I’m not particularly original, but I do listen to my coaches and pt people.

It doesn’t work that way. It’s like Russian Roulette. Using a squirt gun saves you from dying many times. Of course if you use a real gun, it only saves you up to 5 times, and then you lose. Forever.

I won’t go through the whole regimen, but one thing (well two, but they are variations on a theme) is to get some sort of roller for the bottom of your foot. I got my 15 years ago and can’t find it now, but I’m sure if you google “foot roller” you can find something just as good. Second, and it must be second, I…

Because even though the article was explicitly targeted at beginners, some experienced runners feel their masculinity is being threatened if they don’t come down to the comments IMMEDIATELY and point out which of the sensible pieces of advice does not apply to them and is therefore complete shit for everyone.

I’m of an age and experience with you. The only injuries I get are from pushing too hard too early in a season. I think the key MIGHT be (I am not doctor or trainer) is that it sounds like you and I skipped heavy running and mileage during our youth. I have running partners who have scars from surgeries all over their…

Make this your new best friend.

Everybody sing

He didn’t say don’t stretch. He said don’t stretch before warming up, which strikes me as perfectly sound advice for a beginner and exactly the advice I have received from physical therapists and other experts. Most beginners in my experience don’t have the slightest idea how to stretch safely. Until someone learns…

I hated Fleet Feet when I lived in DC. As a slow fat, little man I could never seem to get waited on. Only the svelte, power runners seem to get the attention. I preferred Metro, Run, and Walk. Pacer’s was second.

It’s amazing to me (not really) how many people ignore the fact that this article was SPECIFICALLY targeted at beginners and jump to the comments to share how they, as experienced runners, don’t do it the way the author suggested. Well, the article wasn’t for YOU.

I used to suffer from this bad. I now have a full regimen of post run stretches and exercises I do post run even when I am feeling fine. And it has worked for over 10 years. I also used to have calf issues (related issues, actually) and finally went to a physical therapist for some stretches and exercises and they…

Okay YOU Like them fine. But the point about writing advice columns is that you need to give advice that works for the average person. We know YOU are special. But the vast majority of beginning runners, the target audience of this column not a two-time marathon runner like yourself, is that Chucks Sucks. They do.…

Actually I was thinking about Buscemi’s tipping rant in Reservoir Dogs.

Plus, I find if I show some loyalty to a running store they get to know me and sometimes they give me free shit. I’ve gotten free socks, free drink tabs and powders, free shoe-bees and Yankz, and singlets and shirts left over from races. And I’m a fat ass, waddling penguin of a runner, not one of the “in” crowd of…

If you run at night, please buy reflective gear or lights of some kind. These can be had cheap, but they will save you many a bike or car collision.

I’ve done a few run/walk marathons. In fact my PR was a run/walk. I have heard the “not a real runner” before. But what gripes my cookies are the number of people who walk through water stops or run all out until they walk the last mile or two consider themselves real runners. But if I choose to use walk breaks as a…

In the White Mountains we had a saying, well two:

An angel. Every time someone dabs, an angel loses his wings.

My racist relatives called them that, too. Until Obama became president. For some reason that was interpreted as encouraging them to bring the “n” word back.