click to enlarge
Since kung fu ended I have started gaining weight. My fear is I’ll end up like Ninja Matt so I had to reassess my at-home workouts.
For a few months now I’ve been walking but I have to be honest: it sucks. My main complaint is that walking takes too damn long to burn the same amount of calories as running once did! Since I don’t have to worry about those killer kung fu workouts anymore I thought I’d give running another try.
For those of you who have not seen me bitching about this before, I ran for 17 years. I was that guy who was very good at the 2 – 3 mile distance. I’ve ran a 6 minute mile pace before and I always got 100% on the run portion of the Army PT test. That is, until a neck injury sidelined me. Or so I thought.
This last month I started running again. I started out at with one mile at two times per week, and have since worked myself up to three times per week at two miles. I also stretch like crazy after my runs. So far so good. My 21 miles per week days are long gone. Still, I’m quite happy with these results!
I’m starting to wonder if the martial arts workouts were causing me to over-train? The reason I wonder this is because when I tried running while I was studying tae kwon do or kung fu, Mr. Neck would always pitch a fit.
Overtraining the same muscle groups can lead to injury. We all know of runners who suffer from shin splints or bikers who have stress fractures in their feet. How about those who have been running for years and complain of joint pain, especially in their ankles and knees? A little variety can do these bodies good now and long into the future.
I also have to say that our kung fu calisthenics were not good for my neck. We did some pretty crazy and stupid stuff for sure (walking push-ups in particular), and much of what we did do also stressed the same body parts–and not always in a good way. So for sure I’m going to be very particular in choosing that next art.
It’s likely that when I do get back into the martial arts I’ll have to re-assess my running and probably cut back.
Until then I’m (almost) back!
-BCP
Nice one ! Is that me or does that look like quite a nice position for an axe kick
Sometimes martial arts stretching routines and workouts are simply not good for the body.
I think it’s quite possible you were doing a little harm – but now hopefully you can get back into something you love (running).
Nicola – gotta give him credit! After six years of tae kwon do and two years of kung fu, I STILL can’t get my leg that high!
Matt – I’m discovering that as I age I seem to reinvent myself every decade or so!
