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This book is the distillation of decades of professional and personal exploration into the human condition. My journey as a physical therapist, athletic trainer, coach, and educator, alongside my life as a partner and a parent to four children, has deepened my appreciation for the multifaceted nature of human beings. It's this rich tapestry of biological, cultural, generational, historical, and socio-economic factors that I wish to unravel, using running as the common thread.
My ambition is to demystify the scientific elements of running for the layperson. We'll traverse the landscape from evolutionary biology to functional anatomy and biomechanics, celebrating running as the remarkable feat it is—a feat often overlooked until age or injury prompts us to reconsider.
We'll also delve into cutting-edge science, examining how researchers are fine-tuning the measurement of our movements. You'll learn about the electrical symphony of muscle activation during a run, motion analysis, and a groundbreaking wearable device my team has developed. This device captures the unique spatial-temporal patterns of an individual's running form, offering insights into the forces at play within our bodies.
I aim to venture beyond the wealth of existing literature on running by weaving in philosophical concepts. We'll discuss 'Dasein'—a German term for existence or being-in-the-world—as it pertains to our unique presence and the dynamic, time-bound nature of our experiences, encapsulated by our new device.
Moreover, we'll apply the Free Energy principle—a theory on how we continuously refine our understanding of the world for survival and success—to running. This approach will provide novel perspectives on enhancing performance, reducing injury risk, and fostering rehabilitation.
I am grateful for the contributions of my colleague and friend, Richard Taylor—a physicist with a rich background in art—who has provided invaluable insights for this book.
Our journey will begin with the foundational biological principles of embryology, genetics, and evolution. We'll then explore the concept of Dasein through mathematical and geometrical lenses, followed by an examination of the body's anatomy from a functional standpoint. Biomechanics will be dissected from both basic and intermediate levels, with an emphasis on locomotion and fundamental Newtonian physics.
We will introduce tensegrity—a model that transcends traditional approaches to studying dynamic movement. This discussion will illuminate the interconnectedness of body regions and the cellular impact of biomechanical forces, offering contemporary scientific perspectives on how our interactions with the external world can influence our health.
his book is an intersection of my experiences in both science and philosophy, interpreted through the prism of running. Among all human activities, why spotlight running? It's a universal motion, second only to walking in its ubiquity. Running resonates with everyone; it’s a childhood staple, a fundamental expression of our interaction with the world.
