Born to Run

Through these past 3 years of dealing with my yeast problem I have learned that the best thing I can do to help myself is eat healthy, chew my food slowly, and stay active. I find myself becoming a health nut more and more each day most likely because of what I know about food now, and being more in tune to how my body functions.

Speaking of health and fitness I am reading the book "Born To Run" by Christopher McDougall. The book is about ultrarunners, who are runners that run 100 mile races for fun. The book also delves deep into the culture of the Tarahumara, a tribe living hidden in the Copper Canyons. The Tarahumara call themselves "the running people." They eat chia seeds (pinole) to give them energy and run hundreds of miles in sandals. The author also writes about a U.S. ultrarunner that refers to fatigue as "the beast." She says that during long runs she talks the beast away because she knows it is just out to break her down. Even though it may not be in all of us to run 100 mile races on a regular basis, I think we all would be surprised at what we could do if we talked the beast down.

I find myself left wondering why so many of us today don't take care of our bodies. We suffer from physical ailments, stress and anxiety but do not want to eat healthy and exercise. In this day and age, it has been made clear that human beings are meant to be active. What is keeping us from doing it? Tired? Not enought time? Working long hours? It's too hot out? It's too cold out? It's raining? Can't find an activity we enjoy? Sometimes it feels like we have more reasons to not work out.

I find that activities that involve other people, like a team or partners is great because they can be a great motivator. I play on an ultimate frisbee team and I've noticed that when other players become motivated it increases my own motivation even though I am a beginner. It is also nice to have someone cheering you on and being outdoors once in a while couldn't hurt. It's like the Boss always said, "baby we were born to run."


Christine