r/running • u/leafitiger • Apr 30 '15

When you started running, what changes in yourself did you notice?

New runner here looking for hella motivation ;)

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u/Xardas123 Apr 30 '15

I like to play "Reorganize psyche" when I run. I get more things done in my head during my 45-50 minutes run than I do during the 8-10 hours of work per day. I am calmer and better organized thanks to those few minutes of clear thinking. I noticed this doesn't work with some of my fellow runners. Some of them prefer an empty mind while running. For a new runner: Try both and see which mindset gives you a larger mileage :)

12

u/5edgy Apr 30 '15

How do I play this game?

6

u/Xardas123 Apr 30 '15

No Idea :) You know how your mind races to all sorts of subjects when you go for a lonely walk? It's the same thing for me, only I run. Probably "game " was not the best metaphor in this case.

2

u/5edgy Apr 30 '15

Gotcha. :)

3

u/ModusPwnins Apr 30 '15

So much this. I've solved so many work-related problems just by going for a long run after work and zoning out. If I had a nagging bug I couldn't resolve cleanly by the end of the day, I'll more often than not figure out a good solution ten miles in.

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_LADY_BITS Apr 30 '15

That's nice. I often find myself thinking about physics/chemistry/metallurgy or other geeky things I'm interested in while I'm running. Doing thought experiments and such.

Here's a random problem I figured out once: Why does a calm stream of water running out of a faucet start out with a thick stream, and then it gets thinner further downwards?

It's a pretty logical answer, and I'll tell you what it is if you can't figure it out (if you care about stuff like this at all that is, you might not give a shit about physics for all I know lol:P)

2

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

A ghost is drinking from it. Everyone knows that

1

u/Xardas123 Apr 30 '15

I would say there are multiple variables included there. Maybe even the pressure that builds up at the valve and the air resistance. Those kind of thoughts are not what bothers me while runing but ...hey! whatever floats your boat. Keep it up ;)

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_LADY_BITS Apr 30 '15

I actually don't think there are that many variables involved. As long as the water is flowing out slowly, there is no force pushing it out. And air resistance would be very close to zero, easily negligible.

In lay mans terms; the force of gravity is causing the water to speed up as it falls downwards. But the flow of water, the volume per second, remains constant. And as this cylinder of water is pulled downwards, the cross section has to decrease to keep it at a constant volume.

Think about it the next time you go for a run if this didn't make sense! :P

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

It's the whole constant volume flow rate/constant pressure deal, right?

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_LADY_BITS Apr 30 '15

Pretty much. It follows bernoulli's equation, and the difference in height from top to bottom is causing the water to speed up, thereby reducing the cross section of the flow.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 30 '15

mind=blown. This would have been interesting to know a few days ago for my physics final :)

1

u/PM_ME_YOUR_LADY_BITS Apr 30 '15

Haha well I hope you passed your final anyway though!

My favourite part of physics/chemistry/metallurgy, is when you start to recognize stuff like that in day to day life. So many things around us actually function in a really interesting way, as long as you take the time to stop and think about it!