Joys of Trail Running,Tim Tebow,NFL ,and Health

A few words about last Saturday's run.  Saturday, Secretariat, and I ran on the trail to the deli in Downtown Cool where we met Carrie.  She had an early morning meeting, and I gave her our estimated time of arrival.  I told her she would be our aid station and to bring goodies. She did as requested. Once there, I told her that many years ago, Secretariat beat this world class ex ride and tie female runner at a running race where she gave him a cute nickname.  I told her that he would be angry with me if I told her the cute name.  Immediately, Carrie wanted to know the name in the worst way and begin guessing.  And wouldn’t you just know it, she guessed the name.  You will have to ask her about that cutesy name as I cannot tell you.

Then we left to run back to my home going by Chris Turney’s house.  Secretariat, as usual, got into the lead and when we reached Chris’s home, we found Chris, Micki and Secretariat waiting for us. Secretariat was drinking a beer and claimed he had been there for a long time.  Chris said he was still not feeling well and declined to join us for this run.   By the way, Chris knows Secretariats AKA as it is a trail secret.  What you hear on the trail stays on the trail –the runner’s code...

After Secretariat, finished his beer, we took off for my home, which is about 50 to 55 minutes away.  After a while, Secretariat got into the lead again.  Carrie and I had much to talk about, and as a result, we leisurely reached my home.  Secretariat said he had been waiting for us for a long time, but Linda told us differently.  At my home, Secretariat had another beer, a chocolate brownie, a banana, chocolate ice cream, and chocolate syrup. He said he enjoyed that run especially because of the aid stations.  All told, Secretariat and I covered about 15 miles give or take.

Yesterday I talked about Tim Tebow.  I just have to comment on an article in the January 12, 2012 edition of the Wall Street Journal titled “Does God Care Who Wins Football Games?”  This article was written by Fran Tarkington the NFL quarterback who primarily played for the Minnesota Vikings.  Tarkington grew up the son of a Pentecostal Holiness minister and attended church on Wednesday night, Friday night, Sunday morning, and Saturday night every week of his childhood.  He was at the first-ever national camp for the Fellowship of Christian athletes attended by Otto Graham, and Don Meredith other NFL quarterbacks.

Tarkington commented that in the Super Bowl with the Raiders, he was sure that God would be on his side for the game, because it was against the Raiders, and they were the villains of the league.  He said it was hard for him to believe they would lose because he thought the Vikings had more Christians on their team than the rebel Raiders.  He said.  “We lost.”  What was cute was when he said that players would pray before the game “let there not be any injuries, let everybody play good game.”  He added that there was no prayer to win the game, because he feared that God would punish us for asking.  He  said that after the moment of devotion, the team would all shout in unison, “now let us go kill those SOB’s!” Enjoy the rest of your day.

Tim Tebow ,Personality, Expectation, Obesity and Success

Additional comments begun last week about personality and weight gain.  For example, individuals who thrive on competition and deadline may appear to be high powered, but the power that drives them internally is adrenaline and cortisol hormones.  These stress hormones supply quick bursts of energy in fight or flight situations, but when the alarm is unrelenting or constant; they can cause health problems including obesity.  Cortisol stimulates the brain chemical called neuropeptide Y., which boost carbohydrate carvings, and also makes the body churn out excess insulin and accumulate fat particularly in the belly, which raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other diseases.  As you know, people who feel chronically stressed often use food for energy and comfort and rationalize that they have earned it. Do you know of anyone that fits the self-defeating description?  If you do, consider mentioning: exercise is the best way to burn up excess cortisol; look to something that can hamper, distract or relax you as a reward I.e.  a good book ,a hot bath etc.  Remember, exercise is best!

Who is familiar with the quarterback who won a Heisman Trophy and led his University of Florida gators to a national championship?  This man was Florida’s USA Today Football Player of the year as a high school player and the son of a pastor who always put his faith before football even while playing in the National Football League.  I bet you thought it was Tim Tebow.  Well, it was not Tim but Danny.  Danny Wuerffel was the first, but in no way received the media coverage as Tim.

Father James Martin wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal, weekend edition Saturday/Sunday, January 14-15, 2012 titled “is God Answering Tebo’s Prayers?” I encourage you to see what the Jesuit theologian wrote about in reference to the Denver Broncos recent win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Some might argue that God was in Tim’s corner when that feat occurred while some might argue, why he left Tim and allowed the Broncos to get demolished by the Patriots this past Saturday.

From a psychological point of view, Tim’s NFL football heroics this season were terrific.  His Bronco football team was losing before he was put in as quarterback.  What he added this year was hope, belief, and expectancy.  His competitiveness and gutty play was contagious and had a ripple effect.  It did not take long for his teammates to change their attitude- belief structure which resulted in behavior change-they played better and won most of their games.

The power of expectation, believing in you, coupled with thinking “I can” was demonstrated by this young religious man.  All the power to him, and if he believes that he is inspired by God, good for him.  Of course, this 6 foot five, 250 pound strong, dedicated, no nonsense male athlete has both mental and physical attributes going for him. Good luck Tim. Thank you for demonstrating how the beliefs in “I can” results in behavior change.