Final video

Running Injury

http://ridgwaychiropractic.com/

Injury, it's the one word runners fear most and a word that  keeps non-runners as non-runners. Active Magazine offers a guide to the different ailments and injuries associated with running, Active is one of the leading providers of running information and training guides on the internet is and is trusted by many runners.  From scientific research and examples presented in my source I can conclude that Running can cause negative health effects and injuries for some but not all runners, long distance running can be very beneficial but is not for everyone.

This article is very much informative and doesn't really contain an argument, however the reader can draw conclusions form the information presented.  The conclusion i draw from this article is that running is high risk sport… for some.  This article really speaks to how running injuries only affect some runners, including  a section in each injury saying “who's at risk”.  This really speaks to the pout that many runners, if they train properly, and take care of their bodies may never experience injury, these are people suited to be runners.  Some people however are prone to certain types of injury or ailment, as the article suggest people who “over-pronate their feet, have history of joint problems or have weak hips or quads.”  In conclusion, running as  sport is not for everyone and people who chooses running need to know their body well.

In my following blog posts I will begin to mean the mental and social aspects of why people choose running now that i have examined some of the physical things.

How To Get High Without Drugs

http://www.runnersworld.com

Lots of people believe that the only way to get “high” is by using drugs or chemicals, those people aren't runners.  All runners know about the euphoric feeling known as the runners high. The rush of endorphins top the brain due to vigorous physical activity that gives feeling of peace and happiness.  In Runner's World article “how to achieve a runner's high” it addresses the famed feeling and how and why it is achieved.  Runner's World is the foremost online resource for running related news and information. They and I both argue that the runner's high feeling is primary factor that leads people to running.

This article focuses on the role of certain bodily chemicals in the process of achieving runners high, specifically endorphins.  When talking about endorphins the article suggests that the chemical is like “Nature’s home-brewed opiates.”  essentially endorphins are our body's natural healthy way to mimic some of the most addictive drugs on the planet, endorphins act like natural painkillers, they are released when the body is in state of discomfort, which is easy to achieve while running.  So the fact that this conditions for endorphin release are prime during running and that when endorphins are released it feels euphoric, people are continually drawn back to running in hopes to experience this high again.

Now we have covered both the physical side and the emotional side of why runners choose to run, in the next post we will examine the social factors that lead people to choose this sport.  What type of community is set up around running and why is this community draw people in?

Running is in our DNA

Running.  One of the most hated activities amongst people trying to get in shape. Maybe it was all those days running around the gym in middle school, but almost no one seems to want to run anymore. If this sounds like you it may shock you to learn that you are better at long distance running than any other animal on the planet.  Human beings have the remarkable ability to sweat and displace heat, and in addition to incredible muscular endurance. The human body's primarily designed to be a long distance runner. This is the basis of the argument brought forth by Christopher McDougall in his 2010 TED talk.  Information from Ted Talks are always very reliable as TED is well known organization that hand selects credible presenters. So while you may hate running you must acknowledge that you body is designed for it, it is in you genes to be a runner, this is why those who do chose to run long distance find it to be such an enjoyable and relaxing activity, in many ways it is return to nature for humans, we are doing exactly what our bodies are designed to do.

McDougalls TED talk deals mostly with idea that human bodies are evolved to be runners.  McDougall cites the theory in archeology that early humans, soon after becoming bipedal, developed into pack hunting animals.  He argues that while compared to other mammals humans are not the fastest, and do not have sharp claws and teeth but we do have the incredible ability to displace body heat.  He says that this ability allows to run for very long distances without stopping, which most likely means that as early humans we would gather as a pack and simply run after our prey until it literally ran out of energy or overheated and had to stop.  He then goes on to argue that as more and more time passed humans evolved based to this idea into the ideal body for long distance running and that is why to modern distance runners, while we no longer have to capture prey, it still feels incredibly natural to be running for long distances.. He then says from personal experience as a runner running simply feels like it's what his body is supposed to be doing and as a runner I can confirm this.  Running for me feels incredibly natural and this is why many runners gravitate towards the sport.

While this a start it only explain part of the reason runners choose to run, in later bog posts I will examine the positive & negative physical effects that running has on the body and how that impacts runners decisions.

Effects of Long Distance Running on the Lives of Current and Former Runners.

https://media.mnn.com

RESEARCH TOPIC/TITLE:  Effects of long distance running on the lives of current and former runners.

KEY ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE I’M ADDRESSING:  Because of scarcity, people choose. All choices have an opportunity cost.

OVERALL RESEARCH QUESTION THAT CONNECTS MY TOPIC TO THE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLE:   When faced with a scarcity of time, why do individuals choose long distance running at the high school,college, professional levels.


3-4 SUB QUESTIONS/TOPICS THAT HELP ADDRESS THE OVERALL RESEARCH QUESTION and EMBEDDED LINKS TO RELIABLE SOURCES THAT HELP ANSWER THE QUESTION

• What are the mental, psychological effects distance running has on individuals?
• What are the physical effects distance running has on individuals?
• What are the effects of long distance running on academics/ career?