Students’ Page
Shane’s Marathon
I thought I would share a few of my experiences I had yesterday as it was such an amazing day.
To begin with our start (Green) had only five thousand people including celebrities, where as the other two starts had fifteen thousand people each! It was really chilled out with most of us just watching famous people go past without to much worry of getting to the start area until the last few minutes. Once we were off and running it began at a steady pace with people chatting and having a good time. Suddenly the pace started to pick up and after a few miles and we were now running less then eight minute miles (according to my Garmin sat watch), which was not what I had planned. As part of my pre-race preparations I had set time goals for various sections of the race and after we had reached 13 miles I was 27min faster then I had expected! At this stage I knew it was to late to slow down so I planned to carry on at the same pace for as long as I could.
The support we got was phenomenal, every section of road had supporters cheering us on. It never actually bothered them that it was pouring rain, there was even a few barbecues on the go! The noise was almost overwhelming from the music blaring, children screaming, fog horns and various drummers along the route. It was like being part of a parade! And although we had water and glucose stations along the way supporters were offering orange segments, sweets, chocolate bars etc, just to spur us along.
It was going pretty well until I reached 22 miles as I got a bad cramp in my left leg, I had no choice but to stop and stretch it out. Even then people were encouraging me to keep moving, chanting you can do it, not far go etc, just amazing support. After a few minutes I started moving again and kept a steady but slower pace to the finish line. Boy was that a sight for sore eyes!
All in all a remarkable experience and I would recommend it to you all if you are prepared to put in the hard work. I do believe however, that the supporters along the way helped more then we realise, without them I’m not sure if I would have made it to the finish line!
I have a feeling that I will be walking sideways down stairs for the next few days though! It could be the fact that I am still in absolute agony from the waist down.
Finish time: 3hr 33min
My Brain
Perhaps it was vanity that made me think that spending some time reflecting on the workings of my own brain, a case of introspection if ever there was one, would be quite enjoyable- and that were I able to write without bias, my brain could merit an entire autobiography! My weekly Suang Yang session, a unique blend of soft style kung fu and qi gong breath control exercises, provided an ideal time for quiet contemplation and inward thought. Part of this involves performing a specific pattern of sixty-six martial arts movements, of which I know eleven (and a half!).
Usually, the prefrontal association complex in the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex acts to plan actions and movement; however, the pattern of martial motions has been firmly ingrained in my memory, an area governed by the limbic association area. One theory suggests that the hippocampus stores short term memories temporarily, before these are transferred elsewhere, such as the cerebral cortex, for long term memory- involving changes at synapses and the formation of new ones.
This may be similar to the sensitisation demonstrated by sea hares. On repeated correct action, the synaptic connection is strengthened as the pre-synaptic neurone’s membrane changes, allowing more calcium ions to be taken up by the cell. Over time, neurones in frequently used neural pathways even grow new synapses. Unsurprising, then, that practice really does make perfect!
The third association area in the cerebral cortex, spanning the parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, is involved in producing perceptions resulting from what our sense organs tell us about the position of body parts, and this region, via my eyes, the mirrored walls of the studio, and the primary visual cortex, made me aware of whether I was perfectly balanced and in line, or leaving areas unprotected from attack. While functional areas are concerned with the opposite half of the body (as tracts cross sides in the brainstem), the visual area of the occipital cortex is less involved with the opposite eye but rather gathering all the impulses from the opposite field of vision entering both eyes- rather useful for remaining aware of the rest of the room!
This cerebellum receives information directly from sensory neurones as well as the rest of the CNS, including the third association area. The cerebellum, co-ordinating movement and posture, may also act to counteract minor errors in movement- comparing the actual movement (via impulses from sense organs) to the intended one (as suggested by cerebral impulses)- and sending impulses to motor centres in the cerebellum, and the motor areas in the cerebral cortex (midway between the poles), to carry out these movements. Throughout, the cerebellum preserves upward carriage of the head through the postural righting reflex.
Another exercise involved following the randomly flowing movement of another person’s hand as you face each other with eyes closed, designed to make the follower aware of the nature of the other person’s energy (qi). This uses the parietal-temporal-occipital complex and cerebellum, but without visual input, the cerebellum regulates muscle tone and posture based on the information on the body’s position in space from the semicircular canals in the inner ear and sensory input of position and tension from tendons and joints.
Interestingly, we found the exercise easier using our left hands. Under the principle of decussation (crossing over), the sensory inputs of pressure on the Pacinian corpuscles in the fingertips exerted by the other person’s movement are received by the right cerebral hemisphere, and the resulting motion of your left hand is also determined by the right hemisphere. In the majority of people, the right hemisphere is better at tasks involving simultaneous processing of many different inputs, while the left is better for logical, sequential analysis. If the right hand is used, impulses travel to the left hemisphere, and then through the corpus callosum to the parietal lobe of the right hemisphere- which is involved in visualisation of three dimensions. If the left hand is used, the impulses travel directly to the right hemisphere- perhaps indicating that the task would be easier.
The style of kung fu taught is that of the white crane, a bird symbolising longevity and thought in eastern cultures to live for a thousand years due to a unique breathing style. Breath control and awareness is therefore also taught. Groups of neurones in the medulla oblongata create rhythmic impulse patterns, which pass along the vagus nerve to the muscles of the intercostals and diaphragm- which contract and relax regularly. Impulses from the cerebrum to the medulla oblongata can change this pattern, allowing you to control your breathing pattern.
Groups of neurones responsible for regulating heart rate and blood pressure (by altering the speed at which the sino-atrial node in the right atrium of the heart beats) are also located in the medulla oblongata and are closely linked to the breathing centres. These neurones respond to information from baroreceptors (regarding blood pressure) in the walls of carotid arteries, and receptors in the medulla oblongata, and walls of the carotid arteries and aorta (blood carbon dioxide concentration) to maintain a constant internal environment (homeostasis). However, as breathing patterns change due to conscious modification by the Suang Yang practitioner (or the hypothetical crane), they could theoretically influence the action of the nearby heart rate and blood pressure regulation centres- possibly in a positive manner- and in theory, could lead to a longer life- though a thousand year life expectancy seems somewhat exaggerated!