How to Stay Cool when Running: A Lesson in Human Thermoregulation During Exercise

How do we stay cool when running in hot weather? In my last post, I challenged race directors to reconsider the growing practice of including moisture-wicking technical shirts as race “swag.” That resulted in a slew of questions and comments ranging from skepticism to recommendations on staying cool when running in hot weather. I’m going to address all these issues here.

Let’s start by describing the issue. The human body generates a great deal of heat Read More...

An Open Letter to Race Directors: Please Stop Distributing Tech Shirts!

Dear race director friends:

I understand you have undertaken a thankless job. You put in countless hours to assure your event is well-organized. I also understand you receive a slew of dumbass requests. Hopefully some of you will consider this request even though it directly contradicts the accepted logic most runners ascribe to.

Please stop distributing moisture-wicking tech shirts.

Why you ask?

Quite simply, they’re endangering the lives of runners that falsely believe their Read More...

The Most Important Knowledge a Trail Runner Needs

Yesterday a friend posted a rather cryptic status in Facebook. Their spouse had left for a trail run hours earlier and was not responding to texts. It produced one of those sinking feelings you feel when bad shit starts to unfold. Based on the comments, it was obvious the friend had little information to relay to the authorities.

The situation also produced a hint of personal responsibility, much like a teacher feels when a former student drops Read More...

Benign Neglect: The Art of Under-Parenting

While doing some research for a new project, I came across the term “benign neglect.” As a parenting style, it involves allowing your kids freedom to well, be kids. Let them explore their world. Solve their own problems. Take their lumps when things don’t go so well.

And I like the nomenclature because it’s mildly antagonistic.

It perfectly explains the parenting strategy Shelly and I use. We let them play unsupervised, which often involves wandering around Read More...

The Summit Seeker Review

Why do we do the things we do?

This universal question is always at the forefront of my curiosity about others. Why do we make the decisions we make? What is the fuel that motivates us? I love seeking these answers n others because it helps understand my own self.

Runners are even more fascinating. Why do we run? In the case of ultrarunners, this question becomes even more pertinent. What drives us to run for Read More...

The Art of Bagging Groceries

Back in the day I worked at a now-defunct grocery store. I did a variety of jobs in pretty much every department. The various jibs required some unique skills like cutting a box with a box cutter without damaging the product, operating a price gun, and playing the “we have to get rid of this close-to-expiring milk by playing games with how people choose which one to grab” game. I also spent considerable time as a cashier, Read More...

Traditional Publishing Versus Self-Publishing: Which is Better to Spread Your Ideas?

So you want to see your ideas in print, huh?

Years ago, you pretty much needed to go through a traditional publishing house. Self-publishing, while theoretically possible, required a ton of difficult work. A prospective writer would have to recruit editors, typesetters, graphic designers, and printers to produce the book. Once produced, the writer then had to tackle distribution and marketing. It was a long, hard process that wasn’t especially effective.

The rise of technology has Read More...