Na Wahine O Ke Kai Outrigger Canoe Race

All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail."– Dorothea Brande

Sammie is an outrigger canoe paddler and  she gives back to her community. As I commented in last week’s blog, it took a tragedy for Sammie to find a new beginning as well as a new direction in her life. But that’s only part of her story, as a physical handicap resulting from a “successful” surgery as a teenager propelled her to master other sports. If it wasn’t for that surgery, she would likely have been one of my ride and tie partners.

This athletic woman has been to and experienced the seven seas at a very young age. While other individuals in the 60s were more likely to be smoking dope or marching against the war in Vietnam, this woman was on a racing yacht in the Tasmanian Sea. Read about her adventure in her log but this is only one part of her story.

Sammie is proud of her involvement with the Pure Light Project. She has met many wonderful adaptive individuals and paddled with them in extreme ocean conditions. She learns from them and they learn from her. It is not too much to ask her about giving back. Her life is blessed and she brightens the lives of those around her as well. She has a small coffee plantation on her property and is extremely involved in its harvest. Reading about her will inspire and give you a glimpse into possibilities not yet acknowledged. The expression” the sky is the limit” fits with her. You will enjoy her story in “It Has Nothing To Do With Age.” Good luck Sammie in this year’s Na Wahine O Ke Kai crossing.

Novak Djokovic and the U.S. Tennis Open

How many are familiar with Serbian Novak Djokovic? I am going to give you a hint. You might be more knowledgeable if I say Roger Federer, McEnroe, or Ivan Lendl. I will not hold you in suspense any longer. Novak is currently the number one tennis player in the world. You will see him in the U.S. Open this week. Let’s see how he performs?

An article written by Hanna Karp in the Wall Street Journal dated August 29, 2011, was titled Novak Djokovic’s Secret: Sitting in a Pressurized Egg. Okay, what is a pressurized egg? This egg is called a CVAC Pod, made by a California company and has a price tag of $75,000. The purpose of going into the pod is to help him feel stronger on the court. This contraption uses a computer controlled valve and a vacuum pump to simulate high-altitude and compress the muscles at rhythmic intervals.

This company claims that if you spend up to 20 minutes in the pod three times a week you can boost your athletic performance by improving circulation boosting oxygen-rich  red-blood cells, removing lactic acid and possibly even stimulating mitochondrial bio genesis and stem cell production. Novak is so convinced that this pod helps his game, he is staying with a wealthy tennis trainer friend in New Jersey who has one of these devices on his property. Hopefully, Hurricane Irene didn’t interfere with their power source. At the moment I do not know anyone who has this pod because I would like to check it out. We don’t know if this takes the place of training? I’ll bet it doesn’t, but it might have helped me on my 9 mile or so trail run.

How many of you know which track and field record is the toughest? Statistically speaking compare every world record time and distance with the second-best performance in both men and women’s competition and come up with a percentage difference, and then use this number. Someone defined “toughest “employing this statistical procedure. Using this definition the winner is: Czechoslovakian javelin thrower Jan Zelezny whose 1996 mark of 98.48 m is  5.47% better than Aki Parviainen’s 93.09 also set 1996. Let’s see how long you can remember his name?

The fastest time for 100 m was set by Usain Bolt. His record time in 2009 is 9.58. Currently, he is considered the fastest human in history.  Remember his name and remember that time. We’ll see how long this record holds?

Marco's, Liberty Bell, and Revolutionary War

"No great deed, private or public, has ever been undertaken in bliss of certainty."– Leon Wieseltie

In last week’s blog, I mentioned three individuals from “It Has Nothing To Do with Age.” These athletes include Jack Sholl, Lew Hollander, and Sammie Stanbro. These folks compete in three different sports and I want to tell you a little more about them.  Before I do, I going to comment about the showing of the book trailer last Thursday night at Marco’s. The comments from the young kayak  crowd after the viewing were positive and encouraging.  I also introduced producer Secretariat in the process. Other films that evening were about individual kayak adventures on dangerous rivers in different countries by these young adventurous studs . If you missed it, you missed a wonderful evening.

Back to Jack Sholl.  I am going to share with you just a few of the stories about this remarkable man. Aside from his rowing prowess and contact with Olympians, there is another side to this man who has visited 39 countries and competed in many of them. Not only does his lineage go back to when William Penn recruited his eighth generation grandfather from Germany to come to the new land, but also to one of his relatives that owned a Tavern in Philadelphia that was part of the Underground Railroad.

It is no wonder that Jack is a patriot beginning with his enlistment in the service in World War II.  He participates even today as a volunteer for the US Coast Guard and at the National Park Service in Philadelphia. One story that Jack tells pertains to our Liberty Bell. One of the rules associated with Liberty Bell is that no one is permitted to touch it because of the contamination etc. One evening Jack was his Liberty Bell station where he encountered a Marine on leave from Iraq. He struck up a conversation with this Marine and learned that this man had another tour of duty ahead. Against the rules, Jack permitted this soldier not only to touch the historic Liberty Bell but to have a picture taken as well. This man broke down and told Jack that this was such an honor to touch our bell and that he was going to share his experience with his buddies back in Iraq.

Another story by Jack pertains to his knowledge about the Revolutionary War. He tells a story about Gen. George Washington who went to the man that contributed the most money to the war effort. Back then if the soldiers were not paid they wouldn’t fight. It was as simple as that. The man that George Washington went to pay his soldiers  was not Robert Morris the man who usually gets the credit for financing the Revolutionary War.  The man’s name instead is Hyam Solomon.  Read more about Hyam and attend one of Jack’s Power Point presentations and you’ll learn much about our Revolutionary War.

Molokai Hoe,Project Pure Light and Na Wahine O Ke Kai

Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over."– F. Scott Fitzgerald

Secretariat and I just completed a short tapering run. I am still nursing my hand injury from a fall last week while he is preparing to leave for his vacation. After our run we usually sit on my deck in the cool morning hour.  Today, he drank a beer and I had my smoothie. Today’s conversation dealt with, in part ,the Guinness Book of World Records and the difficulty of the early settlers coming across the Sierra Nevada’s. Does anyone know when “no hands bridge “was built? Secretariat told me of the many railroad bridges that crossed the American River with “no hands “being the only one still standing.

After our discussion we came in the house to look at the two new book trailer videos that he produced. We have a long version and a short version of the trailer. We both agree and like the short version better. On the blog, both versions show up. So just because you seen one version doesn’t mean you’ve seen the other one. Tonight Linda and I, Secretariat and others are going to go to Marco’s, in Coloma, to show our trailer along with others since its movie night. Join us at 8:00 PM.

Sammie Stanbro, one of the magnificent seven that I interviewed in my book, sent me an August 5, 2011 newspaper article from the sports section of West Hawaii Today written by Kevin  Jakahi. On that front page, titled Keauhou’s Winning Link is the picture of six women .  The article is about Sammy and her crew which is seeking its fourth straight title at the Hawaii Canoe Racing Association state Regatta. Incidentally, these women are in their 60s.

Sammie began paddling about 10 years ago after her husband Phil died from prostate cancer in 2000. She first met Phil in Australia and went on a trip to Japan with him. He proposed to her while visiting Hiroshima. They married in 1969 and had two sons, Joshua and Orion.  They lived in Northern California and Oregon before settling in Hawaii. Phil’s grandfather had a place in Kona so the family became rooted in that section of the big island.   Phil worked for the US Bureau of land management. In 1994 they bought land directly above the Kailua Village and built and designed an old custom Hawaiian style dream house overlooking the ocean.

Sammie has traveled around the world and padded races in New Zealand, Australia, Greece, and Sri Lanka to name a few. She also is involved with the Project Pure Light, an organization started in 2002 to allow adaptive paddlers an opportunity to challenge themselves in the canoe. “We’ve had two blind people, a couple of amputees, and others are paraplegics and we’ve done the Queen Liliuokalani (long-distance races) and the 41 mile Molokai Hoe,” said Sammie. The Molokai Hoe is referred to as the Super Bowl of paddling and began in 1952 for the men. The women’s race started officially in 1979 it is called Na Wahine O Ke Kai. These races begin in Molokai and finish in Oahu.  Sammie has paddled with both the men with the Pure Light team and with the women in this special Outrigger paddling event.

Do I have your interest?

Lew Hollander and the Hawaiian Ironman

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." – T.S. Eliot

Linda and I entertained Jack and Joan Sholl, Secretariat a.k.a. Tony Brickel and his wife Debbie last night. Over the past few months I’ve talked about Jack in glowing terms to Secretariat. He had some reservations and doubt not believing the numerous stories that I told about him. Well, he recently said that Jack is all that I claimed he was. Great! Jack entertained us with his exploits over the years and the different people, celebrities, and royalty that he has met in the process. Jack’s wife Joan is super also. She was a rower and has been an official representing the United States in various national and international competitions. Also, she was the first woman is official in rowing in the Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia. On some levels it’s too bad that I can’t add more to my chapter on Jack because this man has many-good qualities. I hope my chapter on him truly does him justice.

Another man that I interviewed for my book is Lew Hollander. It’s difficult to remember when I first met Lew. It was either when I read his book “Endurance Riding-From Beginning to Winning” or at the ride and tie championship in Eur Valley where we had adjacent corrals. Shortly after that in 2002, at the AERC convention, in Reno, Tom Kristoff, Linda Rodgers, Joe Larkin, Lew, and I went out for a Sunday morning run. On that day he said” I can run all day like this.”

Lew is an amazing individual. Last year after completing the Hawaiian Iron man he became the second oldest finisher. Next month, he goes after the record to become the oldest Hawaiian Iron man finisher. Don’t bet against this man as he is phenomenal. His strong suit is swimming and he has improved in his biking ability. At the moment there is no reason why he can’t break this record. Good luck and good fortune.

Aside from mastering the Hawaiian Iron man Dr. Hollander has mastered endurance riding. Even if you are in endurance rider, I suggest that you consider taking a look at his book.  To illustrate, back in 1978 he proposed a high-fat diet and a usable fat feeding program for the athletic horse. He also came up with an inexpensive way to electrolyte your horse with the use of Lite Salt.  It works as I incorporated Lew’s Mix in both endurance and ride and tie events. He introduced the “Vet Gate” at an AERC convention in Reno. He also was instrumental in the rider mileage program or the “to compete is to win”. He has made many contributions to these sports.

This man is  a physicist and continues to present papers at scientific meetings. He has numerous patents and has made invaluable contributions to our society. Incidentally, he also wrote a book on climate change called “And Chocolate Shall Lead Us.”  You may or may not agree with his politics but we can all agree on his intelligence and brilliance. Pat Browning once told me “He is one tough man and I have to work like hell to beat him.”

Ride&Tie, Life Changes ,and Friends

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."– Steve Jobs

My journey during these last two years has taken me to places that I have never imagined. Of course, I attribute the beginning to 1997 when I first had significant contact with the ride and tie community. I entered  a limited distance endurance ride at Mt. Hamilton in San Jose called the Mustang classic. Not knowingly at the time, I was parked next to two ride and tie individuals. After completing my endurance ride, I struck up a conversation with these two individuals. They seemed friendly enough. We talked about a number of things including my interest in ride and tie. After a while, two other participants from ride and tie came over and we talked. The president of the ride and tie Association told me he would find me a partner for the next ride and tie which was called Quicksilver. My life changed at that point along with my direction. So I am going to blame, for all the resulting changes that took place, Secretariat since he was one of those individuals at the Mustang classic.

Through this sport I met many individuals who later became friends. In 2009, I thought about writing a book. I started with two focus groups receiving input about my ideas as well as getting information from the participants. Then I formulated hypotheses that assisted in developing a questionnaire that I would use, with my interviewees. Then I started thinking about the various individuals that I knew who could be possible subjects for my research project.

One day I was reading a book titled “Growing Old Is Not for Sissies” and in that book there were pictures of members of the Marin rowing club. I procured a phone  number and called an officer in the Marin rowing club ,told him of my project and asked him for some names of rowers who  are still competing.

To make a long story short, Jack Sholl is a name that I was given. I contacted Jack, told him of my project, and he became a significant part of my story. I’ve gotten to know Jack these past two years and am anxious to tell his story. My life has been blessed by meeting Jack.

Jack’s story is a real inspiration and his life is remarkable. Aside from being a gold medal rower, this man has been in a shell some 65 years and still going strong. He has been all over the world in international competitions and is simply a legend in the sport of rowing. However, that is only part of his story. The other part pertains to him being a son of the American Revolution with family ties going back to the one and only William Penn. Yes that man and the state of Pennsylvania are the same. Jack is an expert when it comes to the Revolutionary war. He volunteers his time at the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, at the US Coast Guard in California, and  gives oral presentations about George Washington and Hyam Solomon. I’m proud to say that Jack is my friend. Oh by the way, Jack, his wife Joan, and Secretariat and his wife are going to be our dinner guests this evening.

Worry and Live Longer

Today’s article appeared in the Bottom Line Personal newsletter volume 32, number 16, August 15, 2011. Howard S. Friedman, PhD was the lead researcher of the most extensive study on longevity ever conducted. 1,528 Americans were followed from early childhood until their death. The study began in 1921 and interviews were conducted every 5 to 10 years with researchers looking at nearly 10,000,000 pieces of data including work habits, exercise routines, social relations and personality traits. Some of the findings may surprise you.

Conscientiousness was defined as people who are detail oriented, responsible and organized. By the year 2000, 70% of the men and 51% of the women in the study had died. The majority of deaths occurred among those with low conscientious scores. Conscientious people are more prudent in their personal habits, are less likely to smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol, and have healthier, more stable relationships and better work lives than low conscientious individuals. Also, the scientists speculated that conscientious people have higher levels of serotonin and/or other neurotransmitters that curb impulsive and risk-taking behavior. Hopefully, the more you mature the more conscientious you can become. If that is so, you might be able to increase your longevity. So think more about ways in which you can be conscientious.

Researchers also found that as far as worrying goes, they challenged the notion and found that people who worry tend to live longer than those who are described as being cheerful and worry free. Of course neither too much worrying nor too much optimism is a good thing as far as the study goes. You remember the Goldilocks and the three Bears story that it is important to find the right balance as your food can’t be to either too hot or too cold. Well, the researchers came up with a personality trait called “realistic optimism” which is defined as being optimistic at the right time and worrying when appropriate. If you think that you might be too negative then a change in your thinking is in order. See a psychologist if you are unable to do it on your own.

In the 1980s, individuals over the age of 70   were followed over the next 20 years. The results indicated that individuals who stayed productive tend to have healthier habits, had things  to look forward to, and set goals lived much longer than those that took it easy and avoided stress in their lives. Results also indicated that steadily married men tend to live longer than single, remarried , or divorced men. As far as women are concerned, women who were divorced and those that never married lived just about as long as women who were steadily married. And the best social networks are those that involve helping others. This trait can be called generativity as identified by Erikson.

The findings in this study have a positive correlation with prescriptions number 1,2,3,5, and 7 in “It Has Nothing to Do with Age.” The recipe for living a long and healthy life can be found in the stories I tell.  My book should be coming out within the next two weeks, I’m happy to say. It’s been a long process and another journey is to begin.

Tree Climbing and Self Actualization

How many of you are looking for something new, for something different in your workouts? If you are, I have an exercise that you may not have thought about. In the Health and Wellness section of the Wall Street Journal dated August 16, 2011 is titled “Go Climb a Tree, It Seriously Works Your Trunk.” On this page is a picture of a young woman 38 years of age hanging from the limb of the tree. Ann Koening is an urban forester for the Missouri Department of conservation as well as being the competitive tree climber.

According to Ann, competitive tree climbers aren’t very husky. She is 5’2” and carries 115 pounds. She claims the best way to train is to get right up in a tree. Okay, there is some gear required. A rope is necessary and costs roughly $100. Also, the individual has two types of saddles to choose from and they cost anywhere from $100-$300.  In addition, a throw weight is necessary, a beanbag type weight attached to 150 foot nylon line is used to help repel the rope over high branches and that costs about $10. Don’t forget a helmet which cost about $100.  Not quite last are boots that have flat soles, which she claims are very important.  For clothing, Ann   wears Merrell Chameleons or La Sportivas which range from $115-$170. The gear adds up like it does in any sport.

If this outdoor activity sounds interesting to you, she recommends a book titled “The Tree Climbers Companion.” From there, you could even join an ISA chapter and become an official part of the group. Remember there are local and international competitions as well. Ann claims that tree climbing exercises her back, glutes and core. She also participates in workouts that strengthen her agility and speed like plyometrics.

For competition, individuals compete in five individual events.  Each person is judged on points earned based on speed and technique in the following events: Secured Foot Lock; Throw Line; Aerial Rescue; Speed Climb; and Work Climb.

It is clear that in our society there are many creative ways to exercise, stay fit, and become healthy. The key is motivation since there is plenty of opportunities in which to engage. But you have to start with a desire or a change with the goal in sight. The more concrete the goal the better the opportunity to meet it. Once you have your goal you can then develop strategies on meeting that goal. The difficult part is deciding on the goal and being able to follow through which is motivation.

Let’s take Ann Koening for example. She has met her physiological needs (eats proper nutritionally) and her safety needs (wears proper clothing along with obtaining the correct gear). She is meeting her belongingness needs by being part of a group and is working on her esteem needs by developing more skill and expertise with tree climbing training. Will she ever become self-actualized or according to Erik Fromm “Man’s main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is.”   Time will tell and she is only 38. And in Maslow’s study of individuals that were self-actualized, he believed that if self-actualization happens it is more likely to occur when the individual reaches a mature age.                                                               

Yea, On Line Communication

"In all affairs, it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted."– Bertrand Russell

This article was found in the August 16, 2011 Wall Street Journal, “Could Those Hours Online Be Making Kids Nicer? In this case kids are actually college students. Research suggests that the widespread use of texting, e-mailing or posting on social media sites, has social benefits. Remember these are college kids. Recent studies indicate that digital communication can lead to better friendships online and off, greater honesty, faster intimacy, better relationships and a sense of belonging. These findings are associated with Maslow’s theory of hierarchy of needs. According to Maslow, after satiating physiological and safety needs follow becoming part of, belonging, and developing affiliative needs. Developing and meeting one’s sense of attachment and belonging are important for all of us.

According to Nancy Baym a communications studies professor at the University of Kansas, “people use digital communication primarily to interact with people that they are closest to off-line, not with strangers. The communication tightens the bonds between them.” Other studies suggest that technology driven communication may be particularly helpful for people who are shy or anxious in social settings. Dr. Larry Rosen found that frequent communication online services assists people by providing them with practice in social interactions which is easier than face-to-face involvement. While scanning dozens of Face book profiles looking for comments individuals posted and the responses to them such as supportive messages, the researchers suggested that an apparent understanding of the messages meant empathy.

Nancy Ellison, professor in telecommunications at Michigan State University, found that digital communication appears to bolster an individual’s sense of community and group identity in her study with low self-esteem students.

Apparently some of the drawbacks of online communication were not as bad as the researchers originally believed. In a survey of 3,777 teenagers, nearly 45% reported some bulling in the past year. However about 40% said they had been bullied in person compared to only 20% online or by phone or text messaging.  In another survey two thirds of the kids said they were bullied online but indicated that it didn’t bother them. Supposedly, young people are still far more likely to see sexual content or violence on television than online according to Michelle Ybarra, president of the nonprofit research group Internet Solutions for Kids Inc.

Well thank goodness for online communication. Just think if we didn’t have online communication, how would we develop friendships, social networks and meet our sense of belonging needs? Although this article pertains to college kids can we generalize from the results and apply them to ourselves or our children?

How has online communication benefited you? Has it helped you meet your sense of belonging needs? Are you more connected to people because of the ability to text, e-mail, etc.? Thank goodness there are some positives associated with online communication. I for one, now spend more time at the computer than ever before in my lifetime. If I did not exercise and run, I shudder to think of the negative implications regarding my physical and emotional well-being.

 Thank you ride and tie for giving me the avenue, opportunity, and motivation to develop my physical side. I know that sport has been a real blessing for me. I would like to give you the opportunity as well so I invite you to attend the Cool Ride and Tie on October 1, 2011

Motivation And Personality -Abraham Maslow

"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it."– John Ruskin

 Abraham Maslow developed a theory of motivation that was humanistic even though he fused his ideas with Freud’s, Fromm’s, Jung’s, Adler’s, and others. He viewed man as having the ability to develop, grow and become all that man can be.

Maslow believed that man’s physiological needs or drives were a starting point for behavior. For example hunger and thirst, are physiological needs which can dominate and require satisfaction prior to the higher needs in his theory. Following the physiological needs, when gratified, emerge the safety needs.  A few examples of safety needs include: security, stability, dependency, and protection, freedom from fear, from anxiety and chaos and others. Infants and children provide illustrations and proof of what happens when an infant or child is brought up in an unsafe, threatening, or dysfunctional environment. Seeking safety, stability, preference for the familiar, and dealing with the environment are the next level in his hierarchy of needs. Two thoughts that occur about safety and protection are the dangers of trail running-one never knows what you are going to find on the trail and  the chaos and destruction of people acting out in Great Britain. These events certainly can be dangerous and anxiety producing.

Next in the hierarchy when both the physiological and safety needs are fairly well gratified Maslow believed emerge love, affection and belongingness needs. Pangs of loneliness, of ostracism, of rejection, of friendliness, and   rootlessness are motivators in our human herding tendencies. The absence or the loss of love and affection is a major theme in many of our novels and movies with its tragic consequences.

The need for a stable usually high evaluation of self, for self-respect or self-esteem and for the esteem of others follows. This means there is a desire for strength, for achievement, for adequacy, for mastery as well as the desire for reputation or prestige, status, fame, glory etc. When there is positive self-esteem that leads to feelings of self-confidence, worth, strength, capability, being useful and necessary in the world. The opposite or the thwarting of these needs produce feelings of inferiority, of weakness, or helplessness.

The last need in the hierarchy is called self-actualization. This need refers to man’s desire for self-fulfillment and, namely the tendency to become actualized to become all that he can be in order to reach his potential.  In other words man must be true to his own nature to become or to evolve. Remember the Army commercial “be all that you can be.”

For a moment let’s use ride and tie to illustrate ideas from Maslow’s theory. In this event, your physiological needs have likely already been met. So now you have to deal with safety both personal and equine. You get into good physiological condition so your body can deal with the pounding of the running and riding necessary in this event. The next concern is for safety of the equine and your ability to deal with the horse in these extreme conditions. A vet check focuses on the ability of the horse to continue by monitoring its physiological condition. There is no human check as you are expected to monitor yourself sometimes with the help of a pit crew. Belongingness and  the affiliative needs are met with the human partner and  friendships developed by being part of the group .Self-Respect, self-esteem, and prestige follow by mastering  your equine skills and expertise as well as improving your running ability.

Come join the Cool Ride and Tie, gratify your hierarchy of needs, and hopefully, some day, you will develop and evolve toward self-actualization.

Cryonics and Dysthymia

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."– Will Rogers

How many of you have you ever thought about your immortality? Well, eating correctly, exercising appropriately, avoiding a tragic accident, and not having a psychological disorder diagnosis may not be enough of a guarantee. You just might have to do more for yourself. I have another idea about immortality and it is called cryonics. Okay, what is cryonics?

I recently read in the Wall Street Journal July 26, 2011 that my professor at Wayne State University died at age 92. Robert Ettinger founded the Cryonics Institute in Detroit. He believed that if you store a legally dead body in liquid nitrogen at 320° below zero that one day, in the future, you could revive the dead person and treat him with a new medical cure that is now available. Remember, you have to be legally dead prior to immersion. This is faith that science will figure out the cure. The cost for this immersion is approximately $30,000 and that includes perpetual care. One question I have “what about the funeral?”

I suppose one could take the attitude “I am going to live it up, live for today, die, freeze myself, and enjoy life tomorrow”. Remember, much of what happens to us relates to the choices we make. Make sure you make the correct choice for yourself. Mistakes can be costly.

Another article, from the paper, pertained to dysthymia which is a form of depression. A study at Columbia University reported that unknowing individuals with this disorder are more likely to have physical problems, more likely to be on Medicaid or Social Security disability, and less likely to work full-time. They also found that this disorder is found in families,   can lead to a worse form of depression, and is related to a higher incidence of substance abuse and attempted suicide. Also of significant importance is that this illness starts before the age of 18 and is often mistaken for shyness or irritability in young children and goes untreated because it’s rationalized as just part of one’s personality. If you have a question a useful start is to consult your family physician.

 If treatment is needed, one can consult a mental health professional for psychotherapy and if necessary antidepressants. Important adjuncts include meditation, exercise, proper nutrition, and family support.

Secretariat and I started out for one of our familiar 10 mile trail run loops. After 6-7 miles, I tripped, fell, and landed on my face. I braced my fall by holding out my two water bottles in front of me and in the process landed on a rock cutting my left palm. So, we walked back to the house where Linda cleaned out the bloody wound.

The trail can be dangerous as you never know what  is in store for you. Secretariat said that tripping is not a function of age because "I have been tripping for a long time." The moral of the story is that one has difficulty predicting the future even when doing a trail run. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

How to Change Thinking and Behavior

Part four:  Eradicate irrational ideas to begin a wonderful new pathway ahead of you.

Another component of successful aging is based on Albert Ellis’s, Rational Emotive Therapy. Ellis states that our thinking is related to both emotion and behavior. For example, a negative thinking process results in emotional distress. Self defeating thoughts or negative thinking is based on irrational notions or ideas that we rehearse in our minds. To illustrate, Ellis identified, listed, and numbered many irrational ideas that people carry around in their head. His irrational idea number five simply stated “unhappiness is externally caused and we have little or no ability to control our sorrows or rid ourselves of our negative feelings.” Per Ellis, the individual in order to achieve a healthy mental state, must challenge and confront the negative idea that unhappiness is externally caused etc. That idea must be changed to we can control how we feel. And, we can adjust our behavior. Because, if we change our thinking we can change how we act. So, in order to change behavior, we have to examine our thoughts. We must eradicate the irrational thoughts and replace them with rational thinking. Only then and only then can we make the necessary behavioral changes to grow and develop a healthier and happier life style change.

Think of retirement and the aging process as a new beginning. Now, maybe for the first time in your life, you can be free to have the time to think about what you want to do with your time and how to spend your waking hours. It is not unlike the past when you might have gotten stuck. It might have been related to family responsibilities, working long hours, climbing the career ladder, going to school, or a whole host of other issues. Maybe we will have more time now and won't have to use the excuse that I'm too busy to have personal goals of my own. Let go of prior disappointments from the past. Now, you will have more time to think about present and future goals. Questions that could come in to play are: What do I want to be? What will help me be fulfilled? What do I really like? What might my legacy be? How do I want to be remembered? Do I have any unfulfilled dreams? The time is now and this is your opportunity. Don't blow it. There are no do- over’s.

How does one start to exercise? One might have to maintain a positive mindset through thinking differently. Some of us have negative thoughts: the” I can't,” have to be changed to.” I can”. The thought:” I'm too old to start” can be changed to: “Let's take one step at a time” and build on it. If we think exercise or training as” boring and hard “that can be changed to:” Just think of all the new people. I'm going to meet.” One other negative thought might be “I might get hurt,” that can be changed to” I'll check with my doctor and get his opinion.” It is clear that for many of us, we can learn new ways to think about ourselves and can challenge the self-defeating thoughts that have gotten ingrained in our lifestyle.

The theme of this book is that if you can find meaning in your life then the passion will follow. Both living life in a meaningful way and passion go hand-in-hand. In other words, if you are passionate about what you're doing then you have found meaning in your life.
The stories you are about to read are about men and women who are passionate about what they do, the obstacles they have overcome, their successes, their failures, and their underlying motivations. You will learn about play, games and activities that we did when we were children. You’ll learn about motivational drives, intrinsic, and extrinsic motivation, how to set goals, how to raise your level of aspiration, and use thinking about the future to your advantage. In learning about the 8 individuals and their stories, you will gain a clear understanding of how it is possible to make those necessary changes in your life. You will find their stories, both inspirational and compelling. This is an exciting journey, let’s begin.

On a side note, Secretariat and I ran a short 5 mile loop. The run was short today because his wife wishes to take him shopping. Secretariat also wanted to take it easy today so he would be ready for our next run with Chris Turney. I did not want to miss this opportunity so at the last furlong I went by him. He didn’t know what happened and thought maybe it was a wild deer. Needless to say he was momentarily frightened. I’m sorry that I frightened Secretariat. One never knows what to expect on the trails.

Advantages in Aging

 Part three.

Ida Kline ,a century-old aerobics instructor has some ideas about successful aging. According to her“The secret staying young at heart, is staying fit; the key to a long life is to control your worries; I don't worry about tomorrow; if you have a problem and you can't fix it you should dismiss it from your mind.” She believed that so many people waste time worrying when they could be thinking pleasant thoughts. “The best part of living is the people in the world; there are so many wonderful people. That's what keeps me going.” Do you know a 20-year-old that could give you that information? If you do, then you know one smart 20-year-old.

Our experience and history can be better understood, while we mature and age. Likely, we have a better sense of our values, are clearer of our likes and our dislikes, have a better understanding of our motives and desires, realize the important things in life, and have a better understanding of who we really are. Our questions and answers to the important things in our life are likely to be very different from what we thought was important at 30, 40, or when at age 50. There can be more to life than living vicariously through the lives of others. An aged person can be productive, knowledgeable, and have wisdom. The older sage can be a great model and can impart a vigorous and healthy lifestyle. Nutrition, exercise, and a zest for life can be contagious.

According to Erik Erikson, man goes through a series of psychological stages, eight to be exact, throughout the life cycle. His theory is developmental, and each stage has a crisis in which the individual must master while going through. For example, in stage I the infant is faced with the task of developing a sense of trust or a sense of mistrust. In the final stage of Erickson's theory, the individual must confront the crisis of developing a sense of ego integrity or worse, he will wind up with a sense of despair. So Erikson believes that each of us go through a series of successes, triumphs, failures, and disappointments throughout our life cycle. In other words, each of us passes through many different crises during our life cycle. We have to do our best to resolve these at each stage in our development. The more successful we are the greater is the likelihood that we can approach the next stage in a better position to live our life to its fullest. We have to be more than satisfied with who and what we are. Our integrity is what is important. It's our state of mind that we are left with and have at the end. Well, you might ask, what does this have to do with this book? This is your opportunity to rethink your life and to discover your passions by researching and learning about what others before you have done to find their passions and what gives them meaning to their lives.

Reread, assimilate, and accommodate what Ida Kline said. She is my hero. Allow her to be yours. Today is a rest day as I'm only going to walk a short 2 miles. This is one way that I take care of myself.

Take Control Of Your Life

Part two and take control of your life.

We may have greater control over our lives if we think differently about the aging process and increase our physical activity. Mind and body are both important and have to be exercised. We have to find the right balance of both in order to benefit and get greater fulfillment in our lives. This book portrays real people, everyday people, both men and women who have things in common such as exercise and physical activity. This book is about their passions, how they view life, and what they are all about. This book provides useful information, to you the reader that can help you plot your own road map to healthy aging. It does not guarantee that you're going to reverse your biological age, or even increase your life expectancy. However, it will give you insight, inspiration, and ideas on how to make your life more rewarding, satisfying, and fulfilling as you age.

We know that our society and culture values youthfulness, fun, watching sports on TV, playing computer games, making a buck, and going on exotic vacations. Don't forget the dream house. You can also, if necessary, find your partner on some matchmaking Internet website. If you want to look better then all you have to do is find that cosmetic surgeon to help you create a different face, attractive eyes, remove wrinkles and change those awful looking body parts. Finally, make sure you have the right clothes, with matching accessories, to make the perfect outfit for that special occasion.
Our Protestant ethic influences our way of thinking. Hard work, taking responsibility, getting good grades, going to college, being productive, and having a career is highly valued. Laziness, not moving up the corporate ladder, not improving oneself is viewed unfavorably. This is the script to follow while growing up. We were not born with the hard work gene but we certainly acquired the belief that hard work is good. Being industrious is good for us, and it is certainly good for our economy.
We were not born with the DNA that programs us to become feeble, decrepit, and nonproductive, non-useful and a burden when we become old. Remember, some of the lyrics to the Beatles song:” Will you still feed me. Will you still need me when I'm 64”? Our culture, our society and the workforce, convey to us that aging is not highly valued.

In other societies in other cultures, like in Okinawa, to age is to be highly valued. Let's think a moment about some positives and benefits of aging. I'll start with a quote from the world’s oldest Nobel laureates, Rita Levi- Montalcini who turned 100. You may not remember that she shared the 1986 prize in medicine for her work on the mechanisms that regulate cell and organ growth. To this day, she continues to work daily at the European Brain Research Institute in Rome. She recently said: I have a mind that is superior, thanks to experience, than when I was 20. Who's going to argue with her? To be continued tomorrow.
Secretariat was tired so he remained in second place on our 10 mile trail run. Being first was fine with me.

It Has Nothing to do With Age

More thoughts about a successful aging and what you can learn from “It Has Nothing to Do with Age “Part 1.

Have you seen the TV commercial with the attractive woman eating a certain food that I will not name? The message, of the commercial, was something to the effect that if you ate this particular product you could be like her. She was repelling down the side of a rock formation. She was screaming gleefully with a large smile on her face. Based on the commercial all you need is that foodstuff and you will become strong, active, and youthful and have the time of your life.

I believe there is another way to think about the process of aging. It is based on the belief that we have the power, the will, and the determination to make healthier lifestyle changes in our life. In other words, we might have more control over what happens to us if we begin to think differently about aging and retirement. I believe contrary to what Woody Allen said in” USA Today”,”You can live to be 100 if you give up all the things that make you want to live that long.”
I believe that aging is not about what you're going to lose but what you're about to gain. Retirement does not have to be associated with unhappiness. I believe that you can find meaning and develop passion in your life. In “It Has Nothing to Do with Age”, you'll read the stories of both men and women who are 65 -85 years of age and compete in unique and extreme physical activities. You will learn in detail about them, their stories, their motivation, their successes, their failures, the hardships they have overcome, their passions, their secrets, and their beliefs about successful aging.

According to Chopra and Simon in their book:” Grow Younger, Live Longer”; and Goldman and Klatz in their book” Stopping the Clock”, you can actually reverse the aging process.
Weil in his book,” Healthy Aging”, and Small, in his book “The Longevity Bible” suggests that you can increase your longevity. The maverick biologist, Aubrey de Grey claims that eternal youth is within the reach of some people. However, I believe they have overlooked one important ingredient, which is, finding meaning. Research findings have shown that yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises, reduce stress and anxiety by helping the person to relax. Also, research suggests that aerobic exercise not only improves immune and cognitive functioning, but also has a marked effect on mood, and helps with depression by increasing the production of endorphins. Other findings include the following: exercise can even add a couple of years to life expectancy, it can lower the risk of heart disease, it can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and it can lower the rates of breast cancer and diabetes. It can boost the immune function and increase circulation throughout the body, can help control weight, can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke. One study found that men who exercised regularly had more frequent and satisfying sexual encounters. If it is true that aging successfully is one third controlled by genetics and two thirds based on personal life style choices, then biology does not fully control one’s destiny.

To be continued tomorrow. Today's trail run with Tony and Chris took on a familiar theme. Tony starts off easy just like Secretariat. Then he takes off and finishes first. Tony is to be referred to as Secretariat. He has earned that distinction.

Ride & Tie Reunion

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action."– Benjamin Disraeli

Last Saturday, Chris Turney, Tony, and I attended the Snow Tent Slide Ride and Tie near Nevada City. The race managers for this event included Cheryl Domnitch, Susan Smyth, and Donna Jones. Chris planned to team up with Pat Browning on Willey ,Pat’s horse.

Way back on 19^th of August in 1984, Chris and Pat first became ride and tie partners at the world ride and tie championship held in Park City, Utah at a distance of 38 miles.  On that August date they finished 14^th out of 85 teams. On a side note, coming in 13^th (5 minutes earlier) was Steve Shaw’s team. I mention that because Steve assisted in the marking of the trail this time.

Incidentally, Pat has completed 29 and Chris 18 Ride & Tie Championships; Pat has over 2,700 and Chris close to 2,600 ride and tie miles. Willey has 14 championships and was inducted into the Ride and Tie Hall of Fame in 2010. Over the years, Chris thought that he has been Pat’s teammate about 24 times and the majority with Willey.

For this ride and tie they planned to do a short 12 ½ mile course. Chris was honored that Pat recruited him for a partner since Willey is going to be retired after the Cool Ride and Tie in October. The three of them did fine. Their goal, this time, was to complete the event without racing the equine. This is unlike the past when they raced and did very well as a team.

The long course was won by Rufus Schneider and her partner, followed by Gunilla Pratt and Mike Whelan. Coming in third was Melissa Ribley and Cathy Scott. The head veterinarian was Jen Mather accompanied by husband Jim along with their seven-week-old baby boy.

Tony and I started out by running the 12 1/2  mile second loop so we didn’t have to deal with all the horses and the dust. Completing the second loop we met volunteers Laura Christofk and son Colt. We stopped and chatted with them for a while and then continued with a 4 mile portion of the first loop. It was good seeing and talking with the ride and tie family again. Come join us on October 1 for the Cool Ride and Tie.

Chris, Tony, and I met on Sunday and did a short easy run to start the week.

Happiness, Tears , and Pain

Which day of the week are you the happiest? Is it during a week day - Monday through Friday? Or is it a Saturday or Sunday that you are the most happiest? Researchers John F. Helliwell and Shun Wang found interesting results in a survey they conducted of nearly half a million people from January 2008 through June 2009. Their findings suggested that people reported more positive emotions and fewer negative ones on weekends. They interpreted the results to mean that more positive emotions were the result of being able to spend more time with family and friends (1.7 hours) daily on average. Well, what about being away from work?

They also found that full-time workers faced a greater happiness drop on week days than part-time workers. Further, the part-timers were also happier overall.  What a surprise?  Another variable studied was related to whether their supervisors acted as” bosses” or “partners.” In other words, happiness seems to be related to weekends compared with weekdays, being a part timer, and the type of boss you have. Can you relate to these findings? Pay attention to your happiness and decide if changes are necessary.

Another study by Lauren M. Bylsma and three other colleagues researched whether or not a good cry makes women feel better? Some believe that a good cry makes females feel better and some believe that crying has adaptive benefits. In their research, they measured 1004 crying episodes of 97 Dutch women. These women were studied over 73 days and filled out daily surveys about their mood and their crying. Mood in crying days tended to be worse than on a non-crying day. However negative moods didn’t just show up for the crying episodes they also followed the episodes for roughly 2 days.

The women whose moods were less dark seem to benefit from crying. Crying in the presence of a single person was also more helpful than crying alone. Crying in front of a group was worse. Paying attention to crying behavior might be beneficial to you.However, there is no guarantee that crying is good for you. These two articles are found in the Wall Street Journal dated July 16-17, 2011.

On another note, Tony and I ran one of his “favorite” 10 mile loops. On this particular run, we have to climb the infamous Maine bar trail. For those of you that do not know about this particular trail, I shall mention only a few of the highlights. It is rocky, steep, and a difficult climb roughly 1 mile in length. If you’re mountain goat you would like it. If you’re human you more than likely would not like it. Tony can’t stand this part of the trail even though he told me before that he likes pain. When I pointed out to him about liking pain he told me “don’t believe everything I say”. Apparently, he likes some pain more than others. I’ll ask him to elaborate on that subject and we will see what he says.
From Tony: OK Frank took what I said to literally. No I don't particularly like pain I do enjoy a tough trail at times. I must say we do laugh alot on our runs talking about this stuff.

The highlight of this run, for me, was keeping track of my heart rate. Today, my heart rate reached 135 which is lower than it was a few weeks ago during this climb. The last 2 to 3 weeks I have been using my heart rate monitor to see if I can improve my speed and endurance. Today, I am encouraged by the results. I’ll keep you posted.

A Face book friend told me about a story that he wrote about a runner wanting to win the New York Marathon.  For those of you that are interested, check out the following: www.facebook.com/fueldabook   Tell me what you think.

Modeling,Pay iT Forward,and It Has Nothing To Do With Age

This third blog, the last in a series of three, pertains to modeling and motivational questions that are addressed in “It Has Nothing To Do With Age.”

A few words about beginning to exercise by walking. Remember, per Ellis and Harper do not rely on your feelings to determine if you should go outside and begin walking. Challenge the “I don’t feel like it” and replace the thought with “I’ll wager that when I go outside and begin walking, I’ll feel better.” Further, begin walking and remember that it is okay to stop and smell the flowers, watch the birds, and enjoy the fresh air. The main thing is to employ the catchy Nike commercial “Just Do It. “

Regular exercise is important and the key word is consistency. Swimming, aerobics, tai chi, yoga, and gardening are good for you. Also, consider weight resistance training to help build bone muscle density which is important in preventing falls and fractures.

Let’s change society’s view of us. Go to the Kevin Spacey movie “Pay It Forward.”   Then challenge your irrational thinking and change your behavior in the direction of leading a healthier and fulfilling lifestyle. Recruit two family members or friends and teach them by becoming a model. Then encourage them to do the same with their family and friends .Hopefully, by starting with a base or at the ground floor we can spread and challenge society’s unflattering perception of us and the process of aging.

The idea of taking control of our mental and physical well-being is illustrated in my book “It Has Nothing To Do With Age.” I illustrate how I was able to transform my life from a burned-out Psychologist to a healthy ultra athlete as a result of becoming involved in the little known sport called ride and tie .Through this sport, I met other older individuals that pushed their physical, mental and emotional limits to new frontiers in grueling events.

I addressed the question “Why?” Why do older men and women continue to compete at extraordinary levels? Why do they put up with self inflicted pain, discomfort, and even injury? Why did these people push themselves to points of exhaustion? Why did they choose these extreme physical sports? Why do they consider themselves youthful? Why is being future oriented necessary? Why is goal setting important? Why do these individuals find it difficult to quit these activities? How much of a factor is one’s local environment to success? What is the correlation between family, parents, friends and achievement? Motivational factors such as competitiveness, achievement, affiliation, the fear of failure and aggression were considered. Was it simply ego? Do you have to be retired in order to find success?

In reading my book you will find the answers to these questions as well as learning about interesting people through their inspirational stories. A conclusion you may come to is that aging doesn’t have to be an excuse for all the possibilities that are open to you to improve your health and lifestyle.

Life Expectancy, the Epidemic of Weight Gain ,and Solutions

Today’s blog , the second in the series of three , addresses statistics and some ideas about lifestyle changes.

Now for a few facts from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, Health Insurance  Association of America,  and  New England Journal of Medicine : the average life expectancy for a 40-year-old equals 78.7 years; the average life expectancy for a 65-year-old equals 82.7 years; and percentage of those now age 65 were expected to survive to age 90 equals 25%.  If you are a 30-year-old, and female you have a 74% chance or if male a 92% chance of becoming overweight at some point in life. The risk of becoming obese if you are 30 years old today is 39% for women and 48% of men per Vasan,  Annals of Internal Medicine, October 4, 2005. If obese, life expectancy in the United States can be expected to decline an average of 4-9 months. Author S. Jay Olshansky states “this may sound trivial but is greater than the negative effect of all accidental mortality such as car accidents, suicides, and homicides combined.” On top of that, steep increase in obesity rates are expected over the next 50 years to possibly shorten life as much as 2 to 5 years.(New England Journal of medicine, March 17, 2005).Living longer and being healthy usually means having a healthy lifestyle and avoiding, delaying, or surviving the modern causes of death that shorten life.

 The top six current leading causes of death the United States are the following: heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronicobstructive pulmonary disease, accidents and diabetes.( CDC National Vital Statistics Reports, No. 13, April 19, 2006). Heart disease is the number one killer of death in the United States and risks include the following: smoking, high or bad levels of cholesterol, high blood pressure, inactivity, excess weight, diabetes, metabolic syndrome also known as insulin resistance syndrome and syndrome X., and psychosocial factors such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of social support.

What can we do about this terrible epidemic? To begin with a change in thinking is in order.Albert Ellis and Robert Harper in their book” A Guide to Rational Living” state that it is  possible for man to live the most self-fulfilling, creative, and emotionally satisfying life by intelligently organizing and disciplining  thinking . In order to change thinking, the Individual has to challenge irrational thoughts that impair making smart choices and decisions.In other words, if you change your thinking you can change your behavior. Challenge ther defense mechanisms - denial,rationalization, and intelectualization regarding health and lifestyle.

 Then we can proceed to tackle and implement strategies for better health especially heart disease. Let’s begin with our diet and reduce salt intake, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and whole grains  . Also important is eating very few foods high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol. Next, if you smoke, quit, moderate drinking (up to two drinks for male and one for women) has proven to be beneficial for heart and cholesterol levels. Then go outside into the fresh air , see the sun, have fun, and laugh every chance you get.

Exercise is a useful tool especially if you’re overweight or obese. Exercise lowers risk across all weight levels. Walking briskly 30-40 minutes per day about five days a week may be the best way to begin. These quick tips are included in “Healthy Years, UCLA Medical School, 2009; American Heart Association.” More about exercise in Part 3 in tomorrow's blog.

Attitudes Towards Aging

Today’s blog is the first of in a series of three. The first addresses the attitude of our culture towards aging.

Young, beautiful actress Vanessa Hudgens is on the front cover of the May, 2009 issue of the . Magazine Self. This lovely 20 something year-old is dressed in a form fitting bikini. Also, on the cover of this magazine is the following articles: Reveal Your Best Body; Happier Hotter Sex; Find More Energy; Yes, You Can Have Diet Success; Readers Choose the Top Buys for Skin, Hair, And Makeup; Be a Natural Beauty-48 Tips to Help You Grow; and Stretch Your Way Slim and Strong. This magazine is the metaphor for our current culture and attitude toward aging. This culture of ours caters to youth and beauty.

The May 1, 2009 issue of The Week has an article about Susan Boyle. You may or may not even remember Susan Boyle? The article is titled Susan Boyle: the Homely Nightingale. Susan is a 50-year-old virgin , unemployed, with frizzy hair, midriffs and a figure, like a spinster teacher from the

1940s, said Amy Wilentz in the Los Angeles Times. Sarah Lyall in the New York Times Stated: “Boyle has become an instant heroine to millions of women who cheer her triumph over look-ism  and ageism.” Yes, Susan Boyle, was from a small Scottish town, who sang: “I Dreamed a Dream” on a British talent show. Her performance was terrific and she has been viewed over 100 million times on YouTube. On top of that she had a number one hit on the

music charts. Maybe there is hope that we can break through this youth and beauty addiction. Wouldn’t it be great to see other people become famous even if they’re not young, slim, and pretty? Hopefully, we can break through the youth and beauty addiction.

However, turn on the TV and what products do we find? Many commercials, during the daylight hours, portray older individuals getting that special prescription from that man in the white coat for all these new disorders, ailments, diseases, and other problems connected with aging.Unfortunately, that’s the view portrayed by the media. We are expected to become ill and sick. However, all we have to do is to ingest a pill in order to put a smile on our face. Is pill taking what we have to look forward to when aging? That’s not how I want to age.

I believe there is another way to view the process of aging. It is based on the belief that we have the power, the will, and the determination to make changes in our life. In other words, if we begin to think differently about aging, we will more control over what happens to us .

Time Magazine has  a number of interesting commentaries and articles in reference  to aging.They reported that about 70% of how we age is under our control while about 30% is genetically  based.  Read Part 2 tomorrow.