Floatation Recovery…..is it worth its salt?

 

 

 

 

 I’m a naturally sceptical person, and while I pride myself on being relatively open minded, I live my life with one eyebrow firmly raised in mistrust to most things.

I’m generally very cautious in undertaking most things, without careful consideration or research (at least). So when I was invited through a facebook message to partake in a ‘Float Session’ at Floatation Nation, I was somewhat hesitant at first.

Touted as being ‘miraculous’ for recovering muscles and for relaxation on the whole, I immediately wondered why I hadn’t heard of this technique before despite being used by the AIS since 1983 (and save for a very hilarious episode of ‘The Simpsons’). Was this complete hearsay, an extremely well-kept secret, or something different completely? I was unsure and curious to say the least.

 

Upon more research into the supposed ‘benefits’; some of these being;

-          The release of endorphins,

-          Natural Pain relief,

-          Improved mood,

-          Reduction in lactic acid build-up

-          Increased circulation,

-          Increased recovery times,

-          Reduced fatigue,

-          Improved skin health,

-          Reduced inflammation, stress hormones & heart rate,

-          Alleviation of chronic pain,

-          Removal of toxins

 

I decided I had nothing to lose, save for the possibility of falling asleep and drowning unceremoniously in a futuristic-looking plastic bath (I guess there are worse ways to go?).

 

However, instead of booking in a session when my body was at its regular level of training related fatigue, I decided to put the therapy to a proper test. One website claimed that one session had the ability to COMPLETELY ELIMINATE fatigue!

With that in mind, this ‘miraculous’ technology was going to have to deal with a body having IMMEDIATELY (or at least a couple of hours after) just finished a gruelling undulating FULL MARATHON. Surely, I thought, my body would be so fatigued that I would have a VERY clear idea of just how much a difference a ‘float’ would really make!

I booked in for the afternoon immediately after this year’s 2016 Brisbane Marathon and I was told I wouldn’t have to pay a cent for the privilege, under the proviso that I give a testimony if (and only if) I found the process worthwhile. There was literally nothing to lose but an hour of my life.

When Float-day finally came, it found me in a great condition to inflict damage on my body; my lead up training for the Marathon had been almost non-existent, due to some niggling hamstring tears, so the already difficult task of running a fast 42kms was made substantially harder. To add insult to injury my ego even saw me sparring for the lead during the race with a plucky young stranger, coinciding with us ensuring that we would both ran our respective races at a wholly foolish pace.

As it was, when I crossed the line (in Second place), I did so with blistered feet, completely fatigued muscles and my tail firmly between my legs. I was wrecked…. And mentally, emotionally and physically I could not be better prepared to put the claims of Flotation proponents to the ultimate test!

When I got to ‘Floatation Nation’ (which is not so much a sovereign country, as a rather chic boutique space), I was greeted by the amazing 'Brendan' (Nation President). Almost as if to test the validity and the will of participants to undertake the session, I was led up the cruellest of obstacles (post marathon)….a series of stairs; which I hobbled up, at a literal and metaphorically painful rate.

 

Once inside I was given a run down on the process, I would shower, strip down (in the empty room), get in the ‘tank’, shut the roof, and…..float….for an hour. The extremely concentrated (with Epson salts) water and complete darkness would do the rest!

 

Once naked (which didn’t feel as peculiar as I thought it would), and inside, my initial thoughts about feeling claustrophobic were put to bed as, even floating high in the water, with my arms outstretched, I could not easily reach the roof of the tank. It was nothing like the ‘waterlogged coffin’ that my wildly imaginative brain conjured, and more like a comfortably spacious and serene bathtub.

 

My only other concern, that being; potentially feeling claustrophobic and resulting to an hour of thrashing around like a cork in a tempest, was also put to bed with the location of both a light switch, and conveniently accessible handle to open the tank.

Regardless, knowing that I planned to honestly review the experience, I challenged myself to touch neither the light, nor the handle. I was going to stick it out come hell or high water (although not literally).

 

Whilst I can’t testify as to whether (while in the tank) I experienced nirvana, or complete one-ness with the world, I did find myself relaxing and enjoying the experience itself. In our busy world it’s nice to be able to literally lock yourself alone for an hour of ‘me’ time. For a short period I worried about how air-tight the tank was, shortly after, the oxygen capacity of it, then the sound proofing capabilities of the device, however I think these are only concerns of the hyper anxious, and I was becoming so relaxed that even these concerns drifted away soon enough.

 

In a time that felt (for me) close enough to ‘long enough’ without being ‘not enough’ the light in the tank came on and it was time for me to come out.

 

The results?

 

Unfortunately for ‘Floatation Nation’ their tanks don’t have the exclusive benefits of those shown in

the (entirely fictional) film ‘Cocoon’….although I strongly suggest they work on their ‘supernaturally age reversing capabilities’. In spite of this, I practically skipped down the stairs (that just an hour ago I had struggled against) to my car!

Whether this was psychosomatic, and I secretly ‘wanted’ to feel amazing benefits, and tricked myself into believing they were there…? I’m not sure.

What I can say though, is that, now 5 days later; the only real side effect of this year’s marathon was a rather substantial cold-sore (I always get those when I smash my body that hard), and some initially tight calves (although I always get those on account of wearing racing flats for runs of that intensity and distance). Although I felt as though I could run that evening, and the proceeding days, I cautiously took one day off, before running a light 6km with my son in his pram, then 20 easy kilometres the next day.

 

With only one session undertaken, I can report that it was a fascinating experiment. It is certainly one I plan on continuing, or trying a few more times (at least), to more conclusively make my mind up. As (with most things that cost money) I’ve been told it mostly takes a few sessions to see the absolute benefits….which normally triggers my scepticism alarm instantly, on this occasion; given the pretty impressive results, I’m willing to book myself in for a few more ‘floats’.

 

For those of you curious about this…I suggest you do likewise!

(if you) Contact Floatation Nation, Bulimba – www.floatationnation.com.au

Please mention this blog and that I sent you.

 

Regardless,

Happy running!

Clay Dawson

Intraining Sponsored Athlete and curious partaker of Floating

My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clay.dawson

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clay_dawson/

My Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3894877

http://floatationnation.com.au/ - Floatationnation's website....if you're interested let them know you read about it here though!

 **This blog was written EXCLUSIVELY of any obligation to endorse Floatation Nation of Float therapy in general, however I did experience a free float in the process. Whether that clouded my judgement (or not)…I will let you decide. (It didn’t) **

 

Dedicated to the Running Dads --> Scumbag Deadbeat Dad. The fine line between ‘dedicated-athlete’ and ‘neglectful parent’.

 

 

 

Anyone who is a Facebook friend of mine, or a follower on my Instagram account will be made more than aware (about 35 times a day) that I am a proud, doting father of an amazingly adorable 10 month old baby boy.

As far as proud fathers go, I’d be right up there with the most proud. I may never be able to shower

my kid in gifts and riches, but as far as cuddles and bad ‘dad’ jokes go, he’ll get them in abundance.

However, with this baby came the inevitable balancing act between trying to maintain fitness, motivation, and running ability, AND holding my own as an equal-share parent to a son; who deserves nothing less. It’s a commitment almost every new parent makes; during labour I silently (…because the moment wasn’t one where grand self-proclamations would be well received) promised my wife and (then unborn) child that I would never be the dreaded ‘deadbeat dad’.

The obvious problem with this delicate balancing act is that the days are immediately shorter (in-spite of decreased sleep patterns). You’re exhausted…..all the time too. Plus, the moments when you are afforded the leisure of time to do as you please, come in short spurts, and at irregular intervals.

Suddenly the consequence of a regular, routine run, is inevitably tired legs and a jealous, exhausted and (justifiably) angry partner.

And the thing is, you miss the kid too.

That isn’t to say, you don’t miss you friends or partner normally, it’s just that with every second away from a new-born, you are flooded with the guilt of taking ‘precious moments’ for granted.

It’s weird. Mainly, because runners are selfish.

 

Admit it. Come to terms with it. We are.

We all go away on holidays, and look at every beach as a training-ground and overgrown bushland as a potential long-run in the ‘trails’. Instead of ‘relaxing’ we worry about Garmin GPS uploading, and how long until we can venture out on a ‘foreign’ run.

 

We’re monsters.

 

 

Luckily, kids change that.

Kind of.

 

For me the manic compulsion is there, but so too, is the guilt of not holding up my end of a bargain that I willingly signed up to.

And at the risk of rendering this article completely useless, I don’t have the solution to this.

I do have a plan though…

 

The way I’ve chosen to combat both demons, is to bear the burden myself.

And, I’m not a martyr, I am full aware that the cross I bear is one I’ve not only nailed-together, but grown the saplings and harvested the wood too.

In spite of this I’ve chosen to appease my own needs with as little disruption to my wife and child as possible.

To do this I’ve decided to:

      1)      Reserve myself to the fact that this year may not be as successful as previous years. Being aware that I have a very good excuse for not being as mentally or physically switched on as normal, is an easy concept to grasp as any.

     2)      I’ve began training at times when my wife and child are sleeping. My routine involves getting up at 4am, thenrunning, and going to the gym, to be completed at 7:00am. Unfortunately I miss waking up with my family, but with the working day done, now find myself free to help, and contribute at a time when my wife is exhausted, and in need of company and support.

       3)      I’ve experimented with different training patterns and intensities, and this relates to my first point (and relaxed attitude to expectation). I’ve began trying to embrace an opportunity to miss a training session, to help out with the baby, as being ‘fate forced recovery’. The benefit of living in a sole time-narrative-life (devoid of advent tangent universes) is that you will never know whether it is the worst decision in the world, or the greatest choice to avoid injury and fatigue that you’ve ever made.

And so far, it’s worked well. As hard as it is to get up when that alarm sounds…..I feel fit and, more importantly, I feel like a father.

 

Last week, when I came home from work, my son smiled wide and held his arms out wide for me with a look of pure joy in his eyes.

All this at a time when I would have previously been on an afternoon training run.

 

 

 

I’ve made the right choice.

 Till next time, run often...and with those you love more-so

 

Clay Dawson

intraining Sponsored Athlete and Doting Dad

My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clay.dawson

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clay_dawson/

My Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/3894877

https://www.facebook.com/groups/runningdadsoz/ - Running Dads check this out - it's a great group of AWESOME Dads! Much Love!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 6 reasons why you really can’t trust ANYTHING anymore!

**Author Forward** - This blog may read as being a tad pessimistic, like a rather public airing of dirty laundry,  or like a reaction to one (or more) people. It isn't. I'm too lazy to dry my laundry any way other than a clothes dryer, and these are simple humorous observations that I have with a few things...Please read them, laugh and enjoy....or not laugh and hate....but tell people you did regardless; the choice is yours. **

 Feeling the burn of a solid workout, and the flood of endorphins that comes from putting your body through its paces is arguably one of the most pure and unprejudiced endeavours that a person can do. It can provide you with a clarity of thought, a longer life, fitness, happiness and a fulfilling sense of achievement. It stops you going bald too…..probably?

 

So what if I told you that running was a lie….?

 

 

See, all of that stuff I just said is true (except the ‘baldness’ part), but within our sport are a few generally unspoken lies and mistruths. They attack the fabric of our sport and taint the enjoyment of our pursuits like a thick curly hair in a Fetticini Carbonara.

It’s time to attack these lies head on….right now.

1)      The History:

An unfortunate reality of living in a competitive world, and more specifically; the dog-eat-dog world of running, is that none of us are immune from the inevitability of being compared to that which has come, and run before us.

There has been, and always will be that guy (or girl) who remembers when so-and-so ran that impossibly fast time with one shoe and a migraine over a course littered with broken glass and Lego pieces. Rose coloured glasses sometimes become aids in setting up road-blocks to goals and achievements, and sometimes, the truth really just gets in the way of an incredibly good story!

My rule of thumb when someone pipes up an incredible tale is to listen and enjoy it, but treat it as unproven (until carefully analysed and confirmed true). It might as well be in a parallel universe, because you are in the here and now, and you (without good costume and mannerism coaching) are not them.

      2)  There is a world-wide-web of lies:

The popularity of run sharing sites like Strava, Running Ahead, Mapmyrun and Garmin-connect have seen the normally pretty dormant competitive aspects of running ramped up to almost constant proportions. You see, in the past the only time you really could accurately measure yourself against someone else was during races when they were actually running with/against you.

Training and downtime used to be an awesomely great time for soul-searching and ‘alone’ time to

grow and learn with our own bodies as the yard stick.

Suddenly, the advent of GPS watch and phone technology has meant that on these websites LITERALLY EVERY RUN is available for others to judge and comment on. Conversely other people’s runs are there for you to analyse and measure yourself against. These sites list total kilometres against previous months, elevation, speed and cadence versus previous ‘identical’ runs. They celebrate every gain and PB, and painfully ignore equal (or worse) performances.

 

They assign course records and segments worldwide and remind you every time that someone eclipses your times on these.

These sites even rank and order every athlete according to performance and every manner of criteria. You may work your way to the top of these lists, and then the pressure is there to stay there the next day, and the day after that.

 

Soon enough an obsessive runner is measuring themselves against the best version of themselves, and every other runner on the planet…..CONSTANTLY.

On a side note, I’m pretty sure the next Terminator movie will include a tactic similar to this; in that future online run-logs are corrupted by ‘the machines’ to the point that the surviving nuclear-holocaust ‘humans’ implode when pitted against each-other in a never-ending endurance marathon. You read it here first, and Hollywood…you’re welcome.

The long and the short of it is, your ego, can be the worst liar of all….work to keep it in check, by being realistic around recovery and training, and limiting your access to apps and sites that model themselves as giant ‘appendage’ measuring competitions.

 

3)      Technology sucks:

And besides….technology sucks. It does. Anyone who lived through the cassette, VHS, DVD, and CD eras are well aware that not all technological ‘revolutions’ are a step forward.  Sometimes, and sometimes frequently technology fails, and with most consumer devices very often they degenerate over time. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist…

…The companies do this to ensure that eventually you will replace and/or update the product. Oh! And 747 Airplanes release conformity chemicals that keep the masses in check.

Due to the infancy of the technology behind GPS watches and phones, and the drive to make this technology simpler and cheaper, very often there are accuracy problems. This is why the tracking of a running-GPS will occasionally cut a corner, elongate a section of a run, ‘forget’ a kilometre, or simply decide the middle of your training run included a brief foray into a nearby body of water.  

 

By running regular loops, running in groups, and generally not relying so heavily on this equipment, these mistakes will be far less emotionally crippling.

Also you’ll learn to train and run by the ‘feel’ of your body; actually I’m not entirely sure if that IS the truth, or that the government has programmed me to say that?

4)      History made mistarkes:

The unfortunate thing about History, is that occasionally it captures mistakes in black and white. Kind of like the dinosaur who hides his poor attempt at an origami swan into the amber sap of a tree, which has resulted in modern Palaeontologists assuming they all lacked the dexterity and ability to do this to create intricate folded-paper sculptures.

Sometimes race results and details were incorrectly entered and sometimes courses were measured incorrectly. Mistakes happen, after all, Adolf Hitler was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1939 it’s true.

So while most records can be relied upon, they’re worth admiring and using for nostalgia only, not for obsessively using as points of comparison.

 

 

 

5)      Human Beings are sometimes monsters:

The fact remains that when talking to competitors sometimes tactics and mental warfare can be the undertone to simple and seemingly innocuous conversations. Occasionally a competitor will smile sweetly and tell you that they “haven’t been training”, have “been injured all year” and “are just taking it easy today”….

…This is generally either a defeatist comment to make excuses, or a legitimate account. But sometimes a massive alpha move can be made by putting the opposition off guard (assuming no competition), then blasting them onto the back foot by exceeding expectations. It’s dastardly, but an occasional phenomena. People are horrible sometimes.

In addition to this there will always be those runners who use every opportunity to weasel in constant reminders about previous achievements that are remarkable and dwarf those of common man (most importantly you). Whilst (some of the time) this isn’t specifically lying, it is a huge jackass move, played by someone who is probably intimidated (or impressed) by your presence. Take it as a compliment, and imagine them walking into a closed door to pass the time while they speak. 

Because, the thing is…when your mental game is focussed on your own performance, on that particular course, in those particular conditions, with competitors used only as moving yard-sticks to latch onto and pass….any mind-trickery is a wasted exercise. Your lead-up training cannot be re-done, so accept the condition you are currently in as being the cards dealt, and play on!

Plus, if you don’t resort to big noting yourself, or intimidating the other runners, you will inevitably be playing the trump-card of being ultimately aloof and mysterious; which is really cool!

CONCLUSION – NONE OF THIS MATTERS!

It’s true….none of this matters. It just doesn’t freakin matter! If you fight your own battles, run your own race, and set your own records you will gain more fulfilment out of what should be a continually challenging, but rewarding sport. It’s cool to know that you can run, or walk, or shuffle, or crawl further than most people. When did that satisfaction not be enough?

And, realistically only one of us will ever be the best, and even if we do get that chance, it’s likely that someone better or faster will come along soon enough. Records are broken all of the time, which sounds defeatist, but it’s more dangerous to hang all of our emotional stability onto such an intangible concept (of ‘the best’)!

You may never run a pb again (you might run plenty)…which sounds quite depressing…but the fact remains that if you have run it…it’s recorded, you’ve achieved it! In black and white that time/distance can NEVER be taken from you. Congratulations!

In short….it just doesn’t matter if someone ran faster than you today, or previously…

So long as you find the purest reasons to run…

…the rest will sort itself out (probably).

Till next time!

 

Clay Dawson

Chief Complainer at the Pessimist factory...

and intraining Sponsored Athlete

(Check them out here. They're AWESOME)

 

 

 

 

 

CAN YOU BE A RUNNER AND WORKOUT AT THE GYM TOO? An Experiment (Part 1)

 

It is perhaps the lesser known of the Commandments handed down that day on Mount Sinai…..probably. You know? The ‘fitness one’?

‘Thou shalt never mix fashionable strength training sessions with endurance running! Lest ye become too heavy to move at a pace faster than a hesitant, two legged donkey over bumpy terrain!’’

I’m taking liberties, and (between you and me) and I’m hardly an expert on biblical facts. Regardless, it has long been touted that any type of strength based training is amongst the WORST things an aspiring runner can do for his or her fitness. Akin, perhaps, to repetitive head injuries, recreational hot-coal walking, or Cheese grater home pedicures.

So it was with great trepidation that I strode into……SHOCK…..a gym last November.

You see, after a few years of dedicated (some would argue ‘manic compulsion’) running training, mostly, using the tried and true methods of weeks involving standard long runs, hill sessions, and regular speed/interval work, I’d found myself at the end of the season with a vicious, niggling hip fatigue injury.

 

My options were spelt out in plain English by my General GP (after conformation xrays and tests);

1)      Quit running and buy 5 cats,

2)      Start riding a bike, or

3)      Swim.

This left me with an obvious problem. I’m not a ‘cat person’, I have a horrible habit of holding my breath too much when I swim, and the terrain (and drivers) where I live is not accommodating to cyclists (I look horrible in lycra also).

It was eerily around the time of this realisation that a close friend of mine (and local Gym owner)

Mitchell suggested I try out a week or two at his gym (The approachable and welcomingly titled; ‘People’s Gym’). Normally I would politely decline such an offer, but Mitch himself is supremely fit, as well as being an accomplished Ironman and Triathlete. My interest was in the least sparked.

By another seemingly cosmic coincidence (if you believe in it) that afternoon I noticed an Instagram post by Australian (and QLD) runner Britney McGowan of her at the gym……doing…of all things…..bar pullups!

I messaged Mitch that night to say that I’d give it a shot.

 

Fast forward to the first week of classes (they pretty much rotate around generally short workouts of varied functional movements and strength and agility training) which was…….interesting……..to say the least. Ego had me loading up the weights, puffing out my chest, and trying to keep up. It was a painful lesson to learn, as I left each session with arms fatigued to the point of resembling a T-Rex, and my technique being worthy of ridicule and bewilderment.

 

Slowly I came to the ultimate realisation that everyone was firmly focussed on their own workout,

and not the weird grunting man struggling with weights akin to light grocery shopping. With my ego set aside, Mitch began to mentor, and scale, and teach.

Eventually I got better. Not great mind you, but better. I also began to enjoy the break from the repetition of running.

 

I’ll admit the mind games started around then too. I asked myself daily, “What if everyone was right? What if I became unable to run again?”

 
 

 

But as is the case at times of mental-crossroad-bewilderment it is easy to regret taking ‘the road less travelled’. It can be too easy to slip into the mindset of the supreme pessimist. However, luckily the ultimate truth always comes; with the clarity of time and hindsight.

I began to supplement my daily gym class-workouts with easy runs, growing in increments, and with a supreme focus on comfort (mentally and physically). Leading up to the first ‘race’ of the season; the Twilight Running Festival 10km, I was supplementing the classes with 4am starts, and around 100-110km running weeks.

 

RESULTS:

The results initially were interesting. I began to ‘tone’ up, with muscles. My body stopped looking like a runners, and more like the ‘athletes’ that are sold to us in sporting advertisements. I was bumpy in all of the right places, and looked ‘strong’ instead of drawn out and lightweight.

My core strength and overall flexibility and strength improved at the gym also. By far I wasn’t the strongest at the gym (There are some AMAZING athletes there), but the difference in four months was light-and-shade in comparison. I was a better gym athlete.

But the true test was to see how this affected my running, with the first test being the Twilight Running Festival 10km event!

Approaching the race I found my nerves were worse than normal (I’m normally quite anxious before events). For the week leading up to the day, my anxiety built and built, until the day before; where they were practically crippling.

I can attribute this to nerves around the effects of the gym-training, the lack of regular speed sessions (to remind the mind that a fast pace is possible), and the fact that I have traditionally had a mixed history with this particular event (it is often rained out, I’ve had a start line calf injury, and a rather scary mid-race seizure!). I’ve never run ‘fast’ at Twilight, but it was an event that was always satisfying to podium at.

The weather this year was clear, if humid, and the afternoon start was warm, but not too overbearing. The conditions were the perfect testing ground.

When the start-gun went, I took off with a close friend (and team-mate) Drew Williams. From there a few runners pushed past. At around the 3 kilometre mark, I found myself working hard to stay in 5^th position.

Then a strange thing happened; with the same continued struggling effort, I pushed past 4^th, and then at the halfway mark, found myself in 3^rd place. I set about finishing strongly.

Whilst I didn’t end up catching Drew (the well-deserving winner) or second place, I did finish upright, in 3^rd place, and in a time within 10seconds of previous years. The effort during the race seemed to be harder than normal, but my stamina and ability to recover did significantly feel improved.

With the experiment not nearly completed, and without any substantially conclusive results…..at this stage it does appear that the supplementary gym workouts weren’t hindering my running performance.

I will continue to document this process, and will create additional posts accordingly.

Watch this space!

Oh, and enjoy your running!

 

Clay Dawson

intraining Sponsored Athlete and occasional gym junkie.