Here's the story. I arrived at the North Park University Track at around 7 a.m. and there was one other guy who arrived at the track at the same time. He parked his bike and got a ball out of his backpack. As I was slow jogging in preparation to do my interval training, he was also running around the track except he would throw the ball ahead of himself, run to it, pick it up and then run backwards about 10 yards before turning around. After a few laps, he then went back to his backpack, put the ball away and then pulled out a gas mask, which he put on. He then ran around the track for about four laps with a gas mask on. I was thinking to myself, "something like this can only happen in the city" but then I realized that when I got home, I would google "gas mask running" and would find out it was the latest fad in running. Sure enough when I got home, I got several hits on my google search!
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| I guess this is a method of training? |
Here's a video about a gas mask runners in NYC if you are interested.
Anyway, the guy at the track eventually took off the gas mask and then donned a weighted vest for his next laps. I did not wait around long enough to see what else he would pull out of his "bag of tricks" and left the track for my jog home.
I think interval training is hard enough and will stick to that. Have you ever seen a runner doing some strange training method that initially freaked you out?
Wow! That's crazy. I wonder if he is an "average joe" runner or some elite athlete. Seems like too much work to carry a bag of stuff with me to the track. Maybe if I become elite, then I'd try out the gizmos.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he was an elite runner. He may have been a soccer player or some other athlete. Yeah, I think I will also hold off on the gizmos. Especially until I learn that they would actually do me some good!
DeleteGas mask running sounds super scary! Running is hard enough as it is before even putting those kinds of strains on your body. I don't know if I would want to experiment with those kinds of training tactics - it seems incredibly dangerous to me!
ReplyDeleteYes. I don't think I'd try anything that wasn't scientifically proven to be safe and effective.
DeleteI just ran a 10k with a gas mask and a ruck sack with some bricks. Those of us who do it are generally training for an event which will require the carrying of weight or will be held at altitude. However, after completing the 10K I want to push myself more and do other events with it on. It's not the easiest thing to do.
ReplyDeleteA 10k with a gas mask and a ruck sack with bricks? Wow! That's amazing. I can imagine it was quite difficult. Good luck in your training.
DeletePussies
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