The view from the outside lane…..
A semi-lucid look at things……
By Chuck Nacy
We are, we're told by those who say they know about things, now all members
of the Information Generation, an era when facts, figures, data and images
bombard us from every direction. Scores of cable and satellite TV stations,
a magazine for every conceivable interest from worm farming to finances, and
billions upon billions of bits and bytes flowing into our PC's on a daily
basis accost our senses with a level of minutia that can easily leave us reaching
for a bottle of Excedrin or searching for a dark corner.
All this of course is not to be confused with Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation" or even the "Age of Aquarius," each of which recalls times when the world was less joined than it is now and people managed to get by without having instant access to J. Lo's latest apparel faux pas or today's Cricket scores from India.
Don't take me wrong. I enjoy the availability of the plethora of knowledge that swirls around us; it's just the sifting process that is required to home in on a particular topic of personal interest that creates problems for me.
Twenty-five years ago, for example, if I had a question about some aspect of running in general or needed a few training tips to prepare me for the next road racing season, I could a) hope the next issue of Runner's World contained the answer, b) borrow one of the two on-topic books then available at the local library, c) wing it. Now it's a major undertaking just to zero in on the best information source(s) even before I start looking for specifics. All this leaves me with a feeling of Richard Lewis-like anxiety, unsure whether I've tapped the proper vault of facts.
So where can we get the straight scoop on matters dealing with running, walking for exercise, training, racing, etc.? Some guy wearing nothing but a raincoat and a pair of New Balance 837's lurking in the shadows of an alley and selling pirated copies of "Running for Dummies?" Uncle Bosco who ran track for Acme U. back in the 30's and will trot out his old pair of leather spikes and moth-eaten singlet to show you how "real runners" used to dress? Probably not, but where then?
Well, contrary to some areas of thought, books are not on the endangered species list yet and the library, mall store and Amazon.com now provide an abundant source of running-related info, whether you are looking for generalities as a beginner, specific training regiments, or injury prevention and treatment. If you are unsure of which titles may contain what you are looking for, dig out those past issues of The Rundown you've been judiciously hoarding and review Laura Clark's "Book Corner" columns for the last four years. She's provided easy-to-read reviews of works dealing with virtually every running topic and provides and excellent starting point for your research.
And let's not forget the "Information Highway," a/k/a the Internet, where "www" appears to stand not only for "world wide web" but also for "who, what, and where." Every running publication you've ever seen or heard of has a web site - some more easily navigated than others - each offering specifics on everything from the idiosyncrasies of shoe buying to treatments for ITB syndrome. Then there is always the "search engine" route, but you'll need to be specific and refine your search or you'll probably pass into the next age-group while navigating through the thousands of returned url's.
Finally, and perhaps initially most practical, try the human connection: pose your question to an experienced runner you know or know of. Over the course of many years he or she has probably encountered the very topic you are interested in and can readily answer your query or get you pointed toward a specific source. One word of advice: don't bother asking someone in your own age-group for training or racing tips... you'll have better luck getting their checking account and VISA card numbers, or they'll tell you that the secret to their racing success is going without sleep the night before and having pork chops breakfast on race day.
Hey... we all have our limits!
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