Hi folks, I was very sad to hear of two unnecessary deaths in the New York City Triathlon. I say unnecessary because of my experience in triathlons as an ex-water polo player. I have completed the Lake Placid Ironman five times, which has an extremely crowded swim start. This year I completed the race with an abdominal aortic stent graft, and at no time did I feel threatened in the water. The start of these ... Read more
Relaxed Strength Is Stronger Than Tense Strength, But Does Chi Exist?
Hi folks, I was in the middle of our Pilates lesson the other day, when Tara our instructor said, "relax Kevin, you'll feel stronger that way." We know these things but we forget. This comment took me back 30 years to my Kung Fu lessons. I studied this martial art for two years under Floyd, a truly talented individual. We were trained in two main areas, mental resistance to pain and the development ... Read more
Loving, Limerencing or Loking Your Sport, And Does Age Really Matter?
Hi folks, It is critical for your happiness that you develop a healthy relationship with your exercise or training program, and especially with your race performance if you race. If you don't know what a healthy relationship is, how are you supposed to do that? It took me many years to work it out, partly with the aid of two books (see figures). A propos this issue, I was recently reading a discussion group ... Read more
Accidents Happen When You Are Tired Or Distracted
Hi folks, Have you ever had a serious training accident? I have experienced several, and each one was at least to some extent my own fault. I was tired or lost my focus every time. These accidents included the following: (1) A severely injured knee at the end of a long day's skiing (mistake - full day ski pass on the first day of the season), which resulted in surgery. (2) A bad bike wreck that ... Read more
Overcome Your Roadblock Or You’ll Never Get Going
Hi folks, What is your roadblock or area of resistance to exercise and training? I have been a swimmer of sorts for over sixty years, but I still hate jumping into cold water. Nothing seems to improve the experience, including prolonged meditation upon my cold-water-phobia. I've tried every kind of mental trick to no avail. I just have to force myself each and every time. The zone of discomfort is ... Read more
Choosing Clothes For The Gym Or The Race: Appearance Versus Function
Hi folks, When purchasing your workout or race gear select a balance between appearance and function that works for you. It is important to feel comfortable during exercise, but people differ in how their state of comfort is generated. At one extreme, there are people who really care about how they look to others. It is all about how other people perceive them, or how they are 'turned out.' We all have ... Read more
Beware ‘Crazy Time’ That Comes In Many Guises, Including Barefoot Running
Hi folks, During life we have to overcome many challenges, including major life-changing relationship issues. The author is no exception in this regard. The good news is that you learn what to expect, how to protect yourself whilst attempting to be fair to others, and you know the pain will end and a new, exciting life will appear once you accept the loss and move on. The real danger comes during ... Read more
20 40 60, Don’t Walk, And Appreciate Your Absent Supporters
Hi folks, It is fascinating how interested humans are in what other humans are thinking about them. This clearly makes evolutionary sense, but can't we get over it? More accurately I should say, what they think other people are thinking about them, which reminds me of an old saying that I learned I don't know where: "When I was 20, I worried about what people thought about me. When I was 40 I didn't ... Read more
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