Why You Should Run

Why You Should RunSwaroop C H & Ramjee Ganti

barcampbangalore.org #6

April 19-20, 2008

Why this talk?

To motivate you to run.

What’s in it for us?

• We love running, we love talking about it.

• More runners means• Running becomes more acceptable.• And hence, people may look at us less strangely when we’re running.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/2173953481/in/set-72157603653338804/

Yes, I don’t look like a runner.

You should have seen me before!

Let’s start with some questions.

Gym?

Been there?Regular or given up?

Reasons?

Where do you go to think?Seriously.

Like outdoors?

How often do you “go outdoors”?

Why running?

1. Endorphins

More endorphins -> Happier you -> Life is suddenly better.

2. Listen to music and podcasts.

You can get smarter at the same time too!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mohdfarid/2245575177/

3. The Tribe Theory

Few activities brings the group closer to each other. Because like tribes in the ages, they “watch each other’s back”. That’s why trekkers, runners and in general, sportspersons develop deep friendships together.

The perfect run - The wind at your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends by your side.

-- Aaron Douglas Trimble

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/267668597/in/set-72157594324725480

4. Explore your cityHave you seen M G Road like this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/267664263/in/set-72157594324725480

Really explore your cityNear Domlur flyover

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/2174015603/in/set-72157603653338804/

5. Explore new placesRunning makes me explore a new city in a way that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

6. Do any of your activities pass the scribble test?

– http://ideamatt.blogspot.com/2005/11/interesting-but-not-useful-or-does-it.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/267663126/in/set-72157594324725480/

My greatest ideas stem from running.

-- Sasha Azevedo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/2396140984/

Results

http://snipurl.com/ioneconomictimes

P.S. This talk was conceived and almost 90% of the content was brainstormed during a single run!

Running is more mental than physical.

Remember…

7. Nature

Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.

-- Juha Väätäinen, Finland

I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.

-- Jesse Owens

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jzakariya/278357084/

8. Fitness

Duh.

9. Nothing teaches you about life like sports.

Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.-- Oprah Winfrey

100% Pure RunningNothing Added:No balls, pads, bats, gloves.No nets, hoops, racquets.No hash marks, or helmets.No jerseys, skirts, stirrup socks or mouth guards.No Chewing Tobacco.JUST RUNNING

-- Nike ad

10. Just You.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bean/535177261/

How to get started?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amityrunners/2054599127/

If you need buddies, join a runners group

http://groups.google.com/group/runnersforlife-bangalore/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/436010083/

If you need motivation:• make goals• choose good routes• try random directions

If you need water, wear a fuelbelt or carry a water bottle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w_yvr/171520592/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maddiedigital/1878413426/

If you need to distract yourself, get an mp3 player and sports headphones.

Learn to listen to your body.

It takes patience to develop stamina.

Running in the early morning isbetter - lesser pollution, lessernoise, lesser people, empty roads,etc.

Run 9 min. Walk 1 min.And the cycle continues.

Good shoes are important.

Drink lots of water.2 litres per day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/506961657/in/set-72157600237410766/

Marathon

Life’s a marathon, not a sprint.

http://niara.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/big-things-start-small/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37117644@N00/2181031564/

Your toughness is made up of equal parts: persistence and experience.You don’t so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them,and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head.

-- Joe Henderson

http://niara.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/big-things-start-small/

To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind.-- Jerome Drayton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swaroop/2115408636/in/set-72157603474045307/

I'm never going to run this again.

-- Grete Waitz after winning her first of nine New York City marathons

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37117644@N00/2206789656/

Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. Itasks you, "Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strongtoday?"

-- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

To conclude…

People begin running for any number of motives, but we stick to it for one basic reason - to find out who we really are.

-- George Sheehan, M.D.

Resources

• RunnersWorld.com – general gyaan

• HalHigdon.com – marathon charts

• ‘Spirit of the Marathon’ movie– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8XSit8XyeM

Thank You!

For any comments or questions:swaroop (at) swaroopch.com

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 India License.To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/in/ .