Thursday, November 13, 2008

Cap'n Crunch?



<~~~~ What a tool.

Seriously, does anyone believe this guy has done one crunch his entire life? Maybe Cap’n Carb or Cap’n Clogged Artery is a bit more appropriate. I’m more of a Crunchberry man myself. It’s healthier because it contains “berries”. Just like Starburst comes in “fruit flavors”.

I hate to put out another post about myself. But, by perceived popular demand, I’m going to.

One of the things that helps us runners, so the experts tell us, is a strong core. For those Puritans that like to avoid four letter words, the “c---“ is the midsection, the abs and hips primarily. But the core is not a dirty word. It’s not even dusty. It helps runners maintain a proper running form and stabilizes the torso and legs to maximize your stride.

I do lots of sit ups and crunches along with my interminable stretchy banding to support my core. In fact, many a TV show is watched with me folding back and forth on my living room floor. My dog thinks it is play time and helpfully places her knotted rope on my chest while I crunch away. Every throw buys me about 6 more crunches before it comes back. And if I don’t throw it right away, she starts biting at it again perilously close to my nipple.

I like to think that this core work has had some effect. I rarely feel sloppy with my running form anymore. As I tire, I can still maintain posture. It doesn’t cost me valuable seconds. Or, what I call “sloppy seconds”. So I’m a big believer in core strengthening exercises.

What I am not, however, is a patient exerciser. The “long, slow distance run” many runners favor is not something I’m familiar with. I train at faster speeds mainly because I’m inpatient by nature. The same thing happens when I crunch. I crunch every night except Friday where I crunch a few beers instead (rim shot, please?) Of course, I don’t do just 50 good, solid, slow crunches. You know, the kind the “experts” recommend. Nooooo. I do a few hundred hyper fast crunches that, most likely, have very little effect due to improper technique. But the big number sounds good. One thing I’ve always known, it’s not about how you use the crunch but how big it is (amount, that is.)

Does anyone else work on their core? Does it help? And do you prefer Cap’n Crunch or Crunchberries?

I’m assuming our mustachioed Cap’n Crunch must have been promoted from Sargent Sit Up at some point in his career. But, while I live and breathe, with that portly figure he’ll never become Admiral Ab.

Happy trails.

39 comments:

Reluctant Runner said...

Hey, Nitmos. I don't really do much to increase my core strength and I really should. But I will definitely need to start in the privacy of my own home because my crunches right now? Pretty sad.

Ian said...

I'm more of a cocoa pebbles kind of guy myself, but it figures that you'd associate yourself with a self-absorbed tool with delusions of grandeur. (There's no way he's a REAL Captain of anything.)

Unknown said...

I'll throw my vote in for Cookie Crisp.

I'm doing that very thing during evening shows. I'll let you know if I get anything out of it, but I'm betting it will help.

Cindy said...

core is a dirty word in my vocabulary. i did, however, do some planks and pilates 100's under duress last night.
the cap'n scares me, the way his eyes appear to be more a part of his hat than his face. *shudder*

Maggs said...

I have just started working on my core. i'll let you know next year if it helps out. I'm doing it through Yoga and stand up paddle boarding. Works balance too. Hard as heck right now. I don't think I can eat sweet cereal for breakfast anymore, well, maybe frosted mini wheats.

Aron said...

i never was a fan of captain crunch... growing up i was a cinnamon toast crunch kid, which i now think would make me puke.

i always have core work on my list of things i want to be better at, but it somehow gets pushed to the bottom of the list :(

joyRuN said...

Never developed an appreciation for that cereal. Even with the berries. I'm a Corn Pops kinda girl.

Crunches are on my one-of-these-days list.

Happy crunching...

Unknown said...

I was a fruity pebbles guy. I think that contained more sugar. And that is important. I really need to try and focus on my core to see if it helps with my form during the end of my longer runs.

Viv said...

I am terrible with core work, but I do see all the fast kids doing it..

When I do call the name of the all mighty Captain it must be the peanut butter crunh.

C said...

Cap'n Crunch tears up my gums like crazy. It's like eating shards of glass. I haven't had it in years. Maybe I should give it another go?

Anonymous said...

lucky charms. give me some sugar. =)

and i do core exercises because of a bad back... but i find that most core exercises are EXCRUCIATINGLY boring, so i never do as much as i should

Unknown said...

Count me in the core camp! In addition to yoga once/week I try to do 2-3 days of core work each week. And I'm a Cap'n Crunch gal (love how it shreds the roof of my mouth).

Midwest said...

I am actually planning on focusing on my core to a greater extent this winter. And, pathetically, my favorite cereal is Cranberry Almond Crunch. Lame.

Shoe Running said...

I'm a big fan of core workouts too. I do the crunches, then the little side lift things where I stand up with a weight in one hand and bend over...for the obliques, and I do dead lifts for my lower back too.

:)

I have the most obnoxiously adult taste in cereal...so maybe I shouldn't even talk about the cap'n. Adult as in "no sugar", not as in naughty...whatever that means. :)

Kristina said...

I avoid the crunch, cereal or otherwise. I go for Special K because don't they, like, make that just so I can feel important and unique?

Unknown said...

I've become more diligent in core work recently. I've never liked it and I won't know if it's helping until I'm back to pounding the pavement, but it *should* be helpful and that's why I'm doing it now.

Anonymous said...

Don't you love when your dog "helps" you work out? Mine likes to drop toys under my feet. One day it's gonna hurt.

Spartan7 said...

I believe that the Cap'n joined the cereal Navy under a direct commission. Right out of college, he was able to work the galley like no other. But alas, even during times of war (the epic Battle of Snap, Crackle and Pop), he still can't get promoted.

Oh, as far as core ... I'm doing it all wrong. I should be squeezing them out and showing off my Spartan Six pack in front of my aerobic instructor wife instead of getting them done early in the morning before I go to work … and instruct physical fitness. Now I'm the tool!

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

Do they still make Draft-Dodger Dingle with Dingleberries? Are they only available in Canada? I distinctly remember: green peace symbols; orange daisies; brown acid-tabs; and blue guitar picks. Or did I just dream those? What a wonderful dream if that's all it was. I may have had a few too many of the brown acid-tabs in my day; but ask the talking dormouse: He remembers all of this waaaaay better than I do. (Psst! Don't ask the Red Queen! I think she's a narc!)

Al's CL Reviews said...

I have never had Capn Crunch.

And I don't work my core.

I have now figured out what is wrong with me.

I'll work my core when I return from the grocery.

Marci said...

Before and after I get close marathon race season I do lots of core/cross training (bootcamp, yoga, swimming, etc.). The problem I am finding is marathon season began for me in August and is ending in late Nov, so that's 4 months with no X training and I feel like although my legs are there, my mid section is crying out for help!

Marathon Maritza said...

wait, you're an in-patient? I always did think you were nuts.... ;-) sorry, had to call you out for all the big words you've thrown out in the past that I had to visit dictionary.com for.

And if I'm having unhealthy cereal, I go for Lucky Charms or Honey Smacks.

Ax said...

Since I haven't been running lately, I am working on strength training. I am working on my core in hopes that it will make me a better, stronger runner when I get back into running, so we'll see if it helps.

Personally, I'd take the Peanut Butter Crunch over the berries. Peanut butter has protein and other nutritional benefits. The Cap'n may not be able to do a crunch, but he can make a tasty bowl of cereal.

Sarah said...

chair pilates. 'nough said.

AddictedToEndorphins said...

I do love Captain Crunch. Not Crunchberries at all. I do not do core work or strength training. I should. I've heard it's the 'magic pill' though!:)
I should start...

KimsRunning said...

The only cereal I can get down is Blueberry Morning, and I hardly ever eat that. Mainly because I hate milk...puked it too many times during my first pregnancy.

I do core training 2-3 times a week, on a big ball. Ya wanna do some real crunches??? Do them on a big ball. Yeah babyyyy!

I also do yoga twice a week and just discovered the joy of spinning!! I love spin class!!!

But no abs for me. My coach said it's because of my diet. hmmmmph.

Brooke said...

I do pilates for core...but not often enough. I like Cap'n, but prefer the peanut butter, and agree that it tears up your gums and leaves a strange fatty film in your mouth..I actually grew up on Trix and Lucky Charms (though once you pick out all the marshmallows it isn't as exciting).

tfh said...

Actually, I believe throwing a chew toy for your dog while in mid-crunch is an actual pilates move, only in pilates, the chew toy and the dog are invisible.

Cap'n Crunch is gross. I like my cereal, like my midsection, to be shredded. Shredded, pasty wheat.

Vava said...

If I was Captain I'd just get my subordinates to do crunches, then I'd take the credit. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

Since I am in the ranks of the subordinates I must do my own core strength stuff. I was pretty good at doing it for a while, but slacked off huge in the last month. Got back to it in the last two days, partly for all the obvious reasons, and partly because I want to be able to do lots of pushups and chinups and my abs give out first in both cases, forcing me to stop.

And I don't eat cereal almost ever - perhaps I should? I remember enjoying Count Chocula when I was a kid.

Jess said...

I used to be really diligent about strength and core work...but I've gotten lazy with it lately. My hope is to pick it up again after I settle in with the move.

B. Kramer said...

I get all balance ballsy when I crunch. I recently restarted stretchy banding. I am no longer allowed within 300 feet of Cap'n Crunch.

Anonymous said...

It's all about the Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

I work my core religiously. I'm not sure if it helps my running or not, since I haven't doing ab work since high school. Even if it didn't make me faster I would still do it out of pure vanity.

Marlene said...

I prefer Froot Loops.

I have always been a hardCORE slacker but have resolved to take up X-training this winter. I'm taking a yoga class and interval class, both of which focus a lot on the core.

Basically, I'm feeling my abs for the first time basically EVER and it hurrrrrts. Hopefully it'll pay off!

(Funny, I just posted yesterday about my stinging abs...thought it was a cramp at first!)

Kristin said...

Pilates and lots of yoga. I think it's helped with the running, and I know it's made me a better skiier.

Aka Alice said...

No capt'n or crunches fo' me... I prefer oatmeal (yeah, the good old-fashioned kind)...although I should probably reconsider about the crunches...

Frayed Laces said...

I really think the reason why my pelvis cracked during marathon #1 was because my core muscles were on par with that of veal. Now I work my core to the core (har, har har). Have you tried planks? They rock.

Jess said...

More unbelievable than the fact that the Cap'n does crunches is that he's a "captain" at all. I'd like to see some credidentials. A military record of some kind, please.

Anonymous said...

Cap'n Crunch is a paunchy wussbag. My money's on the Quaker Oat dude. That sucker looks like he's packing some serious abs beneath that silly get up.

Anonymous said...

It's not how the length of your crunch, its the girth.

I think that applies to crunches, but I couldnt be wrong.

I do know its important on how you use the tool, or something.