"A rolling stone gathers no moss" ...
... but THE Rolling Stones show us the true meaning of life, the timeless beauty of music and the blues and the musical hooks that just never fade with the sands of time. Tonight was a special moment in time - in which I got to experience (once again) what music is all about, what true performers bring to the stage.
Let's face it - the Rolling Stones are, as they say, the Greatest Rock And Roll Band - ever. Sure, they can put on a spectacle - and both times that I have seen them in action have indeed been "spectacles". The stage show is high-tech - but in the same breath, is just plain down-and-dirty, back alley, rock and roll grit.
But it's when you get down to the music and the performance of it that you realize what sets these gents apart. They've been a band since the early '60s - so yes, they are a tight musical force to be reckoned with. When you play with folks for that long, you get an undeniable groove that digs deep. It's that ability to play behind the beat, that greasy quality that is just so right - yet not sound off time or out of tune.
“Buy now and avoid the Christmas rush”. Imagine – in June, I actually saw a sign proposing that people start thinking about Christmas. I am fully a believer in “advance planning and preparation” but to me, even that was a stretch.
One area in which advance planning and preparation will pay dividends (whether you've been naughty or nice!) is in getting yourself ready to prepare for marathon training. The Austin marathon is in February, and many of you have probably just gotten to the point of having defrosted from this year's Freeze-scale Marathon (apologies to Freescale – but this Canadian still found it COLD). Yet here I am proposing that you start thinking about it now.
But it's only June, you reply.
Hello everyone -
Progress has been slow and gradual - more "behind the scenes" than anything else - but it is "progress". As the learning curve levels out a bit, I have been able to start thinking more and more about content and the visual impact of the site. I am hoping to have some more content (words and photos) up in the next couple of weeks - so stay patient and stay tuned!
I am about to get another year older. I find that every so often, something during the day will trigger a myriad of flashbacks from days of yore. Case in point - do you remember the TV game show “The $10,000 Pyramid”? In it, a team member would give clues to his/her partner to describe a topic or phrase. The goal of the partner was to guess the topic. If you worked your way up the pyramid, you could win $10,000. Ahhh yes , the things that we remember ...
Before we go any further, I can guarantee you that $10,000 isn't at stake in this article! But, today I present to you “The Triathlete's Pyramid” - and I will be your host. Who needs Dick Clark anyways?
In the first round, your partner shouts out - “aerobic system, maximum VO2, heart rate monitor ...”.
Today has been a day of reflection for me. For many, the coming of a new year is time for rejoicing and for reflecting upon what has passed and what awaits us for the year ahead. In many ways, January 1 is quite an arbitrary day in that it’s merely the start of the calendar - but not necessarily a significant milestone in anyone’s world.
The day that you arrived in the world - now that day has significance. It is with this in mind that I reflect upon another year - and look ahead to what lies in front of me. It is on this day that I find myself looking at the big picture of life, looking into the mirror for meaning, diving into my soul for tranquility and understanding - and peace.
Today will always be known as Stevie’s Day to me. Perhaps that requires a little explanation.
Physics. For many people, just the mention of the word gives them high school flashbacks – or nightmares. Love it or hate it, physics provides us with the foundations for our understanding of the world – even the world of the endurance athlete.
Let's take a common discussion topic. Athlete A, a relative newcomer to the sport, has done a few sprint triathlons and now wants to do an Olympic distance event. Athlete B, a seasoned triathlete, is finally ready to go after that first Ironman. How do either of these athletes “move up” and “go longer” successfully?
Before we get our emotions involved, get our mitochondria in a knot, and start the heated debate about lactate threshold, heart rate monitors, and the need for aerobic training, let's look to physics for a guiding light. If it is good enough to define nature, it's probably good enough for your neighborhood triathlete. Maybe, with any luck, Newton was a triathlete ...
As I look at the calendar today, my mind is befuddled by the date. It’s July 22, 2006. Almost one year ago to this date, I was standing on the edge of a precipice known as “my first Ironman”, waiting for the adventure to begin, thinking that, in many ways, I was already well into it.
July 24, 2005 came and went. It was a special day, a day of realization, of serenity, of calm inside. It was but a mere moment in time - and it was almost a year ago. How times travels oh so fast … when you’re living it - fully.
I look back on that day fondly, not only for the completion of the task at hand, but having the opportunity to experience the beauty of life itself. It was an experience shared with my best friend, which just added to the enjoyment of the occasion. Of course, it wasn’t in my plan to finish 13 minutes behind him, but I digress! At least he was still hanging around the finish area when I got there!
Smart Physio
posts are on professional and career-related topics such as health, fitness, training, and health care.
Rhubarb Diaries
posts are commentary, perspectives, opinions, humor and insight on all of my favorite topics: music, sport, and politics/current events.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sport, education, and health care, one that has been defined by his experiences as physiotherapist, mentor, McKenzie practitioner, innovator, author, educator, coach, patient, and athlete. Read more about Allan, contact him, get updates via email, or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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.
