I tried to run in the past, but never really got into it.
I would run for 10 minutes and stop. I was convinced it would get easier, and I would form a habit. Never happened.
Fast forward a bit. I am telling a friend this, and she says "Oh, of course you hate running, the first 10 minutes are the worst. It's what comes after that which is fun."
Light bulb. So I try to run today. And sure enough the initial 10 minutes were awful. My shoulder started throbbing and my achilles tendon was screaming at me. Then I break 15 minutes, and I stop caring. The pain goes away, and I start to feel like I could run for miles.
I keep setting goals in my head. I'll run to campus. Made it. I'll run to the chemistry building. Made it. I'll run to Griffy lake. Bam, made it.
The strangest part about all of this was when I finally stopped (And I felt like I could keep going). My legs had a mind of their own. They kept propelling me forward. I had to tell them not to walk.
Then I remembered a concept from medical school. We learned about neurons in the spine called central pattern generators or CPG.
Now these CPGs go against a basic rule most of you know. The brain makes you move. Not completely true. You have neurons in your spine which can unconsciously make your legs walk. And you can actually stimulate these in people with severed spinal cords.
So I was experiencing this strange phenomenon. I don't tell my legs to move, but the CPGs in my spine say "walk". It was super strange to see my legs moving without my permission or input. I focused on them and tried to make them stop, and they did.
Anyhow, medical science aside. I am really happy with how far I ran, and I hope to keep it up. Although I don't know if I'll run while I'm in Vietnam. Flight leaves this Friday by the way. Super excited and anxious.
Cheers,
X
I would run for 10 minutes and stop. I was convinced it would get easier, and I would form a habit. Never happened.
Fast forward a bit. I am telling a friend this, and she says "Oh, of course you hate running, the first 10 minutes are the worst. It's what comes after that which is fun."
Light bulb. So I try to run today. And sure enough the initial 10 minutes were awful. My shoulder started throbbing and my achilles tendon was screaming at me. Then I break 15 minutes, and I stop caring. The pain goes away, and I start to feel like I could run for miles.
I keep setting goals in my head. I'll run to campus. Made it. I'll run to the chemistry building. Made it. I'll run to Griffy lake. Bam, made it.
The strangest part about all of this was when I finally stopped (And I felt like I could keep going). My legs had a mind of their own. They kept propelling me forward. I had to tell them not to walk.
Then I remembered a concept from medical school. We learned about neurons in the spine called central pattern generators or CPG.
Now these CPGs go against a basic rule most of you know. The brain makes you move. Not completely true. You have neurons in your spine which can unconsciously make your legs walk. And you can actually stimulate these in people with severed spinal cords.
So I was experiencing this strange phenomenon. I don't tell my legs to move, but the CPGs in my spine say "walk". It was super strange to see my legs moving without my permission or input. I focused on them and tried to make them stop, and they did.
Anyhow, medical science aside. I am really happy with how far I ran, and I hope to keep it up. Although I don't know if I'll run while I'm in Vietnam. Flight leaves this Friday by the way. Super excited and anxious.
Cheers,
X
