A Runner's Worst Nightmare – "Runners Trots"

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I found this wonderful blog on running – Vanessa Runs, which has really detailed info on various running issues.

This post struck me as especially relevant as it covered an embarrassing aspect of running that most runners avoid talking about, and I am particularly affected by a variation of it – runner’s trots. Or, the need for “taking a dump” in the middle of a run.

Vanessa has some real detailed data on what runners should be aware of. I actually haven’t seen such data anywhere, and therefore feel really lucky to have spotted this info.

A sample info:

Keep in mind that food has a travel time:

  • From the moment you swallow to your stomach = 15-20 minutes
  • From the moment you feel full to elimination = 4-6 hrs
  • From the moment you swallow to elimination = 12-24 hrs

What Makes You a Runner

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Pretty inspiring bit from John “The Penguin” Bingham.

If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.

( Source )

Another article on the topic by John.

…

I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I AM A RUNNER because …

Citizen Initiative: Recycle a Cycle

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One of those initiatives which are really making a difference in the lives of people.

From an article on Bangalore Mirror:

After plastic, paper and clothes, it is the turn of the humble cycle to be recycled in a bid to empower poor and needy children.

Two Bangaloreans have been collecting unused and/or old cycles from across the city and repairing them before donating them to needy children.

The duo — Pradeep V V, a co-founder of Mapunity.in, and Mayank Rungta, a software professional with Juniper Network India Pvt Ltd, set up the Ride A Cycle Foundation after reading of a similar initiative elsewhere. Pradeep says, “Last year, I came across a story about a doctor couple in Mumbai who would go around the city collecting old cycles and repairing them before distributing them among the needy. Their project is called the Bicycle Project.

More info about Pradeep and Mayank’s initiative can be found at Cycle Recycle blog. In December, they provided the first set of recycled cycles to students of two NGOs.

Critical Mass: February 27, 2010

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Critical mass poster for February

(What is Critical Mass?)

Official Announcement for the February event on 27th.

It’s time again to celebrate the joy of cycling. This month we are taking some history lessons with cycling.

Let’s ride towards one of the less famous towers of Kempegowda in Gavipuram Guttahalli. The tower is on a small hillock overlooking the Kembambudhi lake. If on time, we can view a beautiful sunset and move on the the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave temple.

Both the tower and the temple were built by Kempe Gowda referred to as the founding father of Bangalore.

We will be ending the ride at the VV Puram – Food Street and indulge in some carb loading.

Really want to attend this. Have to get the final route map though, to make sure we don’t kill ourselves riding all over Bangalore in the middle of the afternoon. Google maps seems to suggest this car route. Distance from Cubbon park seems to be about 6-7 km.

Link: Runner's Diet Mistakes

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10 ways runners cheat themselves nutritionally.

Now I am quite sure I fall into at least one or more of these categories:

The Nighttime Feeder

You eat very few calories all day long, then you gorge at dinner and late into the night.

“Eating little throughout the day and loading up at night is similar to filling up your gas tank after you’ve arrived at your destination,” says Dolins. Yet it’s a common pattern for a good number of runners. For many, it’s an oversight; the absence of an eating plan throughout the day leaves them starving by late afternoon, resulting in an evening binge.

That is me alright.

The Junk-Food Fiend

You eat whatever you want because you believe running will keep you fit and trim.

Sure, there are runners who live blissfully ignorant of their nutritional blunders, but then there is the Junk-Food Fiend. Painfully aware of his poor food choices, but unable or unwilling to change, he has convinced himself that he can get away with eating anything and everything.

Hmm. That also seems to be me alright. 🙂

Pedal2Mumbai – A 4-day, 1010 kms Cycle Ride in Support of Mumbai Car Free Day

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From this post on Bangalore Bikers Club:

The Bangalore Cycling Club (a cycle team run by Venkatesh of Wheelsports) will be pedaling to Mumbai from Bangalore starting tomorrow morning (Feb 16, 2010). They will be covering a distance of 1010 kms in 4 days as per the following itinerary:

  • Feb 16 – Bengaluru to Davanagere 265 km
  • Feb 17 – Davanagere to Belgaum 246 km
  • Feb 18 – Belgaum to Pune 336 km
  • Feb 19 – Pune to Mumbai 163 km
  • Feb 20 – Rest at Mumbai
  • Feb 21 – Participate in the Mumbai Cyclothon and the Mumbai Car Free Day

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V-Brake Madness (and Adjustment)

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V-brake

V-Brake or linear pull brake (Photo courtesy: wikipedia)

At first, some background about why V-brakes were the first thing I obsessed over in the first few weeks of owning a new bike.

When I got my bike about two weeks back from BOTS, I faced the first of the logistical hurdles of a newbie cyclist. BOTS is about 20 km from my home, which in Bangalore is quite a respectable distance, and this entire distance is through some of the busiest roads of Bangalore. For a newbie cyclist like me (well not exactly newbie, but that is a separate story), this distance or at least the route is intimidating. So the only way to get my cycle home was in my car, which turns out to be one of the smallest cars on the Indian roads – the Maruti Alto. A friend of mine, Balaji, had mentioned earlier to me that I would probably need to take out the front wheel to fit the bike inside my car, but soon I found out that I had to take out both.

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Bangalore Bikers Club Meetup at EGL

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After a discussion started by Sudhanshu, a couple of folks decided to meet at the Embassy Golf Links (EGL) business park cafeteria today.

Since we didn’t know each other personally, we spent the first few minutes hanging around the food counter (the designated meeting spot) staring at folks wondering if they are the one. I reached first, and then figured out another guy (Ashwatha) who was looking as unsure as I was. Turned out we both were from the same organization, which was both delightful and embarrassing as as we hadn’t seen each other in the office earlier even after working together for 3+ years. I could then spot the third guy – Sampath from a mile away as he was coming in the baggy biker shorts. We waited for a few minutes for Sudhanshu, and after he came in, we sat down with food and discussed, what else, biking?

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