Alaskan Huskies hold the key to making the most of your running
From beginner to elite, as runners, we all want to maximize our training. It turns out man's best friend can help us better understand ourselves and in turn also allow us to get the most out of our running. If you love running and also love science then I highly recommend picking up a copy of the Sports Gene by David Epstein. Every chapter of the book tackles one specific aspect of how science is inextricably connected to extraordinary athletic performances. Chapter 14 — Sled Dogs, Ultrarunners, and…
Lessons from **The Chimp and The River** about the emergence of HIV/AIDS
Forty years ago in June 1981, a short medical report was released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) outlining five young men from Los Angeles who all had cases of pneumocystis pneumonia. That report is now known to be what was the first official documentation of AIDS cases in the United States. In the immediate years following those cases, there was a great deal of mystery surrounding AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes the disease. Luckily, in the forty years that have followed the discovery of HIV/AIDS a…
June 5, 1981 — Pneumocystis Pneumonia — Los Angeles is the article that made us aware of HIV/AIDS
June 5th is a big day in the world of public health and medicine as it marks the 40th anniversary of the first clinical reports of HIV/AIDS in the United States.
On June 5, 1981, a report title “Pneumocystis Pneumonia — — Los Angeles” was received by clinicians, public health professionals, and researchers across the country. As the first individuals began reading that report, the course of medicine, public health, and the lives of many people were in the process of changing forever.
The times, They are a-changin' — Bob Dylan
In that initial report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is a description…
Key insights into the good life from an 80s hairband icon
There are so many stories about hard-partying rock stars that it can be easy to slap a stereotype on the entire group and call their lifestyle and bad-boy antics living “the good life”. The 1980s was an interesting time period of political conservativism coupled with breathtaking technological advances and extravagant fortunes and lifestyles that were earned through entertainment. …
Let your actions speak and bulletproof your fitness plan by adding and perfecting the burpee, and creating a growth mindset
The key to health and fitness is to keep it as simple and fun as possible. We tend to complicate things before we ever even start a program. One way to escape the paralysis of choice is to pick a basic exercise and take action. And the burpee is a perfect compound exercise to start with!
How do you start? Well — it’s as easy as well one, two, three, and four. There are four easy steps to executing a flawless burpee. The simplicity of the movement is the key to making it a foundation of your programming, easing your…
Two examples of activities that connect people to the environment and world around them to create climate consciousness
I’ve been on a bit of a hiking spree lately. A hiking and trail-running spree would be a more appropriate assessment. In 2020 I finally completed a long-standing personal goal of completing the Adirondack 46 High Peaks. For those that are not aware — this involves climbing all of the mountains in New York State’s Adirondack Park that are above 4,000-feet in elevation. The accomplishment and the process that went along with it were very rewarding. While this is one of the…
An Incredible Workout Built on Four Exercise Basics That Will Put You in The Right Mindset To Supercharge Your Life
Some of the most rewarding conversations that I have about fitness are when I’m reminded of the killer workouts that even the most basic exercises can provide. When most people think of Memorial Day, their thoughts likely go to picnics and spending some relaxing time with family. Those are the common activities you hear about. So it is a pleasant surprise when someone tells you they are tackling a fitness challenge over their holiday weekend. …
What we can learn about life from Pat Tillman’s Odessey in ‘Where Men Win Glory’
“Many decisions are made in our lifetime, Most relatively insignificant while others life altering” — Jon Krakauer in Where Men Win Glory
In addition to honoring the memory of fallen soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for American freedoms, Memorial Day weekend is a great time for reflection about life and our place in this world. I recently finished re-reading Where Men Win Glory: ‘The Odessey of Pat Tillman’ by Jon Krakauer. Tillman’s life, like many others, was inextricably altered with the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. …
Outliers can teach about success and the way we learn
While earning my master's degree in public health and then going on to earn my Ph.D. in epidemiology, it should be no surprise that I had frequent and lengthy conversations with my primary mentor. There were several topics outside of the classwork and research I was working on that we enjoyed discussing. Near the top of the list was our affinity for endurance sports — a topic I’ve commonly found many doctoral level researchers have interest list. Another topic we commonly discussed was what books we had read. Malcolm Gladwell’s writings frequently entered our discussion when the topic turned to…
The 2001 Prefontaine Classic catapulted Webb to the top of American distance running
Twenty years ago today on May 28, 2001, Alan Webb stole the show at the Prefontaine Classic without even winning the race he was entered in. At the start of the race, Webb was a high school senior going up against the fastest men in the world over a 1-mile distance. Webb had earned his spot in the race because of his outstanding performances as a senior, which included the first indoor sub-4-minute mile by a high schooler — a 3:59.86 that January at New York City’s Armory Track & Field Center. …
