As a cross country coach who practices with my team everyday during the school week, I have no choice except to bring my young children along on our runs. Consequently what people see on the trails where we do most of our running is about 10-15 middle and high school runners, me pushing a double baby jogger with #9 (Sam) inside, #8 (6 year-old C.C.) in and out of the jogger, and #7 (8 year-old John) running alongside. Needless to say, we turn a few heads. As is often the case with our busy life, by the time I get to practice, pull the jogger out of the van and take a real inventory of what has come along, I realize a few key things are missing…things like shoes, for instance. When I first started coaching, this would have been cause for more kids to be in my jogger than running alongside it. However, now what usually happens is that my young kids run without shoes…and most of the time still keep up with the rest of us. [Read more…]
It is Really No Surprise…Most Young Kids Love to Run!
Fell Off the No-Sugar Wagon? Don’t Worry…Try, Try Again
If you are like me, sugar cravings lurk even when you least expect them. I have always been a lover of sweets. Over the years, though, I have tamed the sugar beast…at least a few times. It usually comes back though…sometimes out of nowhere, sometimes slowly and slyly. Recently the beast snuck up on me…just when I was feeling confidently in control. [Read more…]
Run Like a New Yorker…
If you ever question whether we have become a society of couch-potato, sedentary, lazy people…go for a run (actually, so as not to be intimidated, you might want to start with walk) in Central Park in New York City. First of all, there are literally thousands of people (I was there on a Monday) in the park…running, walking, biking, and roller blading for exercise. The one thing they almost all have in common? SPEED! [Read more…]
Winning By Losing…Have You Read This Book?
Most of us, by the time we are in our forties (some even earlier), have discovered that losing weight or even maintaining our ideal weight can be more difficult than when we were younger! Metabolism starts to slow, exercise routines become routine, and even our attitudes need revamping as we age. In other words, most of us understand the meaning of hitting a plateau when it comes to our weight. However, knowing what to do when this happens can be confusing. There are lots of diets out there claiming to be the answer as well as plenty of promising new exercise programs designed to recharge our system. It’s hard to know where to turn. [Read more…]
Why Should I Care If I Am Flexible?
I realized long ago that I’m no Gumby. Unfortunately for way too long I have accepted that I can’t really do anything about my ability to be flexible. But that is changing. As I get older I am trying harder to change my non-Gumby status…and I am determined to become more flexible because I know that the implications are far greater than just not being able to touch to ground with my fingertips. The following is an article by Alan Tyson, a sports physical therapist and owner of Architech Sports.
By Alan Tyson
Stretching is typically the most overlooked part of an exercise routine. Many people do not stretch because the results are not seen for some time. Increasing the muscle length takes time and stretching must be done on a regular basis. How many times have you exercised regularly and then took a break for a week or two because something came up or you were recovering from an injury? What did it feel like the first time you returned to the gym or sport you were playing? It was much tougher wasn’t it? Muscles will conform to the actions and stresses placed on them, whether that means becoming toned, stronger, bigger or more flexible because of training or becoming weaker or tighter because of disuse or a sedentary lifestyle. [Read more…]
Life is Difficult…So “Never, Never, Never Give Up”
“Life is difficult”. I remember reading that first line of the book by M. Scott Peck The Road Less Travelled when I was about 18 years old. Peck’s premise was that once we realize this reality, we are not bound to the false notion that this life should be easy. Perhaps Naval Lieutenant Bradley Snyder understands this better than most. Snyder, who won gold last week in the Paralympic Games, was robbed of his vision while serving in Afghanistan twelve months ago. Yet the fact that his life suddenly became a lot more difficult has not deterred him from pursuing his dreams. [Read more…]
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