"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
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
Gedankenmeditation Enriches Your Endurance Training And Your Life In General
Hi folks, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without regular meditation. How do people quieten their minds without it, I wonder. To sit quietly, mind silent, increasingly aware of your internal and external worlds, intermittently watching your mind so as to encourage inner silence. It feels great! Recently, I decided to gently explore different thoughts and feelings during my meditation ... Read more
Patience, Consistency and Skill Are The Real Keys To Endurance Training Whatever Your Age
Hi folks, Social networking, whether on the Internet or locally (in real life?), plays an important role in our lives, directing us towards or away from the critical human interactions. I was recently approached for advice on triathlon training via a circuitous path, initially as result of a face to face conversation between two people in our little grocery store, Johnny's Gone Fishing, which ... Read more
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words But The Real Thing Is Even Better
Hi folks, Be it looking at a photograph of the planets versus seeing them with your own eyes, listening to music versus playing an instrument yourself, or or watching sports versus undertaking a sport, the 'real thing' is always better, in my opinion. The first time I observed the rings of Saturn directly through a telescope that I had purchased, it was an exciting if not a 'spiritual' moment. The ... Read more
Fear Of Death Can Get You Killed On The Bike
Hi folks, When you undertake long steep hill descents on a racing bicycle, with tiny tires, always remember the golden rule of cycling that I learned at training camp, "Keep the rubber side down." The problem is that fear of falling prevents the relaxation needed to perform optimally, to take turns smoothly, and accurately estimate the effects of poor road conditions as they come racing towards you. ... Read more
Conflicting Instructions On Head Position In The Water: Can Both Coaches Be Right Or Is It All In The Eyeballs?
Hi folks, Head position is critical for most sports, being at the 'crown of your posture,' and your head is heavy! I have received conflicting instructions on head position from different swim coaches over the years, but this conflict was glaring recently. Coach #1: Whilst swimming with Rick Fee, who is coaching me in the local pool, he said, "Kevin, you are swimming looking at the bottom of the ... Read more
Long Hill Climbs On The Bike Provide Excellent Physical And Mental Conditioning
Hi folks, The last day of Chez Ollie in Tucson, Arizona, included a long climb up Mount Lemmon, with a 2.5-hour cutoff time before descending back to SagMonkey, and the ride home. This is a beautiful climb, with cacti everywhere, and breath taking views, whilst the climb goes on and on and on at a 3-8% grade all the time. Great training! As one climbs for a long time like this there is a lot of ... Read more
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