Hi folks, I've seen cancer in many guises during my scientific career of over 40 years, including material from domestic animals and research studies, and clinically as it took loved ones from my life. I know this beast pretty well, so when I go for a health screen I wonder - is it my turn? My recent visit to my dermatologist, Dr. Robin Thompson of Chapel Hill Dermatology, was no exception. I was aware from ... Read more
How An Aging Scientist Athlete Deals With Arthritis Pain
Hi folks, Our bodies are like an old car. We accumulate physical damage as we age, but we don't let that stop us. It is just part of the game of life. One thing that happens is arthritis in joints that have undergone surgery, in my case my knees, and body parts that are frequently exposed to minor traumas. My major area of arthritis pain is limited to three joints of my left hand. They will ache or even ... Read more
Athletes Need Effective Sunscreen And A Good Dermatologist
Hi folks, I'm off to my dermatologist again tomorrow. Being fair-skinned and frequently sunburned as a kid, potential cancers pop up all the time, usually in the form of solar keratosis. These are rough patches, sometimes scaly, and tend to become white after swimming in the pool. If not removed they can progress to form a deadly kind of growth, the squamous cell carcinoma. These tumors can invade locally and ... Read more
Play Is Much More Fun Than Work And More Effective
Hi folks, A mathematician friend of mine wrote a letter years ago, in response to a request for advice, in which she said that she couldn't address the question until she had "played with the equations." Her boss, a statistician (an odd but interesting breed), was required to edit the letter for some reason or other and he added a single edit. He crossed out 'play' and substituted 'work.' Boy, did he ... Read more
Nutrition And Ambience: Meal ‘A’ or Meal ‘B’
Hi folks, Nutrition is certainly an important aspect of a balanced exercise philosophy, and your approach to nutrition will be impacted by the types of foods that you normally consume. In order to expand your culinary repertoire you might consider trying food from a wide range of cultures and countries. I had the good fortune to spend five years of my life in Geneva, Switzerland, in the late 1970s. I ... Read more
Dancing As An Expression Of FitOldDog’s Training Philosophy
Hi folks, Just thought that I would bring you up to date on my dancing, as it is certainly becoming an integral part of my exercise philosophy for better health. Furthermore, much to my surprise (at the age of 68), I am actually making progress, spontaneously moving to ZZ Top the other day. Nick (13) was really impressed. During my run this morning, I found that if I engaged my butt-dancing skills I ... Read more
In The Pool The Wall Is Not Your Friend
Hi folks, One of the greatest challenges to swimming fitness in my opinion is the end of the pool - I call it the wall, don't know why. When you do a hard swim it feels so good to rest on the wall. The strange thing is that the clock, which is already going too fast, starts to speed up. A minute on the wall can feel like a few seconds. So if your coach says 10 seconds rest, don't make it 11 seconds ... Read more
Try Running Straight Out Of The Weight Room
Hi folks, When my doctor or my coach tell me to do something, I don't necessarily do it. Most of the time I do, but now and then the action seems ill advised for me personally. In the case of doctors I argue, and they sometimes listen, but generally not. In the case of my coach, I give it a try, and if it doesn't feel right I let him know (or blog about it). Recently, I was instructed by my coach to do a ... Read more
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