Hi folks, It's pretty easy to discover what you REALLY cannot do well, both mentally and physically, as long as you give it a serious attempt. However, it can be the more subtle weaknesses that take the edge off of your fun and athletic skill. For instance, a physical therapist told me many years ago that I have weak adductor muscles in my legs. I work on them, carefully, all the time using the weight ... Read more
Swimming Is Helping My Running Due To Improved Lat Involvement And Conditioning Thanks To Jack Heggie
Hi folks, I recently posted on the issue of my dramatically improved swim times in the pool as a result of Rick Fee's encouragement to focus more on conditioning than technique, and my coach indicating how I might engage my lat (Latissimus dorsi) muscles more effectively. Interestingly, I now feel that this is paying dividends for running. I suspect that the benefits derive from both greater ... Read more
Ten Key Pieces Of Exercise And Training Advice From FitOldDog
Hi folks, I was riding the bus from Alicante to Torre Vieja on the east coast of Spain the other day and I espied the 'Chez Ollie.' I prefer to think of it as a salt farm, where salt is harvested from the sea as it has been done for hundreds if not thousands of years. I admire this kind of human invention, with local resources being exploited to create a whole industry. I then started to muse as the ... Read more
Nations and Sports Have Both Written And Unwritten Rules Of Behavior
Hi folks, There's an old quote that came to my mind today, whilst I was sitting, well attempting to sit, in the Bus Station in Alicante, Spain, which goes as follows: "Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it" Henry David Thoreau Rules are interesting and important facts of life, some of which make life work and others can make it a hell. This is certainly true of any sport, for ... Read more
Pleasures And Risks Of Picking Up Your Pace For Ironman Swim T1 Bike T2 And Run
Hi folks, As a triathlete I spend a lot of time working to increase my endurance and pace, whilst both come with some risks and lots of enjoyment. This will be brief as I'm sitting in Heathrow Airport awaiting my flight. Swim: The key to improving pace in the swim is some technique, lots of conditioning, some more technique, lots more conditioning, and a good coach. The only real risks are ... Read more
Top Fifteen Blog Posts Indicate That My Readers Are Interested In Living A Full Life
Hi folks, Here are the top 15 of >350 posts for this blog since its inception in the fall of 2010. Top 15 Posts# readers % total Post Title And Link 1068 16% A Full Life Includes Experiences That May Require Your Trained Attention To Enjoy 933 14% Tennis-Induced Wrist Pain - Every Injury Is An Opportunity To Learn And To Improve In Your ... Read more
Smile It’s Your Birthday, Art, Religion, And Science Not Withstanding
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
Recent Comments