ChiRunning is a new technique that incorporates traditional Lydiard style training with moving more efficiently, more in tune to the way our bodies were intended to run. It requires and provides a special sense of self awareness of our environment, our bodies and our movement through space. To practice ChiRunning is to embrace a style of running that gives more emphasis to running form and less focus on speed. ChiRunning makes many promises about your health, freedom from running injury, better ...
Oct 02, 2009•59 min
I read every one of your emails, although I’m sorry to admit that I can’t always respond. I want to, I really do…were this production my full time job; email responding would be a welcome addition to my weekly task list; but like you: I have a family to feed, a career to attend to, a sick dog to worry about, my training to embark in, injury to overcome and this podcast that I feel called to produce (however scary that notion might sound). So I’ll respond as best I can, right here on the show….an...
Sep 25, 2009•1 hr 24 min
Health Care is a system of rules and services, offered to help individuals become and remain healthy. Here in the United States, the term Health Care has caused a lot of stress and anger about how our government is going to provide these services and how much each of us will have to pay. I’m here today, offering a different, more effective and certainly more personal solution to what’s been called the American Health Care Crisis…it might seem a bit revolutionary, possibly radical for me to sugge...
Sep 18, 2009•1 hr 9 min
"There is a discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation. Governments repress their people; and millions are trapped in poverty while the nation grows rich; and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere. These are differing evils, but they are common works of man. They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility toward the sufferings of our fellows. But we can perhaps remember - even if only for a tirne - that t...
Sep 11, 2009•1 hr 37 min
The Pose Method of running incorporates some interesting concepts that may be worth your consideration. It’s a biomechanical model that has you landing on your mid-foot with your supporting joints flexed at impact and hamstrings used to pull your foot from the ground, using gravity to move you forward. It’s a method that takes a lot of practice, some say it can take years to perfect: but the promises are impressive: stronger, faster and injury free running. Like any running technique, this is so...
Sep 04, 2009•1 hr 12 min
Some called him Suuri Vaikenija "A Great Silent One" but to the world he was known as “The Flying Finn”. During the 1920s, he was the best middle and long distance runner in the world, setting world records at distances between 1500 m and 20 km. He is often considered the greatest Track & Field athlete of all time: This is Paavo Nurmi. From Paavo we learn the importance of complete dedication; while most of us seek to lead a balanced life as a way to achieve happiness, Paavo Nurmi was all ab...
Aug 28, 2009•1 hr 20 min
We need to recognize the fact that, through cultural changes, we have evolved. It is through modern humanities incompatibility with our natural environment that we are beginning to dysevolve. The Dysevolutional Runner is one who lives in this environment of fast food non-pedestrian and embraces her or his inner hunter gatherer. Professor Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University, says that "Dysevolution is a positive feedback loop." When we work to treat the symptoms of o...
Aug 21, 2009•1 hr 7 min
In a way, the reason I produce Phedippidations is so I can make the world just a tiny bit better than it was before I started to produce this podcast. I understand that this is something I’ll most likely fail at and that my efforts here might be considered a colossal waste of time, however noble and altruistic this might seem. BUT: there’s always that small conditional word “IF”. As in: IF I can inspire just one human being, who might by accident listen to this goofy little podcast and become in...
Aug 14, 2009•1 hr 18 min
A podcast should be an expression of yourself, with a deep and open honesty that reveals all of the good things in your heart, as well as your weaknesses. A podcast should not be a “show” per se, it should be a conversation: it should have as many audible elements that fit your personality and the truth of who you are. Fear of being honest is perceived by the listeners…and if you’re doing it right: you’ll not think of those who subscribe to your podcast as mere “listeners”, they’re fellow runner...
Aug 07, 2009•1 hr 7 min
Today, I’m going to read you an abridged version of another book by Thoreau, this one titled Walking, which Thoreau written in 1861. This was an essay that was presented as a lecture and published after his death in 1862, this essay, lecture and book has become one of THE most important written works in the environmental movement. So why am I reading this on a podcast about running? Is it because I canoed up the Allagash River Waterway in the Maine North Woods where Thoreau himself spent time an...
Aug 01, 20090
A conversation is an informal talk with someone about opinions, ideas, feelings or everyday matters. A good conversation is an interaction between two or more people, where questions are either explicitly asked or implied. For many of you, over the past four years you have been having a conversation with a middle aged, middle of the pack, slightly asthmatic fellow runner, but I assure you that that conversation was not one way. And while I admit I’m not able to answer my emails as much as I’d li...
Jul 24, 2009•1 hr 8 min
When summer rears its oppressive head of high humidity and heat, fellow runners must take to the road with the solar conditions in mind and heed the warnings to ensure a safe and comfortable run. Acclimatization is an important precursor to taking to the hotter than usual roads, and the better our bodies can adapt to the heat, the greater our performance will be once we put these bodies to the test in a race. There will come a day when, here in the Northeast, the days will shorten, the leaves wi...
Jul 17, 2009•1 hr 6 min
The Bunion Derby was an event like no other, and there will never be another like it. While there have been many cross continental races since 1928, none were organized in the way that C.C. Pyle had organized the event: it was an endurance race, a circus and a harsh and unforgiving competition. In his book “C. C. Pyles Amazing Foot Race: the true story of the 1928 coast to coast run across America, by Geoff Williams, published by Rodale Press…the author writes “As difficult as his amazing foot r...
Jul 10, 2009•1 hr 2 min
There’s this rumor going around that distance runners are more prone to developing arthritis, a medical condition from by the Greek word “arthro” meaning joint and “itis” meaning inflammation. Many non-runners and medical laypersons have assumed that the constant repetitive pounding forces on our joints, especially in the knees, as we run are too much for our bodies to absorb. In this weeks episode I’ll go through some of the scientific medical research on the subject and present an answer to th...
Jul 03, 20090
From a small island in the middle of southern Maine’s Sebago Lake, I present for you my annual review of some of my favorite songs from the past year of Phedippidation episodes. This week, I’m on vacation: giving my ankle a chance to heal and my soul a break from stress as I enjoy my family, lapping waves, a few good books and delicious wine. “Veni, Vidi, Vici” Show Links:“Terra Nova” by Jim Fidler at jimfidler.com.“Be Okay” by Ingrid Michelson at “Pizza Day” by Jonathan Coulton at “I Know You’r...
Jun 27, 2009•1 hr 11 min
Beware the contents of this episode, ye who come here to listen to the runner boy run! In this episode, I go out for a run and just let my mind flow, talking about a few things that may or may not have to do with running. Of particular interest (to me at least) is the contemplation of the ship of Theseus’s, the discussion of which might may you say “Huh?” We are made of stuff that has a limited shelf-life, but most of the atoms in your body will be completely replaced in just 10 years time, and ...
Jun 19, 2009•1 hr 2 min
This episode is a review of a study published last month in the American Journal of Cardiology titled “Relation of Biomarkers and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Marathon Running”. We use terms and phrases such as “you’ve got to have heart” and “don’t go breakin’ my heart” as a reference to the symbolic vessel we have within us to harbor our capacity to love. In reality the heart is an important organ, strategically located in the center of our bodies to provide oxygen rich blood throug...
Jun 12, 2009•1 hr 6 min
As simple and exhausting as it sounds: running can be your purpose in life; and if you’re already a runner as I suspect you are: then running can be a purpose you can give to others, by asking them to join us: by making this sport a game, by thinking of it as play and by embracing a lifestyle that helps you to improve the duration and quality of your life. It’s short fellow runners, this life of ours is far too short…but it should be long enough; and when you find yourself with a purpose to live...
Jun 05, 2009•59 min
They called him Arthur “Greatheart” Newton. He had been a runner in his twenties, but gave it up after a time, taking to the road again 12 years later when, at the age of 38, he ran his first Comrades Marathon. His contribution to distance running is great in that he chose to use common sense to guide his training methods, rather than formulas found in books on the subject of running. Dr. Tim Noakes, in his book “Lore of Running” outlines 9 of his principles of training that helped to guide Newt...
May 29, 20090
This is one of those strange podcast episodes that merges a little of my personal life (you’ll hear us picking up our new Dog Indiana and bringing him home) along with some practical tips about exercising your dog and this history of the beagle. It goes without saying that I have a lot to learn about dogs; and puppies specifically. While my wife has always owned a dog, growing up: this experience is new to the rest of us in my household. Will I make mistakes: count on it: he’ll end up chewing al...
May 22, 2009•1 hr 16 min
In this episode I present for you the major findings of Professor Daniel Lieberman of the Biological Anthropology department at Harvard University and Professor Dennis Bramble from the University of Utah in their 2004 paper published in the journal Nature titled “Endurance running and the evolution of Homo”. In this paper, they make the powerful case that “The fossil evidence suggests that endurance running is a derived capability of the genus Homo, originating about 2 million years ago, and may...
May 15, 2009•1 hr 16 min
A runner lives for the moment, and can rise to call of her or his own character to do what we know we have to do, for our bodies, for our training, for the promise we made to ourselves some time ago. We will have bad days, we will be haunted by the memories of a 4:01:31 finish in Philadelphia back in November of 2007, and we’ll look to our next marathons where we dream of running a sub four…but still, on those icy, rainy, blisteringly hot and humid days when work was a nightmare and everyone wan...
May 08, 2009•1 hr 12 min
Ours is a social network of fellow runners who are using new media and the power of what has become known as Web 2.0 – a second generation of web development and design that facilitates communication, collaboration and above all: sharing of thoughts, opinions, observations and yes, even rambling diatribes. There’s this question that philosophers and scientists, artists, writers and dreamers have asked for many centuries when they looked above into the heavens. That question is this: ARE WE ALONE...
May 01, 2009•1 hr 7 min
In this episode I will be completely honest and open up a little to tell you some things I’ve not previously revealed about me, and will run the 113th Boston Marathon with you. A marathon is a very open, public and sincere physical event that puts you out there: for better or worse, revealing all of your weaknesses, as well as physical and mental pressure points. A marathon forces you to face yourself in a very public and very introspective way. I wasn’t supposed to run this race, and when I was...
Apr 24, 2009•1 hr 10 min
I do not make my case here with an elitist attitude. I make my case with sound facts which, from my perspective, lends evidence to the fact that the Boston Marathon is, without a doubt and lacking hesitation from my lips to your ears: THE WORLDS GREATEST MARATHON.I made a statement on this podcast, three years or so ago regarding why it is that I’m a runner. Many reasons come to mind; but the one that always rises first and foremost in my thinking might not be one that others would expect from a...
Apr 15, 2009•1 hr 8 min
There’s something special that marks an elite athlete as a true running legend. It’s more than just their athletic appearance, their healthy bodies and the way they carry themselves when they enter a room. A running legend is someone who has a very humble confidence. Their eyes, voices and motions speak of having worked harder than most of us could ever imagine to reach a brief moment in their lives where they understood that they were experiencing something that only the very dedicated and pass...
Apr 10, 20090
Two key messages about the Boston Marathon Course: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, Boston.Head Away From Nature West Near Ballpark Boston. and Only 17% of the course climbs at a rate of greater than 1%.I’ve learned many lessons from this course. The Boston Marathon has taught me to conserve on the downhills, and pace myself on the uphills. It’s taught me to have humility amid the cheering crowds, to smile despite the pain gastronomical discomfort, to savor t...
Apr 03, 2009•1 hr 3 min
To run the 113th Boston Marathon with minimal preparation I have to condition my body for constant and repetitive motion for at least five hours. What’s more, I must be able to carry the weight of my body on a gradual 16 mile course into Newton Lower Falls, up the hills of Newton and over a goofy little speed-bump, and finally down the other side past mile 22 with as much strength as I have left. Traditional marathon training programs begin with a base and gradually work up to build strength and...
Mar 27, 2009•1 hr 16 min
Despite the scientific rational to the contrary, running in the morning as opposed to other times in the day has many personal benefits which may not seem obvious. We are human beings, called to embrace each day with a vigor and enthusiasm that demands hard work and strenuous effort. We are good animals, moving across the planets surface with purpose and power from the moment the sun rises over the horizon to enlighten our day. We are runners, and the world is our race course: and once they turn...
Mar 20, 2009•1 hr 2 min
The phrase “Taking it all in stride” means to get all you can get within a single step. As runners, we have a special appreciation for longer, stronger strides in that they ensure faster speeds on the open road, and combined with more frequent strides, can turn our back and middle of the pack efforts into something closer to the front. When we train, we are already prepared and pre-conditioned to expect speed work and strength work, long runs and the building on endurance: but within those effor...
Mar 13, 20090
