Hi folks! Glad you came by! Endurance sports require a great deal of mental training, whether you are young, old, a professional athlete or an age grouper having fun. It took me a long time to learn the key skills of cycling, and I still have plenty of progress to make. Over the years, my hill climbing has improved considerably through the process of ascending many hills and watching what works best for me. ... Read more
What Does It Mean To Do A Risk-Benefit Assessment For The Older Athlete With Health Challenges Such Aortic Surgery?
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by! The primary goal of this blog, and my recent e-book, is to assist people with the art and science, and I do mean art, of getting back on with their lives after a major health challenge, such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. My e-book emphasizes the importance of undertaking your own personal risk-benefit analysis or assessment. This is the process whereby you ... Read more
Wristband Time Indicating Excitement Or Terror But Either Way It Means You’re Alive
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by! I've had wristbands attached during my life for only two reasons, surgery and triathlons. They each come with their own feelings, but I must admit that I prefer the excitement of triathlons. Once I was going through a hard time in my personal life, and commiserating with a friend, when he said, "Good and bad feelings come and go, but either way it means you're alive!" I ... Read more
A List Of Things Worth Letting Go Of In Order To Promote Harmony In Your Life With Particular Reference To Older Athletes
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by! Dirty Harry was right when he said that, "A man has to know his limitations." As you age this becomes increasingly important, leading to the conclusion that you should train smarter rather than harder to stay in the game. About four years ago I completed the Mountains of Misery Double Header (200k, 4 category 1 climbs) under the 11-hour time cutoff, and it was tough, but I ... Read more
Beauty On The Running Trail Comes In Different Forms
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by! I do enjoy running with our dogs, if only to see their enthusiasm for all the odors along the way. These are really run and sniff workouts. I just pretend that I'm doing speed work intervals, then stopping for their olfactory pleasure is not a problem. They seem to see the world through their noses, to a large extent at least. I, personally, have a bizarre sense of smell, ... Read more
Endurance Cycling And The Disappearing Bike
When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. Next best is a leader who is loved. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised. If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy. The Master doesn't talk, he acts. When his work is done, the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!" Tao te Ching, Lao-tzu, translation by S. Mitchell "The ... Read more
FitOldDog Is Still Learning From Cats
Hi folks! Thanks for stopping by! You can gain a lot from observing how animals move or relax, especially as an aspiring athlete, however old you might be. I like to watch cats because they move with such grace and ease, apparently wasting little or no energy, lithe trunk hanging like a hammock between shoulder girdle and hips, whilst always ready to strike against perceived or actual infractions. Just ... Read more
To Understand Your Body You Need To Understand Life So Start By Asking Questions
A passing conversation, whilst walking the dogs with family and friends. Darian: "Are you taking photos of nature with your iPhone?" FitOldDog: "No, I'm jotting down a thought for my blog." Darian: "Will you share it with me?" FitOldDog: "Sure, I was writing, 'Life is sculpted emergence," and then I thought, "but who is the sculptor?" So I later posed this question to Darian. Darian: "I think it is the ... Read more
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