Key Points: 1. When we engage in competition, we’re primarily motivated either to achieve success or to avoid failure. 2. There’s a continuum that describes this in more detail. It helps explain why we do well in certain situations, but not in others. 3. Sports are full of identity traps, but we’re never taught what … Read more
Key Points: 1. Most people’s shoes and running form contribute massively to foot problems. 2. The answer is NOT orthotics and more cushioned shoes. 3. One step that’s absolutely vital is to train your feet, just like you would any other muscle group. Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes Sometimes I’m struck by the absurdities of … Read more
Key Points: 1. Sports primarily measure skill, athleticism, and strategy. 2. The amount of each varies dramatically from sport to sport. 3. Differences in opinion about which of these three categories is most valuable (and identities built around that) often account for the surprisingly heated discussions about which sport or athlete is “best.” Estimated reading … Read more
Key Points: 1. We should respect the potential commitment and consequences of any activity we undertake. 2. When we do so, we often find that our limits are much further away than we would have believed. 3. To illustrate this, I interviewed my friend Will about his experiences in running his first marathon. Under 3:20! … Read more
Key Points: 1. It’s not actually possible to separate politics and sport. 2. An all-too-common tactic is for people in power to “pass the buck” on the moral consequences of their decisions to those with less power. 3. Engaging with the ethical discomfort of enjoying any activity with a human cost is our first responsibility. … Read more
Key Points: 1. If you have an injury, don’t use ice! This will actually slow the healing process. 2. Our main job is not to interfere with the body’s natural healing process. 3. We can do this by getting as much pain-free movement as possible. Estimated Reading Time: 4-8 minutes In last week’s piece, I … Read more
Key Points: 1. It takes courage to be open to the possibility that our current training methods may eventually be considered horribly outdated. 2. Only relying on scientific studies to validate your training methods is NOT the answer. 3. “You are a lifelong experiment of one.” Test everything, and remember that nothing that works for … Read more
Key Points: 1. The Fitness Industry is still quite new and is evolving quickly. 2. So, people often sort themselves into “fitness religions” and deny themselves the benefits of well-rounded training. 3. We should avoid becoming overly attached to any particular training method. There isn’t a “best” one! Estimated reading time 4-8 minutes Given its … Read more
Key Points: 1. A “hard set” is defined as “taken to or near technical failure/form breakdown.” 2. Ten hard sets is the maximum any muscle group can handle in one day. 3. There is no weekly limit to hard sets, but anything over 20 is probably more than you need. Estimated reading time 5-10 mins … Read more
Key Points: 1. Nordic Hamstring Curls will help you run faster and avoid knee injury. 2. No other exercise comes close to training the hamstrings as effectively. 3. Fewer than 1% of people can do a single rep, but the right training program can help you achieve one in a matter of months. Estimated Reading … Read more