Training for Life: Freedom, Specificity and the Jigga Man
Michael Day
Longevity Physician, Performance Coach, Endurance Athlete, Latin Scholar, Stoicism Aficionado
Happy Fourth! I visited Harper's Ferry, West Virginia last week, where the haze lifted long enough to catch some of the beautiful mountain views. We are used to being steeped in Civil War history in central Pennsylvania, but Harper's Ferry really feels like a walk through history. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, John Brown and Stonewall Jackson?are a few of the figures featured in Harpers Ferry history. I'm grateful for those who established our freedom and those who have protected it. I've signed up for October's Freedoms Run, a marathon from Harper's Ferry to Shepherdstown, in celebration of freedom. Listening to Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Anti-Racist on the car ride down, I am reminded of how much work is left to be done before all Americans are able to drink their full fill of these freedoms.
Quote of the month:
"The only answer that I give to you is by doing it," he said. "A just request is to be met in silence, by the act."
What I'm reading:
Chasing Excellence: A Story About Building the World's Fittest Athletes, by Ben Bergeron. This is our book club selection for this quarter. It's a quick and easy read, set against the story of the 2016 CrossFit Games, where two of the athletes Bergeron was coaching won the overall crowns for males and females. His first step in building these elites? Character.
What I'm measuring:
Air Quality Index. Well I'm not the one measuring it, but I am reading the measurement, more than I want to be. I'm trying to avoid intense outdoor cardiovascular training when the AQI levels are reported as unhealthy. Is this the beginning of the end of times? (Sorry climate change deniers!) I'm not from California so I'm not accustomed to this!
How I'm training:
Moving in to the final month of triathlon training, I am trying to hone in the specificity of my training. I biked the race course at Fort Ritchie and have an open water ocean swim planned for this week. In the pool, I've been doing 'deck-ups,' climbing out of the water onto the platform and diving back in between 50 yard intervals to get the heart rate up and simulate some of the energy of the triathlon swim start. I'm still maintaining my running mileage. Ultimately, those are the competitions I'm most focused on, hopefully securing a spot for the 2024 Boston Marathon.
What I'm listening to:
Jigga What / Faint, by Jay-Z / Linkin Park, from the collaboration album Collision Course. Building off the Lying From You song that recaptured my attention last month, I have brought back this short, six-song album for a reprise. One week, I played it every day in the OR. More than one person asked me if they were new remixes. Nope! 2004.
On the blog:
How to Improve Your Mobility and Why It Matters, by Guest Writer Andrea Needham
When you think about improving your health, you probably focus on issues like diet and exercise. While these issues matter, they aren't the only aspects you should be considering. Mobility is another essential component of overall wellness. ‘Mobility’ refers to a person's ability to move purposefully. Mobility becomes increasingly important with age, impacting one’s ability to remain independent. Read the full post here.
Upcoming events:
July 18, 2023
领英推荐
Training for Life Book Club, Chambersburg, PA. This quarter we will be discussing Ben Bergeron's Chasing Excellence: A Story About Building the World's Fittest Athletes. Let me know by replying to this email if you want to join.
?
July 30, 2023
Fort Ritchie Triathlon. This will be my first foray into the triathlon world, and it's fast approaching!
?
August 5, 2023
Captain Bill Gallagher 10 Mile Island Run. This is a classic. 7 miles on the sand. In hot weather, it can be extremely challenging!
?
October 7, 2023
Freedoms Run. This point-to-point marathon gains over 1400 feet going from Harper's Ferry to Shepherdstown!
?
October 21, 2023
End of the Road Half Marathon. I've done this a few times now. It's a small, very unique race. Four of the miles are in pitch black abandoned turnpike tunnels, so headlamps are required!
?
November 4, 2023
Remedy Park 10 Miler. Come join us for the second annual 10-mile race through Chambersburg and Scotland, PA!