It’s been a busy race season so far, with some good finishes, and even a first-place age group win. But that first place came after a bad day. Miss Junie died. She was a lovely lady, a proper grande dame, and she was my “running buddy,” not in the sense that she literally followed meContinue reading “This Race Is For You, Miss Junie”
Category Archives: Exercise
Rules Change; Story Moves Forward
After rehabilitation on both knees and one foot, I have learned that the rules of workouts and competitions have come due for a reckoning. The good news is that swimming and cycling are unaffected, as neither is hard on the joints. Kickboxing and running, however, need a little adaptation. It’s time for orthopedic shoe inserts.Continue reading “Rules Change; Story Moves Forward”
If I Taught A Class In Aging 101
I was listening to a comedian on TV the other night, joking about how difficult it is to reach middle age. I hear you, buddy. Been there, and crawled through that. And looking back, I wish I’d had a manual on how to do it better. So it got me thinking about what my now-olderContinue reading “If I Taught A Class In Aging 101”
I Was Dirty, Oh So Dirty (And It Was Fun!)
I did one of my longer races yesterday. An eight-kilometer trail race. Not an easy trail; it had grass, sand, roots, ruts, elevation changes, and mud. A lot of mud. Six water hazards. Not on-purpose water hazards. We’ve had a lot of rain, and you know trails. The water does not drain the way itContinue reading “I Was Dirty, Oh So Dirty (And It Was Fun!)”
Note To Self: Take Those Trail Signs Seriously Next Time
Two races into the season thus far (a fourth and a first in age group), both road races. The first big trail race is under two weeks away. I recently visited a big local state park with wild scenic trails, to get practice on trails similar to what I will race in a few weeks.Continue reading “Note To Self: Take Those Trail Signs Seriously Next Time”
First Race, New Season, I Am Back!
It’s Monday, a sort of recovery day if going to kickboxing, washing floors, draining the air conditioning line, and (later on, weather permitting) mowing the lawn counts as recovery. Hey, life’s daily chores are still here, race or not. It was a good race on Sunday, considering I had not raced since February’s injury. IContinue reading “First Race, New Season, I Am Back!”
Olympic Optimism For All
As of this writing, the U.S. is leading in the overall medal count. And more than a few armchair athletes are getting ideas about dusting off those running shoes, inline skates, skateboards, bikes, basketballs, badminton sets, volleyball nets, and other exercise equipment, to get into the game again. Or get their toddlers into it, thinkingContinue reading “Olympic Optimism For All”
Racing A New Normal
I know I am feeling good and positive when I look at the racing schedule and start adding races to my calendar. But it’s a new normal, courtesy of Stage 1 arthritis (both knees) and a repaired meniscus (right knee, 24 physical therapy sessions). The over-the-counter arthritis meds are helping considerably, and so is anContinue reading “Racing A New Normal”
Long. Hot. Summer. Workouts.
OK, I know. It’s a furnace out there. Heat advisories. Temperatures soaring. Warnings about heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Makes a person want to stay inside, sit in front of an A/C unit with an iced beverage, and avoid going near a window, much less going outside. But unless you have a fully functional indoorContinue reading “Long. Hot. Summer. Workouts.”
Pain vs Play: How A Routine Change Changes Everything
“We’re pattern-making animals by nature. It’s what our brains do. But, if we want to grow, we have to develop that capacity to interrupt those patterns and stress-test them from time to time.”
— Rich Roll, Fast Company, 6-8-2024
Old Is Serious...Aging Is Hilarious 