The early jog session is one of the most preferable types of exercise. But many people wonder if running in the morning is the best thing to do or is it just a cultural phenomenon that everybody seems to be doing unconsciously. Well, the answer depends on you.For me, I love running in the morning.

To help you decide on that, here is a full list of the pros and cons of a morning run session.

Advantages of running in the morning:

– Your schedule is typically clear in the early morning-you don’t have much errands to run or commitments to keep up at 5AM! Therefore, you can keep your running schedule consistent and uninterrupted.

– You can breathe in the clear and soothing ear of the early morning. You can also enjoy the scenery and take in the beauty and the magnificence of the morning glory.

– You can boost your productivity and mental function by training in the morning. Many mental performances recommend doing some aerobic exercise first thing in the morning. Anthony Robbins calls it “the power hour”.

– According to tony Schwartz-the author of the book “the power of full engagement”-the best form of emotional renewal is rising up your heart rate for a sustained amount of time. No wonder many runners enjoy a happy life with less emotional issues.

– You could also boost your metabolism levels by working out in the early morning. This means that you will be burning up calories at higher rates, leading to more weight loss and overall sense of confidence and accomplishment.

Disadvantages of running in the morning:

– Many people find it hard to wake up early in the morning. It takes some self-discipline and will power to able to do it on a consistent basis.

– Running in the winter when in the weather it is too cold or raining can be demotivating. But you can address this by dressing properly or by running on a treadmill in-house or at the gym.

– Your body can be stiff and rigid in the early morning. Therefore you will find it harder to break into your normal running pace. You should get in the habit of warming up properly before your running session.

– Some runner force on themselves to wakeup early, so they sacrifice some good hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation can have some devastating effects on your mental and physical health. Go early to bed and get the much rest and recovery that your body may crave for.

Here you have it. I still prefer running-and you should too. Of course, from time to time; I change my running schedule in order to avoid boredom monotony. Variety is the spice of life.

There are many people who are wondering whether it is beneficial or harmful to use this new technology that allows us to convert water into hydrogen or oxyhydrogen. The technology itself is of good virtue and theoretically, it is of 100% beneficial. However, upon testing with the technology, I do find some disadvantage of using it. You might want to know these if you want to run your car on water.

Firstly, the most noticeable advantage is we pay less for gas because we are increasing our gas mileage by mixing the flammable hydrogen or oxyhydrogen gas with our conventional fuel.

Secondly, the energy produced is very green. Hence, when we are running our car on water, we are helping to reduce the carbon emission into the atmosphere. Besides, we are also reducing the fossil fuel consumption.

However, the flip side of this technology is… You will need to know your car parts well. Even though the technology is claimed to be reversible and stable, I will not trust this technology if I’m traveling for a long distance. It is fine to travel within the town with it. So, you will need to remove the devices regularly if you need to travel for a long distance.

The second disadvantage is there is no proof that the technology will not harm our cars since the technology is still new. So, maybe when we run our car on water power, then our car life will be reduced?

In conclusion, every new technology will definitely have its pros and cons. The disadvantages will only be revealed over the time. Therefore, please keep in mind not to over use this technology when you want to run your car on water power.

I was 18 years old when I made the decision to take the summer off before entering what I imagined to be four years of incarceration in university, and thus set out in search of an adventure so compelling, it would sustain me through the tedious and interminable life of a student. My inspiration to make the journey stemmed from my father, who as a poet, writer, and avid traveler, had instilled in me a burning desire to explore the vagarious, exotic world of a rover. Countless nights I listened fervently to his tales of Spain, and of the splendor and pageantry of the bullfights that his hero, Ernest Hemingway, had immortalized through his prose. I knew intuitively that my first (and possibly last) quixotic quest before entering the realm of academia, would be to run with the bulls in the famous summer festival of Pamplona, Spain.

The fiesta known as San Fermin, a seven day celebration deeply rooted in tradition, is held annually the first week of July in northern Spain. It’s most characteristic event, the “encierro”, or running of the bulls, is a bizarre and ostentatious display of machismo bravado. The spectacle is promptly initiated each morning by fireworks, proclaiming bulls have been released from their pens to run freely through the barricaded streets of the village to the nearby arena. Audacious thrill seekers test their courage by running ahead of the stampeding herd, often with disastrous results. Since its inception in the 13th century, (when butchers hurried slightly in front of bulls being led to auction to ensure themselves a choice place in the bidding), several people have been killed, and hundreds of others seriously injured. It was with this disconcerting thread of historical data weaving through my road weary head, that I circumspectly stepped down from the bus one pristine evening, into the quaint, and sleepy village known as Pamplona.

Arriving a day before the official start of the festival, I was hard pressed to find a room anywhere, and finally with luck stumbled upon a run down hotel on the outskirts of town, where an assortment of like-minded adventurers had gathered together in camaraderie born of necessity. I found myself sharing a room with three sleep deprived revelers, who having arrived a day earlier, enthusiastically briefed me on the previous nights activity, which consisted primarily of inhaling massive quantities of vino from a goatskin bag, the erubescent liquid invariably cascading profusely down their white linen shirts. Looking fondly back on that time, I recall a sea of scarlet clad men careening through the village streets in a state of exultation, no doubt a result of the generous amount of libation consumed, but more importantly, because they were young and carefree, passionately embracing the ephemeral, bittersweet joy of their youth.

The next morning I and my comrades began the day in the manner that anyone facing almost certain death would …. we drank as much wine as possible. With a sense of dread and exhilaration in equal measure, we made our way to the threshold of the village’s makeshift corral, where secured behind a massive wooden gate stood a legion of ominous looking bulls. They appeared as apprehensive and fearful as ourselves, and I secretly hoped that through some inexplicable means of cerebral transference, we would establish telepathic agreement to stay as far away from each other as possible during the impending ordeal. I was stunned by their stupendous size and obvious strength, and realized, that as my sister had so adamantly informed me of the day I left, I truly must be insane to contemplate such an endeavor. With one long last pull from the wine bag, I resolved to scoff in the face of danger, and like a dauntless matador about to enter the arena, I cast my fate to the Mediterranean wind.

What ensued in the next few seconds, is referred to by ancient zen masters as kensho. A moment so firmly entrenched in the present, that all mundane concerns of past and future concede to to the all encompassing now. Upon the release of the formidable creatures, I remember sprinting blindly forward down the antediluvian road, my one consuming thought that of reaching the distant ring, where those who successfully finished the course would be granted a seat to the afternoon bullfights. Propelled onward by a flush of panic induced adrenalin, I suddenly found myself running not from the beasts, but among them. A conglomeration of thrashing legs, arms, and gleaming sweat laden bull flesh had somehow intertwined, generating a pulsating throng of spasmodic motion that thundered along the narrow cobblestone passageways in a frenetic state of terror, aggregated with an emotion that can only be described as… euphoric.

Running surrealistically amidst the advancing horde, I instinctively strived to remain upright, and as far away as possible from the the myriad of horns that encirled me. Peripherally, I caught sight of one terrified participant overcome with fear, frantically attempting to make his way over the spectator-lined barricade, only to be pushed forebodingly back by the crowd, abandoned forsakenly to confront his precarious fate.

With a profound sense of relief, I spotted the tattered wooden doors of the stadium, when without warning I was flung violently to the ground from behind, overtaken by the onrushing vortex of pandemonium vehemently intent on bursting through the small gridlocked opening that constituted the entryway. With a steady clicking of hooves resounding inches from my ears, I sprung to my feet in a desperate attempt to reach the sanctuary of the arena. Noticing a momentary breach in the deluge, I swiftly passed through the paltry aperture into the relative safety of the ring. Standing nebulously inert among the dispersing crowd, I was overcome by the realization that I was still physically intact, still breathing the crisp morning air…. the life affirming touch of the sun’s luminous rays reassuringly enfolding my trembling shoulders. Like the multitude of madmen before me, I had run with the bulls of Pamplona, and survived to tell the tale…….

Contrary to a lot of misconceptions, a lot of women actually develop sacs filled with fluids around their ovaries. These are called ovarian cysts, and they are generally harmless. They shrink and disappear without need of any medical and alternative interventions.

These sacs are caused by a lot of factors: some are caused by immense stress, some caused by a lifetime of bad dietary habits, while others get it because of hormonal imbalances.

Some argue that these types of cysts are the result of strenuous physical activities, like running.

Discomfort or Cure?

A lot of women like to run for the sheer energy boost that they get out of it. In fact, some have come to love this sport passionately.

However, they become hesitant to continue running, the moment they are diagnosed by their doctors with ovarian cysts.

The main reason why they perceive running to be dangerous is because it may cause their cysts to rupture. This however, may be true only if they are large, twisted and engorged.

A ruptured cyst leads to infection and complications, including severe pelvic pain, bleeding, and nausea and vomiting. It is therefore recommended that heavy exercises such as marathons, lifting weights, sprinting, and other endurance sports must be avoided if doctors have initially found ovarian cysts which are abnormal in size.

Benefits of Moderate Running

However, a lot of people, experts and patients alike, have found that moderate running contributes greatly to the expedient and efficient treatment of ovarian cysts.

This is because running is believed to help in the circulation of hormones, which is extremely beneficial for those whose hormone levels have gone haywire. In addition, it helps women to stay fit, fights the problems of aging, and contributes to their general well-being.

The same is true for exercises such as aerobics, dancing, brisk-walking and swimming. These exercises, when done in moderation, are safe and will help in the treatment of ovarian cysts.

Some Running Tips

As with any other sport, women should always allot time for a warm-up and a cool-down session prior to running. These condition the muscles and prepare them for the physical activity ahead. Also, a good and balanced diet should always complement these activities.

Conditioning and exercising the body may be a good preventative measure, as well as possible method in the treatment of, ovarian cysts.

Following a good workout, my head was lowered as I sat in the sauna sweating like a turkey on Thanksgiving Eve. My lowered eyes couldn’t help but notice and follow what was the oddest footwear that I’d ever seen at the gym. They sauntered into the sauna like an alien entering a spaceship.

At first, I thought sweat was clouding my vision. As I wiped the dripping water from my weary eyeballs, I realized I wasn’t seeing things. These toes were webbed into a bright royal blue, ribbed, rubber-like material.

I instantly recalled a pair of socks fitted for all five toes, which I had seen in stores around the holidays in bright Christmas colors of red, green and white. I’ve never tried those type of socks on, as I figured it’d take too long to wiggle my fat toes into them. Ideally, when my feet are cold, I like to pull my socks on like a fireman reaching for gear at a four-alarm-fire. No time for messing around. I want my gloves and socks without complications.

But these weren’t socks. Before me were half socks, half water shoes.

When I raised my eyes, sitting beside me was a woman listening to music on her iPod. She probably didn’t want to be disturbed. But my curiosity got the best of me. So, I tapped her on her shoulder to inquire about her odd footwear. What on earth were they? She laughed, and said they were her new running shoes.

Running shoes? Did I hear her right? Were my ears waterlogged from swimming? Apparently not, as she went on to say she absolutely loved them because they made her run faster and they were healthier for her feet.

Healthier? As someone who specializes in health, my interest was peaked even more now. I asked more questions. Her name was Vena Cook-Clark, age 27, and she’d been running as a hobby for 6 years.

Originally, the unusual look and lightness of the shoes grabbed her attention. She read that barefoot running was better for her alignment, and it was enough to make her plunk down the asking price of $100.00 to give them a try.

When she brought them home, her husband joked they looked like she had “alien toes,” but now, she exclaims he wants a pair too. I asked if they were difficult to put on. She said it gets easier after the first few times, and it’s worth the trouble. She added, “It was awkward running with them initially, but after about 2 weeks I got used to them and now want another pair for hiking.”

She boasted about how easy it is to toss them in the wash with the rest of her running or working out clothing. She told me they were manufactured by a company named Vibram and told me I could find them on the internet by Googling “Vibram Five Fingers.”

When I got home that evening, I did just that. I instantly found what was called a “Barefoot Movement.” Purists preferred the term, “Minimalist Movement,” since you’re not really barefoot while wearing them. First, I wanted to find out if there really were health benefits to wearing them.

Turns out, a 2010 study from India says children who wore shoes before the age of 6 were more likely to develop flat feet than kids who ran around barefoot. They also had better developed longitudinal arches. Statistically, 8.2% of kids who wore shoes regularly suffered from flat feet compared to 2.8% of barefoot kids. The study was published in The Times of India.

I also learned I’m not the first person to discover this study. In 2009, Christopher McDougall wrote a New York Time’s bestseller called, “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen”. It offered an in-depth look at the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyons. They ran hundreds of miles over rugged terrain in bare feet, and they ran into their 70’s without any sign of injury. Die-hard runners took note, and made the switch.

I wondered what physicians thought about them.

Last year, Harvard scientists, demonstrated that people who run barefoot or with minimal shoes – as people have done for millions of years – often land on their feet in a way that avoids a jarring impact. Less pounding equates to less stress and injury on the foot.

PBS has a video that visually demonstrates what your feet look like when they are running with regular sneaker vs. what they look like when you’re running barefoot or with minimalist sneakers. It’s interesting to note how your feet land on the ground differently. Minimalist shoes have you land on the ball of your foot instead of the heel.

The majority of physicians claim they are indeed better for your feet and “may” prevent injury. There’s that word “may” instead of can, which doctors say when they want to cover themselves. Non-committal, yet they state anyone with plantar fasciitis or any type of foot injury from running may benefit from them.

Physicians offer the following advice if you switch from your regular running sneakers to minimalist sneakers. Start slowly. They recommend you start by using them on trails and grassy surfaces before hitting cement or pavement.

If you’re interested in gaining the benefits of running barefoot, experts say that you need to prepare your feet before you make the switch. You can do so by:

1. fanning your toes, holding for 10 seconds, 10 times a day per foot.

2. Flex your feet for 5 seconds, then release.

3. Trace letters in the alphabet with your feet in mid-air each day.

4. Stand on your tippy-toes, and

5. Side walk.

The above seems like a lot of fancy footwork, but wearers like Vena Cook-Clark rave about them, and won’t be going back to regular running shoes anytime soon. Clark says, “I look at my old running shoes and can’t believe I used to lug those heavy things around in my gym bag. I love these and I run so much faster now and my feet feel so much better afterwards.”

They were founded by Dan Lieberman and Peter Von Conta. Fitness experts have since made the switch and word-of-mouth about them is rapidly spreading because the footwear causes curious people, like myself, to inquire about them.

Stephen Meade, founder of BigBamboo, LLC says he’s seen a guy wear them to meetings under a suit. He said you can’t help but notice and inquire about them. He did and says the guy who wears them is a marathoner and swears by them. Meade can’t wait to get a pair himself.

Although, Brian Cuban, an avid runner who has run 8 marathons with his best time being 3:27 in the Marine Corps. Marathon says he’d never use them.

Cuban, who in addition to running marathons, is also an attorney, writer, blogger and speaker, believes they will always be a niche item for high distance runners. He doesn’t see them ever catching on mainstream.

Cuban said, “I have too many existing foot and knee issues to make them viable. I need to decrease my strike force, not increase it.”

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Andrew Baldwin, M.D. who is also an avid marathon runner agrees.

Baldwin is not a big fan of minimalist shoes. He says, “They’re correct in theory, but with our overweight society with bone structure accustomed to heavy lifting, it can be dangerous and lead to injury.”

Andy Baldwin, M.D. knows a bit about health and fitness, both professionally and personally. He’s been running since he was a kid, and has completed 35 marathons and 8 iron mans.

Baldwin is a triathlete, humanitarian, U.S. Navy diver and media personality currently serving as a family medicine resident at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in Southern California. He has also served at the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in Washington, D.C. as a spokesman and advocate for Navy medicine.

While in D.C. he assisted the U.S. Surgeon General with a program called Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future and currently serves as an advocate for the Let’s Move Campaign headed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Both of these programs target childhood overweight and obesity.

On a side note, he was also the star of the ABC hit show, “The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Yet, despite low opinions, sales are on the rise.

Sales for the Vibram Five Finger shoes have tripled every year since their launch in 2006. And sales continue to grow. So these rubber-soled, light as air running shoes may be more than a passing fad within the fitness industry.

The biggest complaint from consumers to date has been that the seams tear after 90-days. Consequently, the warranty on them is you guessed it, 90-days. But, the upside about that is the manufacturer, Vibram, will promptly replace them at no cost if that happens. So far, the customer service has been excellent, and they’ve been around since 2006. The second complaint is blisters. But traditional running shoes can give you blisters too.

The webbed running shoes may look dorky and weird, but they’re super comfortable, like being barefoot, only your feet are completely protected from sharp objects and stones. They also keep your feet warm. If you’re renovating your home and have nails on the floor, they could be a benefit or if you have small children who leave all sorts of things lying around, they could also be a smart substitute for wearing socks around your home.

I also bumped into Vena Cook-Clark at the gym again, and she ran up to me in her Vibrams to tell me she was thrilled to announce she had gotten a second pair for hiking, and that her husband was now sporting a pair, loving them.

Skeptics who may not want to use them for running, are using them for comfort and grip during weight lifting, yoga, bike-riding or plain old walking.

I recently walked through a mall, and couldn’t help but spot them in all the footwear stores. They come in a variety of attractive, vibrant colors for both men and women. When you lift them it’s exciting to feel how light and flexible they are and there is a buzz in stores with people talking about them.

Last month, runners wore them in a 5K race in the Oshkosh Half Marathon. And you can’t walk into an athletic footwear store without seeing them on the shelves. Top brands are starting to get into the race. Nike and New Balance just introduced “Minimalist Sneakers” this week.

Current Top 5 Brands for “Minimalist Sneakers” which cost approx. $100. are:

1. Vibram

2. Nike

3. New Balance

4. Reebok

5. Brooks

As for me, I still want my gloves, socks and sneakers without complications. But I’m willing to give these a try, if only for the light weight for carrying them around. I’m also thinking they’d be great for walking on the beach in the sand. I love the feel of sand of my toes, but there’s always a chance of stepping on something sharp. I like to walk/run by the ocean and these seem like a good alternative to bulky traditional shoes. I also like the non-webbed toe version, which are even lighter in weight than the Vibrams. They’re easier to toss into a beach bag than traditional running shoes. I recently tried Stand-Up Paddle boarding and I could see using them for that as well.

Vibrams weight is 5.7 ounces. The Mizuno Universe 3 (price $119.99) weighs 3.6 ounces and has a closed toe as you’d see on a traditional sneaker, so no alien toes.

As summer approaches, you may see more and more of these minimalist running shoes, and do a double-take as I did. If they are durable and people like them, I believe word-of-mouth will have these minimalist shoes going the distance like a Tarahumara Indian in Mexico’s Copper Canyons.

A long time ago, someone told me to make a point to set goals in my life. That’s what I’ve tried to do. The way I look at things, it didn’t matter whether or not I achieved them every time. But I’ve always worked hard at things in an effort to achieve them. I also made sure that my list of goals contained both reasonable and real difficult challenges so as to stretch myself. I knew that trying to increase my running mileage to 75-100 miles a week was going to be one of those “real difficult challenges”, given my age and previous knee problems. I also knew that I’d have to continue to look over my shoulder, given my cancer diagnosis, even with what appeared to be a successful outcome.

I put together a running plan, which had me slowly increasing my mileage about 5 miles per week. As I was doing research on different ways to increase my speed and mileage, I came across an old Arabian proverb that got me thinking. It reads “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables. That he may run what readth it.” I think this proverb really sums up the meaning of goal setting and achievement. If you can’t visualize doing something, then how can you possibly even attempt to accomplish it. It’s now clear to me that the importance of the mental aspect of goal setting can’t be overstated. I know that a number of professional sports teams have tried to address these issues and that certain baseball managers use different types of techniques to get players to relax in times of stress.

I have used running as my diversion from thinking about cancer and for the most part, it’s worked well. But it doesn’t matter what you use in my opinion. I think you just need to find out what makes you motivated, excited, or happy and do it, whether it’s running, biking, weight-lifting, swimming, walking, hiking, reading, writing etc… And along the way, set some goals on your journey and work towards achieving them. But always remember to have fun because it’s very difficult to sustain any effort if you start to hate things or you take too much on.

A common mistake made by beginner runners is that they start to feel really good and then increase their mileage at too great a rate and get injured. Then they tend to associate this failure with the activity itself, a great excuse to not run. I have firsthand experience with this issue since I’ve made this mistake more than once. What I’ve come to realize is that being patiently persistent is a key ingredient to being successful at your running goals. I think this can be applied to just about every goal too.

As the one year anniversary of my cancer surgery neared, I felt lucky, happy and motivated. It’s ironic now that I think about it. Just 14 months ago, my life was turned upside down with my cancer diagnosis. And now I’m talking about feeling all these positive things. Maybe humans need to be knocked down every once and a while to really appreciate what they have. I always thought that I didn’t take things for granted, but after this experience, I’d have to say that I had room for improvement. I’m making time to do things I enjoy more than ever. Perhaps if I never had cancer I wouldn’t have explored as many new challenges and my life wouldn’t be as fulfilling. I now try not to sweat the small disappointments and frustrations in everyday life because in the end these minor issues don’t deserve that kind of attention. At times, that can be hard though, but I’ve definitely gotten better at doing it.

On July, 2008, I had an appointment with my doctor. My PSA blood test results were <0.1 ng/ml using the Siemens (Bayer) chemiluminescent method. My doctor said that the physical examination and PSA results were very good. It had been just over 13 months since my surgery and I had increased my weekly running mileage to about 58 miles. Unfortunately, my body started to resist this mileage and in particular, my left knee was starting to hurt on a regular basis. I decided around that time to ease back on things a bit and cut my mileage back to around 30 miles per week I kept telling myself, quality over quantity, but I was disappointed. I really wanted to get to 75-100 miles a week. But I wasn't ready to totally abandon this quest.

How do I find the best running shoes? This is a question asked by millions of joggers. If you are an athletic person then you should know how important it is to find the right pair of sneakers that are just for you. The wrong pair of shoes on your feet can cause soreness and swelling, and this can be very painful. It doesn’t matter if you if you are a beginner or a fervent runner, wearing the right pair of shoes can make your running experience more exhilarating. Wearing the right pair of shoes could feel like gold on your feet.

The problem is that most people find it hard to choose the shoes that are just right for them. With so many options to choose from you can get easily frustrated while standing in a sporting goods store. What you will come to realize is that choosing the best running shoes is solely based upon the shape of your foot, pronation type, how you intend to use them and where you will be using them.

Pronation Type

Quite often pronation is misunderstood to be a negative feature; however, pronation is good for runners in the right amount. The term pronation refers to how your feet react to ground force while walking or running. Most retail stores offer services to help to identify your pronation type. 20%-30% of joggers have a neutral pronation and can run in most shoes; therefore neutral running shoes are the best option for these individuals. If the sole of your sneakers displays wear in an s-shaped array, you will fall under this category. Individuals whose shoes are slanted outwards tend to under pronate while the shoes of those who over pronate show superfluous wear on the inside of the heel and below the big toe.

The Shape of Your Foot

The size of your feet is not the only important factor when trying to buy the best running shoes; you should also consider the shape of your foot. Brooks Ravenna 6, Asics Gel GT-2000 2, Mizuno Wave Inspire 11 and Nike Zoom Structure Triax 18 are some of the best running shoes for flat feet. People with flat feet should buy shoes that offer more stability. To determine if your feet are low arched, inspect your footprint after you get out the shower; a wide straight footprint indicates you have low arched feet. For those trying to find the best running shoes for high arches you can always get Nike Air Max+ 2015, Adidas Supernova Glide 7, and Brooks Running Pure cadence; these are great options.

Intended Use

Lastly, you should consider where you will be using the shoes. Some shoes are designed for roads and are usually light and flexible and have the ability to stabilize your feet while you jog. Shoes that are built for off-road courses offer more stability and are usually more durable.

By keeping this information in mind, it will be easier for you to find the best running shoes.

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I’ve been coaching efficient running and injury prevention through optimal running form, foot support and footwear for years. It would be naive to go by the results of sponsored elite athletes and satisfied customers, but the initial results of a study started last spring at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reinforced my ideas.

The study, conducted through the Chemistry of Sport class taught by Dr. Patti Christie, took 25 athletic individuals with various running abilities and put them through an eight-week distance running program. The research was based around running 4x800m or 4x1600m repeats while holding a constant heart rate.

The first set of intervals was done in traditional EVA foam-midsole running shoes the participants started the program with, while the latter was done in Newton Running Trainers (Gravity and Motion). That preliminary data revealed that all of the runners who completed every workout recorded faster times in the final interval wearing Newton shoes. Results showed that 77 percent of the runners ran faster on two or more intervals wearing Newtons and 55 percent of the runners were faster on every interval.

“The results were statistically significant,” says Christie, who is continuing the study with a new group of runners this spring. “It indicates there is a more efficient way to run. And if you combine the Newton Running technique, ‘Land-Lever-Lift’ with the Newton shoes, there was definitely a significant difference.”

If you were to run barefoot along a smooth sidewalk, your body wouldn’t have you impact on your heels because it isn’t engineered to accommodate the blunt force trauma of repeated heel striking. Through increased forefoot communication with the ground Newton shoes allow for the body’s natural propensity for a light forefoot landing, foot leverage and a lifting of each new stride (instead of pushing off) known as the “Land-Lever-Lift” technique.

Newton Running’s patented Action/Reaction forefoot technology encourages Natural or Barefoot Running Gait and enhances the shock absorbency, leverage and energy return in the forefoot. Newton’s Independent lab research shows the system returns up to 28 percent more energy and reduces impact up to 44 percent when compared training and racing shoes offered by leading running brands.

The basis of natural form and midfoot/forefoot running gaits has been around for decades, much of it derived from the super-efficient form elite runners have been employing for years.

“It’s not new, it’s just that most runners have either gone away from what they used to do or they were never taught the proper way to run in the first place,” says Malcolm Balk, a Montreal-based running coach, form guru and competitive masters runner who teaches The Art of Running workshops in Canada and the United Kingdom. “I think the most important thing is that you need to keep braking to a minimum if you want to reduce muscular effort and the impact that goes with it.”

Long distance running commonly creates a suspension of knee-jerk judgments and creates a sense euphoria that is sometimes also referred to as an “altered state of consciousness.” As an amateur runner who averages only about 10 to 12 miles a week, I still concur with that statement.

Actually there are quite a few religious orders which use long-distance ultra-marathon running (anything over 26 miles) as a tool to transcend the body consciousness, to eliminate the mental limitations and biases, and to open up the mind to a new “floating” awareness which looks at the world from a brand new objective point of view. There are actually reports of out-of-body experiences among some ultra-runners as well.

The Shri Chinmoy Order headquartered in New York City, for example, is well known for the fantastic running feats it encourages its members to tackle in order to transcend the mind’s concepts about “physical reality” and the “body’s limitations.”

The Shri Chinmoy Marathon Team regularly organizes and participates in 50K and 100K races.

The “Running Monks” present another amazing fusion of running ands religious discipline.

In order to gain access to higher levels of consciousness through running, a certain Buddhist sect in Japan allegedly run (are you ready for this?) 100 marathons on 100 consecutive days!

Waking up at 1:30 a.m. in the morning, the monks pray and meditate for an hour. Then they hit the road and run 26 miles. After the marathon they are back to their normal daily chores and prayers, and then to bed early in the evening.

The next day they do it all over again, for 100 days straight.

The monk who fails in the task, is asked to “end his life with the belt of his robe,” according to the Shri Chinmoy web site.

I’m all for pushing my body a little in order to reach a somewhat more elevated state of consciousness, humility and kindness.

But I don’t think I’ll ever reach a stage where I’d be going for the belt of my robe just because I can’t run 100 marathons in a row. I hope not anyways.

As I think of it, trial running always gives me a feeling of being a bit wild and probably brings me as close to mother nature as I can get (being a city kid). This feeling is very satisfying and gives me the same joy every time. It’s probably the biggest reasons why I love to trail run.

Here are some other thoughts on why trail running is THE way to run:

1. You get dirty! Trail running makes you feel you’re alive and really puts your equipment to the test. 2. Trail running exercises your entire body, gives you balance training and the softer and varying surfaces makes it comfortable to run longer and more often. 3. There are always new trails to find and try out there. Every run can be different. 4. You do not need iPods, GPS devices, and heart rate monitors for the running exercise.

Trail running is about running in the forest, not setting a personal best. You don’t even need a watch to keep track of the time. Just run! Just so you know, there are mainly two different kinds of trail running. Geeks like me distinguishes between what we call technical and non-technical trails. The technical trails are usually narrow, dirty or on rocky paths that offers a bit of a challenge to the runner. Non-technical trails are paved, gravel, or dirt roads that are generally easy to run on.

What do you need to start:

– Shoes: Road shoes work fine for the first short runs in the woods. But soon you’ll need a pair of trail running shoes. Shoes that have a stronger, protective sole and stability than ordinary road shoes.

– Clothing: You should choose clothes with a tight fit and something that you don’t mind getting dirty or snagged.

– Water bottle: If you ar planning a longer run than one hour, you need to bring something to drink. A favorite among trail runners is the handheld water bottle, that straps to the hand and has additional pouches for things like keys, ID, and power bars. But you can also use the Camel-back or bottle belt. It is important to have both your hands free when you are out trail running in case you trip and fall.

– Other things (advanced): Headlamp or flashlight, towel, change of clothes and bug spray.

6 Steps for Your Trail Running start

1. Just start: You don’t need to complicate your trail running, just find yourself a trail and start running. There are of course different local groups of trail junkies who you can talk to and maybe even get out running together with. They’ll probably also know the best trails in your area and help you to get started.

2. Slow and easy: In the beginning you might get frustrated that you feel like your running slower than your used to do on asphalt. Keep in mind that when trail running, you run about 20% slower than usually.

3. A bit different Slow down and take short, quick strides. If you’ll find nice trails with hills, jumps, obstacles and side-to-side movement, you need to shorten your strides so that your weight is over your feet, this allows you to react quicker and to maintain your balance during the run.

4. One step at a time running in the woods is most fun when you forget about pace and do whatever feels good. So if you feel like walking up a hill or trail it’s okay.

5. Look up The first couple of times you run you might have to remind yourself to look up a bit more than you usually do when you run on asphalt. This might feel odd, but if you trail run and look down on the trail all the times you kind of miss the whole point of being out running in the forest.

6. Cell Phone You should always bring a cell phone when running by yourself in case of emergency. Also, keep track of when the hunting season starts and where you shouldn’t run during this time.