ARE HUMANS MADE FOR RUNNING?

Ever since I have started running seriously, or outside 20 minute gym cardio warm-up, all I hear from relatives and friends: long-distance running is not good for you. So with that in mind, I was always under impression that I was doing something detrimental to my health and having completed one marathon would be a great achievement in itself even if i enjoyed it and wanted to complete again.

Unfortunately, I did get the bug for it. I now want to do marathons in different countries: Paris, New York, Cape Town, Toronto - the list is endless. What I am conscious about the health issues associated and perhaps it is an unachievable target without serious impact on my body.

So I started my research. The best book recommended was "Born to run" by Christopher McDougall which looks at running from a completely different perspective. It explores the world of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, a tribe known for running extraordinary distances in nothing but thin-soled sandals. The book argues that the commercialization of urban marathons encourages overzealous training, while the promotion of high-tech shoes has led to poor running form and a rash of injuries.

What interesting - Most mammals can sprint faster than humans — having four legs gives them the advantage. But when it comes to long distances, humans can outrun almost any animal. Because we cool by sweating rather than panting, we can stay cool at speeds and distances that would overheat other animals. On a hot day, the two scientists wrote, a human could even outrun a horse in a 26.2-mile marathon.

It turns out there is a lot of evidence to support the fact that the human body was indeed built for running: short toes of the human foot, spring-like ligaments and tendons, narrow waist, developed sense of balance, gluteus maximus (which is primarily engaged during running!).

Thinking back one question that come to mind is how did early hunters manage when they had to chase their prey for days on end?

Do we hear about so many injuries due to people's own ignorance and negligence? Some of us take up running in their adulthood - is the body not formed for long distance running at that stage? Do some of us put our bodies through too much training too early? Do we train in unnatural environment (road)? In unnatural conditions (trainers)?

Food for thought.

WORK.RUN.SLEEP.

Having a full time job and training for a marathon is not ideal. But having a number of other hobbies, a partner or a family (no idea how you, guys with kids, manage it!) is far more difficult. Should have done it when I was a student! Maternity leave could be next suitable break.

The options to fit in running are limited, unless you love treadmill. One way is to run to/ from work which is what I did for my first marathon training, but you need to have showers or a local gym to make this work. Somehow I even managed after work long runs ending back at the office and then tubing it home late. I am not a fan of running with a rucksack, especially to work - how are you meant to look presentable in creased clothes? Running home with just keys, phones (work & personal), a bank card and oyster was far more manageable. But then again it depends where you live and work and whether you can run all the way, tube it half way or do an extra lap if you are lucky enough to live near work.

In my current situation, running to work is a 5 second jog up the stairs - I've been relocated to work from home. The new training plan for this year is either to run mornings or evenings after work. Leave the long runs for the weekend. So far, every morning my alarm goes off at 6:30, I snooze it and snooze until it's time to get up and start working. The usual self-excuse: "It's too dark & dangerous". Looking at the current sunrise times, morning run is more likely after February.

Hence so far I have only done evening runs on well-lit Thames paths. And, of course, long runs at the weekends. So my advice is to incorporate your runs into your work life if possible, this will ensure you achieve your weekly mileage and possibly save money and time on travel. I used to be able to run to my office faster than getting a bus in the morning. As long as I left home on time, I was never late.

Today I've read somewhere that working marathon runners would not be able to fit in the ideal amount of training & maintain the right nutrition regime, so the best we could do is get our "8 hour beauty" sleep every night! I'm going to test this theory - no going out on a school night.

START.

Weeks to go - 8
Miles ran so far - 8
Pace - just under 8 minutes per mile
This week's target - 13 miles

My second marathon. My first visit to Paris. A different way to sightsee the city.
The training starts this week.