If there is a rehab clinic for runner's high addicts, Steve Lewnau might want to check in.
Just ask his current pair of running shoes, which have been eating concrete for nearly 1,200 miles. Or ask his leg, which was in excruciating pain as he ran on it for a month before doctors diagnosed a stress fracture in his tibia.
"Running pretty much defines me," said Lewnau, a telecommunication, information studies and media senior.
His addiction started two years ago when he laced up his kicks and set out with the goal to lose weight. Soon, he was hooked and running anywhere from 50-70 miles a week.
Last October, Lewnau completed the Detroit Marathon in 3 hours and 18 minutes. He calls it one of his most testing life experiences.
"After about 15 miles there's just so much pain you don't even care anymore about performing well," he said. "In my mind, I just wanted it to be over with. It hurt so bad."
As the social coordinator for the MSU Running Club, Lewnau is making an effort to get people excited about the activity.
Before people go down to the trail, there are some things to keep in mind, such as running form and the right pair of shoes.
Most Americans develop poor running habits as soon as they put on their first set of baby shoes, said Grant Robison, who gives running form clinics at Playmakers, 2299 W. Grand River Ave., in Okemos.
"In our culture, we grow up with shoes on our feet, so from a very early age, we tend to develop bad habits because our feet are so protected," Robison said. "We don't feel bad hitting our heels on the ground because there's a lot of cushion."
Proper running form can help prevent nagging knee, lower back and ankle injuries, he said. Good form comes from coordinating the arms and legs to make everything work in harmony, he added.
The best way to master the technique is to not over-stride, he said.
"The thing we see a lot of injuries coming from is just landing too far in front," Robison said. "When you're landing in front of your center of gravity, you'll most likely land on the heel and get a lot of torque on your knee as your foot finds the ground."
A telltale sign of poor form is worn out heels on shoes, he said.
"If you were to imagine it as a bare foot, it would be down to the bone," Robison said. "Run 100 feet down the sidewalk in bare feet, and see how you're running differently."
When it comes time to put the shoes back on, it is important for runners to choose a style that will cater to their foot shape, said Dr. Jeff Kovan, who works in the MSU Sports Medicine department.
For instance, runners with flat feet should buy a stiff shoe with motion control, Kovan said. Runners with high arches have stiffer feet and should buy a shoe with more cushioning.
Shoes should be replaced after 300-400 miles, Kovan said, so Lewnau may want to consider picking up a new pair. Or maybe not.
"I'm kind of cheap, and they still feel comfortable to me," Lewnau said.
