It Has Nothing to Do with Age

Mike Keller,Fritz Seyferth,Jack Youngblood and Mental Health

2013-06-19T07:26:00.002-07:00

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."– Carl Jung

Did you know that mental health disorder diagnoses are on the rise among American children? Findings at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 13% to 20% of American children aged 3 to 17 experience mental disorders each year and that percentage has been increasing. The article stated that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has troubling numbers. For example, this statistic / diagnosis among children in the south are approximately 10% while in the west it is 20%. A European psychologist noted that this diagnosis is much higher in the US than it is in Europe. He wondered if the pharmaceutical industry had something to do with or perhaps is contributing to an over diagnosis? This article was found in the May 25-26, 2013 edition of the Wall Street Journal.

While interviewing Mike Keller, Mark Falcone and Tim Twietmeyer, it was very apparent that these three men spent their time especially in childhood and adolescence involved in sports and activities outside the home. They were not confined to some electronic device and spent their time highly involved in the outdoors. Perhaps, many of the children of today ages 3 to 17 have different experiences. I know the issue of mental health is complex. I also know that child-rearing, parental modeling, and kids exercising their mind and body are important as well. These men, found natural highs as opposed to chemical highs. Further, it is known that that doing well especially with positive human interaction builds self-esteem as contrasted to spending time alone. Do not forget that some of the recent crazies all had impaired interpersonal relationships.

Currently, I have been interviewing Mike Keller, Jack Youngblood and Fritz Seyferth regarding mental toughness for my upcoming read. These men are approximately the same age and have a number of things in common. A few of the similarities include but not limited to the following: 1.Participated in individual and team sports growing up 2. Spent time in the outdoors 3. Excelled at sports 4. Were good students 5? Were leaders and could take direction (coachable) 6. Worked at becoming the best they could be 7. Excelled after football 8.Have a variety of interests.

It is no coincidence that these young men (Tony’s age), are living a healthy lifestyle and are doing and following my prescriptions found in “It Has Nothing To Do With Age.” I’m thinking of interviewing Dan Dierdorf, Walt Garrison and Jim Brandstatter as additional interviewees regarding mental toughness.

I am enjoying finding out what makes these men so successful both on and off the field.

In the October, 2010 issue of Trail Runner, there’s a great article regarding trails in Yosemite National Park. The article points out that Yosemite Falls at 2425 feet is the tallest waterfall in North America and El Capitan is a 3000 foot granite monolith. The writer of the article suggests that runners/hikers could consider the Valley Loop Trail which is about 13 miles or so as well as the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail which is about 16 miles. There’s also shorter trail called the Four Mile Trail which is actually 4.8 miles. Another trail worth exploring because of the wonderful topography and breath taking views is the Half Dome round-trip trail which is 14.2 miles. This run has nearly 5000 feet of climbing up and back. This has been called” a must run.” If you haven’t been to Yosemite National Park, I suggest you consider it. And a good time to visit is when school is in session. Forget about it. during summer vacation. There are just too many visitors.

Keep moving, laughing, smiling and belly breathing. Also, check out Thursday's ACT television show with Race Director Craig Thornley.

Mark Falcone,Tim Twietmeyer,John Muir and Western States 100

2013-06-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit."– Helen Keller

Last Thursday’s TV show with Mark Falcone and Tim Twietmeyer was fun. I learned that Mark was a Boy Scout and credited that organization highly for his love of nature. He also enthusiastically talked about hiking the John Muir Trail for some 225 miles with his wife Tracy. He gave suggestions and ideas for new and potential hikers. He enjoyed his TV appearance thoroughly and volunteered suggestions for other guests to consider.

Tim was his usual, humble self. He talked about his love for all sports as well as his competitive and sports minded family. He also talked a little bit about his Western States strategy which included not burning himself out, keeping hydrated, eating properly, fast walking when tired and listening to his body. He added” once I got to Forest Hill, I knew I just had seven more hours.” one of his more challenging victories at the Western States run was in 1995. He raced against Ann Trason and the Tarahumara Indians. He mentioned that because of their (Indians) reputation he wanted to beat them and he did. Check out the TV link on this blog. http://youtu.be/wr2v3D4JreU

Linda, her Arab Nails and I spent about three hours on the trail Friday. Saturday, Linda and I (not Nails) joined Tony and Debbie at Folsom Lake where we experimented with different kayaks. Linda found one that she liked and is considering getting a new kayak. After leaving the Aquatic Center at Folsom Lake, Tony couldn’t resist and stopped at Baskin Robbins on the way home.

Sunday, Tony, Chris Turney and I ran a tapering run on the trail. We met Bette Smith a WS 100 entrant. Tony and I are tapering for our 30 K., the San Lorenzo, in the Santa Cruz Mountains this coming Saturday. Monday, Chris is planning on joining us for another tapering run.

Craig Thornley the new race director for Western States 100 is our scheduled TV guest on Thursday, June 20.

Don’t forget to keep moving, smiling, laughing and deep breathing

.To be continued

Fritz Seyferth,Tim Tweitmeyer,Mark Falcone and ACT Television -Part 2

2013-06-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

"We must dare to think "unthinkable" thoughts. We must learn to explore all the options and possibilities that confront us in a complex and rapidly changing world."– James William Fulbright

Red has been doing a wilderness trip for 50 years and Fritz for the past five years. I found out, with my discussion with Fritz, more insight into his mental toughness. We talked about his very first experience with Red in the wilderness. According to Fritz, he loves this experience as it puts him in touch with his primitive side. It’s just like being a caveman, in some respect, because two things become very apparent. First, in order to survive, you have to work as a team as well as having to rely on yourself. In other words you have to pitch your own tent and yet cut wood for the group. It’s important to use both sides of your brain including the executive function because you have to gather information, quickly understand the variables and implement and produce. While dealing with all the challenges you’re using your intellectual, mental, emotional and physical and pushing the boundaries to the limits.

Fritz stated that, all too often, using ones work or employment as an example, we simply are not challenged like that. As a result, monotony or boredom can set in. I totally agree with him and what comes to mind was an experiment I learned about in Dr. Jacob Kounin’s psychology class regarding the development and process of satiation. Incidentally, the brilliant Dr. Kounin was a student under the legendary Kurt Lewin.

For me, the most challenging mental and physical experiences where three different one day 100 mile events that I completed in my six decade of life. In the Tevis Cup event my partner was my horse Rader and in the Swanton Pacific Ride and Tie my partners included Jonathan Jordan and my horse Gypsy. In these two ultra events, I had partners and I would only be successful if we worked as a team. Trust me; it’s important to take care of your horse if you want to complete these events. It’s about teamwork.

In the Western States 100, my team was my crew that I saw periodically. So even in that one event, the importance of other people is very clear. Working as a team, relying on others as well as yourself was the key to success. I do not have a problem remembering this concept. In “It Has Nothing To Do With Age “prescription number three addresses this very significant point.

Fritz, I thank you, for sharing and revealing yourself.

I would guess that tomorrow's TV guests Tim and Mark will add more information about mental toughness as well as the importance of teamwork. Those of you that do not know about Tim, he is inhuman as far as his running accomplishments go. I have to find out about his human side and his vulnerabilities.

On another note, I just read an article about the stud farms in Kentucky. In fact according to the Blood-horses Stallions Register there’s about 30 of them. These mansions for these magnificent stallions have a number of perks. To illustrate, a stall might have two windows; partial pastor views; 4 foot tall walls with black metal railings so the horse can see the landscape and garden when the barn doors are open; a digital camera that captures and monitors movement; special feeding such as grains and molasses to complement the pasture, 16 foot ceiling fans to keep the horse cooled and to keep away flies and posts placed outside the fences to prevent injury. So the cost for boarding for one year might be anywhere from $25-$30,000. I don’t know what it would cost to transport your horses to Kentucky. I’m sure that’s extra. This article was found in the Wall Street Journal June 7, 2013.

Yesterday, Tony and I did our 10 or so mile loop on the WS trail. Today, I plan to accompany Linda and her Arabian Nails on the trail. See you on the trail.

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and breathing.

Mike Keller,Tim Tweitmeyer,Mark Falcone,Fritz Seyferth and ACT Television

2013-06-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success."– Henry David Thoreau

Last week’s television interview with professional football player Mike Keller was a blast. I had a lot of fun and Tony is a great partner and provided a lot. In some ways it was like three comedians on a reality TV program. On the serious side, we learned that Mike’s competitiveness was related, in part, to his mother’s competitive spirit. According to Mike “she had everyone paddling fast and was always striving.” For example, when he was four years of age, he challenged his mother to a foot race. Of course she didn’t let him win and said “when you get faster come back and we’ll do it again.” So one of Mike’s strong points or his edge was his ability to run faster than anyone else. It was his speed that allowed him to win the battles that took place on the line of scrimmage for this All-American linebacker. He also learned that players had to play supposedly with pain and not with injury. However, he gave two examples of when Jack Youngblood played on a fractured tibia and his Cowboy’s teammate Walt Garrison played with a damaged clavicle. Players were told to “take a couple aspirins and get out there and play.” There was plenty of humor and laughter as well as information on mental toughness. You can catch this program on this Blog. This week’s TV program will feature Tim Twietmeyer and Mark Falcone and their ideas regarding mental toughness.

Yesterday, Chris Turney, Tony and I ran the trail for about 10 miles. I was pleased that I didn’t experience discomfort to my Achilles even traversing Maine Bar.

I have been interviewing Fritz Seyferth regarding mental toughness for my current projects (next book). He is an interesting man to say the least. This man has scored a touchdown in the Rose Bowl; played professional football; was the assistant athletic director at the University of Michigan; and currently consults with coaches and business executives.

Fritz recently spent two weeks in the wilderness with Red Baron(Berenson), the hockey coach at the University of Michigan, couple of recent hockey graduates and a couple of other men. Red’s group was flown into the wilderness near the Blood Vein River and left there with canoes, tents, food, saws etc. . Their mission was to make it back to civilization.

To be continued

Enhance your Life ,Set a Goal

2013-06-05T08:54:00.003-07:00

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach."– Benjamin Mays

How many of you think about goal accomplishment? When younger, (20s, 30s, 40s) goal achievement might be related to such things as education or career. However, when a little bit older (50s, 60s) our goals likely change. What is important is that we have a goal which allows us to think about future. Not only that, but we can do research, plan, evaluate, synthesize and use our brain which is necessary for productive and healthy living.

At the age of 80, Yuichiro Miura scaled Mount Everest. This man also scaled Everest at youthful ages of 70 and 75. At the moment he holds the record for being the oldest to reach the world’s highest peak. I do not know when this man first thought about climbing Mount Everest but I do know it had to be prior to age 70.

At the age of 80, Dr. Jim Steere became the oldest to complete the 100 mile one day equestrian Tevis Cup race. This veterinarian and equestrian were around horses for most of his life. As a teenager, he rode some 90+ miles by himself (for 3 days) going from his father’s home to his mother’s. This man had plenty of goals that allowed him to live life to the fullest.

At the age of 82, Lew Hollander completed the Hawaiian Iron Man thereby giving him the record of the oldest to complete the event. Lew also completed the Western States 100 mile one-day endurance run. Being an accomplished horseman, he also completed the Tevis Cup and is a member of the American Endurance Ride Conference Hall of Fame. Even today, Dr. Hollander does not have difficulty with goal setting.

Sharon “Shay” Bintliff, in her late 70s, is the oldest female to ever complete the famous Wahineo Ke Kai Outrigger canoe race from the island of Molokai to Oahu.Doc Shay was on one of the two women Outrigger canoes in 1975. On that date that was the first crossing (40.8 Miles) accomplished by women paddlers.

To learn more about Jim, Lew, Sharon and others I recommend “it Has Nothing To Do With Age .Do not forget to set ego or task goals because it’s good for you.

Tomorrow’s exciting as Tony and I are hosting our first TV talk show on ACT television. This is a brand-new venture for both of us. And once again, I practice what I preach regarding goal setting. I’m thinking and planning about future guests for our program. Mike Keller of the Dallas Cowboys is our guest this week. Next week, Tim Twietmeyer and Mark Falcone will join our program. Your suggestions, for future guests, are welcomed.

Today, Tony, Linda and I had fun as we skyped.

Don’t forget to keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing.

Auburn Community Television with Frank,Tony and Mike Keller

2013-06-03T10:18:00.001-07:00

"No one can really pull you up very high — you lose your grip on the rope. But on your own two feet you can climb mountains."– Louis Brandeis

It’s my pleasure to announce that Tony Brickel and I have a new television talk show to be shown on Auburn Community Television. This program will feature men and women who are passionate, inspirational, and have a powerful drive or zest for life. They have, without a doubt, physical, emotional, and mental toughness.

Our first guest is Michael F. Keller. Mike has a wealth of experience in college and professional sports. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and was an all Big Ten linebacker in 1970 and 71, all-American linebacker in 1971. In 1995 he was Voted All-Time Michigan Football Team (Modern Era).Mike played for the legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.

Mike played for the Dallas Cowboys; scouted for the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks; and currently is the chief operating officer of the A-11 Pro Football League. Mike played for the legendary Cowboys coach Tom Landry. He is also the founder and CEO of the San Diego Sports Academy.

One of Mike’s references is Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League. In addition to football, Mike excels at golf, is an accomplished equestrian, Hunter and fly fisherman .He has numerous stories and is a super storyteller. I feel lucky to have him as a friend, and first guest on our show. Mike is also one of the main interviewees of my mental toughness book-project.

Yesterday morning, Tony, Chris Turney, Madhu and I ran on the trail. On our loop we dropped off Chris at his home. The three of us then proceeded to my home covering a distance of roughly a half marathon.

Remember to keep moving, laughing smiling and deep breathing.

Tony and Frank Have a TV Show

2013-05-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

"Choices are the hinges of destiny."– Pythagoras

Tony and Frank

Hi everybody , I’m going to share with you my philosophy of living that is represented in my book “It Has Nothing To Do With Age .” the following is taken from chapter 1.

I believe the individuals in this book, all ranging in age from 65 to 85, are interesting, inspiring, compassionate, driven, and disciplined people. Yes, they have accomplished incredible feats in their senior years, but they are also mortals faced with typical challenges we all confront in life-financial woes, family issues, divorce, health problems, and even death. As life deals out these cards, sometimes it’s those challenges that cause people to push themselves, ultimately escalating to ultra sports.

As I’ve experienced from writing this book, I hope we’ll also identify and draw strength from these inspirational stories. I encourage you to use the information to your advantage and let these role models assist you in establishing a roadmap for developing meaning and passion in your life. It’s never too late to begin.

Just because we age does not mean we have to retire or stop living productively. We can also evolve and become active outdoor participants in meaningful and healthy events. Noted attorney Eugene D’ Ablemont,age 70, was forced to retire from his New York law firm even though he was a partner there for four decades, and definitely didn’t want to retire. Essentially our society forced him to step down, pushing aside the facts that he was still productive, successful, and engaged in and committed to his profession. Our society views aging in terms of numbers rather than ability. The question remains, who should make the decisions? In my opinion, we need to challenge the notion of how this arbitrary, stand-alone number is the basis for retirement.

Memorial Day and the Potential Hazzards of Running - Part 2

2013-05-29T10:06:00.002-07:00

"If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again."– Flavia Weedn

There is a lot of research that associates aerobic exercise with improved blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and cardiac health as well as many other benefits. Currently, there are concerns that aerobic exercise, in serial marathoners, may be associated with increased vulnerability to atrial fibrillation and coronary artery plaque. This means that there is an association, some anecdotal findings, between some endurance athletes and aortic roots. In another study of 2,377 runners and walkers who had survived heart attacks, after 10 years, 526 of them died with 71 ½% of them from cardiovascular disease. It was concluded that the more these people ran or walked after a heart attack the less likely they were to die of heart disease unless they exceeded 7.1 km of running or 10.7 kilometers of walking daily. The study concluded that excessive exercise significantly increases mortality.

I am unable to evaluate, the credibility of, these studies without going to the original source. These studies may be significant and over time we shall see.

Both Tony and I have not had heart attacks but we both generally exceed 7.1 or 10.7 km daily of aerobic exercise. We will see how long Tony continues with aerobic exercise. His mother lived to 96 years of age. She did not eat cheeseburgers nor did she work out. My mother lived to age 93 years of age and she did not eat cheeseburgers nor did she work out either.

I experienced a condition of atrial tribulation after one of my Tevis Cup rides and was placed on medication for a few years. As I wanted to compete in the Swanton Pacific 100 Mile Ride and Tie, I was concerned about the medication that regulated my heart rate or my pulse during that grueling event. I consulted with my cardiologist Dr. Fisher, a marathoner ,and he suggested during my trail runs, that I stop and check my heart rate monitor to see how quickly my pulse would drop . I did this procedure numerous times (pulse rate dropped quickly) and we agreed for me to slowly withdraw from the medication. So when I, at age 68, competed with Jonathan Jordan and my Arabian mare Gypsy, I was no longer on medication. Incidentally, we won that race. Not only that, three weeks later Gypsy, my ride and tie partner Joshua Steffen and I won the Cool Ride and Tie as well.

Last Sunday, Tony and I ran from Forest Hill to White Oak Flat on the Western States training run a distance of about 19 miles. On Tuesday, we ran, at a good clip, a short 6 mile loop. In other words, I’m still going to run on the trail regardless of that Wall Street Journal article. So when I leave this earth, please do an autopsy to evaluate my aortic components.

See ya al on the trail. Remember to keep moving.laughing, smiling and deep breathing. It’s good for you.

Memorial Day and the Potential Hazards of Running

2013-05-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses."– Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Yesterday, Tony and I participated in the Western States 100 training run. The last 3 mile climb from Rucky Chucky to White Oak Flat doesn’t seem to get easier. But, on the way, I met the new Western States aid station manager at mile 84 which is near my home. That’s a good thing.

Happy Memorial Day, unfortunately, too many who served in the military have been injured or have died. Some wars can be justified ,more specifically World War II ,while others like the Iraqi, Afghanistan and Vietnam wars were questionable to say the least. Tony went to Vietnam and came back in one piece. However, he tells one story where he was covered in gasoline while gassing up a plane. Luckily, no one lit a match so he came out rare and not well done. On another story, he made some adjustments to this plane and the pilot made him accompany him on his mission. Thankfully, Tony’s adjustment worked for both him and the pilot.

Tony survived Vietnam, motocross racing, ride and tie, endurance riding with 10 Tevis Cup completions. And just the other day, he sent me an article that suggests endurance running might damage one’s health. Do you think that endurance running is going to contribute to his death?

On May 24, 2013, the Wall Street Journal had an article titled “The Exercise Equivalent of a Cheeseburger? According to the article, the once believed benefits of aerobic exercise are challenged. I must start with a stupid comment by running coach Mark Sullivan “there are guys who live to be 100 smoking cigarettes and eating cheeseburgers.” Where does this running coach get his data?

To be continued

Lew Hollander,Western States Endurance Run and Happiness

2013-05-24T08:26:00.004-07:00

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is."– Aleksei Peshkov

I’d like to share some of my thoughts about running, in the mountains, 100 miles in one day. First, allow me to present a brief description of the setting. This race begins at Squaw Valley, California the site of the Winter Olympics in 1960. The elevation at Squaw Valley is some 6,200 feet above sea level. From there, there is about 18,000 vertical feet of climb and about 23,000 vertical feet of descent. The race ends at Auburn, California some 96 feet above sea level.

As far as weather conditions, there is generally snow, during the early part of the race, and then temperatures reaching triple digits in the canyons. This means that you may start out with the light jacket or long sleeve shirt and then shedding to a short sleeve shirt applying a lot of sun block, a hat to protect yourself from the sun and so forth. Some runners have encountered bears, cougars and rattlesnakes. Fortunately, for me, I am pleased to say, I encountered none of those critters.

Lew Hollander in Chapter 10 of “It Has Nothing To Do With Age “tells this story when he competed in this race in 1984. During one part of the run, he became hungry between aid stations. Like other runners, he reached into his shorts or fanny pack for something to eat. He found his sandwich. however when he looked at it for some reason it was soggy and dirty from all the sweat and grime. He said “it looked horrible, unfit to eat.” What is often the case during this run is that runners do not always use their best judgment. We jokingly refer to this as oxygen deprivation. So Lew did not use good judgment and this scientist did the unscientific thing of simply throwing his sandwich away. Of course, after running a short distance he had second thoughts and criticized his rash decision.

For those of you that know Lew, he has lived a very charmed life. And that was the case in 1984 for him because within the next hundred yards or so, unbelievably there on the ground, he found a clean wrapped sandwich. I forgot to ask him what kind of sandwich? In essence, Lew satisfied his hunger and completed the race.

For me, there were many highlights ranging from the difficulty of the day and night to the satisfaction and relief of completion. At about 98 miles or so my pacer Jerome Beauchamp and I reached Robie Point. To my surprise, and I do mean amazement, I found a group waiting for me. I didn’t ask them how long they’d been waiting, but I was happy to see them. In the crowd were my sister Beverly, a former girlfriend, Tony and Debbie Brickel and Bob Edwards. That was so neat that I’ll never forget it as long as I don’t have dementia. I probably haven’t told them enough how much I appreciated them being there for me. It’s good to have friends and family during these significant events.

Robie Point

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing.

2013 Western States Endurance Run

2013-05-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

"We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality."– Iris Murdoch

On Memorial Day weekend, the Western States 100 is having its annual training run. The first day, Saturday, the run begins at Robinson Flat and ends in Forest Hill a distance of about 32 miles. On Sunday, the training run begins at Forest Hill and ends At White Oak Flat for a distance of about 19 miles. On Monday, the training run begins at Green Gate and ends in Auburn for a distance of about 20 miles.

On Sunday evening, there’s a movie,”Desperate Dreams “and discussion by Jim King and Jim Howard with Tim Twietmeyer being the moderator. All three of these men are world-class runners and winners of this prestigious event. Jim Howard, I first met, competing in ride and tie. Tim Twietmeyer was gracious enough to write a marvelous review of my book “It Has Nothing To Do With age.” if interested, in attending, I suggest you Google Western States 100 training runs.

What: 1983 WS Desperate Dreams screening, followed by a discussion with Jim Howard and Jim King, facilitated by Andy Jones-Wilkins.

When: Sunday May 26, 2013, 6-9pm

Where: Canyon View Community Center, 471 Maidu Dr, Auburn, CA

Cost: Free

Food: Firetrail Pizza will be on site selling pizzas.

This weekend brings back memories of my introduction to Western States and the Memorial Day training runs. I remember qualifying in November of 2001 when I completed the Helen Klein 50 mile trail run under 10 hours. Incidentally this was my first 50 mile run. I started out that day with my training partner the young Linda Raposelli, and my younger friend Jerome Beauchamp. Linda being younger than me, had to complete the run in 9 ½ hours. We both qualified and entered the drawing for Western states for 2002. Later that month, we were both selected in the lottery.

My mother passed away in late September of 2001 and I broke up with my girlfriend in that month as well. The training for the run with my running partner Linda helped me with my grief and losses. Having a major goal that required a tremendous amount of effort and discipline also facilitated in dealing and coping with my emotional pain. Those 6 to 8 months of training turned out to be very enjoyable in spite of my losses and emotional state. Linda and I got close, told a lot of stories, talked about relationships, losses, laughed and smiled a lot. I learned what is said on the trail stays on the trail. I will never forget that important time in my life.

Linda and I ran the trails most days during the week and entered a few trail runs together. We did John Medingers 50 mile trail run in January, The Way to Cool 50 K. in March and the American River 50 mile trail run in April.

Linda and I also did the three-day Western States trail run in May. On the first day of the training run, her husband, at the time a Tevis Cup enthusiast, Michael suffered a horse accident shattering his leg. I remember visiting him in the hospital later that evening. His leg recovered but their marriage did not.

Last night, in honor of Penny’s triumph, after dinner we all went to Tony and Debbie’s home for brownies, ice cream, blue berries, cake, nuts, whip cream, chocolate topping, and cherries. If I missed anything, Tony will add it.

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and belly breathing.

Amgen,Bay to Breakers,Double Century, and Juvenile Diabetes

2013-05-20T08:48:00.002-07:00

"There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up."– Booker T. Washington

On May 18, Tony and I entered the 10 mile trail run at the Cronin Ranch benefiting Juvenile Diabetes. Debbie entered the 10 K. and Michelle entered the 5K. I’m happy to say that Tony, Debbie and I are now wearing gold medals along with each receiving a bottle of wine. Tony was a little disappointed since he was about a minute off of his finishing targeting time. He even told me that he didn’t stop at any of the 3 aid stations. He’ll just have to run those hills harder so he can accomplish his goal. I didn’t have a finishing time goal at the beginning of the race.I stopped at those aid stations. It wasn’t until the last four or 5 miles, that I started to push. My finishing time was okay. All in all, it was a good day however; I would’ve liked more heat on this run.

A week from Sunday, Tony and I are running the middle day of the Western States 100 training run. This training run starts in Forest Hill and ends at White Oak Flat for a distance of about 20 miles. I expect next week to have much more heat than today.

Tony’s sister Penny started and completed her Double Century bike event in Davis, California Saturday .Congratulations Penny. Also, the Amgen Bike the event also took place in Livermore, California. And on Sunday, the second oldest running event/celebration in the United States took place in San Francisco. The Bay to Breakers is one big party with thousands of people participating. I haven’t run that one yet.Yea, Northern California. .

An article in the Wall Street Journal on May 15, 2013 stated that low-salt benefits were questioned by the Institute of Medicine. A report from that group said there was insufficient evidence that cutting sodium intake below 2300 mg per day cuts the risk of heart disease. The article also stated that there was no evidence of people who already have heart disease or diabetes should cut their sodium intake even lower.

Well, I have neither heart disease nor diabetes but I make sure that I have enough electrolytes during trail runs. For instance, because of the relatively short distance and the weather conditions on the 18th of May run, my Gatorade electrolyte drink provided me with enough salt. Next week, I will have to add salt tablets to my Gatorade because of the 20 mile distance and the more than likely hot weather conditions.

For me, I don’t add table salt to any of my foods or eat a lot of processed and packaged foods. As a result, I am not concerned about the recommended US guidelines for sodium intake. However, it depends on running distance, time of day and temperature conditions to determine appropriate sodium intake for me. So determine your own “grain of salt.”

Make sure that you are moving, laughing, smiling and belly breathing. I know I do.

How To Enrich Your Life

2013-05-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

"Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing."– William Butler Yeats

In my book titled “It Has Nothing To Do With Age “I wrote about a group of people 65 years of age and older who pushed their physical, mental and emotional limits to unfathomable levels. I have gained numerous new learning’s from that project. From my insights, I prescribed seven prescriptions to combat declining life expectancy as a result of obesity, high blood pressure, stroke related issues etc. Prescription number three, one of my inner truths, is extremely important for longevity . Prescription number three reads “Enrich your emotional life by making physical contact, having friends, sharing interests, and learning about others by becoming part of a new group.”

This past week-end demonstrated that point. Approximately a year ago, Linda and I met this young couple and son at our community swimming pool. The Avasarala’s are originally from India. Madhu and Farah are both runners and talented in many ways. Madhu is an ultra runner and Farah is very speedy on the shorter distances (she also plays tennis, swims and bikes). Linda and I have learned a lot about their culture, eating habits, life philosophy and more about Thomas Paine. This past weekend we were introduced to two of their Bay Area couples –friends.

None of us know how our story ends. Remember life is a journey. And there is no need to control or attempt to predict the end point. Life is somewhat like going down the fast flowing stream (rafting) using oars and attempting to avoid boulders and other hazards while experiencing pleasure and excitement. Make sure your ratio of success is greater than the ratio of hazards by your choices. Just remember to use your tools to your advantage and to stay afloat as long as possible.

My new friend Mike Keller is another example of meeting new and interesting people. He is one of the main characters of my second book regarding mental toughness. As I get to know him, I will learn more about his identity and his life space. His life space, for example, includes: college football, professional football, fly-fishing, horseback riding, motorcycles and the creation of a new spring professional football league. So it is very clear that my life continues to be enriched. And like I said in prescription three, my lifestyle choices facilitates how I’m aging.

On Monday, Linda, her Arabian Nails, and I did about a 5 mile trail ride and run. I recovered from last Saturday’s Quicksilver trail run and therefore want to do more heat training for this coming Saturday’s trail run for juvenile diabetes at the Cronin Ranch.

On Tuesday, Tony, Linda Nails and I did a 6 mile or so trail run and ride. Today, Linda, Nails and I ,this morning, are going to run and ride again. This Saturday Tony and I have entered a 10 mile run for Juvenile diabetes at the Cronin ranch. Join us.

Remember; keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing.

Friendship,Quicksilver,Bo and Woody

2013-05-13T09:33:00.001-07:00

Friendship, Quicksilver, Bo and Woody

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Muhammad Ali

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html#5WBsyxIZG7Vy5uyq.99

Thursday, Tony and I did our last the 5 mile or so tapering run/walk. We talked about high school, girls, football, present-day politics, and the media. What is said (a rule)on the trail ,stays on the trail.

Friday, Linda, Tony, Jonathan, Tara, Madhu, Farah and I left for the Quicksilver trail race in San Jose. I was happy to learn that Madhu, at one time worked in the Bay Area, and has entered the Quicksilver 50 mile race numerous times. Unfortunately, Farah is still recovering from an injury and will not participate in the run. Because it is Madhu’s 55^th birthday this month, he facilitated and organized our participation. Tonight, we’re going to meet at Bellagio’s for a pre race dinner.

Ride and Tie competitors Jonathan, Tara, Tony, Linda and I are lodging nearby the race site. If it wasn’t for Tony, I might not have become involved in this special sport nor developed a friendship with him. I first met Tony at the ride and tie event at Mount Hamilton in 1997. And my first ride and tie event, in 1997, was at Quicksilver.

It might’ve been around 2003 or 2004, when I first met Jonathan. Guess what? I met him at the Quicksilver Ride and Tie. He came all the way from Southern California to participate in the event. I’ve stayed at Tara and Jonathan’s home many times over the years. Jonathan and I have also partnered up for a number of ride and tie events including the World Championship in 2008 and the Swanton Pacific 100 miler in 2008 (incidentally we won it). Jonathan comes up and runs the Way Too Cool 50 K. with Tony and me. Incidentally, a few years ago, Tara also came up to run the event as well.

Tara, Jonathan, Tony and I have entered the 25K. So I am looking forward to getting together with friends and especially participating in a trail run race. The four of us, I believe, are in different age groups (40,50,60 and70)for this run unless they stick me in Tony’s. That has happened before and Tony got a big kick out of that.

Tony, in the 60-99 age groups, broke 3 hours, came in 2^nd, got a medal Saturday and was pleased.

On the way to San Jose, Linda and I met with Mike Keller the All-American from the University of Michigan and former Dallas Cowboys NFL player. Mike is the man responsible for setting up and implementing the professional Spring Football League which will debut in 2014.

I told Mike that one idea for my book is to interview Wolverines and Buckeyes who played for coaches Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. If you’re not familiar with those two names, I suggest you Google them. My idea at this point, is to talk about their “ mental toughness “ on the football field. I’m also interested in exploring how “mental toughness” served them later in life. Those two coaches battled and in what were called by the media “the ten year wars( 1969-1978). ”

Remember my friends, keep moving, laughing, smiling and belly breathing.

Mental Toughness, Reason, Friendship and Football

2013-05-08T08:29:00.001-07:00

Part 2

Frank on the left

I played football and baseball in my backyard, in front of my home, on vacant lots and at the schoolyard. I was pretty good and often played with older kids. My main competitor in elementary and junior high school was Tom Smith. He was bigger and better than I was. He went on to receive All State honors, played under Dan Devine at Missouri in a few Orange Bowls, became a principal but unfortunately was killed in an automobile accident.

It wasn’t until high school, that my athletic achievement was noted and rewarded. As a freshman, in high school, I played on the reserve football team. I didn’t play my sophomore year because I was getting into trouble. I did play in my junior year until I broke a heel bone in my right leg (a non-football injury). As a result, I didn’t get to play in the Detroit city league championship. At that time the winner of the public school, my high school Denby played the winner of the parochial school De LaSalle in the Goodfellow game at Briggs Stadium (it is now called Tiger Stadium).

Denby high school was a football powerhouse in those days. In my senior year, we were undefeated and gave up two touchdowns during the season. In the first half of every game we were in the lead and I played right guard on offense and middle guard on defense. Coach Rutherford would substitute in the second half and I was moved to left guard on offense and remained at middle guard on defense. We were planning on playing Redford high school the public school champions of the west side of Detroit, when our athletic director, Mr. Rhem discovered that one of our players (who later went on to play at the University of Michigan and become a lawyer) didn’t get an official physical examination. As a result we had to forfeit games in which he played. So are season ended. That year, 1957, I was voted All City and awarded a football scholarship at the University of Detroit. I love football, the physical contact, the camaraderie, and being a necessary component to make a whole.

One idea for my book on mental toughness is to write about Bo Schembechler ‘s All Americans and to compare them with either coach Duffy Doherty’s Michigan State University Spartans All Americans ; or special forces combat veterans; or female ultra runners ; or female triathlon athletes. I am interested in finding out and writing about mental toughness during competitions and after. Suggestions are welcomed.

Yesterday, Tony, Carrie and I did a short 5 mile or so tapering trail run along with dogs Porter and Jade. If I could only bottle the energy of those dogs, running could be so much different. Carrie is dealing with a new relationship and residence issues. Thank goodness for PEA the neurotransmitter.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Albert Camus

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html#ibVULHJflPFWY6Tj.99

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and rhythmic breathing.

Thomas Paine,Reason,Friendship and Football

2013-05-06T08:53:00.004-07:00

Saturday was a day of tapering. So Digger, my wire haired terrier and I hit the trail. This time I ran my favorite, 10 mile or so, trail in a counter clockwise direction. The only humans I encountered were James Anderson and then Betty Smith on the trail. I made sure to stop at every creek crossing so that my dog would be hydrated. The one advantage of running, with no humans, is that I can think about such things as my next blog posting. Including today’s run; my total for the week was somewhere around 50 miles.

On Sunday, Chris, Tony, Madhu and I ran a short 6 mile (10 k) tapering run. Tony and Madhu raced ahead while Chris and I talked about Gil Brandt, Michael Keller, the Dallas Cowboys and other football stuff. After our run, at my home, we continued talking about Thomas Paine and his contributions to our independence, rational thought and freedom. Madhu suggested, as home work, that we read some of his writings sip some wine and discuss.

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

Thomas Paine

One reason that I’m enjoying interviewing Michael Keller is because football is my favorite sport followed by ride and tie and then running. And thinking back to my elementary school years, I remember liking sports both playing and reading about them. I read stories by John R. Tunis (about 64 years ago) that included: All American, The Kid from Tomkinsville, High Pockets, Rookie of the Year, and The Kid Comes Back. But I don’t remember the specific content of these books. However, my impression is that they’re about individuals who were overcoming something. Overcoming obstacles resonates with me. And they succeeded and were heroes on top of that.

More to Follow

My Lucky Day

2013-05-03T07:50:00.001-07:00

"We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."– Herman Melville

Yesterday, Alpha arrived at my home early in the morning for our trail run. He finished building a ramp for Hope, his border collie, so that she can navigate the stairs. Unfortunately she is not doing too well. He told me that he wanted to run short today because he’s tapering. Short, for Tony, means a run of about 6 miles. I told him that I wanted to run longer today because of my rib injury. This hurt interfered and caused me to miss a few days of running.

So we started out by walking, one of my favorite loops which is roughly, 10 miles. We walked and talked and then I heard a noise. I turned around and here comes Madhu running down the trail with only pepper spray in his hand. No water for him today only peppers spray to ward off the wild animals. Madhu, incidentally, organized the San Jose Quicksilver trail run on the 11 Th of May. Alpha, Jonathan, Tara, and I are running the 25K. Madhu’s wife Farah also planned on running the 25K but withdrew last week because of an injury. Madhu has entered the 50 mile trail run and hopes to complete this tough trail run in about 10 hours. He is celebrating a 50 something birthday this month which is why we are partying with him.

On a side note, I met Tony a.k.a. Secretariat and a.k.a. Alpha at a ride and tie in 1997. At that ride, I was introduced to ride and tie and decided to enter a competition. As a result, my first ride and tie was at Quicksilver in 1997. My last Quicksilver ride and tie competition was in 2008. A couple of years ago during a ride and tie competition at Quicksilver, Tony and I went up and ran part of the course. So I’m looking forward to returning next week even though I know about the difficulty of the trail and hot weather conditions.

Back to our run and walk. Madhu turned off to another trail while Tony and I continued on our loop. We talked, talked and ran. I was telling Tony this story about interviewing Mike Keller and a conversation about the mental toughness of Jack Youngblood and Jerry Rice.

I told him that Jack Youngblood would likely continue running into a tree to see if he could move it while Jerry Rice would run around the tree. Mike Keller said it was Jack’s job to punish people and Jerry Rice’s job to avoid people. Tony said Jerry Rice was still tough because he had to catch balls thrown toward the middle of field and then he would get hit. We all agreed that Jerry Rice was mentally tough.

I just stopped running and as I was telling Tony that story, I looked down and saw my black glove that I had lost about three weeks ago. How is that for coincidence? It must be my lucky day. For your information, I run (in the cold) with one black glove and one white glove. I am now matched again.

Franks Glove

At the creek crossing, I told Tony that I was to go further (another 4-5 miles) and he could join me if he liked. He declined and we intend to run again on Sunday. For this last loop, I ran, focused on my breathing since I had no one to talk to. Today, Linda Nails her Arabian and I are going on a 10 mile ride and run. She likes to ride and so it is.

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and rhythmic breathing.

Beat the Heat

2013-05-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

"It's not what you are, but what you don't become that hurts."– Oscar Levant

A week from Saturday, on May 11, I am running a 25 k at Quicksilver in San Jose with youngsters Jonathan, Tara, Alpha. As the weather is changing from hot to hotter, it’s important that we get acclimated to the change in temperature. This means conditioning in and for the heat. There is no other way of training for running in the heat without prior hot weather training.

Any training or conditioning having to do with the heat means the following: hydration, electrolytes, sunscreen and appropriate clothing. For me, that means taking an extra water bottle and making sure that I have enough Succeed salt tablets in addition to my Gatorade or Cytomax. I also make sure to use sunscreen especially around my nose and ears. If being in the sun for a long time, I’ll wear a hat that looks like I’m in the foreign Legion for my extra sun protection.

Some of the issues or health problems associated with not getting enough liquids, especially for people 65 and older and overheating and could increase the risk of include: 1. underlying diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and chronic productive pulmonary disease. 2. Trouble walking or moving around. 3. Dementia or other problems with thinking skills. 4. Overweight or obesity. 5. Age-related changes to the skin including reduced function in sweat glands.

According to Blue Shield of California Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2013, avoid drinking cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps .Further, medications may also cause dehydration or affect the ability of the heart, blood vessels or sweat glands to respond to the heat. And stay away from alcoholic beverages because they actually cause you to lose more fluid.

For me, I really notice the change in temperature prior to acclimating to the heat. I remember going up Maine Bar (a trail that Jonathan dreads) and simply having to stop during my uphill climb. When I have to stop and get my breath, I know that I’m not acclimated. Hopefully, I won’t have to stop and get my breath during our Quicksilver trail competition because there is plenty of elevation change. However, during the run I will quickly know whether or not I’ve had enough prior heat training.

Remember, keep moving, laughing, smiling along with rhythmic breathing.

Michael Keller ,Dallas Cowboys and Mental Toughness

2013-04-29T08:15:00.002-07:00

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."– Samuel Beckett

Why did a 6’4” 225 pounds athletic football and basketball player, who ran fast, at Catholic Central high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, question why the University of Michigan granted him an athletic football scholarship? To his amazement, he wondered “Why were they recruiting me, a guy from Grand Rapids, when they had all these high school all- Americans to choose from?” He added “I never felt good enough.” And stated “I never thought that I’d see or get on the playing field, but I hoped, that I would at least; make the traveling squad before I graduated.”

Michael Keller

How did this insecure, doubting kid from a small high school in Grand Rapids, who started out on maybe the six string on the U of M freshman football team, who didn’t think he was good enough to play at this level of football, become a three-year starter 1968-1971; won second team Big Ten honors in 1971; become one of the 40 football players selected to play in the college all stars versus Dallas Cowboys in 1971; and become drafted in the third round, the 64 th pick selected overall , by America’s team, the one and only Dallas Cowboys?

Would you be interested in finding out more about Michael Keller? I’m currently interviewing him regarding my “Mental Toughness “project.

Rhythmic Breathing,Meditation and Health

2013-04-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

"A person who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."– Albert Einstein

Wednesday’s post was about the benefits of rhythmic breathing while running. Thursday’s trail run was about 13 to 14 miles . During that run, I incorporated rhythmic breathing. I noticed the following while doing the run: 1.My heart rate seemed significantly lower but more elevated than Alpha’s. 2. I tripped more than Alpha. I believe, in part, the tripping had to do with paying more attention to foot strike on exaltation than lifting my foot off the ground. The last trip, I landed on the left side of my chest, it still hurts. I still believe rhythmic breathing is good however; I have to pay more attention to the trail while running.

On April 16, 2013, the Wall Street Journal had an article about meditation. According to this one primary care physician, “I recommend five minutes, twice a day, and then gradually increase meditation.” This doctor suggested that patients start easy and then work up to about 20 minutes of meditation twice a day for conditions that includes insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome.

It is believed that integrative medicine programs are including meditation in significantly more hospitals and clinics in our country. Research has found that meditation can lower blood pressure and help patients with chronic illnesses cope with pain and depression. In another study published last year, meditation sharply reduced the risk of heart attack or stroke among a group of African Americans with heart disease.

At Beth Israel Deaconess, meditation and other mind-body therapies are slowly being worked into their program of primary care. Meditation is being used as a complement to traditional medicines. It is clear that “when you breathe in a very slow, conscious way it temporally lowers your blood pressure “said Josephine Briggs director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Recent research found that meditation affects molecular changes affecting the length of telomeres, a protective covering at the end of chromosomes that gets shorter as people age. The people in the study also showed improved mental and cognitive functioning and lower levels of depression compared to a control group. Current government funded research is also exploring meditations effect on dieting and depression.

Eastern philosophies, have been around for a long time, and can be a good adjunct to Western medicine. This is not a new idea, but it appears, that these philosophies are gaining more respect and credibility. If you haven’t taken a meditation or yoga class, I suggest you consider it. Don’t forget,in the meantime, to keep moving, smiling, laughing and deep breathing.

Yoga,Natural Breathing and Running

2013-04-24T08:45:00.001-07:00

"Calmness is the cradle of power."– Josiah Gilbert Holland

Budd Coates believes that that if proper belly breathing can be attained, then the likely hood of injury can be significantly reduced for runners. His reasoning is as follows: It’s acknowledged that when the runner’s foot hits the ground, that force of impact is equal to at least 2 to 3 time’s one’s body weight. Further, the impact of stress, on that foot, is greatest when it hits the ground at the beginning of an exhalation. Physiologically speaking, this occurs because when exhaling, the muscles associated with the diaphragm relax, and as a result, that creates less stability in the core. With less stability, there is a greater potential for injury since the runner is always landing on the same foot at the beginning of an exhalation .So one side of the body continuously absorbs the greatest impact of force, causing it to become increasingly vulnerable to injury.

Coates teaches rhythmic breathing, to runners, in an attempt to rectify this potential injury problem. Rhythmic breathing can assist with attention to foot strike. If you’re familiar with yoga, you have learned how to belly breath. Belly breathing, in principle, means that you are allowing for the maximum volume of air intake to take place in your chest cavity. According to Hinduism, this type of breathing creates a pathway to deep centeredness that allows for mind, body and spirit connection. This breathing technique can benefit runners. Runners can focus on breathing in order to gauge their running effort. They can also create calm and deal with emotional stress better.

Coates teaches a five counts or 3:2 pattern of breathing applied to running. Briefly, inhale for three steps (count) and exhale (count) for two steps. By following this method, a runner can pay attention and then more easily alternate foot landing .Briefly, inhale to the count of 3 and exhale to the count of 2 .Make sure you breathe through your nose and mouth at the same time and alternate foot landings.

Today, on our 10 mile or so trail run, I taught Alpha this technique. After a number of miles he got distracted by two female runners. He was pleased, with himself, as he caught and passed them. Meanwhile, I was behind all three of them employing the Coates method. I bet he had more fun than I did.

While breathing, it is suggested that one should minimize distractions and place focus on breathing while you’re learning this method. I agree. I discovered that when focusing on breathing, I could not think about anything but. Also, I had to really pay attention to where my foot was landing because the trail had many roots and rocks. For more detailed information consult Runners World, April, 2013.

Remember to keep moving, laughing, smiling and deep breathing.

Heat Training and the Greatest Runner

2013-04-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

"Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments, but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures."– Joseph Addison

The cover of April, 2013 edition of Runner’s World has interesting articles that included the following: Lose 5 Pounds the Right Way; Eat Better; Train Smarter; Burn More Calories; Go All Out; Add Power , Fitness And Speed; Rest or Run? Road Or Trail?

For me I had no problem yesterday in choosing to run trail. I was joined by Alpha, Madhu, and Chris at Cronan ranch. On May 11, a group of us are going to compete at Quicksilver in San Jose as well as celebrating Madhu’s birthday. Cronan was selected because of the difficult terrain which included frequent elevation change, little shade, and one very hot and sunny day. Heat training, at this juncture, is important for the upcoming Quicksilver event. The temperature there can be brutal at that time of the year.

Because of the hot temperature change, I wore a heart rate monitor, carried 4 water bottles as well as Succeed salt tabs. We started our run about 8:45 but could have started earlier. Alpha ran about 10 miles but had to go home to deal with an unrelated issue. The three of us ran roughly 14 miles. Being concerned about the heat, I checked my heart rate monitor frequently as I did not want my pulse to be over 140 beats per minute. Even though my heart rate was under 140, I still perspired a lot, walked for part and was pretty tired on the hills. However, young pup Madhu not only didn’t sweat very much but claimed that he did not work very hard today. He’s lucky and fortunate. I told Linda I was concerned about being tired. She replied “I’m not worried; he’s young enough to be your son.” Okay, I get it.

All in all, I got the beginning of my heat training. Hopefully, the temperature will remain warm so that I can get acclimated to the heat.

On another note, Runner’s World magazine had an article about the greatest runner of all time .Some of the names included: Jesse Owens, Emil Zatopek, Roger Bannister, Herb Elliott, Bill Rodgers, Paula Radcliffe, Usain Bolt etc.

Ann Trason

Tim Twietmeyer

Shame on the writer for failing to acknowledge neither Tim Twietmeyer nor Ann Trason for their achievements. By failing to mention these unparalleled ultra runners (of Western States fame); I seriously question this man’s credibility and knowledge especially when he included such people as Ryan Hall, Dean Karnazes and Pheidippides in the honorable mentions section.

This man is entitled to his opinion. However, it is not based on reality, so you can take it with a grain of salt.

Join Alpha and I at the UC Davis Cardiology Rehab Department Wednesday, the 24^th for my mental health – physical health presentation. In part, I’m going to tell them to keep moving, smiling, and laughing.

Do You Want To Run 100 Miles? - Part 2

2013-04-19T09:50:00.001-07:00

"Inspiration follows aspiration."– Rabindranath Tagore

Once I got selected, in the Western States lottery, I entered John Medinger’s 50 mile plus the Epiphany trail run, the Jed Smith 50 mile trail run, the Way Too Cool 50 K., and the American River 50 mile trail run. Also, I put in 50- 95 miles per week of running to get ready for the event. Thus, this was my training. A friend, Tom Christofk, told me “Running 50 miles is not like running 100.”

Karl Meltzer has won more than twenty-nine 100 mile trail races, stated” You haven’t experienced ultra trail running until you complete 100 miles. It’s so much harder than 50, almost like three 50 milers, and it throws everything at you.” Other quotes found in Trail Runner, October, 2010, issue 68 include “it was the best of times and the worst of times.” “Agony and ecstasy.” “A study in contrasts.” “100 miles of heaven and hell.”

Issues that come up during the hundred mile run include: despair, self-doubt, hallucinations, tears, hard falls, blisters, mashed toenails, sunburns and projectile vomiting. In fact the 2002 Western States Endurance Run Participants Guide calls attention to the following: 1. Renal Shutdown 2.Heatstroke/Hyperthermia 3. Snow Hazards 4. Hypothermia 5. Wildlife Hazards 6 Low Sodium and Chloride Counts 7. Altitude Sickness 8. Muscle Necrosis 9 Overuse Injuries 10. Common Fatigue and the list go on. One quote that I like is by Chuck Gabri “Eat like a horse, drink like a fish and run like a turtle.”

Well, I found out that running 100 miles or 200,000 steps (if one mile =2,000 steps) was a unique experience to say the least. I encountered many things for the first time. It is true that running 50 miles is quite different than running 100. However, I had three terrific pacers (Chuck Mather, Bill Johnson and Jerome Beauchamp) and a super crew (including my sister Bev) that helped immensely. A more complete description of the trials and tribulations of this event can be found in “It Has Nothing To Do With Age.”

Over training can be a detriment especially if one goes into this event injured. So it’s not uncommon for the athletes to be either tired or over strained before the start of the event. Most importantly, when competing, all that takes place between your ears cannot be underestimated. Runners have plenty of trail time as well as alone time. During the trail time, one encounters many emotions and many emotional changes and thinking challenges during the day and night. As a consequence, mental toughness is most significant. In considering running a 100 miler, make sure you are doing it for the right reason.”

Within the past two years, after much thought, I have weaved together motivational concepts, that I think, pertain to ,define and comprise mental toughness .I am thinking about writing a second book employing mental toughness as the main theme. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, if you’re thinking of running 100 miles you might consider: Angels Crest 100, Hardrock 100, Javelina Jundred or H.U.R.T. 100 or 95 others.

Yesterday, Carrie, Alpha, the two dogs Jade and Porter and I ran about 10 mile trail run on the Western States trail. The plan for Sunday is to run at the Cronan ranch. Chris, Alpha, Madhu and I will cover about 15 miles. Remember to keep smiling, laughing and moving.

PS I am presenting a paper to the UC Davis Cardiology Rehabilitation Department on April, 24^th. You are invited, join Alpha and I.

Boston Marathon -April 15,2013

2013-04-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood."– Marie Curie

Can you believe what happened near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday? What a cowardly act by an individual or group of individuals. From initial accounts, it appeared that most of the people killed or injured were spectators-family, friends, or volunteers. Apparently, the marathon runners were not seriously injured from the two blasts. It’s that old saying that “it’s not good to be in the wrong place at the wrong time “that seemed to be true Monday.

What is puzzling is why someone would want to injure these innocent individuals. It is more problematic to attack the nation’s oldest running race. Certainly this prestigious event warranted much publicity and drew thousands to its venue.

The quick response in helping victims is applauded. There were many heroes (mental toughness) who jumped in and did the right thing. One issue that bothered me is the amount of media attention that these tragedies generate. The media doesn’t have a problem in presenting information even if it’s false or simply a rumor. There is too much publicity or reinforcement and suggests and give “importance” or “notoriety” to these evil characters,

There are too many mentally sick individuals with easy access to harming devices. I have confidence that our government, with all its resources, will locate the perpetrators and likely discover and give clues as to the motivation of these deranged people. There can be no sound justification for this perpetration. In this case I’m OK with an “eye for an eye.”

The Boston Marathon will continue as well as this country. The world can be a dangerous place, as evidenced by the nuts that surface, however, having all the guns in the world doesn’t make it safe or can protect you My heart goes out to all those injured and I hope their recovery is quick . I feel terrible for those that needlessly lost their lives.

On a happier note, Alpha and I ran about 10 miles on our trail run Tuesday. We both registered for the Western States Memorial Day training run. We also entered, for the second year, the 10 mile JDRF (juvenile diabetes) run on May 18 at the Cronan Ranch. The posted picture is from last year’s race at the start, Can you recognize us?

Remember to keep moving smiling and laughing.

Do You Want To Run 100 Miles ?

2013-04-15T11:15:00.002-07:00

"There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, 'We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail.'"– Jim Collins

Ann Langstaff

Dennis Rinde

Chris Turney

Tony

In 1997, the decisions that I made resulted in a major change. At that time, I was entering the endurance world, trail riding and practicing full-time as a psychologist in the Bay Area. Early in the year, I entered an endurance ride at Mount Hamilton in San Jose. At that time, I was introduced to an event called ride and tie. I became interested in that sport and then began trail running. Because of this sport, I met trail runners, some of who became friends, and some, I found out, were world-class runners. People like Tony a.k.a. Alpha, Chris Turney, Linda Raposelli, Ann Langstaff, Jonathan Jordan, Russ Kiernan, Dennis Rinde, Jim Howard, Tom Johnson, Mark Richtman and Tim Twietmeyer to name a few.

Linda Raposelli

Mark Richtman

Jim Howard and daughter Sara

Tom Johnson

Tim Twietmeyer

Jonathan Jordan

Frank

Because of the sport and the necessary trail running, I learned about trail running and various trail events. I learned about nutrition (power bars, Cliff bars, turkey and peanut butter sandwiches); hydration (Gatorade, Cytomax, Gu20); and running gear (Asics, New Balance, Mizuno, Brooks) and orthotics.

I also learned about the Western States 100, one-day trail run, 5 k’s , half marathons, marathons, 50 K’s, and 50 milers. When I decided to compete in the Western States 100 ,my trail running consisted of a few 5 K’s, one half trail marathon, the Maui marathon, one 50 K., and five years of ride and tie competitions.

To be continued

Yesterday, Alpha, Chris, Carrie and I ran the trail. We started for my home and headed toward Dead Truck. They proceeded to Maine Bar and then back to my house for about a 7 plus mile trail run. I wanted to run longer so I passed Maine Bar and headed towards Brown’s Bar and then returned to my home for about 14 of 15 mile trail run. Once home, I enjoyed the three I’s –ice, ibuprofen, and ice cream. What was not to like about yesterday? In any event I recommend moving, laughing and smiling.