Hi folks, Firstly, I must say that if someone tells you that they KNOW what is going on in this universe of ours, then they most certainly do not (play on words from quote by Richard Feynman). There are many windows onto our world, including Art, Science, Religion, and Politics. I tend to avoid the subjects of politics and religion on this blog because they are emotionally charged, often ... Read more
How Can You Not Look Around When You’re Training?
Hi folks, I never was a great athlete, but I did pretty well as a scientist. I think the latter was a consequence of my interest in nature and a tendency to question the obvious, the importance of which was drummed into my head by some impressive minds. The problem comes when I'm training for races with friends, such as my cyclist buddy and unofficial coach, Rory, who was not impressed when I stopped ... Read more
What To Do If You Have A Workout Planned But You Feel A Bit Off
Hi folks, I hit the pool recently for a standard swim, but I felt 'not quite right' and my times were off, so what should one do in this situation? This is a critical question and here are your choices: Bag it! If you really feel that something is not right, seriously not right, just let it go and see how you feel tomorrow. Don't try to make it up by doing an extra workout tomorrow, which is the ... Read more
Decrease Anxiety With The Aid Of Safe Exercise And A Little Mental Work
Hi folks, I look around and watch the world, and wonder about many things. I was fortunate to inherit an enquiring mind from my Mom (and maybe my Dad, but I never did meet him), and that is why I so much enjoyed my research career. One of the things that I wonder about is why people worry so much (hypothesis number one - neocortex too big to handle). I know people worry, because I've done my share. ... Read more
Conditioning Versus Technique And Why You Need Superior Training Partners
Hi folks, Learning new skills always seems to be a kind of stepwise process, be it learning a foreign language, running a business, playing a musical instrument, or becoming an athlete. You reach a plateau, stay stuck for ages, have a breakthrough, and with your new found knowledge work towards the next sticking point. This certainly seems to be true of swimming. I've made major progress in the last ... Read more
Tips On Building Mental Strength For Endurance Sports And Life In General
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" Joseph P. Kennedy "That's alright for them, but what do you do if you're not tough?" FitOldDog Hi folks, I find Twitter to be a great source of information and ideas, much of which comes in the form of links to articles that I would never otherwise find. For instance, take this tweet: "Rebecca Joslin @MissTriathlon How can you build mental ... Read more
Hydration: Art Or Science?
"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." Tao Te Ching Written by Lao-tzu From a translation by Steven Mitchell Hi ... Read more
Once An Englishman Always An Englishman When It Comes To Food
Hi folks, Born and raised in Bristol, England, I've now been in the USA for over 30 years, and I love living here, but I still enjoy many English things, especially certain foods. Nostalgia for one's youth plays a role in our gustatory preferences. I am very suspicious of so-called health food, with special reference to the latest fad, be it low fat milk or tofu burgers. Just recovering from a ... Read more
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