Want More Energy?

We have all heard the phrase ‘it takes money to make money’.  If you consider that everything is a form of energy, then this statement is really just one instance of a larger principle … ‘it takes energy to make energy’.

In reality, you can’t ‘make’ energy.  Laws of the universe state that energy is neither created or destroyed, it is only converted from one form to another.  So the above statement might be more accurately stated as ‘it takes energy to receive or release the flow of energy’.

In my work as a fitness and wellness coach, I am primarily in the energy business.  I empower people with simple principles that promote a higher level of energy (flow) in their lives.  Most people will readily welcome more energy.  I have yet to meet anyone who would turn it away if it was handed to them.

So, how can we increase the return on our energy investment?  When companies want to increase their energy (ie. product quality), they either improve the quality of their inputs and/or improve their process.  We are no different; if we want to increase our energy level (ie. life quality), we need to improve the quality of our inputs (air, water, food, environment, thoughts, …) and/or improve our process (physiology, methodology, lifestyle …).

But we are a little more dynamically connected between input and process.  The body acts instantaneously to function within its current environment.  Improve the inputs, and the process can also improve resulting in higher levels of efficiency, energy and overall health.

Energy efficiency means investing X and getting out Y.  If we could put in higher quality X and get out more Y, we probably would.  But do we?  To roughly quote Jim Rohn, making better input choices is ‘easy to do, the trouble is that it is also easy not to do‘.  We make choices all day long; and the quality of our life is directly related to the quality of our choices.  Every choice directs us either Upward or Downward on the Spiral of Chi [described in the ChiWalking Book Introduction; you can read the Introduction here free].

One possible approach to making quality choices might be to consider ‘getting back to nature’.  Meaning, how can we make it easy for our body to be more efficient and access more energy?  In the same way a vehicle is designed to operate with a certain fuel and in a certain environment, so are we.   When we make choices that are not consistent with our design ‘nature’, we simply become less efficient with less energy and are more prone to dis-ease or injury.

Some specific ideas on how to ‘get back to nature’ in our fitness programs, our nutrition, and our environment are coming up in future posts.  For now, let’s consider this general concept for the benefit of our ‘vehicle’.  And remember, we … only … get … one.

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David Stretanski is a holistic health, fitness and wellness coach and Certified ChiRunning®/ChiWalking® Instructor.  For more information on David, please see his About, Contact page or his website at http://www.eChiFitness.com.

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ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® are registered trademarks of ChiLiving, Inc.

2008 Running Year In Review

A very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to everyone.  This post has a lot to do with the following quote:  “A good pilot is compelled to evaluate what has happened, so he [or she] can apply what he [or she] has learned.” – Viper, from the movie Top Gun

At the beginning of the year, my goals were:
- Continue to improve my ChiRunning® technique for efficiency and for reduction/elimination of stress/strain/impact.
- Run injury-free all year.
- Run on average 35 miles per week or 1820 miles for the year.
- Qualify for Boston (3:20:59 needed).  This did not happen; see notes below.
- Run at least one ultra.  At the beginning of the year I had my eye on a number of them.

Mileage log:
- I keep a record of my runs on a fitness log page (double-sided) that was created based on Chapter 6 of the ChiRunning Book.  It records some numbers but more importantly it details the results of my practice.  The log structure acts as a reminder for my primary goals, how my practice is going and what needs more focus.
- Below is a partial screen capture showing the format of the fitness log entry (click on it to enlarge).  Having an ‘intent’ for each run and the Body Senses/Aches-Pains/Breakthroughs section are very useful.  The reverse side of the fitness log page provides room to expand upon these points.

- Below is a graph of mileage by week for the year (click on it to enlarge).

Mileage by Week notes:
- Total miles for the year:  1845 or just over 35 miles per week on average
- Week 15 was the Jersey Shore Relay Marathon (training run).  I ran the first two legs of the relay as part of a team and then ran the rest as a training run.  Ironically, I probably qualified for Boston in this unofficial run, but could not replicate the effort three weeks later.
- Week 18 was the NJ Marathon.  I was going for a Boston qualifier (3:20:59 needed), but it was not to be my day.  I made a number of mental errors:  1) I went out too fast and did not stay with my pace group, 2) I did not hydrate enough in the damp weather, 3) I did not eat the right fuel the evening before; I did not eat the right fuel on race morning.  This all resulted in a crash at about mile 21.  I finished in 3:25+ with many lessons in tow.
- Weeks 28-30+ I was not feeling well with low blood pressure, very low energy, and was lightheaded at times.  I had also lost about 10-12 lbs.  It appears now all due to some imbalances in my diet resulting in poor assimilation.  A few modifications and my energy started to come back quickly.
- Week 33 I was on vacation and decided to also take a break from running.
- Weeks 34-36 I continued to run less per week and build my energy level back to normal.
- Week 44 I did a very long training run.  I decided at this point to go for the JFK 50 Ultra.  Prior to this it was still in question due to weeks 28-36.
- Week 46 was the JFK 50 Ultra. A Summary is posted here.
- The first and last weeks of the year are partial (~1/2) weeks.

So what did I learn this year?  Here are just a few of the many lessons:
- Make a plan and stick to it.
- Balance in ALL things.
- The body and mind are amazing, particularly when they work together towards the same goal.  More on this concept of a mind-body practice below.

My running goals for 2009:
- Continue with a primary emphasis on health goals and not time goals.
- Continue to run happy, healthy, injury-free, and empowered with the tools to help me stay that way.
- Deepen my ‘practice’ by working on my breath, my relaxation level and my speed (indirectly via technique, not directly via more effort).
- Again run on average 35 or more miles per week.
- Participate in a Marathon, at least one 50K Ultra, a 50M Ultra (likely the JFK 50 again), and possibly a 100K ultra; all depending on my schedule.
- If a suitable Marathon fits the schedule, qualify for Boston (3:20:59 needed).  The NJ Marathon in early May is a target, but a fall Marathon is also a possibility.  I would also like to experience NYC if I can get through the lottery.

The ChiRunning and ChiWalking approach turns your fitness program into a ‘practice’.  A ‘practice’ might be defined as ‘a regular, mindful activity that works to enhance the quality of your life’ [Page 57 of the ChiWalking® book].  Your focus works to improve some aspect of your technique on each run/walk and on each day.  It could be your ability to sense your effort level, your ability to make adjustments, your ability to relax more or any other aspect.  Keeping a record of your ‘practice’, including your form challenges and your progress, provides a tool to evaluate what has happened so you can apply the lessons learned.

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David Stretanski is a holistic health, fitness and wellness coach and Certified ChiRunning®/ChiWalking® Instructor.  For more information on David, please see his About, Contact page or his website at http://www.eChiFitness.com.

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ChiRunning® and ChiWalking® are registered trademarks of ChiLiving, Inc.