Colt Goucher on Running

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Adam and Tim

Just because I am a baby does not mean I don’t know anything about running. I have spent a lot of time observing my mom and dad run and have picked up more running wisdom than most kids twice my age! This week I thought I would share some of that wisdom with you in my dad’s blog.

I have written two previous guest blogs for “Run the Edge” but that was before I was very good at talking. If you want to read those, click here and here. Now that I am a talking machine, I am ready to push my limits and express my thoughts in my first video blog.

Although I am very good at talking and expressing myself, it is frustrating that some people still have a difficult time understanding what I am saying. You are probably not one of those people, but just in case you are, I have included subtitles to help you get some of the words you may have difficulty deciphering.

What is my video about? I figured I would respond to a couple questions I get asked from people when they find out my parents are runners. If you have more questions you would like me to answer, leave them in the comments below.  I am happy to share all I know.

Here is the first video: I am responding to a very common question about the difference between pain and injury.

As I state in the video, you need to know the line between tough and stupid. There is pain in running and you will have to run through some of it. But be careful not to be too tough or you may end up hurting yourself worse and missing more time in your training.  You can read about this fine line in my Dad’s book “Running the Edge” in the chapter titled “When to Bend.”

The second video is a pet peeve of mine. There is so much hoopla over guys who wear split shorts to run. This video shares my opinion on the matter.  If you want to see what my Dad and Uncle Tim think about split shorts, read one of their first blog posts here.

I hope you enjoyed my first video blog. If you have other running or baby questions you want to ask me please post them in the comments below.  Also feel free to tell me how cute, adorable, handsome, and smart I am. My parents dig that stuff!

***Be sure to follow Run the Edge on facebook and visit our store to get our book “Running the Edge” and other great Run the Edge stuff!  

 

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Seven Signs You May Love Running Too Much?

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Adam and Tim

This week, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we want to ask you a few questions: Are you wildly, madly, passionately head over heals, in love…with running?  Do you savor your long runs, relish in your workouts, and yearn for your next chance to get out the door to spend time alone on the roads? Are you consumed with thoughts and daydreams that reflect your passion for running?  Are you hooked on the feeling you get from a good workout and moonstruck about running at night? If you answered “yes” to any part of these questions, you may want to take the test below.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a holiday where we express our love and affection for the significant others in our lives. But what if your significant other is not a person? A healthy appreciation for running is a good thing but can we love running too much? Even if you are currently single, you can look for the danger signs that your love for running has gone over the top. Below are seven signs that you may love running too much. If you score over six points in the test you may want to consider therapy!

1.  Do you think about running more during the day than you do your love interest? Reflect on your random thoughts during the day. How many times does your sweetie pop unexpectedly into your mind compared to running? If you think about running more often, give yourself a point.

2.  Do you sneak off to run? Like a lovers tryst do you find a time when no one will miss you at work or at home and then secretly get in a quick run?  If you ever do this, even occasionally, give yourself a point.

3.  Consider the following adjectives commonly associated with love. If you can apply more than half of them to running, award yourself a point. Passion, Desire,  Appreciation, Devotion, Commitment, Affection, Attachment

4.  Would you rather have a painful sports massage than a relaxing massage given by your significant other? Imagine this. Your sweetheart gives you a coupon for “One free massage” hoping to personally give it to you. Even if you would take the massage from your sweetheart, give yourself a point if you would rather have received a coupon for a sports massage.

5.  Do you get more depressed when you can’t run or when you can’t spend time with the love of your life? People in love tend to long for each others’ company. They yearn to be together and when they have to spend time apart it can be difficult. Would it upset you more to be away from your significant other for a week or not be able to run? If you answered “run” give yourself a point.

6.  Is your idea of a romantic dinner carbo-loading? Your main squeeze wants to take you out for a nice romantic meal and says you can pick the restaurant. Knowing that you have a long run the next day, you decide on some cheap pasta and lots of bread. You also request to make it an early dinner so you can get to sleep before 10:00. If this is something you would do, you get a point.

7.  What type of jewelry would you like to get? If your dearest love wanted to take you shopping for a new piece of jewelry and said you could get a ring, necklace, watch, earrings, or whatever you desire, would you rather get the latest GPS watch or other running accessory?  If so give yourself a point.

Count up your points.  

*If you scored 0 or 1, you are either a beginning runner, or you have a fantastic Valentine.

*If you scored between 2 and 4, congratulations! You have a healthy relationship with both running and your significant other. You are well balanced both in your love of running and for your partner.

*If you scored 5 or 6 you are in the danger zone. Consider ramping up the romance with your partner a bit or mellowing out a little on the running to bring yourself into balance. Find a way to share some of your passion for running with your honey.

*If you scored 7 points, we understand your love of running but think you might need a new romance in your life that can stir the same fire in your heart. Relationship therapy is a real possibility for you.

Remember that the above quiz was just for fun and like most things we write in this blog, should not be taken seriously. But seriously, we LOVE you and the Run the Edge community! In fact we love you so much that we wrote you a little Valentine’s Day poem:

Roses are red.
Violets are blue,
We love running…
Be back in about an hour.

***If you love to run make sure you like our facebook page.  Also check out I <3 to Run for more running inspiration and fun!

***Check out our store for great “Run the Edge” stuff! Buy two or more of anything and get FREE shipping by entering the discount code “edgerunner” at checkout.

 

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Are You a Running Cliché?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Adam and Tim

“Nice guys finish last.” This is probably true but there have been plenty of nice guys who have finished first as well.

Nice guys finish last is a cliché; a phrase that is so overused it has become mundane.  Clichés may ring true in most situations but according to wikipedia, “Using cliches shows a lack of original thought… In writing and general speech it is a mark of inexperience of unoriginality.”

This blog has over 30 clichés in it. We wonder if that shows more of our inexperience or our general lack of originality?

In an attempt to make the unoriginal original, we put a twist on 31 commonly used clichés. We wanted to see if these everyday phrases were true or false when applied to distance runners.  See if you agree with our assessments.

1.  It’s only a matter of time.  False  

For runners it is a matter of time and distance.

2.  It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.  False

It is over as soon as you cross the finish line no matter what the fat lady is doing.

3.  If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.  True

Over 45,000 people run the New York Marathon and only one person can win. The rest are joining them.    

4.  What goes around comes around.  True

Ever run a 10k on the track?

5.  This will hurt me more than it hurts you.  True

Very true when said by a runner to a spectator.

6.  Time is of the essence.  True

Especially true for runners seeking PRs and qualifying standards.

7.  Last but not least.  True

Even the last finisher is ahead of everyone who didn’t have the courage to run. In a race, last is certainly not least! 

8.  Make out like a bandit.  False

We do not encourage bandits here. 

9.  Better late than never.   True

It is better to finish behind your goal time than not to finish at all.  

10.  It never hurts to try.  False

Wanna bet? Ask any runner and they will tell that if it doesn’t hurt you are not trying hard enough.

11.  One good turn deserves another.  True

Ever run a 10K on the track? 

12.  Pull a fast one.  True

This is every runner’s desire as they toe the line.

13.  Go the whole 9 yards.  False

You are going to have to go a lot more than 9 yards to complete a marathon.  Are you ready to go to whole 46,145 yards?

14.  Distance makes the heart grow fonder.  True

As you go up in distance, peoples’ love of running intensifies.  

15.  Get off on the right foot.  False

Does it really matter which foot you start on?

16.  We will cross that bridge when we come to it.  True

That is all a runner can do.

17.  You can’t judge a book by its cover.  True

Ever see the guy/gal who looks really fast but can barley run?  Then there is the person who does not even look like a runner but is as fast as lightening.

18.  Running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off.   False

This might not be the best running strategy.  The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

19.  The more the merrier. True

See 45,000 people in the New York Marathon.

20.  Caught with your pants down.  True

For the runner who couldn’t hold it for the full marathon.

21.  You only live once.  True

Perhaps, but you can die multiple deaths on a long run.

22.  Quit while you’re ahead.   False

Terrible terrible advice for a runner.

23.  A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.  True

And so does a journey of 46,145 yards!

24.  I’ve got a monkey on my back.  True

After you hit the wall the monkey turns into a gorilla…carrying a piano.

25.  Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.  True

This is why runners are so strong.

26.  If the shoe fits, wear it.  False

Do not wear it in a race unless you have tested it out in practice first.

27.  Misery loves company.  True

See 45,000 people running the New York Marathon!

28.  Don’t hold your breath.  True

Unless you only intend to run the whole 9 yards.

29.  She wouldn’t know me from Adam.  True

Readers who have never heard of this blog do not know Tim from Adam.

30.  S/He is over the hill.  False

This is meant to be a bad thing for most people but to a runner it is the best feeling in the world!

31.  There now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?  False

Depends on the day and the run.  Sometimes it WAS that bad.

Twenty of the above clichés seem to be true for most runners while eleven are false. Either way they at least win back a bit of originality when we apply them to running.

The artist Salvador Dali hated the use of clichés so much that he was quoted as saying, “The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot.”

We may be idiots for using so many clichés in this blog but we had fun doing it. In our next blog we will avoid using clichés like the plague! :)

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