Running in space
Talking with Dr. Robert Thirsk, former astronaut and a Canuck who got to log miles in zero gravity.
“Steady as she goes Mr. Sulu.” - Captain Kirk (William Shatner - Canada’s other spaceman)
As we run on the roads and trails in Canada, on Earth which spins slowly as it orbits our bright burning sun, we seldom but occasionally think beyond our terrestrial home. With Commander (Cdr.) Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut currently aboard the International space station, miles above the Earth, it has been an opportunity to think of space and the cosmos.
Although Canadian space legend Captain Kirk (aka William Shatner) tweeted with Cdr. Hatfield I knew (and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) confirmed) that it would be near impossible to ask the floating astronaut any questions (I knew he ran). But then CSA said that maybe I would be interested in speaking with former Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk. My fingers hit the keyboard and I searched the internet - Dr. Thirsk may be the first Canadian to have run in space I found out!
Dr. Robert Thirsk
Dr. Thirsk who’s biography indicates he likes to be called Bob was born in 1953 in New Westminster, BC and although not as well-known as some other Canadian astronauts, he should be. With a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of technoilogy (MIT) and a Doctorate of Medicine from McGill, Bob Thirsk sounds impressive enough. Then he became an astronaut. (proof that brains are not handed out evenly)
In 1983 Bob was selected to the Canadian Astronaut Program. In 1984 he served as backup payload specialist to Marc Garneau. In 1994 he served as crew commander for space mission simulations at Defence Research and Development Canada in Toronto. In 1996 Bob finally made it to space aboard the space shuttle, finally achieving his dream and joining the select few to see the world from space and experience the wonders and excitement of exploring space.
In 2009 Bob became the first Canadian astronaut to fly a long duration expedition aboard the International Space Station. Bob Thirsk lived and worked in space for 188 days during this second voyage to space. Of interest to runners, he also installed the second space treadmill called the COLBERT – named after American comedian Steven Colbert and became one of few Canadian to run anywhere other than Earth.
I had the recent opportunity to talk with space runner Dr. Robert Thirsk.
Did you run before joining the astronaut program and did you need to run as part of the training?
“Yes, I have been a life-long runner. I prefer the term jogger to better describe my running pace and style (and my teen-age son thinks that plodder is an even better term).”
“All astronauts maintain a good state of aerobic fitness, muscle strength and agility. Since an astronaut’s body will decondition with time spent in space, it is strategic to start a space mission at the peak of fitness. The work that we perform in space can be physically demanding. For instance, spacewalks (also known as EVAs) may appear slow and ballet-like but they actually require great strength and aerobic capacity. And in the event of an accident during the flight, an astronaut may need supreme strength and conditioning to take corrective actions.”
“Astronauts devote much time and effort to fitness training. While many astronauts are runners, others cycle, play squash or other racquet sports to maintain their aerobic fitness.”
What was it like to run in space?
“We utilize two treadmills aboard the International Space Station (as well as two cycle ergometers) to maintain our aerobic conditioning. We also have an Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) that we use to maintain our muscle strength.”
“One treadmill is named TVIS and is located in the Service Module of the Russian segment of the Station. Another one is located in Node 3 of the western segment. This second treadmill is called COLBERT (Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill) and was named after the American comedian Stephen Colbert.”
“Since the Station houses several microgravity experiments that are sensitive to even the slightest perturbations, both of these treadmills are isolated from the rest of the Station by a vibration isolation system (VIS). The VIS uses springs, dampers or gyroscopes to reduce the transmission of the impact loads of runners on the treadmills. Without a VIS, each step of a runner on the tread would send vibrations reverberating throughout the Station.”
“After arriving at the Station, it took me a few days to adapt to the running style imposed by a VIS-equipped treadmill. With each strike of my foot, the free-floating treadmill moved slightly away from me. As I ran, the treadmill was in constant motion - bouncing up and down, forward and back, left and right. To me, it felt like running on a giant inebriated marshmallow. I eventually developed a suitable running style to maintain my balance.”
“I wore a harness while I ran. Besides holding me down to the treadmill so that I didn’t float away, the harness also placed a load over my shoulders and around my waist. The harness load felt painful during my first couple of weeks on orbit. With time, I tolerated and gradually increased the load. When I was ready to return home several months later, I was running with a harness load equivalent to my body weight.”
“Exercise on the Station treadmills provided several benefits. It allowed me to maintain my aerobic conditioning and minimize the loss of calcium from my bones and protein from my muscles and it provided a psychological diversion. The work that I performed on the International Space Station was demanding and incessant, so it was a pleasure each day when I was scheduled for 40 minutes of treadmill time. Running was a cherished moment to be alone with my thoughts and to reflect on my good fortune to be living a lifelong dream.”
“Prior to flight, a sports cinematography company, XCZone, provided me with a DVD of my favourite jogging trails in Canada (the West Coast Trail, Lake Louise, the Rideau Canal, the Gatineau Mountains and Gros Morne National Park). I was grateful for these videos since viewing them as I exercised on orbit helped me to maintain a connection with my beautiful home planet.”
“There is so much more to say about the unusual aspects of running in space. But the last thing I’ll mention is that sweating in space is different than on Earth. In a weightless environment, sweat does not evaporate; instead it builds up as a film on our skin. I used fans to keep cool as I ran and I frequently used a towel to remove the sweat film. And since there is no shower or bath-tub on the Station, I cleaned up after exercise as best I could with a wash cloth, liquid soap and rinseless shampoo. My first shower back on Earth at the end of the mission was a long satisfying one!”
In a busy, fast-paced world people often forget about physical fitness, what are your thoughts on being active in a modern world?
“Astronauts floating effortlessly inside a spacecraft experience low activity levels. Similarly, the nature of life and work in our modern office-based society can also lead to low levels of physical activity. A sedentary lifestyle whether in space or on Earth results in deconditioned hearts, atrophied muscles and demineralized bones.”
“Consequently, astronauts dedicate ourselves to two hours of aerobic and resistance-type exercises each day. This short period of intense activity does not completely stop the physiological deterioration associated with spaceflight, but it does minimize its extent. Likewise, it is essential that people on Earth maintain adequate levels of daily activity and include intense exercise in our terrestrial routine. Exercise raises our heart rate above baseline, loads our bones and muscles, and reduces our risk to develop certain diseases.”
Most Canadians will never become astronauts and enjoy the challenge of pushing their limits in marathons or even ultramarathons - what is your next challenge?
“I have a lifetime of wonderful memories of my shuttle and ISS missions as well as long-lasting friendships with my crew mates. However, I have now left the astronaut corps to join the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as an executive. Exploration continues to be my passion. In addition to space, the modern frontiers of exploration include medicine. There is still much left to discover about the human body and disease.”
“The health researchers that I work with are remarkable people. Like my astronaut colleagues, they inspire me to attempt the difficult and to contemplate the unknown. They inspire me to address the tough health care issues of the day “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.””
Do you run now or what do you do to stay active?
“I am determined to remain physically active throughout my life. My exercise routine includes stretching, 30 minutes on an elliptical machine, free weights and core exercises. The exercises that I performed in the immediate post-flight period after return to Earth were designed to load my antigravity muscles and bones and to enhance my control of stability. I intend to continue these kinds of exercises into my geriatric years. I also enjoy occasional plyometric workouts with my sons. Plyo workouts help me to maintain my hockey legs.”
“Due to a chronic knee injury, I now limit my running to two times per week. But there is nothing more enjoyable to me than running on a well-groomed trail through a verdant forest. Well … except flying in space!”
Bob encourages young Canadians to build their dreams and works with educational specialists in Canada to develop space-related curriculum for grade school students. Dr. Thirsk resigned as astronaut and left the Canadian Space Agency in 2012 to join the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Ottawa.
We all have dreams, we may not make it space but there is always a challenge or goal to achieve. Run on Bob.
Do you have a story to tell?
legsnlungs@hotmail.com
See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.
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