No, it’s not what you think! Ball strikers are runners who absorb most of the impact of striking the ground with the balls of their feet as opposed to the heels. I recently read a really cool article in Men’s Health that covered this natural technique and tried it myself. It felt so right that I went to Pacers in Alexandria to purchase a pair of Nike Free sneakers. I am totally sold. Here’s a vide on YouTube explaining some basic biomechanics. Enjoy!
Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
You are what you Tweet
January 27, 2010So my buddy Joel updated his Facebook status tonight: “If writing down goals can greatly enhances your chances of achieving them, then what does writing or posting your complaints do?” Some of the immediate responses were quite interesting because they were rebuttals…someone pointed out that complaints can be “just venting” and actually took a swipe at his underlying personal beliefs. He is a big believer in the power of focusing on the good and positive in life as a way to attract more good and positive circumstances. And I have to say it works for him.
A related Facebook update of his at the end of last year was something along the lines of “If you want to self-analyze, read your last 20 Facebook updates.” That one got some negative responses as well (especially from the same folks from above who apparently hadn’t had nice things to say recently). So what I took from these two events is the same people who have nothing good to post online get upset when challenged to wonder what it says about or does to their psyche…
Aren’t some of these reactions just case-in-point? 20 negative events later, someone is still “blowing off steam” but on someone else’s Facebook page! I think “You are are what you Tweet” is the mental/spiritual version of the expression “You are what you eat!”
Simple Swing, Simple Running Style
January 16, 2010I got quick pointers on my golf swing today by a believer: something called “the simple swing.” The idea is you straighten up, bend at the hips, loosen the knees, then you have your left arm and shoulder lead the movement and allow the rest of your body to comfortably follow. Don’t even worry about your head, just keep your eye on the ball and swing.
Just now I was reading an article in Men’s Health about the Tarahumara of Mexico. Supposedly the tribe members put enormous mileage on their feet, eating corn mash for fuel during the day and party all night. They don’t die of any of the diseases or cancers we do. And despite their steep mountainous living terrain, they don’t even get running injuries! From the description I read plus the recent running study that explained 40 miles + per week is what you should really aim for, their secret lies in their ability to run great lengths. Their running style is simple: straight body, small steps. I remember changing from a long stride (“gazelle-like”) to shorter steps when playing lacrosse. It was a relief on my hamstring as well as added control – I could pivot, stop, and/or change directions very quickly. I bet I even sped up faster.
Stop Stomach Pains while Running
July 27, 2009Not that I run anymore, but I remember the awful feeling!
From Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s site:
When you get a ‘side stitch’, stop running immediately, reach your fingers into the right side of your belly and push your liver up. And breathe out with you lips pursed at the same time. Then you can resume running without feeling any pain.
%#&@!!
Things to Consider When Entering: The Exit
March 25, 2009Do you often wait to make decisions until you make considerations in the case of deciding or needing to change course? I myself find it hard to imagine that I’ve already made a bad decision and I find it especially infuriating to play devil’s advocate with my own future while trying to make a decision now. But in general, the considerations that will make me change course are the same. And buried deep in Fidelity’s own information pages, I found them spelled out.
For investment advice, if you are so inclined to do your own research, I recommend that you check out The Motley Fool website. Or pay a tax attourney, accountant, and/or financial advisor to help you. Remember that you are responsible for the outcome and they are responsible for their advice. Big difference.
On the Fidelity webpage that tells me how to get my money out of L-3’s 401k, which is filled with information for people who’ve already decided to exit, are these three bulletpoints introduced as “considerations” for leaving the money IN:
| • | You may have more restrictions than active employees (such as limited number of annual transactions) |
| • | You may be charged fees |
| • | You may have limited investment options |
Points one and three are essentially the same. Fidelity lightly reminds you that you “may” want to leave your options open. And that you “may” be paying fees along the way no matter what. I assume that for most people, this info generally isn’t what you’re looking hard at the time you decided to get into this. Hey, me neither. I had just heard that Fidelity is like, the best place for a bourgeoise like myself to “invest.” Now I know that just like any other choice I make, options and fees are the main themes to get more information on when deciding what to do. It’s all the same.
So how about thinking through these sentences next time you’re deliberating:
- “This may restrict me __how_”
- “This may cause me to pay __what_”
- “This may limit my options __where__”
The use of the auiliary verb “may” is both a present and future possibility! Just keep it in mind.
Underground Eye Torture
February 12, 2009I thought setting an eye appointment for 10 am near work would be ‘wham, bam, thank you (Dr.) Ma’am’ and off to the office but nooo. I went to the eyeball clearinghouse of the Underground. Crystal City Underground, that is.
The first thing that was crazy is I was led behind a cubicle divide by a chain-smoking lady who seemed a bit undead for 10 am. Her dry, gutteral voice ordered me to sit on a chair, which she remotely adjusted to a lower height. It was loud and vibrated like you wouldn’t believe and as she apologized for it, I told her it was kind of fun. Well, that made her think that meant I was up for disturbing jokes. Like that the thing that she aims at your face and has flying saucer-looking lights scares the you-know-what out of little children “but even though it’s sad it makes me giggle.” Yeah lady, you scared ME and I am only giggling now, after it was long over!
The next thing that was crazy was the actual doctor. She was having a WTF morning where nothing went right. Like the virtual paperwork program on her computer that she was about to update with the results of my traumatic experiences behind the wall. She confided in me that she “hates technology” and was born into the “wrong century.” Yeah, that’s “EXACTLY” what I want to hear from somebody about to not touch my eye but push a one ton piece of machinery startlingly close to my understandably, naturally dilated pupil. It was fight or flight at this point!
What happened after was cool actually. The doc knows her stuff. I asked if appointments were required to be on a yearly basis as part of a conspiracy by optometrists and the like to get my money. She said no, it was so they could make sure nothing funky happens to eyes while sucked onto a piece of plastic for a year. She also explained that she was making my right eye’s prescription the same as my left eye to get them both to work better together. Mrs. Undead Arthur outside told me “even if one of your eyes got shot out of your head, your brain wouldn’t know the difference and be just fine with one.” ?!
I guess. After almost two hours I was happy to have my free pair of contacts and hope to not to have to see either of them again ’till next year.
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