Lance Armstrong has become, once again, the focus of a doping investigation. A two year-old federal Justice Department investigation, which concluded in February, could not find a reason to file charges against Armstrong. Now, lo and behold, we are told that the USADA has filed charges against Armstrong and he has been immediately barred from triathlon competition.
Interesting timing, I’d say. Ironman France – Armstrong’s first Ironman - is just 11 days away. Coincidence?
Yes, doping in sport should be addressed aggressively. But let’s start moving forward, shall we? This is all starting to become a little old and stale.
[Note: This is the follow-up post to “Sidewalk Surfing”]
That neon orange skateboard was like a launch pad, and Skateboarder Magazine became the rocket fuel. I would anxiously await its arrival every month. Stacey Peralta became one of my heroes. I was always bewildered by the antics and otherworldly photos of Tony Alva and Jay Adams. I read every article, and studied every photo. I knew this world inside-out, and backwards.
There was no question though: I was a long ways away from the skateboard epicenter in Dogtown. Total distance? About 2700 miles. And I lived in Brockville, Ontario, a place where prime skating weather of the non-ice variety lasted about 4 months, a place where hockey players far outnumbered skateboarders.
This is the 18th in a series of RunSmart videos. The series is on-going, with a new video released on a biweekly basis. These videos complement the material presented in the book “RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running”. The full series of videos can be found here. A compilation of the first 10 videos will be available on Vimeo as well.
For those of you that are interested in a more interactive learning environment, consider attending a Level One (half day), Level Two (one day), or Level Three (two day) RunSmart program. The Level One program is 4 hours and focuses on basic training principles, running mechanics, and injury prevention. The Level Two program is 8.5 hours and focuses on performance optimization and training program development. The Level Three program is a two day, 15 hour program that includes a comprehensive approach to running injuries. The next Level One program will be offered in Austin on June 30, 2012. The next Level Three program will be offered in Austin, Texas on August 17 - 18, 2012.
In this video, I discuss one of the most important principles for new runners and experienced runners – Keep It Simple. Start short, start with some simple goals, gain some success and let that drive your progression!
The days would start getting a little longer. It would get a little warmer outside. The streets would dry off. Summer time was upon us, and it was just a matter of time before the sidewalk surfing would resume.
My adventures in skateboarding started with a bright neon orange piece of plywood. My father had attached some clay wheels which were, unbeknownst to me at first, scavenged from my old-style roller skates. Add a few strips of white bathroom shower grip tape, and this old-school skateboard was ready for its maiden voyage along Water Street.
Welcome to the 1970s. I remember that first skating experience like it was yesterday. The sound of those wheels on the concrete was grating at best. But it offered a new-found freedom. And man, was it cool.
[Note: This post is not in any way affiliated with ABC nor any of its associated television programs.]
The physical therapy profession is standing at a crossroads.
There is no doubt in my mind that physical therapists are the international experts in therapeutic exercise prescription. Physical therapists are the international leaders in non-surgical care for musculoskeletal conditions. There is now plenty of data to support that evidence-based physical therapy saves money while optimizing function.
But I would suggest that physical therapy in the United States is in need of an Extreme Makeover. And as soon as possible. Why?
It all starts with how we view ourselves.
I no longer have any doubts whatsoever: as long as there are people on the planet living and creating news, there will always be plenty of rhubarb for countless episodes to come. Truth will always find a way to be stranger than even the best fiction.
Why? Take, for example, a news report from Miami last week. A man chewing off the face of another? Seriously? Is the zombie apocalypse upon us? Or is it yet another example of “there’s just no way you can make this stuff up”?
With news stories like that, there is certainly no shortage of rhubarb in the world.
On a (generally) brighter note, Episode 42 of the Rhubarb Report focuses on focus on royalty – the new King of Canadian cycling, King James, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Today is National Running Day, a day to declare one’s “passion for running”. At first glance, I thought that it must be yet another Hallmark Day. There seems to be a day for everything now.
But then I started to think about it. You could pull 10 people off the Town Lake Trail, and you would probably get quite a number of different responses. I am sure you would hear people speak of fitness, weight loss, and perhaps even stress relief. Those all sound like pretty admirable reasons to run, right? Those are all good reasons to have a passion for running, yes?
So I asked myself the same question: “why do I run?”. In a moment of Zen, I found my answer.
“Because I can”.
Up to 60% of runners will sustain an injury within any given year. Poor running mechanics, in conjunction with poor, ineffective and outdated training methods, can pose a significant injury risk. "RunSmart" was written to address these issues in the running community.
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the third edition and fourth editions of "Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach" by Charles Giangarra, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
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