PUMPING IRONY: A Conspiracy of Chemicals
I got back to the gym last night after a week away (sore back, summer cold, yada, yada...) and now I'm feeling creaky again -- but in a good way. My upper back is a little stiff, but it's not…
PUMPING IRONY: Miracle Cure?
OK, this is weird. Against my better judgment, I shuffled my pathetic ancient body downstairs to the gym after work last night and went through a slightly truncated version of my normal goal-averse routine (elliptical danger machine, lifting, etc.) expecting…
PUMPING IRONY: Back and Forth
Remember the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when Jimmy Stewart's sitting at Martini's bar and prays for deliverance from his financial crisis only to get slugged by Mr. Welch, the school teacher's husband? (OK, so you never saw the…
PUMPING IRONY: Cramping Calves
I climbed on the treadmill last night and, after a five-minute walking warm-up, jogged a mile at a 4 mph pace. This would've been excruciatingly boring had it not been for the intriguing pain gripping both of my calves. Actually,…
PUMPING IRONY: Is It Too Much of a Good Thing?
Well, my shoulder's no longer sore -- now it's my back that's killing me.
PUMPING IRONY: Sore Shoulder
It's a muggy day for a bicycle commute, even one that lasts only 15 minutes, and this morning it's made more challenging by the soreness in my left shoulder. I must have strained a muscle there while lifting last night.…
PUMPING IRONY: A Decent Interval
I'm not going to pretend it hasn't been awhile since I've posted (these things are dated, after all), but real work comes first and I've been catching up after a week's vacation. (Yeah, I could've posted while on vacation . . . whatever.) It doesn't mean, however, that I've been slacking off in the workout department.
Functional Wellness, Part 2: Hormones and Inflammation
Hormonal imbalances can lead to a host of serious health problems, including inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, cancer, dementia and more. Here’s how to get your body back in balance.
4 Quick and Healthy Family-Friendly Recipes from Ellie Krieger
In The Food You Crave, cookbook author Ellie Krieger offers quick, healthy and practical recipes for busy families.
All About RAGBRAI!
The annual ride across Iowa offers an exhilarating test of fitness and a large dose of Midwestern hospitality.
Life, Interrupted
A dozen years ago, Jodi Ring suffered two brain aneurysms that could easily have left her dead. Instead, they led her to get on her bike and ride.
Creak, Crackle, Pop!: Why Do My Joints Make Noise?
What is that sound coming from your joints, and should you be concerned? Find out what’s normal, and what you might want to get checked out.
Fitter Than You: Seven 50-plus Athletes Who Can Kick Your Butt
The passing of a few measly decades needn’t bring one’s fitness pursuits to an untimely end. Indeed, for these three athletes, getting older means getting better.
Big Goals: Julie Foudy
Retiring from the game and becoming a mother haven’t slowed soccer superstar Julie Foudy, who continues to advocate for women in sports.
How Yoga Can Improve Athletic Performance
Practicing yoga can support your athletic pursuits, and even increase your longevity as an athlete.
Getting to Know You
Before you can comfortably and thoroughly unpack with someone else, you need to master the art of unpacking on your own, which ultimately means getting to know yourself in a deep way.
Body of Evidence
A body that’s getting what it needs can bounce back from early damage and become even better than it was in its youth. But a body that’s not well taken care of tends to start showing and feeling its age early on.
PUMPING IRONY: Fate or Fitness?
I was back in the gym last night for a pretty rigorous, fast-paced workout: 10 miles on the bike (average heart rate of 114) and a good half-hour of upper body and (a little) ab work on the machines. Worked…
PUMPING IRONY: Swimming Upstream
I've been comparing notes recently with Hodding Carter, the 45-year-old writer whose new book, Off the Deep End, chronicles his manic pursuit of a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic swimming team. Carter, who 20 years earlier won Division III…
PUMPING IRONY: A Presidential Moment
I've been riding my bike into work recently, but today, which promises thundershowers after work, I decided to hoof it. My lovely wife will drive me home after the gym if the forecast holds true. I had almost forgotten how…