The Toughest Aspect Of Ironman Is Balancing Training With Other Commitments

  Hi folks, I'm off to watch my youngest son, Nigel, compete in the St. George Ironman, 2012, and on the way I had a chance to spend time with his family, including three of my grandchildren. It is interesting to watch a young family struggle with the issue of time, the ceaseless energy of children, work responsibilities, and keeping relationships happy and healthy. When it comes to Ironman training, ... Read more

We Call Him Boyd

  Hi folks, Every now and then Jess comes home with a lost soul, be it dog or bird, and here is the latest, now known as Boyd. As the resident veterinarian, I was recruited into service, so I looked up advice on rearing orphan bird chicks on the web. Boyd now seems to be doing well, and we think that he is putting on weight. He certainly makes a fuss if he wants to eat. Boyd really likes ground beef ... Read more

Enjoying The Aloneness Of Ironman Training With My Girly Triple

  Hi folks, There is a big difference between loneliness and aloneness. I used to feel lonely a lot when I was younger, but that seems to have faded as time went by. Aloneness is another matter. I find that I really need alone time in order to recharge my batteries and deal with the complexity of people again. In this respect, Ironman training is perfect. You undertake these races on your own, with the ... Read more

Further Thoughts On Not Thinking Whilst Swimming, Biking And Running

  Hi folks, The other day I was listening to one of my favorite programs on National Public Radio, This American Life, when I heard for the first time about Steve Blass Disease. In fact, Steve Blass talked about his story during the program, attributing his late career problems as a baseball player to thinking too much. He also said that he wished that people would focus more on his previous great ... Read more

How To Zero In On Perfect Biomechanics To Minimize Injury And Optimize Performance

  Hi folks, After years of training, plenty of injuries, and extensive (but always incomplete) study of the way my body works with respect to locomotion, I think I finally get it. Unless you are one of those rare people who naturally have perfect biomechanics, if such a person exists, which I doubt, you will struggle with tight muscles, sore tendons and ligaments, and repetitive injuries from training (or ... Read more

What Should I Advise Larry To Do? To Train For An Ironman Or Not?

  Hi folks, You never know what is around the next corner, and here I am wrestling with the problem of giving advice to Larry, whom I have never met and who contacted me recently via the abdominal aortic aneurysm awareness Facebook page, with the following message (Larry said it was OK to talk about this on my blog!): "Kevin! Hi my name is Larry. I joined the AAA facebook page not too long ago. I too ... Read more

The Human Body And Psyche Are Fragile Machines That Respond To Load

  "Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear. What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, your position is shaky. When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance. What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear? Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the ... Read more

Compliance, Running Socks, And The KISS Principle

  "Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail." From: Tao te Ching, by Lao-tzu, translation by Steven Mitchell Hi ... Read more

Disclaimer: As a veterinarian, I do not provide medical advice for human animals. If you undertake or modify an exercise program, consult your medical advisors before doing so. Undertaking activities pursued by the author does not mean that he endorses your undertaking such activities, which is clearly your decision and responsibility. Be careful and sensible, please.