Surprise ... it's quiz time ...

Consider this scenario: you've been running for a few weeks now, and you've noted a little discomfort in your thigh whenever you run. It's starting to limit your running, and you really don't want to stop training if at all possible. Off the top of your head, who's the first healthcare provider you'd go to see (if insurance and other issues weren't limiters) to resolve this problem?

Wait ... don't tell me the answer just yet. This will all make more sense in a moment. Read on, please.

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The basis for today's post comes from a discussion earlier this week regarding basic training principles. If you pick up any triathlon, cycling, or running magazine, you will invariably note some mention of "base training" or "aerobic base training" or some other form of doing long, slow work to "build a base" early in the season. During this time period, intensity (in the form of intervals, tempo work, etc) is considered "taboo". The prevailing thought is that you need to build an aerobic base upon which to then superimpose a few weeks/months of interval-based work prior to racing.

Of course, the premise sounded good - back when we all believed that the aerobic system was the primary limiter to performance.

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Consider me one pissed-off Canuck today.

Here's the deal. A sacrilegious event occurred yesterday. Lord Stanley's Cup - the highest award in all of hockey - the gleaming 36" cup that every male Canadian kid dreams of raising when he's growing up - has gone south on us. Again. Literally.

You see, last night, the Anaheim Might Ducks (now that's a lame Disney-fied name if ever I've seen one), beat the Ottawa Senators to take home the Stanley Cup.

What? What has this world evolved into now?

We've got a war in Iraq. Kobe can't decide if he likes Los Angeles or not. Jordan's retired for good. The health care system is in the toilet.

And now - this.

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The blues have always been something important to me and my spirit. I knew it was so when I first heard Cream on the radio playing "Crossroads" when I was in high school. I was on a trip with my parents, we'd just arrived home in our Toyota Celica, and I stayed in the car until the song was over. I knew that something special was contained in the chord structures and verse of the blues. Eric Clapton's spirited solo in "Crossroads" gave me a desire to search deep within the meaning of the blues ... and within it, I found Robert Johnson.

Very little is known of Robert's life. Robert had done his recordings in November 23, 26 and 27, 1936 in San Antonio and June 19 and 20, 1937 in Dallas. That's all of his recorded history. For many years, I was unable to find much more about him other than his legend. Then, I heard "Crossroads" ... "went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees" ... and something struck a chord deep within me.

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Seven down, and six to go. No further waiting ... let's get on with number 8 ...

8. Principles And Practices - Stephen Covey, in his "Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People", discusses the concept of "principles" versus "practices". Principles are the "why" we do something, whereas practices are the "what" we do. Much of our time is spent thinking in terms of practices - or as many educators and clinicians will say, "having more tools for the toolbox". I think this is misguided at times. A screwdriver can't be used for everything, nor can a hammer. It is the decision making skill of when to use what tool that is ultimately key - and of course this comes down to learning how to think and process clinical information.

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Here's a question for you: how long have you known your best friend? A few years? Maybe a decade? Since college?

How many can say that they've had a best friend since before kindergarten? Well, I can ... and it's a very cool thing indeed.

I've had the good fortune of knowing Richard since I was 3 or 4 ... and yes, that would be 38 or 39 years now! You think it's a long time - but when you look back on it, you realize that it's all gone by so quickly and goes faster every day. It seems like yesterday that we were in kindergarten together - and yes, I do vaguely remember that. Growing up in a small town, it's pretty easy to envision going to the same elementary school and the same high school. And what never ceases to amaze me most is that no matter how long we've not spoken to each other or seen each other, when we pick back up again it's like no time has passed. We invariably pick up where we left off last time.

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In the midst of trying to summarize some of the key elements of clinical practice and reasoning for PT and PTA students, I've found myself pulling together many of the practical aspects of "being a clinician" that I've learned over the years. After 19 years of clinical practice, there are certainly a number of things I wish I'd learned in school! In many practitioners' training, much time is devoted to the "practices" - the "what" to do - as opposed to the "principles" - the "why" to do. Very little time is devoted to the art and science of learning how to think.

So if David Letterman has his "Top 10" list - I now have my "Top 13" list. Why 13? It's my lucky number, of course!

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