>In 1968, Sen. Strom Thurmond found himself stopped by a police officer in Greenville, South Carolina. His suspicious activity? Jogging.
Funny. Happened to my dad too. He started jogging in 1970 and continued (almost) every day for 40 years. That very first year he was the only guy out there and people occasionally got freaked out and called the cops. He had to explain this 'jogging' exercise thing.
But within a few years it had caught on like wildfire.
This reminds me of the 1951 Ray Bradbury short story, 'The Pedestrian'. The outside runners may someday again draw suspicion, when people prefer jog-questing in their home Oculus Rooms.
What is the "jogging" of today? Gluten free diets? I could see it become mainstream once science has studied it more extensively, but today if you don't have coeliac disease and decide to go gluten-free, you're labeled as nuts right away.
I don't know if you're labelled as "nuts" right away but you are sometimes assumed to be prone to the latest dietary trends. As this article points out jogging actually did have measurable, real health benefits. It's not clear if going GF if you don't suffer celiac does. BTW my child suffers from celiac at I've gone GF with her for extended periods of time. Turns out going GF usually also means dramatically dropping your intake of salt and sugars (processed pastas, breads, desserts etc) so I believe that many people really _do_ feel better. Of course with the widestream acceptance of GF there are now many straight up substitutes/replacements so that benefit will likely disappear.
I really don't understand the whole "hate," in particular on the internet, for people who eat Gluten free food. Who really cares? It doesn't harm you or I if someone chooses to avoid Gluten, it doesn't hurt the environment, it doesn't cause a public health issue, and so on and so fourth.
But people get really upset about the oddest stuff that have no impact on them (e.g. others playing the lottery, vegetarians, how others dress, their games console of choice, their phone maker, etc). None of it matters, people could do well by just minding their own business more.
As to Gluten, I myself won't be doing a Gluten free diet, but people who wish to more power to you and as a positive spin it might make foods more accessible for people with coeliac.
A big, juicy beef steak is gluten free, and so is the sunny side egg on top of it and the bacon. I like gluten-free! :)
My wife brought home some Glutino brand crackers. They are delicious. (Neither of us care about "gluten free").
If you want to really sock it to the gluten-free movement, you can buy fried gluten in a can. This is an import item you can find it in Chinese grocery stores.
I've known about and eaten this stuff long before the silly gluten-free fad; not a knee-jerk reaction or anything!
I've also known about people with gluten issues long before the fad. I remember a co-worker telling me about her sensitivity to wheat circa 1991 and that it was the gluten. She was not self-diagnosed either. There was no reason not to take her seriously; though I hadn't heard of it before, it was entirely plausible to have an allergy to a protein in wheat. Today, most of the people who think they have a gluten problem are making it up, and that's what supports "gluten free". However, it's probably helpful to those people who do have the allergy --- assuming the foods are even for real. Half of them probably have gluten! Is this "gluten-free" designation even regulated and enforced?
I remember the Hall of Fame Golfer Gary Player being ridiculed by his peers during the 60's because he believed in working out and strength training. The standard of the time was that this was counterproductive for golfers. (iirc one of the arguments was that strength training would cause loss of "touch" in one's game)
Fast forward 50 years, and every professional golfer is a fitness and strength training fanatic.
I don't remember criticism of Player in particular, but I do remember the general criticism of strength training for golfers. John Daly in particular was held up as being a prime example of someone who was all power, no touch. Strength training was not Daly's problem, though...
I wish I could run, but 1) it hurts - and not in a good way 2) it's extremely boring. The only thing that's kind of fun is running up hills.
The nice thing about running is that you can pack a decent amount of exercise into a relatively brief period of time, and at least you're outside. Gyms feel like gerbil wheels to me.
What I really love to do is ride my bike, but that takes more time and better conditions.
Sometimes running kills me, sometimes it's a bliss. My philosophy in physical activity: smooth waves. I start slow, push it very slow as long as I feel flowing[1]. I wave around the sweet spots.
BUT, I try not to control it too much, every time I start to focus about something else[2], I feel like flying. The minute I start thinking back about my body, the pleasure vanish.
My goal is to tighten my sensitivity to these two ideas so I can reach flow faster and longer.
[1] except min 5 and 15 where I often crack down a bit, maybe the body shifting sugar supplies.
Listening to podcasts and audio books is an excellent way to pass the time while exercising.
I can't say that running itself is fun for me, but the extra hours of Hardcore History I've listened to while exercising have made the process much more tolerable.
I love hill sprints. It's Anaerobic, but it still stresses your cardiovascular system, so it's a decent replacement. I also do jump rope in lieu of running on top of sprints/hill sprints.
It's still really weird. Why an exercise as high-impact on the joints and as potentially injurious as this hasn't been stopped has to be purely because people enjoy it so much, or they don't see an alternative.
We have machines designed to mimic the exercise and reduce or eliminate the impact. We have studies that show a multitude of other exercises that provide similar or the same health benefits without the stress. There's less expensive gear to buy. There's less risk of injury and it's more convenient to exercise indoors. Yet I can't walk down my tiny sidewalk on a sunny day without somebody in nylon shorts flying past me down the concrete path.
Now, don't get me wrong, a mile jog/run is not a terrible way to warm up for the rest of your workout. But the distances most people run, and the regularity of it, probably has more downsides than upsides. Heart health can be achieved without the above factors, as can endurance, and we can finally end the tyranny of the running path (i'm mostly joking).
That running automatically results in hip and knee injuries used to be commonly believed in the medical community. Then this study (and others since) have changed that thinking. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23377837
From my own personal experience, I know that running too much, too soon, before my body had adapted, resulted in various muscle strains and sore knees. But as I got smarter about my efforts, I discovered that all I had to do was allow time for my body to adapt to the workload. I also run mostly on softer trails and buy new shoes periodically and that helps too.
For me, there is nothing that can compare to running outside on a trail through the woods, especially if there are friends alongside.
The tone of your post is odd, as if you normally would expect everyone to do exactly what all the most current science suggests (nevermind that there are usually multiple conflicting theories). "Hasn't been stopped?" Stopped by whom? Lots of things that are far more harmful than running have not yet been stopped. Not everyone wants to use fancy machines for exercise...I'm just kind of baffled by this "how can people still be running?!?!" perspective.
I'm also confused by the part about expensive gear...running is one of the few forms of exercise you can accomplish with literally no gear at all, all you need is your body. That is probably one of the main reasons for it's enduring popularity - it is a basic and instinctual animal movement, there's no overhead, no setup time, no instructions, you just move your legs until you're in shape. Some people prefer that simplicity to all the fancy science and machines.
Facetious as you are, it's true. There are real impacts to it, and it's recommended that you not train for several months after a training and running a marathon. And not to do more than a few a year.
I think it's partially because Nike ran a lot of ads for running shoes that was selling the idea of it as a sport. And it's one of those sports that seems rather natural and "free" as it were.
I have trouble figuring out a sport that I can do regularly to improve my health. Though I never considered running because I frankly can't keep my motivation. I stop running for an instant, and I'm done.
> Why an exercise as high-impact on the joints and as potentially injurious as this hasn't been stopped has to be purely because people enjoy it so much, or they don't see an alternative.
I'm not surprised that injuries are common. My wife recently started on a running course that is being promoted by the NHS in the UK, Couch to 5K. It involves running at increasing duration interleaved with walking and is targeted at people who have not run before.
Within three weeks she had to drop-out because she had injured her knee.
Despite being 'coached' by a noted local runner, the course offered no advice on running technique. It involved being told to 'run'.
Imagine starting a Learn to Swim course and being told to just get in the pool and swim...
Do you know if running on the beach (or sand) is better on the joints? It seems like it would be better on the joints, plus it seems harder (better exercise). And hey, you're on a beach.
This article seems to think being stopped by the police because of jogging is a thing of the past. I live in a state university town full of joggers but I've been stopped 3 times for my "suspicious" jogging just in the last year. I guess it's because I do it at weird times with normal clothing instead of the standard exercise uniform.
They always say something along the lines of "I thought you were in trouble." to justify themselves.
It's still pretty weird to see someone running in New Delhi, for example. I know heat and air quality are part of it but there are days where it would be perfectly fine. I think it's just considered weird to run.
[+] [-] ChrisLTD|10 years ago|reply
Doc: And in the future, we don't need horses. We have motorized carriages called automobiles.
Saloon Old Timer #3: If everybody's got one of these auto-whatsits, does anybody walk or run anymore?
Doc: Of course we run. But for recreation. For fun.
Saloon Old Timer #3: Run for fun? What the hell kind of fun is that?
[+] [-] markc|10 years ago|reply
Funny. Happened to my dad too. He started jogging in 1970 and continued (almost) every day for 40 years. That very first year he was the only guy out there and people occasionally got freaked out and called the cops. He had to explain this 'jogging' exercise thing.
But within a few years it had caught on like wildfire.
[+] [-] gojomo|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hermanmerman|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jusben1369|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Someone1234|10 years ago|reply
But people get really upset about the oddest stuff that have no impact on them (e.g. others playing the lottery, vegetarians, how others dress, their games console of choice, their phone maker, etc). None of it matters, people could do well by just minding their own business more.
As to Gluten, I myself won't be doing a Gluten free diet, but people who wish to more power to you and as a positive spin it might make foods more accessible for people with coeliac.
[+] [-] kazinator|10 years ago|reply
My wife brought home some Glutino brand crackers. They are delicious. (Neither of us care about "gluten free").
If you want to really sock it to the gluten-free movement, you can buy fried gluten in a can. This is an import item you can find it in Chinese grocery stores.
See here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_gluten_%28food%29
Scroll down a bit.
I've known about and eaten this stuff long before the silly gluten-free fad; not a knee-jerk reaction or anything!
I've also known about people with gluten issues long before the fad. I remember a co-worker telling me about her sensitivity to wheat circa 1991 and that it was the gluten. She was not self-diagnosed either. There was no reason not to take her seriously; though I hadn't heard of it before, it was entirely plausible to have an allergy to a protein in wheat. Today, most of the people who think they have a gluten problem are making it up, and that's what supports "gluten free". However, it's probably helpful to those people who do have the allergy --- assuming the foods are even for real. Half of them probably have gluten! Is this "gluten-free" designation even regulated and enforced?
[+] [-] bbcbasic|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peterwwillis|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] hkmurakami|10 years ago|reply
Fast forward 50 years, and every professional golfer is a fitness and strength training fanatic.
[+] [-] geoka9|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vonmoltke|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] davidw|10 years ago|reply
The nice thing about running is that you can pack a decent amount of exercise into a relatively brief period of time, and at least you're outside. Gyms feel like gerbil wheels to me.
What I really love to do is ride my bike, but that takes more time and better conditions.
[+] [-] agumonkey|10 years ago|reply
BUT, I try not to control it too much, every time I start to focus about something else[2], I feel like flying. The minute I start thinking back about my body, the pleasure vanish.
My goal is to tighten my sensitivity to these two ideas so I can reach flow faster and longer.
[1] except min 5 and 15 where I often crack down a bit, maybe the body shifting sugar supplies.
[2] a rant, a fantasy, a job idea, some music...
[+] [-] JeremyNT|10 years ago|reply
I can't say that running itself is fun for me, but the extra hours of Hardcore History I've listened to while exercising have made the process much more tolerable.
[+] [-] will_work4tears|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] segmondy|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] peterwwillis|10 years ago|reply
We have machines designed to mimic the exercise and reduce or eliminate the impact. We have studies that show a multitude of other exercises that provide similar or the same health benefits without the stress. There's less expensive gear to buy. There's less risk of injury and it's more convenient to exercise indoors. Yet I can't walk down my tiny sidewalk on a sunny day without somebody in nylon shorts flying past me down the concrete path.
Now, don't get me wrong, a mile jog/run is not a terrible way to warm up for the rest of your workout. But the distances most people run, and the regularity of it, probably has more downsides than upsides. Heart health can be achieved without the above factors, as can endurance, and we can finally end the tyranny of the running path (i'm mostly joking).
[+] [-] geargrinder|10 years ago|reply
From my own personal experience, I know that running too much, too soon, before my body had adapted, resulted in various muscle strains and sore knees. But as I got smarter about my efforts, I discovered that all I had to do was allow time for my body to adapt to the workload. I also run mostly on softer trails and buy new shoes periodically and that helps too.
For me, there is nothing that can compare to running outside on a trail through the woods, especially if there are friends alongside.
[+] [-] resu_nimda|10 years ago|reply
I'm also confused by the part about expensive gear...running is one of the few forms of exercise you can accomplish with literally no gear at all, all you need is your body. That is probably one of the main reasons for it's enduring popularity - it is a basic and instinctual animal movement, there's no overhead, no setup time, no instructions, you just move your legs until you're in shape. Some people prefer that simplicity to all the fancy science and machines.
[+] [-] nathanvanfleet|10 years ago|reply
I think it's partially because Nike ran a lot of ads for running shoes that was selling the idea of it as a sport. And it's one of those sports that seems rather natural and "free" as it were.
I have trouble figuring out a sport that I can do regularly to improve my health. Though I never considered running because I frankly can't keep my motivation. I stop running for an instant, and I'm done.
[+] [-] brc|10 years ago|reply
No comparison.
Nothing beats a good run for a workout. Simple, fast, effective, natural.
[+] [-] dingaling|10 years ago|reply
I'm not surprised that injuries are common. My wife recently started on a running course that is being promoted by the NHS in the UK, Couch to 5K. It involves running at increasing duration interleaved with walking and is targeted at people who have not run before.
Within three weeks she had to drop-out because she had injured her knee.
Despite being 'coached' by a noted local runner, the course offered no advice on running technique. It involved being told to 'run'.
Imagine starting a Learn to Swim course and being told to just get in the pool and swim...
[+] [-] prestonbriggs|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] clamprecht|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] Carrok|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
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[+] [-] superkuh|10 years ago|reply
They always say something along the lines of "I thought you were in trouble." to justify themselves.
[+] [-] superuser2|10 years ago|reply
Is it really impossible that they genuinely though you might be in danger?
[+] [-] dtparr|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] EvanKelly|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fartbrain|10 years ago|reply
Cashmere or merino are both fantastic textiles for athletic wear.
[+] [-] kazinator|10 years ago|reply
We're talking stuff like this: http://www.smartwool.com/stay-comfortable/mens-nts-micro-150...
Not what comes to mind when we think "cashmere pullover". :)
[+] [-] fezz|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jotux|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] comrade1|10 years ago|reply