Comments on: Running Lessons from Isaac Newton

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:23:20 +0000

Great reminder! While in no way as scientific as your explanation, I learned this one by carrying around my kids as babies. I would haul them around (sometimes 20 lbs) and then after I would put them down and go for a run, I would think – “gee, this is easier, what would happen if I could lose the 25 lbs I need to get back to normal.”

By: billjank

billjank — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:42:34 +0000

I suppose I should have specified that I was directing my comments towards fitness runners, not necessarily “finely tuned atheletes on the verge of greatness”. Picturing myself, and most of the folks I run with, there’s not a one of us in danger of losing muscle mass.

By: Blaine Moore (Run to Win)

Blaine Moore (Run to Win) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 21:12:21 +0000

Yeah, I was thinking of that article. I know what it is like for myself to lose weight, though, and I definately do not have a better situation. I am pretty much at my ideal weight for what I do.

By: Mark Iocchelli

Mark Iocchelli — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:31:30 +0000

good point, Blaine. I’ve removed the word “young” from the note. Thanks. The note was originally intended for young people because in another post, someone had concern about us not warning high school girls not to lose weight just to get faster. However, the same logic definitely applies to runners of all ages.

By: Blaine Moore (Run to Win)

Blaine Moore (Run to Win) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 16:30:54 +0000

I don’t think that the editor’s note should only apply to young athletes. Remember that there is a rule of diminishing returns; once you reach a certain point, additional weight loss is going to mean that you can not exert the same forces as you could with that weight, be it through muscle tissue or early fatigue.

The ideal should be to reach and maintain a healthy weight for your body frame and your lifestyle, not to always lose weight no matter the cost.