Hi folks, I have a problem with chronically tight calf muscles, and I may have found the cause. The way that I stand. I was receiving further core instruction from my dance and Continuum teacher, Rebecca, who commented that I tend to lean forward when standing. I did a quick internal body scan and there it was, plus lots of other things. My Feldenkrais training from Karen emphasizes the importance of ... Read more
Integrate Your Endurance Training Into Your Life In A Healthy Way
Hi folks, This is a follow-up post to the 'early morning swim chicken' one I posted previously. I am a notorious no-show for early morning swims, but I am working to fix this. Like one of my key biking partners, Rory, I also tend to lose the mental debate at 5:00 am and end up staying in bed. But that is no way to work towards a sub-13 hour Lake Placid Ironman time, so I am biting the bullet and ... Read more
Attempting To Mimic Certain Non-Human Animals May Help Your Running
You can learn from animals, to improve your sport, and save animals in the process. I was working out at the track the other day, when I overheard my number two son, Duncan, who was 'running the stairs,' say to his friend, whilst pointing towards the track, "That is why I have to stay in shape, to stay ahead of them." He indicated his mother, Sheelagh, and myself. Sheelagh runs with a shuffle-step, but she comes ... Read more
Short Or Tall, Cute Or Ugly, You Are What You Think You Are, So Think Great
Hi folks, During a recent 'comment conversation' with my interesting brother, Trevor, the issue of height was discussed and he called me 'Lofty.' I smiled about that, which in itself is revealing. As a 5' 6"-tall teenager, I was called 'Shorty' and labeled as having 'ducks disease,' and was otherwise teased unmercifully about my vertical challenge, with severe damage to my self-esteem, but as John ... Read more
Trust Is Funny Stuff And It Takes Time To Build
"She trusts people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy. This is true trust." Tao te Ching, Lao-tzu, Translation by Steven Mitchell Hi folks, Our mother raised us largely on quotes, and many of them were from the Bible. One of her favorites was "By their deeds shalt though know them." This may come from a different version of the Bible than the one I found ... Read more
The Natural Cycles Of Birth, Death And Endurance Training
Hi folks, I was sitting in our screened-in porch the other day, quietly reflecting on something or other, when I heard a cracking sound, and looking up I espied a large, dead tree crashing to the ground. After many years of walking in the woods, this was the first time that I had witnessed such an event. Trees are being born and are dying all the time, at effectively the same rate, though most never ... Read more
If Your Health Status Has Changed Don’t Live In The Past, Embrace Today While You Can
Hi folks, As life goes by we encounter changes in our health status. You can resist for a while, but you'll eventually be forced to accept this reality. Better to learn to live well with your issue sooner rather than later, I say. For instance, if you have a heart attack, followed by coronary arterial angioplasty, you are now different. If you are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type II, you are a ... Read more
Optimizing The Context Of Your Training And FitOldDog’s Last Scientific Publication
Hi folks, A number of books have changed the way I think, including 'The Road Less Traveled' (persuaded me to take responsibility for my own problems), 'Atlas Shrugged' (moderated my tendency to be too left wing), 'Tao te Ching' (gave me good advice on living), 'The Power of Now' (trained me to silence the chatter in my head and develop a more stable state of inner calm), and 'Zen and the Art of ... Read more
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