Hi folks! I find that watching video clips really helps me to work on certain aspect of my technique, so here is a good one I have seen a number of times. The 'official' breaking of the four-minute mile by Roger Bannister. I was a water polo player in Bristol, England, when this occurred so I had no idea of its significance for runners. Guess I do now! Here is the pool that was so important to me at that ... Read more
I Love My New Drawing Book – Observation, Awareness, Technique, Patience, And Endurance Training
I was hunting around on my Nook looking for a drawing instruction book when I came across the little e-tome below. The drawing of the cats on the cover just blew me away! I downloaded the book for a few bucks, started reading, and then thought that I would try my hand at drawing my new running shoes following the instructions in my Nook Book. I really like my new Chez Ollie running shoes, which I purchased at ... Read more
And Old Farts Too!
Hi folks! I was sitting at Johnny's the other day thinking about nothing in particular, when I looked up and noticed the old Johnny's sign on the wall. Johnny's used to be a bait and tackle shop before it morphed into a coffee bar and great general hangout with food, music and good company. The bait and tackle went away but the old farts still hang on. Then I got to wondering about the expression 'old ... Read more
Take Time To Stop And Stroke The Kittens!
Hi folks, I was out riding the bike the other day with my friend Rory, who loves to always ride 'balls to the wall,' as they say. He just can't help it! Honest! He can't! As we approached a set of farm buildings where a delightful cat lives, Rory said, "are you going to stop and see the cat?" Notice, he didn't say "are we going to stop?" I said "of course," but I could tell that Rory wanted to keep on ... Read more
Lumpers, Splitters, Phenotypic Variance, And Life As A State Of Dynamic Tension
Hi folks! It would appear that we are all slightly different creatures, humans, but we do fall into certain types, or phenotypes. Tall, short, phlegmatic, choleric, hirsute, less hairy, analytical, emotive, and so-forth! When I worked as a pathologist it was clear that there are two types of pathologists, lumpers and splitters. If you are a lumper and you try to work with a splitter, they'll drive you crazy, and ... Read more
Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, Shaking Hands With Death, And Embracing Your Climacteric!
Hi folks! I attended St. George's Grammar school in England in the late 1950s to the early 1960s. Here is picture of the school building as it was when I was there as a shy teenager who was definitely not part of the 'in set.' I did, however, love to study and learn new things. This scholastic edifice, which was very kind to me in many ways, exposed me to a range of interesting subjects including ... Read more
Social Networking And An Open Mind Can Be Important With Respect To Your Exercise Plans
Hi folks! Internet-based social networking has turned out to have many benefits in my life. My bike guy and one of my Internet mentors, Victor of Bicycle Lab, has encouraged me to engage in tweeting for some time - I finally succumbed - and gave it a whiz and, as Victor said so many times, if done right it really works. It finds useful stuff, it gets your stuff out there, and if used with tools like HootSuite, it ... Read more
Staying In Shape Has Great Benefits – Dolphins In Hawaii!
Hi folks, I often stop to appreciate the joys of being in good physical shape, and long may it last. This came home to me about 10 years ago while I was visiting Hawaii to watch my son, Nigel, do the Hawaii Ironman again. About three days before the race the organizers put out the swim buoys for the 2.4 mile course that runs along the coast about a quarter mile from the shore. During the race it ... Read more
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