Conditioning Research

In a recent post I talked about my back pain and about the idea that much of it is not due to physical injury, but to emotional factors ( TMS or Tension Myoneural Syndrome as the originator of the theory - Dr Sarno - now calls it). It is still real physical pain – not imaginary – but the cause is emotional. Public speaking can make you blush – a real physical reaction – but the cause is emotional. Physical pain can be the same thing. In this post I interview a guy called Monte Hueftle , a long distance runner who has also battled back pain. He explains where his pain came from, how he finally identified the cause and - crucialy - how he has managed to cure it. I first read Monte’s book – Get Rid of the Pain in your Butt Now! – a few years ago when my own back was playing up. My pain has returned recently and I have gone back to Monte’s book and one or two others. You may find this stuff a bit challenging and but I’d urge you to read and consider what Monte is proposing. ...

More mobility stuff from Mountain Athlete .

One of Mark Sisson's Laws in his excellent Primal Blueprint - which I really need to review properly is Primal Blueprint Law #3: Move Frequently at a Slow Pace I did that yesterday in the Grey Corries, some mountains in the Highlands just along form Ben Nevis. The guidebook said 21km and about 1200m of ascent but it felt a lot more! 9 and a half hours but we did not rush it, lingering on the ridge and soaking up the exquisite views. Here are some photos: There is a full write up here .

It isn't often that you see headlines like that in the mainstream.....but I saw it today : In a landmark study, new research from Tel Aviv University now shows exactly how these high carb foods increase the risk for heart problems. Enormous peaks indicating arterial stress were found in the high glycemic index groups: the cornflakes and sugar group. "We knew high glycemic foods were bad for the heart. Now we have a mechanism that shows how," says Dr. Shechter. "Foods like cornflakes, white bread, french fries, and sweetened soda all put undue stress on our arteries. We've explained for the first time how high glycemic carbs can affect the progression of heart disease." During the consumption of foods high in sugar, there appears to be a temporary and sudden dysfunction in the endothelial walls of the arteries. Endothelial health can be traced back to almost every disorder and disease in the body. It is "the riskiest of the risk factors," says Dr. S...

Kurt contacted me today to tell me about his blog which is focussing on paleo nutrition. The Blog is at PāNu paleolithic nutrition - duplicating the evolutionary metabolic milieu It is a superb resource. Kurt is a medical doctor - a radiologist - who was made aware of the paleo diet after hearing Gary Taubes speak . He is addressing a range of topics really well, including Paleo Booze , intermittent fasting and paleo on a budget . An excellent resource that is now in my Google Reader!

Each year some lunatics race the West Highland Way , a 95 mile trail that goes from Glasgow to Fort William through the West Highlands of Scotland. This years race was held last Saturday and it was fascinating reading the accounts of some of the runners. John Kynaston has a great blog detailing is preparation for the race and it was good to read that he once again managed to complete the course in under 20 hours. I am not sure if it is a healthy pursuit, but it is some achievement! There is another account of the race here . I have walked bits of the route and could not imagine the endurance that these guys have to run it!

This is some Challenge, underway as I write. On 29th May 2009 at 11.30pm, Richard Dunwoody started a 1000 Mile Challenge to walk the same mile 1000 consecutive times (from the Bedford Lodge hotel in Newmarket up the Bury Road to a post half a mile away and back again) for a 1000 consecutive hours with the last mile up the home straight of Newmarket racecourse just before the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on 10th July 2009. In 1809 Captain Robert Barclay Allardice was bet that he couldn’t walk 1000 miles in 1000 hours for 1000 Guineas – meaning he had to walk one mile in every consecutive hour 24 hours a day – the challenge therefore taking 42 days with the maximum an hour and 20 minutes sleep at any one time (if you walk back to back miles in different hours). He completed the challenge on 12th July 1809, losing three stone in the process with his challenge hailed as ‘one of the greatest human feats ever attempted.’ 200 years on, champion jockey, polar explorer and BBC presenter, Richard Dunwo...