experience had motivated me to reach out to more folks. I ended up contacting two more friends (including one roommate) after sixteen years. We exchanged information about our circle-of-friends with whom we had contacts. We laughed about the way the nicknames (often vulgar) flowed freely in our conversations, especially since we had grown to be refined men (ya, right).
As I was driving back to Chennai, I kept wondering how all this could happen. Is somebody pulling the strings? I mean, this is not the typical me.
I had contacted three friends of my student days. As I was coming to terms with the trip as if the story was coming to a closure, I get a call from another friend (from PG) after many years. Through this friend, I had also spoken to one other friend whom I have been trying to contact for many years.
Five friends!! After over a decade!! Not a bad score in two days.
Perhaps, this is some kind of a (friends-meeting) season, alright. It was saddening to hear some friends who had left us for the better world. But, for the most part, it was a pleasant and a worthy trip.
I don’t believe in destiny entirely. But, I think there are forces of nature that take us to places for a reason.
I don't know the reason yet, but it sure was exhilarting.
I am not the type who would go the extra mile to reach out to folks from my past. But, in some cosmic way, I met a very good friend (a senior from UG) of mine after over fourteen years. It was a very gratifying experience. We talked about how life has changed over the past decade and laughed about the crazy things we had done during our rebellious college days.
This pleasant experience had motivated me to reach out to more folks. I ended up contacting two more friends (including one roommate) after sixteen years. We exchanged information about our circle-of-friends with whom we had contacts. We laughed about the way the nicknames (often vulgar) flowed freely in our conversations, especially since we had grown to be refined men (ya, right).
As I was driving back to Chennai, I kept wondering how all this could happen. Is somebody pulling the strings? I mean, this is not the typical me.
I had contacted three friends of my student days. As I was coming to terms with the trip as if the story was coming to a closure, I get a call from another friend (from PG) after many years. Through this friend, I had also spoken to one other friend whom I have been trying to contact for many years.
Five friends!! After over a decade!! Not a bad score in two days.
Perhaps, this is some kind of a (friends-meeting) season, alright. It was saddening to hear some friends who had left us for the better world. But, for the most part, it was a pleasant and a worthy trip.
I don’t believe in destiny entirely. But, I think there are forces of nature that take us to places for a reason.
I don't know the reason yet, but it sure was exhilarting.
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