« TG/HDL Ratio | Main | Gymnastics Cert at CFO? »
August 2, 2008
Retro-Running
A Brief History of Backwards Running from Run the Planet: http://www.runtheplanet.com/resources/historical/backwards.asp
Backwards, forwards, what's the difference? It just depends on which way you are facing. True, if you are standing still. Now try to run. You'll be fully aware of the differences after your first few steps.
Backward running, backward walking, and retropedaling are developing and quickly becoming more popular in all parts of the world. The popularity of backwards running can be traced back to the American pioneers of this new and different way of running. From the beginning of the century great names such William Muldoon, Gene Tunney, Bill Robinson, Ed Schultz and others, used backward running in their training regime. But it was not until the 1980's that backwards running began its real development and began gaining popularity.
The professor Barry Bates was one of the first pioneers to not only practice backwards running techniques but to also publish his findings. These very publications have been reproduced and reprinted by countless media sources. The doctor Robert K. Stevenson published the first book on the subject of backwards running in 1981 and particularly interesting is the book "Backwards Running". Ron Austin was also one of the great protagonists of backwards running for the United States of America for many years.
At the same time in France, Christian Grollé began an effort to make athletes and trainers aware of the numerous benefits of this new way of running. Even with the efforts of many pioneers it would not be until the 1990's before the development would gain momentum in all parts of the world. At first in Italy, where Stefano Morselli became one of the greatest protagonists of "corsa all'indietro". He repeatedly won the races of Prato (near Florence) and Poviglio (near Parma). For India, Arvind Pandya, is also one of the great retrorunners. He ran backwards across America, Los Angeles to New York, in 107 days (18 August/3 December 1984).
But it is the new millennium that will see the beginning of a new fashion developing a little in the whole world. Like jogging which in the 1970's spread through the planet, "retrorunning" (backwards running) could indeed during the next decade conquer the world. In March 2000, backward-running.com (no longer in service) was launched and offered, for the first time, the beginning of a global vision for the development of backward running. New medical publications, resulting essentially from United States, continue to make therapists, sportsmen and trainers alike aware of this method of running. At present athletes in numerous sports (football, basketball, tennis, athletics, fitness, and so on) utilize backwards running in their training.
Hundreds of persons in the United States begin backwards running because of its numerous and appreciable benefits: better oxygenation ; cardiovascular system increases; it burns one third more calories than forward running; it develops considerable balance, velocity and stamina; it works more quadriceps than forward running; it reduces the ground impact; it promotes a greater flexibility of the body; and it reduces the risks of injuries. The benefits are so numerous that new books will not delay being published on the subject.
Barry T Bates website on retrolocomotion:
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~btbates/backward/backward1.htm
If you want to check out the world record retro-running champions click here:
http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/backwards-running.html
Post your retro-running experiences to comments.
Posted by Nicole Okumu at August 2, 2008 10:33 PM
Comments
Quads. Burning.
Posted by: Mike Minium at August 3, 2008 7:13 AM
Chasing Robin for 10 minutes.
Posted by: brad gilliatt at August 3, 2008 9:09 AM
Candace you should know that you are working for FREE, for a major company. Maybe they are planning to come out with the Candace signature line of Under Armour Little Sweaters!
http://underground.underarmour.com/tnptraining/index.cfm/2008/7/25/Under-Armour-TNP-Training-Tour-The-CrossFit-Games
Seriously though you should send them an email. I don’t think it would kill them to give you a bag of free gear, since they are using you to promote their multi-million dollar brand.
Posted by: MJJ at August 3, 2008 9:11 AM
GOT FUEL2GO?
Check out the menu for Monday if interested.
Nice work Candace & Mike.Way 2B..
Posted by: lance at August 3, 2008 10:13 AM
Nice Candace!! That's pretty freakin' cool! As if I didn't already think you were a stud, now you show up on the UA site! MJJ is right, you should definitely get some free gear for this.
G*DD@MN WE HAVE THE COOLEST CROSSFIT AFFILIATE!!!
Posted by: Nabil at August 3, 2008 11:11 AM
this is such a backwards blog post
Posted by: Lau at August 3, 2008 12:23 PM
Lau,
Don't you mean...
tsop golb sdrawkcab a hcus si siht
Posted by: Brandon at August 3, 2008 2:23 PM
Candace is famous yet again. This time, however, her image is being used by a commercial entity. I think they should definitely send her something, not to mention the photographer.
Posted by: TomC at August 3, 2008 3:06 PM
Candace -
UA is using your image to promote their trademark. Unless as a CF Games participant you signed a commercial waiver/release, you maintain ownership of your likeness for commercial purposes. If that pic was used for news reporting, then you are out of luck.
Contact an agent or lawyer and get compensated!
I honestly can't believe they used that shot. That is such a no-no.
An interesting option - wait until the image comes down and then ask for XX% of profits. Claiming your image drove XX profits during the timeframe it was posted.
Unbelievable.
Please f.up on this.
Posted by: brad gilliatt at August 3, 2008 3:49 PM
Take it easy Brad! You seem to have REALLY strong feelings about this. I feel like perhaps your picture was used for promotional material by the Blue Oyster Bar, without you even recieving discount cover charge, or VIP "upgrades".
Candace-
You could attack them legally, which would require lots of money to cover legal fees, and let's face it, you might end up with this guy as your lawyer, who clearly spends the majority of his time working on his poses, doing workouts, workout related activities, and posting comments in reverse on this board (a truly amazing skill none the less).
Or perhaps you could use this as an opportunity to convince UA that the female models (for the most part.. there is that one soccer chic who is pretty badass) that they have been using are lame, unathletic in both appearance and probably reality, and that a shift should be made in selecting models for their products. At the very least they need to have some variety in the types of models they have. I'm serious! I think there is great potential.
BTW- For those of you thinking I have spent too much time analyzing female models of Under Armour I have this to say:
A. You are right.
B. You have no idea how much time I really do spend analyzing them!
Posted by: Nabil at August 3, 2008 6:03 PM
So yesterday I did a bunch of tire flips in a wod, and today I'm realizing an added bonus from tire flips: insane forearm soreness. I guess because of the way you have to grab the tire it works your grip like crazy. good stuff.
Candace, I guess you can feel flattered and cheated at the same time.
Posted by: Jonathan at August 3, 2008 7:18 PM
Candace - I agree w/ Nabil...not worth getting too fired up over (it is ostensibly a blog post about the Games, not a direct ad for their products; and I certainly didn't read the waiver I signed very carefully--for all I know we all could have signed away the rights to images of us at the Games). I would contact them with a friendly note, though; maybe you could get a UA sponsorship out of it. :)
Posted by: Brad Greenlee at August 3, 2008 7:31 PM
What's to be upset or feel cheated about?? It's a great picture, on a website for performance clothing, and it sheds Candace in a very positive light in regards to being a stud athlete! Gilliatt and Jonathan you guys are the crux of our sue happy nation!
I'm just glad that on a day that the workout is so ridiculously useless, we still have something interesting to talk about. Thanks MJJ!
Actually I just thought of the perfect application for this workout. A group of frontline Marines charge forward for 1 mile then get orders to retreat, but it's imperative that they run entirely backwards for the first HALF MILE!!... you know, so they can keep their eyes on the enemy!
Posted by: Nabil at August 3, 2008 7:50 PM
Nabil and Good Brad -
I think Candace is being cheated. They are exploiting her likeness for commercial gains without her approval.
Whether it's a simple blog or TV spot, it doesn't matter. The picture of Candace was not selected randomly. It was selected for a couple of reasons:
1. the logo on her chest
2. an incredibly fit and attractive woman espousing the brand attributes of UA. (Remember when UA was launched? Principal talent was the male version of Candace.)
Their goal is to create/maintain a brand image and sell more. Using that image of Candace instead of a picture of me and my soft white top tall torso does not happen by chance.
Sure, Candace can be flattered and just let it go. Or, she can be justly compensated for helping UA further their brand image and sales volume goals.
Maybe Good Brad's suggestion of a friendly letter, showing positive intent could result in a modeling contract...!
Or, just go for the money.
Posted by: brad gilliatt at August 3, 2008 9:47 PM
When Candace's pic was on the crossfit.com site it was there for the same basic reasons and same purpose as it is now on the underarmour site. Why should she sue UA but not crossfit.com (assuming neither got her permission either directly or via signed waiver)?
Crossfit is also a commercial entity, using her image to promote itself and its brand, is it not?
Honestly, I think suing over this would be a bit ridiculous. Contacting them to ask for some form of modest payment, modeling and/or sponsorship type contract would be much smarter. Creating relationships is generally more productive than attacking.
Of course, since the photo was already posted online on the crossfit site and she probably signed away all rights to it already, she may have no legal leg to stand on anyway.
Posted by: Allen at August 4, 2008 5:14 PM