I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their comments after my race report in the previous post. It is so exciting to get such wonderful, supportive comments from the blog community. You're all a continued support and inspiration. Thanks for taking the time to read about my own antics on the tri front!
This past weekend Mary:IronMatron and Marathon Mama attended a weekend coaching seminar on running. Both posts on the weekend's "event" were extremely thoughtful and well written from very different perspectives.
Marathon Mama, who has recently started to coach running, is not a triathlete, but a hard core runner who seems to thrive on punishing her body with big mileage and a need for speed. She reports her experiences with wit, sarcasm and an extensive vocabulary (think academia meets truck stop; which is why I enjoy her blog so much). Her recent self flagellation was to run trails in the Australian Outback; no easy feat.
Mary:IronMatron is a triathlete with a deep love of running. Her posts are equally erudite, peppered with humor and similes to experiences we all can relate to. She tells it like it is, no holds barred and reveals the underbelly of triathlon in a thoughtful and compelling way. Did I mention she makes me laugh repeatedly?
In some ways, I have digressed a bit and I hope my take on their writing personalities isn't too insulting or terribly inaccurate. I always look forward to reading their posts, they are talented writers and I know I'm in for a good "ride".
The one thing I took away from both of their posts was that they were told (in their words) that there is more than one way to skin a cat, but really only one way is the best way (I am paraphrasing). In this case running, or run training. It got me to thinking about how often we are told something is good for us, then it's not, or you should do something this way, and later don't do it that way.
We receive all kinds of mixed information. As soon as someone does a study or there is a new fad promising better results, a healthier lifestyle, a pain free existence, a healthy heart, the rules change. Do you see where I am going with this? Don't stretch while your muscles are cold,(you could rip muscle fibers), don't stretch right after running (you could rip muscle fibers), Traditional sit-ups are good for strengthening your core and supporting your back, Traditional sit-ups are bad for your back, don't eat red meat, eat red meat, don't drink caffeine, some caffeine is good, soy milk is better for you, don't drink too much soy milk it has estrogen and might cause breast cancer, take ibuprofen for inflammation, don't ever take ibuprofen if you value your kidneys. This crossfire of information that we are dealt on a daily basis is enough to make you nuts. How do you discern what you should or should not do or eat, how and where you should live, what exercise should you engage in? Clearly this is not a problem for most people and yet we are forced to consider what we are told. I am usually of the mind to shrug it off and just go about my life business as usual.
My dad, bless his soul, is constantly sending me emails about the latest warnings, studies, findings, etc. that might be detrimental to my health and well being. He knows this, so it won't come as a surprise to him, but I usually just hit "delete". Trust me, if I took the time to read everything he sends, I would be sitting in front of this computer 24/7. While I know this comes from a place of love and concern for my well being, I just can't live like that. Worrying about everything that I do or come into contact with. I'm guessing most of you feel the same way.
I'm not really trying to make a point. I just find I get so sick of hearing the latest thing that is linked to cancer, or will jeopardize my heart, sleep patterns, joints, brain, existence. Pretty soon we'll be told that breathing oxygen has been linked to living, GASP! I guess I just wonder if all this information just serves to confuse us even more and make us second guess ourselves and the decisions we make (the ramblings of a middle aged woman, maybe that is the problem; middle age will cause synapse misfire, avoid middle age).
On a totally different subject all together........
What are the chances that I would encounter two pieces of media dealing with the botfly in one day? Completely stochastic, but a weird coincidence non the less. One mention came in a podcast of Radio Lab, the episode called "Yellow Fluff & Other Curious Encounters", not even in their "Parasite" episode. And then in the NY Times. This video of the botfly, how shall I put this, infestation, is kind of gross, but fascinating to me (I don't know why, I am kind of sick like that. I watch Discovery Health Channel while eating dinner, my husband thinks I am non compos mentis - nuts). Here is the article that accompanied the video in the NY Times. Warning: Super Gross Factor 10
This past weekend Mary:IronMatron and Marathon Mama attended a weekend coaching seminar on running. Both posts on the weekend's "event" were extremely thoughtful and well written from very different perspectives.
Marathon Mama, who has recently started to coach running, is not a triathlete, but a hard core runner who seems to thrive on punishing her body with big mileage and a need for speed. She reports her experiences with wit, sarcasm and an extensive vocabulary (think academia meets truck stop; which is why I enjoy her blog so much). Her recent self flagellation was to run trails in the Australian Outback; no easy feat.
Mary:IronMatron is a triathlete with a deep love of running. Her posts are equally erudite, peppered with humor and similes to experiences we all can relate to. She tells it like it is, no holds barred and reveals the underbelly of triathlon in a thoughtful and compelling way. Did I mention she makes me laugh repeatedly?
In some ways, I have digressed a bit and I hope my take on their writing personalities isn't too insulting or terribly inaccurate. I always look forward to reading their posts, they are talented writers and I know I'm in for a good "ride".
The one thing I took away from both of their posts was that they were told (in their words) that there is more than one way to skin a cat, but really only one way is the best way (I am paraphrasing). In this case running, or run training. It got me to thinking about how often we are told something is good for us, then it's not, or you should do something this way, and later don't do it that way.
We receive all kinds of mixed information. As soon as someone does a study or there is a new fad promising better results, a healthier lifestyle, a pain free existence, a healthy heart, the rules change. Do you see where I am going with this? Don't stretch while your muscles are cold,(you could rip muscle fibers), don't stretch right after running (you could rip muscle fibers), Traditional sit-ups are good for strengthening your core and supporting your back, Traditional sit-ups are bad for your back, don't eat red meat, eat red meat, don't drink caffeine, some caffeine is good, soy milk is better for you, don't drink too much soy milk it has estrogen and might cause breast cancer, take ibuprofen for inflammation, don't ever take ibuprofen if you value your kidneys. This crossfire of information that we are dealt on a daily basis is enough to make you nuts. How do you discern what you should or should not do or eat, how and where you should live, what exercise should you engage in? Clearly this is not a problem for most people and yet we are forced to consider what we are told. I am usually of the mind to shrug it off and just go about my life business as usual.
My dad, bless his soul, is constantly sending me emails about the latest warnings, studies, findings, etc. that might be detrimental to my health and well being. He knows this, so it won't come as a surprise to him, but I usually just hit "delete". Trust me, if I took the time to read everything he sends, I would be sitting in front of this computer 24/7. While I know this comes from a place of love and concern for my well being, I just can't live like that. Worrying about everything that I do or come into contact with. I'm guessing most of you feel the same way.
I'm not really trying to make a point. I just find I get so sick of hearing the latest thing that is linked to cancer, or will jeopardize my heart, sleep patterns, joints, brain, existence. Pretty soon we'll be told that breathing oxygen has been linked to living, GASP! I guess I just wonder if all this information just serves to confuse us even more and make us second guess ourselves and the decisions we make (the ramblings of a middle aged woman, maybe that is the problem; middle age will cause synapse misfire, avoid middle age).
On a totally different subject all together........
What are the chances that I would encounter two pieces of media dealing with the botfly in one day? Completely stochastic, but a weird coincidence non the less. One mention came in a podcast of Radio Lab, the episode called "Yellow Fluff & Other Curious Encounters", not even in their "Parasite" episode. And then in the NY Times. This video of the botfly, how shall I put this, infestation, is kind of gross, but fascinating to me (I don't know why, I am kind of sick like that. I watch Discovery Health Channel while eating dinner, my husband thinks I am non compos mentis - nuts). Here is the article that accompanied the video in the NY Times. Warning: Super Gross Factor 10
Mmmm....anyone want to get a bite?
3 comments:
What a very well written post! I'm another one who lovingly hits delete to all of the email that my mother and grandmother send me on health issues, financial issues, etc...
OK, botfly. Little secret... I love gross stuff like this! When I was about 10 I purchased a book that was written in the late 19th/early 20th century called 'Medical Curiosities' just so I could read all of the weird descriptions and look out the outrageous medical sketches (yes, sketches). My favorite museum is the Mutter in Philly... and your botfly video, I've seen it and probably all of the others on YouTube. LOL! OK, so now you know a bit more about the 'out there' side of Sherry. :o)
Have a great one, Regina!!!
oh my LORDY that botfly thing is grosssss but i too like stuff like that. i swear i want to be a pathologist and examine hairty toothy tumors. nice hiuh ??
that lady was so calm AND she seemed excited to be filming it all ????
That Botfly thing is completely disgusting. I can't believe that thing was burrowing and living in her scalp. EKKKKK
Thanks for the nice words. :) Just last night my husband was saying that I sound angry at the world in all of my posts, and maybe I should reign it in? So what you said made me feel a lot better. So what if I'm angry if people enjoy reading it, right?
And yes, there is new info and contradicting info every single day on every single topic in this universe. I think it's fun--but it is also frustrating to think you have found the KEY only to learn you were so wrong... I think in the end it's best to take into consideration everything you can, and then do what seems to work for you. You know?
And yes, delete the shit that tries to tell you to stop doing what you LOVE to do. (unless you love to do heroin or something like that, of course.)
Post a Comment