It’s that time of year where lots of people are starting a new exercise routine and regular exercisers (especially those that exercise… — It’s that time of year where lots of people are starting a new exercise routine and regular exercisers (especially those that exercise outdoors) might find it harder to stick to their routines. And that’s just at some point even the most dedicated exerciser has a hard time sticking to their…

It can be a fine line ya’ll. I wish the human body came with some sort of light or alarm to let you know but alas evolution hasn’t provided… — It can be a fine line ya’ll. I wish the human body came with some sort of light or alarm to let you know but alas evolution hasn’t provided us with a sure fire way to tell just yet. Running especially and working out generally, can lead to all sorts of pains and aches but which are serious? This comes from my years of running experience but you should rely on your own experience too. I find that a lot of it came from the same trouble spots. Over time I got good at determining which was a flare up of an old injury and what’s just a temporary inconvenience. For this post we will be going through each type of niggle or pain or at least a lot of them and some summary information at the end. Keep in mind though while I am a doctor it’s of proteins not medicine so your best bet is always to check with someone who is.

This could also be called where my head is at right now. Here’s the thing though now I’ve been here many times before. I want this to be… — This could also be called where my head is at right now. Here’s the thing though now I’ve been here many times before. I want this to be generally helpful to everyone but I will be using my experiences as guide posts along the way. Basically it outlines a process…

Sleep is something I struggle with and lately it’s been a tad worse than usual. I never really know why but it tends to ebb and flow with… — Sleep is something I struggle with and lately it’s been a tad worse than usual. I never really know why but it tends to ebb and flow with time. As I’m writing this post we’re getting our first winter wind storm (thankfully it’s rain) but it’s not looking good for tonight either! One thing athletes tend to be in denial about though is the importance of sleep in training. It’s when our bodies truly repair and restore themselves. But when you’re trying to squeeze your whole life in and training for a big event sleep can be the first to go. Plus training can throw other wrenches into your plan that interfere with your sleep. Someone who is really physically exerting themselves most days a week for months should ideally get more than 8 hours on average. So today I’m going to try to convince you that sleep should be a priority over many other things, especially for athletes, and give you some suggestions to get the most out of the hours you do get. And I’m going to use science to do it!

Winter is coming, dare I tempt fate with the fact that it’s not here yet though? Which means winter running is just around the corner… — Winter is coming, dare I tempt fate with the fact that it’s not here yet though? Which means winter running is just around the corner. Here’s the thing winter runs are still great runs they are just a little less great than other times of year. You might find that you are slower in the winter, that you can’t go as far and it makes you more tiered. Here’s the thing in the winter you need to be going easier on yourself. If you know all about why winter running is so hard it’s a lot more likely that you will feel less critical of yourself. So these are at least some of the reasons winter running kinda sucks, (but it’s still better than no run at all.)

I’m not saying it’s perfect and I’m sure the fact I work in that field in recent/’more woke’ years makes a difference but construction… — I’m not saying it’s perfect and I’m sure the fact I work in that field in recent/’more woke’ years makes a difference but construction people have been overall less sexist than any other field I’ve worked in. Of course this is just my experience and others might have a totally different one. There are certain ideas about the trades that are out of date and others that are overlooked. That specific set of misinformation really leads to women not considering the field and giving people who don’t deserve it a bad wrap. It can lead to unfairly stereotyping the women who work in the trades. You’ll notice in this discussion that I talk about ‘the guys’ around me. I do see the odd lady in my travels but it’s really rare and I’m always excited when I do. Plus generally when we’re discussing sexism that’s where it’s coming from.

Race season is finally behind us for another year or it will be very soon. You might be thinking what comes next? How much rest do I need… — Race season is finally behind us for another year or it will be very soon. You might be thinking what comes next? How much rest do I need after this? How much should I run now? Or you might even have a hard time remembering what it feels like to run a ‘normal’ amount. First of all congratulations on this year’s big accomplishment! You Rock!! But now might just be the perfect time for you to try a dedicated reverse taper. Traditionally this term applies to running, and that’s what I’ll be talking about, but really it could apply to any sport. So every time I say running feel free to substitute your thing. Towards the end of this post you’ll see how to design your own reverse taper and you can take that advice to whatever it is that you do. So what even is a reverse taper? Do you need to do one and what should that look like for you?

What does the peer reviewed literature say? — “It’s great that you’re running but you know it’s bad for your knees right?” If runners worldwide had a dollar for every time they heard that we could band together and solve world hunger! In fact I might start collecting and become the voice of the movement. But is running…

It’s not to late — The year is coming to an end and so is the budget for Christmas gifts. If you’re like most of us you might have once again left yourself off the list, but it’s not too late! There are lots of things we can give to ourselves with that limited (see…