Finding the Edge

 Looking for the Edge

 Athletes are competitors looking for that edge. The advantage could be found in diet, training methods, the latest piece of equipment or some other man-made creation. Just ask Alex Rodriguez, Lance Armstrong, Mark McGuire, or even South African cyclist Daryl Impey about their secrets. Mr.Impey purchased some pills (sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. During intense exercise, the acidity of your blood increases and eventually interferes with muscle contractions and baking soda neutralizes this rising acidity) from a pharmacist to boost his performance on the Tour de France. Later, the authorities announced that he had tested positive for probenecid, which is a substance sometimes used to mask the presence of other drugs. As it turned out, the pharmacist said that he did sell him the capsules and used a pill counter that was contaminated from selling probenecid to a previous customer. Fortunately, Mr. Impey was exonerated.

Other illustrations of looking for the edge Include the following: 1. The ancient Greek athletes ate hallucinogenic mushrooms; 2. The Tarahumara of northern Mexico ingested peyote; 3.  The 1904 Olympic marathon winner, Thomas Hicks, had his doctor dosing him , while running, with a small mixture of brandy and strychnine [a stimulant, but in safe  amounts].

 In the 20s, drugs began to be used more frequently, and was considered to be negative to sport. And in 1928, the anti-doping authorities created list of banned substances. They’re constantly updated to deal with the new wave of drugs such as steroids in the 60s and 70s and hormones such as EPO in the late 80s.

Examples of other aids used to enhance performance Include: 1. Creatine -the muscle builder that increases energy stores available for short-term all-out efforts. 2. Pseudophedrine the decongestant over-the-counter medication like Sudafed (a stimulant). 3. Caffeine, which fights mental fatigue, and also affect muscle contraction and metabolism 4. Tylenol which boosts endurance performance by 2% 5.  Beet juice which has the same nitrates found in hot dogs. Nitrates are converted with the help of bacteria in saliva into nitric oxide, which enables muscles to use less oxygen when contracted and by estimates, increase performance by 2%. 6. Viagra and even hornet larva extract. Check out the research.  7. Move to Kenya or the rarefied air of Colorado because it boosts red blood cell, or sleep in a deep pressurized tent that simulates thin mountain air.

If you’re competing in a sport regulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency, their code includes the following no-no’s. 1. If the substance enhances performance; 2. If it carries a potential health risk and 3. If it violates the spirit of the sport. The spirit of the sports says that we should play by the rules. Remember when McGuire, Canseco, Sosa and other players used, or when Lance Armstrong said the same. Regarding the cyclists, they were punished because they lied about its use. The lying seemed to be a major issue. It may even overshadowed the “spirit of the sport.”

If you can afford it, move to Colorado, or to Kenya. If not, you have caffeine, beet juice, baking soda or even Tylenol available at your nearest supermarket.

Or be like Tony, he had a few months off from running and he developed a head cold. Did these aids assist him, in running over 15 minutes faster than he did in last year’s 50 K at this time?

In any event, keep moving, laughing, smiling, loving, bonding and appreciating. Source found in the New York Times, November 30, 2014.

Jim Harbaugh's Midlife Crisis

 Jim Harbaugh’s Midlife Crisis

Jim Harbaugh is presently the head football coach of the San Francisco 49ers. For the past month or so, the media has been reporting that Jim Harbaugh is out as far as the San Francisco 49ers are concerned for 2015. The media has also reported that Jim is being recruited for a head coach coaching position by the University of Michigan and the Oakland Raiders.

Jim was an All-American quarterback for the University Michigan back in the late 80s. Jim’s first NFL coaching position, as quarterback coach, was for the Oakland Raiders, in 2002. Jim also attended high school in both Ann Arbor and Palo Alto. He was even head coach for the Stanford Cardinals prior to taking the San Francisco 49er position.

If all the media reports are true, Jim’s dilemma is apparent. Although he had close knit ties, in the past, in Ann Arbor, he has more current connections in the Bay Area. Michigan’s football program at the moment is less than ideal as is the Oakland Raider’s. Both programs desperately need to improve.

If it’s a matter of prestige, and sibling rivalry [Jim’s brother John is a Super Bowl winner-the pinnacle; Jim has outperformed his father, “only” an assistant coach with the Wolverines and the Cardinals] then the NFL would more than likely win out. I’m sure that there’s another NFL head coaching position, [And win a Super Bowl like his older brother] in the cards. For Harbaugh, if it’s a matter of “returning home” to one’s glory in adolescence and young adulthood, then Ann Arbor is the place. It’s been said that you can’t go home. If Harbaugh returns to Ann Arbor, he would return home. If it’s a matter of present connections, current residence, Bay Area familiarity, then, the Raiders would win out.

Harbaugh just had a birthday and is now 51 years of age and is in a midlife crisis so to speak. His life for the past 45 years or so has been sports and football but not necessarily in that order. His identity is that of a football player and coach. Since retirement from professional football, Harbaugh has been working with young men in both a mentoring and teaching role. I cannot imagine a major change in direction for Jim. As he’s progressing developmentally through life’s stages, Jim is in his second marriage. [Intimacy versus isolation] and is in the generativity versus stagnation stage.

Developmentally this mature man is focused on guiding and teaching the next generation through the vehicle of football. Jim has touched many young men in the last decade or so. He has gained their trust as expressed by creating a team with winning football. He has a gift of being an outstanding athlete with a super professional career and is in a position to reap economic security.

Even though Jim may be released by the San Francisco 49ers, his future looks great. Jim is an exceptional position during his psychosocial stage of development. Whatever he does, or decision that he makes is likely to be a terrific one. Good for him.

PS

I have no trouble admitting that I am a fan of both the Oakland Raiders and the Michigan Wolverines.

Social Status Level and Health and Tom's Birthday Run

 Socioeconomic Class and Health

The world has become more complicated and more stressful in the last 40 to 50 years. We have experienced  political assassinations, racial rioting  , threats of nuclear destruction, military- industrial complex buildup, economic system disaster, unprecedented contrast between the haves and have-nots, collapse of the middle class, numerous and frequent military encounters, radical terrorist threats, etc.

There is a correlation between stress- insecurity and with an increase in escapism-books, movies, idols, entertainment and especially sports on the college and professional level. I’m saying there is an association for sure and likely a cause-and-effect relationship. More and more individuals are feeling powerless, insignificant, bored, depressed, and anxious and   searching for meaning in their lives. This also results in an unbelievable increase in drugs/medication, legal and otherwise to deal with their unpleasant reality.

As people become more and more left out of the top 1% of economic wealth in this country, that means what’s left becomes a shrinking middle class and lower class levels of socioeconomic status. Education was once the vehicle to escape poverty and to move up in social class. However, now college has become extremely expensive and young adults and their parents take out loans to pay for college. And with the shrinking opportunities for good jobs, many graduates are faced with unbelievable debt and limited ways to overcome their situation.

Unfortunately, there’s a relationship between socioeconomic status and health. A recent article in the Journal of Evolution, Medicine and Public Health found that even in the Tismane [egalitarian foragers in the Amazon] culture, individuals with less political influence( compared to high levels of influence), had higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol and respiratory infection, which is the most common cause of sickness and death in their society. Further, it’s believed that adults who experience low socioeconomic status in childhood show heightened cortisol responses as adults, regardless of their current socioeconomic status [The New York Times, December 14, 2014].

We know that diet and physical activity are related to health. We can now add socioeconomic status. Therefore, we should have a universal health care system for all to assist with the myriad of health issues that start at an early age. It’s unfortunate that individuals who are psychologically and psycho socially close to, but above the poverty line, often resent those living just below it. This resentment turns into a withholding-controlling attitude and not giving which is not   humanistic, but selfish like.

From Tony: Frank had to miss Tom's birthday run this year. ( Home taking care of his wife Linda) This was the 20th year we have done this to celebrate Tom's B-Day. Tom turn 63 same age as me. we have all been running and riding  off and on together for about the same amount of time great group of people to be with now even the kids are joining us. Happy Birthday Tom!!

Regardless of your socioeconomic class, keep moving, smiling, laughing, loving, bonding and appreciating when you can.

Linda's Surgery

Linda’s One Tough Lady

 Last Friday, December 12, my wife Linda had her second knee replacement. Her first knee replacement operation was performed on October 13 of this year. Linda’s second surgery seemed smoother than her first. In fact she only spent an hour in recovery. In October, the recovery took longer as she was nauseous. Before having this second operation, we talked to the doctor, about her difficulty with the medication prescribed. We wanted to make sure the changes would be made prior to the second surgery.

When I visited her after her time in recovery, she was alert, smiling and happy. Things were going well and I expected to take her home the following day.  Saturday morning I received a call from Linda and she said, “Come get me, I want to come home.” When I reached the hospital around noon, she was walking around and seemed hyper. That medication really worked. She felt good on the drive home from the hospital.

However, the next day, she began to experience more and more pain and was less chipper. We talked to the nurse and there was an adjustment made to her medication. With additional medication, she felt a little better by Tuesday. Then came Wednesday and she was discouraged because of the recurring pain as she experienced difficulty walking. In fact, she was unable to put her heel down on the floor without experiencing pain.

She had a physical therapy appointment Wednesday afternoon and received treatment about how to walk properly. She was told that her pain was normal and that she just had to work through it. So by hearing that she was progressing and that her discomfort was normal, made all the difference. Instead of stopping because of pain, she learned that she had to push despite the pain. That was all she needed because her attitude changed and she then began walking and doing her stretching exercises as recommended.

So far, each day, little by little, she has progressed. Good for her because she’s a tough lady and she will get through this no doubt with flying colors. Remember, keep moving, smiling, laughing, bonding, loving and appreciating and good things will happen.

Tackling Diabetes

As you may know, since 1991, the rate of diabetes has increased dramatically. This past November 14, was World Diabetes Day and recognized worldwide in more than 160 countries. We can thank the International Diabetes Foundation and the World Health Organization for recognizing that disease. The date was chosen because it honored the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who was recognized as one of the researchers involved in the development of insulin.

According to the American Diabetes Association, consider some tips that may help in the prevention from this awful disease: 1] Exercise is recommended because it can help with weight regulation, help lower blood sugar, which boosts sensitivity to insulin. Remember insulin helps keep blood sugar within a safe range. If you don’t currently exercise, make sure you walk for at least 30 minutes per day, reduce your sitting and increase your standing daily. 2] Fiber helps boost blood sugar control, lowers risk of heart disease and helps an individual lose weight. Good fiber sources include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Check out the food pyramid and adjust accordingly. 3] If you’re overweight, make sure to reduce your weight since every pound you lose can improve your health. Paying attention to your BMI is a useful tool as far as waist circumference. 4] Choose nutritious foods and pay attention to your food portions.

As you can see, exercise and nutrition are important variables for good health. And we all know how difficult it is to exercise and eat properly. If you know what to do, but are not doing it effectively, consider talking to a professional, i.e. therapist, nutritionist, or joining a gym. Another idea is to find that App device, if so inclined.

There’s no harm in starting before the Christmas holidays. If you’re too busy, that’s a poor rationalization for your health. What kind of future do you expect, if you are not taking care of you? Continue to keep moving, laughing, smiling, bonding, loving and appreciating along the way.

PS

Congratulations Tony on your 17 minute improvement from last year’s 50 K in Washington State. This means 2015 is going to be good for you.

As you may know, since 1991, the rate of diabetes has increased dramatically. This past November 14, was World Diabetes Day and recognized worldwide in more than 160 countries. We can thank the International Diabetes Foundation and the World Health Organization for recognizing that disease. The date was chosen because it honored the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who was recognized as one of the researchers involved in the development of insulin.

According to the American Diabetes Association, consider some tips that may help in the prevention from this awful disease: 1] Exercise is recommended because it can help with weight regulation, help lower blood sugar, which boosts sensitivity to insulin. Remember insulin helps keep blood sugar within a safe range. If you don’t currently exercise, make sure you walk for at least 30 minutes per day, reduce your sitting and increase your standing daily. 2] Fiber helps boost blood sugar control, lowers risk of heart disease and helps an individual lose weight. Good fiber sources include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Check out the food pyramid and adjust accordingly. 3] If you’re overweight, make sure to reduce your weight since every pound you lose can improve your health. Paying attention to your BMI is a useful tool as far as waist circumference. 4] Choose nutritious foods and pay attention to your food portions.

As you can see, exercise and nutrition are important variables for good health. And we all know how difficult it is to exercise and eat properly. If you know what to do, but are not doing it effectively, consider talking to a professional, i.e. therapist, nutritionist, or joining a gym. Another idea is to find that App device, if so inclined.

There’s no harm in starting before the Christmas holidays. If you’re too busy, that’s a poor rationalization for your health. What kind of future do you expect, if you are not taking care of you? Continue to keep moving, laughing, smiling, bonding, loving and appreciating along the way.

PS

Congratulations Tony on your five minute improvement from last year’s 50 K in Washington State. This means 2015 is going to be good for you.

Yoga is Good

  

"You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; in just the same way, you learn to love by loving."

– St. Francis de Sales

  Yoga is good for you

 As an ultra-marathoner, it’s not surprising that I support and recommend running for mental and physical health. And, I also believe that trail running is more advantageous than road running. It’s no secret that I average about 50 miles a week of running. However, I know that not everyone is able to run. So, I have no trouble with finding other ways that can help with health.

For instance, in the Blue Shield of California Better Living Newsletter, Fall/Winter 2014, there was some information about discovering the benefits of yoga. The points made were as follows: 1.] Yoga can help reduce anxiety through breathing. When an individual reaches the “alpha state,” this means that it is a helpful way to help our body respond to stress. This state will allow muscles to begin to relax and as a consequence, it lowers heart rate and blood pressure as we begin breathing more easily. Slowing down heart rate and blood pressure are important for a healthy heart. 2] As we know, aging results in our joints becoming less fluid. And when one practices yoga, on a regular basis, this allows joints to become more lubricated and makes the many daily tasks of movements easier to perform. Lubricate your joints and move more easily. 3] Unfortunately, falling is a leading cause of injury among older adults. In fact, one in three adults 65 or older falls. Yoga encourages slow, careful movement that can strengthen muscles. And supposedly the result is better balance, which can help prevent falling.

 On a personal note, even though my muscles are strong, I sometimes fall when trail running. It might be a tree root or rock camouflaged by leaves that pops up and gets me. Since I know that I might fall, especially when I’m tired,  daydreaming and do not pick up my feet, I run with two handheld water bottles for my protection( to break my fall). Maybe, yoga would cut down on my falling or tripping?

I must admit that so far I haven’t taken advantage of learning yoga. That’s something I’m willing to consider. There are no negative side effects of learning yoga. In fact, at times, my sister will do a yoga pose and see if I can do likewise (I smile to myself when I imitate her). In any event, yoga or not, keep moving, laughing, smiling, loving, bonding and appreciating.

Finding Meaning at Any Age

 Finding Meaning 

Just recently I saw the movie “The Grudge Match” starring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro. This movie is about two former boxers of championship caliber. Prior, they split two previous fights. They didn’t like each other then and do not like each other now.  They decided to have another boxing match, even though they haven’t trained but have aged. So, the two of them start training for this fight, which is hyped in the Pittsburgh area.

Although not a great movie, the story depicts two individuals that have a passion for fighting. That passion never left them even though they matured. They still have that” fire in the belly.” It wasn’t difficult for them to come out of retirement and train. It showed that they were willing to sacrifice and put in hard work for something in which they believed. And for Stallone’s character, fighting gave him meaning and he was willing to risk physical injury in the process.

When you have passion, love what you’re doing and that activity gives meaning, it’s not difficult to understand why someone would risk injury. Just ask any professional football player or for that matter any past player and ask them if they would do it again. Their answer more than likely is of course

.

The moral of the story is that when you have meaning and passion in your life you are blessed and more than likely have little regret about the past, involved in the present and look forward to future. Age is simply irrelevant in many respects.

And don’t forget to keep moving, laughing, smiling, bonding, loving and appreciating in the process.

PTSD in the Military

  PTSD in the Military

I read an article in The National Psychologist-September/October 2014 regarding the effects of war on our military personnel with PTSD. In the article, the following disorders were cited in the Korean War: 1) Gastrological and skeletomuscular. While in the Vietnam War: 2) Thyroid disease, arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetes .And In the Iraq and Afghanistan encounters: 3) Alcohol abuse, arthritis, and digestive disorders, including ulcers and depression.

 Current military PTSD victims report that they feel a burden on society, they don’t belong, and experience emotional negatives related to combat exposure. Research shows that these three variables are most common among those military individuals that exhibit suicide behavior.

Statistics show that suicide was the second leading cause of death among US military personnel. For example, employing data from 2012 shows there were 319 suicides among active-duty service-members and 203 suicides among reserve service-members. On the other hand, there were 237 combat related deaths of active-duty service-members in Afghanistan. Another interesting statistic shows that soldiers who reported abuse as children were 3 to 8 times more likely to report suicidal behavior than those non-abused when young.

Prior to the Mideast military actions, there were about 14 per 100,000 suicides among veterans. Today, that number (Mideast military actions) has more than doubled to about 30 per 100,000.

 It is clear that suicide behavior has increased in the military since the turn-of-the-century.  What might be the cause for increased suicide behavior in our current military?

It would seem to me that being in the military is unlike, in terms of degree, any other experience. For instance, there are countless examples of the closeness of the military brothers that forms especially in combat conditions. These veterans become part of a close knit family and form cohesive bands. In fact, one often hears of one soldier, sacrificing his life in order to save his brothers. So, the survivors have difficulty coping with all the losses from that the experience. Not only that, the survivor often experiences survivor’s guilt. In combat situations, the individual can die, experience physical complications, PTSD, and live with survivor guilt. Does anyone go unscathed?

For the survivors, they go from one intensive support system and then return to the real world. They often believe that they don’t belong, they are a burden to society and lack meaning in their life. How would you deal with mental and physical components, if you just returned to civilian life after combat tours?

We have measures of the economic costs of war for the last decade. However, the human costs cannot be overlooked. I don’t know if our country’s warlike behavior has made us feel safer. And, even if we do feel safer, does this justify the consequences for our veterans?

Run or Walk for Your Health

I just read a December 5, 2014 article from The New York Times (thanks Tony). As we know, walking has been hyped as being an efficient way as far as aerobic exercise is concerned. Well, this article referenced a couple of studies comparing running to walking. We all know that running is associated with reversing aging in many ways. What about walking? Will it provide the same benefits?

Supposedly, older people who walk typically have a lower incidence of obesity, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, longer lifespans compared to sedentary people. Everyone talks about the benefits of walking. What is also true is that walking ability declines with age.  Older people who employ walking as their primary exercise, as the years increase, walk more slowly, with greater difficulty, and experience fatigue more easily.

One question that the researchers asked, “is physical slowing inevitable?” Past research of aging walkers found that they begin using more energy with each step that results in making movement more tiring and harder. Then, these researchers wondered “can running affect the physical ease of movement in older people?”

Likely, if you are a walker, you might say” I’m going to stick to walking because of my bad knees or whatever.” However, if your runner, you might say” I’m addicted and I’m going to keep to my running and hope it’s not just a rationalization.”

And then there was research. One group (men and women in their mid to late 60s or early 70s), walked at least three times a week for 30 minutes or more. The other group ran   three times a week for at least 30 minutes or more. Of course, those who have more questions, go to the research. Also, in the procedure were specially designed treadmills that measured biomechanics. The participants also wore masks to measure oxygen intake.

And then there were findings:1) are you surprised that the runners were better, more efficient walkers than the walkers and they required less energy to move at the same pace as the volunteers who walked regularly.2) They even found that 70 year-old runners  had about the same walking efficiency as your typical sedentary college student. On a personal note, I am 10 years older than my sister who has a personal trainer eats healthy, etc.. There is no way that she can walk with me on the hills. Just ask her.

One researchers explanation for the advantage of runners: 1) with prolonged aerobic exercise, mitochondria increases within muscle cells. Mitochondria provides energy for the cells which allows people to move for longer periods of time with less effort. 2) Runners have better coordination between their muscles, which means utilizing fewer muscles to contract for movement, which allows for less energy being used.

For me, psychologically running is important because I can still do it, even though it’s difficult at times. Running allows me to think positively about myself, my health, and my friendships and still allows me to be competitive. In part, that’s why I end each post with: keep moving, laughing, smiling, bonding, loving and appreciating.

That is my secret. What is yours?

Brilliant Chris Christie and Magic Pills

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading."
– Lao Tzu

Brilliant Chris Christie and Magic Pills

As we all know, we continue to live in the age of the “Pill.” In fact, I remember when “The Pill” came into being, and was the savior as far as birth control was concerned. Well, today the pill remains even more powerful. Just look or listen to all the TV and radio commercials regarding the various benefits that the pill is supposed to provide; follow the advice of that TV or radio celebrity about the advantage of this or that product; visit any number of available health food stores in your community or online; go to the states where any form of marijuana is legalized; or visit your favorite physician to receive that prized prescription. Does that mean that the pill has become one of the commandments regarding better health and that’s all we have to do in order to remain healthy?

We would all agree that Chris Christie is one smart politician, and is just plain brilliant. However, Christie, like many worship the mighty pill. In a recent New York Times Magazine interview, Christie told the interviewer that he is healthy because he takes vitamins. Doesn’t this smart man look into the mirror and see a grossly obese man? We all know or should know that obesity and BMI index is associated with diabetes, premature aging, risk of heart disease and other related illnesses, etc. etc. etc.

Unfortunately, Christie, like others, rely on the distortion and rationalization that’s all they need is a pill and they will be healthy. Let me add that while Christie was doing this interview, he was grazing on a large bowl of Nachos that he loves. This brings to mind a conversation I overheard during a recent Thanksgiving dinner. One  member commented  that she does not understand why she doesn’t lose weight because she exercises. Oh yeah, she brought yummy desserts (there were too many calories to count).

If there is a magic pill, as far as aging is concerned, that would be exercise. Of course, that’s only part of the story. In the book “Stopping the Clock” there’s a chapter on the “Pioneers of Antiaging Medicine and Their Personal Secrets of Longevity. Not one of these pioneers limited their secrets to medication and/or vitamin supplements. I totally agree with the pioneers that we require more than a pill as far as our health is concerned.

If you want my advice, keep moving, laughing, smiling, bonding and appreciating. I am cognizant that I left out dieting or eating properly, as well as eating in moderation.