It seems that everyone is searching for the "magic workout", the key(s) to training success. If you look at any number of magazines on the market these days, the predominant themes are along these lines:
"Seven tips for your fastest 5K ever."
"Twenty workouts to your best Ironman."
And so on and so on - and it doesn't change from sport to sport.
While the search goes on for that one special workout that is going to make the critical difference in training results (or that one special exercise that will lead you to a miraculous recovery from injury), we've forgotten something elemental about the human body. It needs time to recover. All the "right workouts" in the world aren't going to make any difference if you've not done what you need to do in order to foster your recovery.
Fresh from the "Hypocritical Quote of the Day" file comes this gem from U.S. evangelical leader James Dobson.
Before I give you the quote - some brief context should be noted. He is making reference to a 2006 speech by Barack Obama, in which Obama simply stated that it would be impractical to govern based solely on the words of the Bible. Obama's thought was that there are passages in the Bible that go so far as to promote slavery (Leviticus) or stoning your child (Deuteronomy), aspects that (obviously) would not be consistent with fair and reasonable governance.
So, hold on to your liberal seats, because here we go:
Repurpose.
It started off as just a word in a headline in the Austin American Statesman this morning that caught my attention. Of course, I went to find out if it even exists - and once again, found that no, in the Oxford English dicitionary, it doesn't. But wait - it does appear in the American Heritage dictionary, so I guess all is not lost. As the British might say, "those colonials have killed the language again"!
After the initial amusement, I went on to read the article - a discussion on the "repurposing" (let's make a verb like "Googling"!) of Johnston High School in Austin.
The world of health and health care has become a turf war - and a rather aggressive one at that. It's a significant problem on many levels - some more obvious than others. After you've been a part of it for 20+ years, you see some rather ugly scenarios underlying all of it.
Start out on the political level. "Health care" has become a battle between Republicans and Democrats. Who will provide us with a universal health care plan that is feasible and can gain bipartisan support? Or do any of the politicians really care to see this occur anyways? Will the lobbyists manage to coerce the politicians yet again? Will they convince them that universal health care "can't be accomplished" and "isn't a feasible solution" yet, strangely enough, it seems to provide pretty darn good results in many nations around the world?
Today was a very sad day.
Today I lost a friend.
The friend in question is Bacchus, a 17 year-old black cat. He was Teresa's cat ... and she'd had him since birth, or not long thereafter. Over time, he'd come to accept me as part of his world. Let's face it - cats choose to accept you or not, and not the other way around! Teresa was always going to be his favorite, of that I have no doubt, but it's amazing what happens when they realize that you provide food too. Suddenly, you have a new best friend!
He was a very laid-back kitty. Oh, he would definitely tell you when it was time to eat, or if he needed more water. But he was always the "purr-kitty" nonetheless. If you were taking a nap, he'd want to snuggle in with you. If you were watching TV, he'd end up sitting next to you. If you were eating breakfast, well, he'd probably hop up onto the table to join you.
Time was getting the better of my friend Bacchus. His kidneys were slowly failing him. He was getting older. He didn't have the "ups" in his legs as he used to, though he would always surprise me with the occassional jump from floor to table to remind you that he "still had it". Even after having some surgery recently for an abscess, he made the heroic comeback. He was one tough little camper with a true fighting spirit.
This past Monday, we could tell something wasn't right. It seemed like he'd lost his "zip", something that he'd had even when recovering from his surgery. He seemed to lose his drive to thrive. He became lethargic. We knew something was wrong.
He made a trip to the vet yesterday for some blood work and some fluids, and I thought he'd make a comeback like he always had. But something was different. It was a long night, sleeping with him on the floor, hoping that he'd awaken me with the sound of his drinking or eating - sounds that would indicate that he'd regained some energy.
We went back to the vet first thing this morning to find out that his bloodwork showed he was in renal failure. There really weren't any options for a 17 year-old cat.
Bacchus left us peacefully at 9:21 this morning.
It's been a very sad day.
I can't write this now without feeling the despair of his loss. A lot of tears have been cried, and a lot of wonderful memories have been recounted. I know that my world has been made more loving, more vivid, more enjoyable by his presence.
At 8:25, just before we headed out, I wrapped him up in my arms and went outside with him. The sun was just barely finding it's way through the trees. The birds were singing, and the squirrels were chattering. It was a strangely beautiful morning. He looked serene, happy, almost like he was ready for another comeback. There was that slight glimmer in his eyes, that look that could incite optimism as it had times before.
I am glad he got to experience the beauty of the world around him for one last time this morning.
It's been a few years since I've had a cat ("Biscuit") and decades since I've had a dog ("Tiny"). But over the past few days, I have been acutely reminded of how pets become a part of us, an integral and loving part of our world. And in their passing, we are reminded of how fragile life really is, and the inherent beauty of all of our relationships.
I'd give anything to hear him purr for me right now.
I'll miss you B ...
Welcome to the official book release party for "RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running" - live from Austin, Texas at 7:00 pm central time. The live videostream should begin at approximately 7:15 pm central time with introductions and some words from the author, Allan Besselink, PT, Dip.MDT - Director of Smart Sport International and the Smart Life Institute.
For those who weren't able to make it, here it is!!
The Smart Life Institute network feed can also be found at www.ustream.tv/channel/smart-life-institute.
I knew something was brewing when I saw her hovering around the barista.
It all started off as a sidetrip to pick up a coffee while I had some free time in the middle of my day. I thought I'd pop in, grab a java, relax a few minutes, read for a few minutes, then get back into the groove of my day.
But little did I know that I was about to come face to face with a life lesson - or perhaps I should say, a little life reminder.
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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Austin, TX 78755
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