Live Long Naturally ©2012

Being referred to as a tad eccentric and strange by some friends and family has it rewards. My walking to the beat of a different drum these days has recently turned into running to the beat of a different drum.

Why barefoot running? I remember hearing or reading about it and it never left my mind. I kept telling myself that before I invested in a new pair of running shoes, I’d give it a try. Then I happened to stumble upon a barefoot running workshop at Griffith Park a few weeks ago. My sister-in-law and I went and there wasn’t a sole barefoot runner in site. So we left, and I wrote it off this time around (or at least my brain did).

Then while out running just over 3 weeks ago, my gut wouldn’t let it rest, so I thought… how hard could it be? Then I thought again… let’s see… my first event I trained with a coach – I ran from heel to toe and messed up my knees. Following the event he told me what I should have been doing all along and that was building up the muscle around my knees. Gee thanks for telling me 26 miles too late! My second event I ran Chi Running, which is basically running on the ball and toes of my feet – I felt great 13.1 miles later! Barefoot running was going to require I relearn how to run from heel to toe again. So… I decided to give my feet a try at barefoot running. I ran 3.3 miles in 33 minutes on asphalt… I felt fabulous!! I eventually ran myself up to swelling and blisters, but not giving it up!

I’ve learned what doesn’t kill me always makes me stronger. I’ve also learned running barefoot is a lot like learning to play the guitar. You’ve got to build up calluses in order to get past the pain. Something about barefoot and being connected to the earth makes it an enlightening experience!

We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing!” Benjamin Franklin

What does exercise mean to you? What if we could skip, jump on a trampoline, play with a hula-hoop, and act like a kid for a day? Not only do these childhood activities bring back the child in us – they are cost effective, increase our circulation, improve our mood, keep us healthy, and in some cases… can give us six pack abs. Plus, chances of getting hurt are slim to none.

Are you young at heart? You may want to try skipping and do it like nobody’s watching. As an adult… even more fun than skipping is teaching a child how. Two weeks ago I tried teaching their 3-year-old sister to skip – in her mind she was skipping through Disneyland. It was adorable, even though it did look a lot like the gallop of a pony.

Why do 100 neck and back breaking crunches or an “ab” machine? With just 5 minutes a day you can whittle your waist and begin to see signs of a “six pack” with a hula-hoop. Results will vary.

Are you often tired and/or get colds and flu often, you may opt for the trampoline. It is a low impact exercise that will help get you in shape and help boost your immune system by getting your lymph fluid moving. With flu season right around the corner, now is the time to prevent it, rather than be one of the many spreading it.

Back in the 60’s, as some of you may remember, that’s all we did. All our activities were outdoors… Bigger is not better, yet technology has filled the homes of many as the new way to play.

A gym membership… $100’s,
A computer, DVD, or Nintendo Wii… $1000’s
Teaching a child how to skip… priceless

I took up running for the sole purpose of stress relief – I basically ran to feel good (and finish), that’s it. Now I run in appreciation of, and alert to what my senses might encounter – what new sensation might I experience.

I didn’t start out running – I had to walk before I could run. I had asthma growing up – couldn’t run a mile, let alone laugh too much. Yet, I ran my first full marathon when I was 40 and a half marathon 5 years later. I don’t say this to convince you to run or to impress you. Rather, impress upon you that I for one prefer to walk (or dance). Running just happens to be a quick workout that allows me to eat more and weigh less.

The following are a few ways I use my senses to make running more enjoyable:

• Sight – birds, landscaping, children at play, a dog chasing me.
• Sound – birds singing, a leaf blower, weed whacker, a barking dog.
• Smell – trees and flowers in bloom, a fireplace, or my favorite… wet dirt!
• Taste – sweat and lip balm sure beat a bug in the mouth, preferred tastes would be water or sport drink.
• Touch – sweat, goose bumps, rain on my skin… ahhh. Oh, I mustn’t forget a dog trying to bite my shoe.
• Thought – it is while running that thoughts come to me… sure beats racking my brain trying to find them. For this reason, I take my recorder with me.

What senses can you put to use to live long naturally? To entertain your senses, avoid boredom, and make health a habit? We mustn’t neglect our senses. As crazy as it sounds… the possible encounter of smelling wet dirt makes running worthwhile for me. It gets my tail wagging!