Last night I was beaten in a race by someone I've been helping to train. Another one of the guys I have been training with won a walk race in another city. The driving force behind the Panda Endurance concept is to promote fitness and wellness but also to promote fast walking.
John Bingham championed the cause of making it be ok to be slow. He helped people realize that even the slowest runner is still an athlete. I want to promote that you don't have to run at all to be a serious athlete. You can be walker and still be a strong, fit athlete. The more people that take up fast walking the sooner it will be a mainstream sport like running, swimming and biking.
This area I live in, Southern Kentucky is fast becoming a Meca for fast walkers. We have a lot of races that are pure walking, separate from the run races. The competition is intense and most races will have several senior Olympians. Lately more younger athletes are getting into the fast walking as a change from running.
A walker can train exactly like a runner, with Long Slower walks to build endurance, short fast waking to build speed and the combination walks where you go a medium distance at a steadily increasing pace. Any run training method can be adapted to fast walk training.
One of the biggest benefits of the walking over running is that it's easier on the body, even though more muscles are used. A fast walker will burn at least as many calories in a workout as a runner putting out the same effort. Another plus for the walking is that recovery time from a hard workout is shorter. Especially when training for marathons, a runner doing a 20 mile training run is really trashing their muscles and that requires recovery, the older you are the longer the recovery period to. Training for senior athletes is much different, not in the types of training but in the recovery.
Big cheers for my walking buds who did good this weekend and for what you did for the sport. You never know how seeing you excel will inspire someone else to change their own fitness level and become a recreational athlete.
Thanks for reading.
Proud Panda
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Money and Health
I was thinking last night about how interrelated money and health are in the world today. To start with, money gives us options, options we wouldn't have without it. A healthy body does the same, it gives us options. We can literally do things with a strong healthy body that we couldn't do without it. I'm not talking about just sports either but an endless range of activities. We can do everything we do in our daily lives, with more energy, if we keep our selves in good physical shape.
Money is the number one cause of stress in this country. Yep, tons of studies out there to back that up. Husbands and wives fuss over money even more than they argue about how to raise the children. What do people do when they are stressed, they eat or spend money, or both. It's a good bet that if your credit card debt is out of control so is your waistline.
Another interesting fact is that is that when times get tight, the health related stuff is cut back first, expenses like workout clothes, gym memberships and race related expenses are out the window. Then we eat to ease our stress and not the veggie burger either but comfort food. Did you know that since we went into this current economy crisis that fast food places are still doing super. Fast food, ice cream and movie rental stores are thriving, so are the sales of beer and cigarettes. Yep even with the mega taxes on cigarettes they are still selling well.
Now what is wrong with this picture? We are in a budget crunch and we can still afford to go to Wendy's or pick up a bucket of Kentucky Fried, but we can't swing a new pair of exercise shoes to replace the ones hurting our feet. I saw someone at the Minute Mart the other day, looked like a laborer worker of some sort and he was getting a sandwich and a coke then asked for a pack of cigarettes. Well when he found out the price of the smokes he put the sandwich back and just got the coke and the cigarettes.
Right now a lot of us are slapped silly by the economy. But we can't loose sight of what's really important. Remember this mess will end and wouldn't it be nice if it ended with us still having a healthy strong body instead of us weighing fifty more pounds and stressing about that also.
Thanks for reading.
Money is the number one cause of stress in this country. Yep, tons of studies out there to back that up. Husbands and wives fuss over money even more than they argue about how to raise the children. What do people do when they are stressed, they eat or spend money, or both. It's a good bet that if your credit card debt is out of control so is your waistline.
Another interesting fact is that is that when times get tight, the health related stuff is cut back first, expenses like workout clothes, gym memberships and race related expenses are out the window. Then we eat to ease our stress and not the veggie burger either but comfort food. Did you know that since we went into this current economy crisis that fast food places are still doing super. Fast food, ice cream and movie rental stores are thriving, so are the sales of beer and cigarettes. Yep even with the mega taxes on cigarettes they are still selling well.
Now what is wrong with this picture? We are in a budget crunch and we can still afford to go to Wendy's or pick up a bucket of Kentucky Fried, but we can't swing a new pair of exercise shoes to replace the ones hurting our feet. I saw someone at the Minute Mart the other day, looked like a laborer worker of some sort and he was getting a sandwich and a coke then asked for a pack of cigarettes. Well when he found out the price of the smokes he put the sandwich back and just got the coke and the cigarettes.
Right now a lot of us are slapped silly by the economy. But we can't loose sight of what's really important. Remember this mess will end and wouldn't it be nice if it ended with us still having a healthy strong body instead of us weighing fifty more pounds and stressing about that also.
Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Mad Panda Grrrrrrr!
I know this isn't really a wellness post but in a way it is to. Part of being free and dealing with stress is to speak your mind. I'm thinking that poor Bankrupt Las Angles Calif shouldn't be footing the bill for all the crowd and traffic control for the Michael Jackson memorial and funeral. If you put on a race that isn't for a charity you usually have to pay for the police that are required to control traffic for your race. The news announcer said that is would require millions of dollars of overtime pay and take police officers away from the jobs they need to be doing. Jobs like protecting the citizens.
The city did put out a web site with a plea for donations to help with the cost. Hummm, the Jackson estate is worth over half a BILLION dollars, why the heck is that cost not coming from the Jackson estate.
I'm sure that the laid off city and state government workers who are losing their homes and life savings will understand that this is more important than them. Grrrrrrrr! They are going to have elephants there for Gods sake. This is a circus and a prime example of what's wrong with our country.
I have sent emails to Obama, my congressman and to Arnold. I'm just one old fellow with an attitude, but if enough people agree with me there may be hope for us yet.
Thanks for letting the Panda vent.
Mad Panda
The city did put out a web site with a plea for donations to help with the cost. Hummm, the Jackson estate is worth over half a BILLION dollars, why the heck is that cost not coming from the Jackson estate.
I'm sure that the laid off city and state government workers who are losing their homes and life savings will understand that this is more important than them. Grrrrrrrr! They are going to have elephants there for Gods sake. This is a circus and a prime example of what's wrong with our country.
I have sent emails to Obama, my congressman and to Arnold. I'm just one old fellow with an attitude, but if enough people agree with me there may be hope for us yet.
Thanks for letting the Panda vent.
Mad Panda
Monday, July 6, 2009
Make each day count!
Every day that we do nothing but work, eat, watch TV or get on the computer is a day we have let get away. Think back the last few weeks can you remember something you did on each of those days that was, fun or exciting or interesting or even scary? We as civilized people have largely given up our physical life, everything now is geared for mental. When we go to work our bodies are just a case to take our brain to work, we do nothing really physical.
When the computer showed up on desks we no longer even had to get up to go to a file cabinet. Heck we don't even have to get up to change our TV channels. Every generation is required to move less and less to live. But is that living? Is our body becoming obsolete? Not no but HELL NO it's not!
If we want to just go through the motions of being alive, just exist, then we can pretty much do without our bodies, it just has to take us to the car and in and out of buildings. But there are several things wrong with this. First it's not living it's existing. We need to move, we need to have our body strong. Everything we do from making love to playing in the park with the kids to competing in sports requires a strong healthy body.
Our health is up to us, we have a lot better chance of fighting off every disease and condition that can afflict us if we are strong and healthy. We have a lot less chance of getting the bad stuff to begin with if we are active and healthy. If we all ate better and exercised more and had a more interesting, fun life we would pretty much see the end of everything from type 2 diabetes to depression.
Most of the people who read this have already bought into the need for a healthy life style but we all need to help the people we care about get involved. Plan family trips to places where you can hike and play and and have fun in motion.
Thanks for reading.
Healthy Living Panda
When the computer showed up on desks we no longer even had to get up to go to a file cabinet. Heck we don't even have to get up to change our TV channels. Every generation is required to move less and less to live. But is that living? Is our body becoming obsolete? Not no but HELL NO it's not!
If we want to just go through the motions of being alive, just exist, then we can pretty much do without our bodies, it just has to take us to the car and in and out of buildings. But there are several things wrong with this. First it's not living it's existing. We need to move, we need to have our body strong. Everything we do from making love to playing in the park with the kids to competing in sports requires a strong healthy body.
Our health is up to us, we have a lot better chance of fighting off every disease and condition that can afflict us if we are strong and healthy. We have a lot less chance of getting the bad stuff to begin with if we are active and healthy. If we all ate better and exercised more and had a more interesting, fun life we would pretty much see the end of everything from type 2 diabetes to depression.
Most of the people who read this have already bought into the need for a healthy life style but we all need to help the people we care about get involved. Plan family trips to places where you can hike and play and and have fun in motion.
Thanks for reading.
Healthy Living Panda
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Dare to Dream
When you dare to dream you can see your self not just as you are now but as you can be. Some of the greatest people in history were just ordinary people who could see them selves making a difference in the world.
There are so many things wrong with our nation and our world right now that we need heroes, not the heroes that ride in on a white horse and shoot the bad guys with silver bullets, but ordinary people who are willing to be good examples. We are in the middle of a health care crisis that we created by over eating, consuming chemicals and not exercising. Be a light in the darkness. Dream of your self being an example of a better way.
Don't worry that you are out there in front of God and everybody walking or running when you are carrying a lot of extra fluff. You are a point of hope for others who have been afraid to be seen exercising because of their own fluff.
Be an outspoken voice against the filth that is clogging the Internet. Our cyber world is a wonderful place, but it's also a playground for people with no morals. We need to say "Hell No" to the people who are doing horrible things to other people, videoing it and posting it on the net. When you see that kind of crap email your congressmen and senators, email the attorney general. Express your displeasure to everyone you can think of. Don't be silent, be a voice for what's right.
Tell the people who are on the front lines you are proud of them. Tell your child's teacher that you know how much courage it takes to be responsible for our future generations learning. Wave at the policeman you see driving their routes, let them know you support them. If you know someone who has a son or daughter serving in the military, let them know you are proud of them.
We are all such a tiny part of our world but if enough of us try just a little harder to be more involved we can begin to make a difference. But it all starts with each one of us dreaming that we can be better and take the steps to improve our selves.
Thanks for reading.
Dream Panda
There are so many things wrong with our nation and our world right now that we need heroes, not the heroes that ride in on a white horse and shoot the bad guys with silver bullets, but ordinary people who are willing to be good examples. We are in the middle of a health care crisis that we created by over eating, consuming chemicals and not exercising. Be a light in the darkness. Dream of your self being an example of a better way.
Don't worry that you are out there in front of God and everybody walking or running when you are carrying a lot of extra fluff. You are a point of hope for others who have been afraid to be seen exercising because of their own fluff.
Be an outspoken voice against the filth that is clogging the Internet. Our cyber world is a wonderful place, but it's also a playground for people with no morals. We need to say "Hell No" to the people who are doing horrible things to other people, videoing it and posting it on the net. When you see that kind of crap email your congressmen and senators, email the attorney general. Express your displeasure to everyone you can think of. Don't be silent, be a voice for what's right.
Tell the people who are on the front lines you are proud of them. Tell your child's teacher that you know how much courage it takes to be responsible for our future generations learning. Wave at the policeman you see driving their routes, let them know you support them. If you know someone who has a son or daughter serving in the military, let them know you are proud of them.
We are all such a tiny part of our world but if enough of us try just a little harder to be more involved we can begin to make a difference. But it all starts with each one of us dreaming that we can be better and take the steps to improve our selves.
Thanks for reading.
Dream Panda
Friday, July 3, 2009
Natural Power!
When you walk into a Vitamin and Supplement store you see row after row of wiz-bang, latest and greatest miracles. You are assured that if you take this or that your arms and chest will grow and your waist will shrink to a ripped band of tight muscle. Just spend enough money and you can have the body you have always dreamed of.
I spent many years working with training programs for military personnel. Now let me tell you something about the military. There is a tremendous amount of research that goes into building our warriors. The Human performance Lab in Dallas, under the wing of Kenneth Cooper has been an advisor to the military since the 70s. Well guess what? There are no, that's right you heard it here first, there are no supplements that are better for making you stronger, faster and more agile that good wholesome food, plenty of pure water and hard exercise.
We are victims of the power of advertising. Those supplements are only good for building the bank accounts of the manufactures of supplements. Now I know you are going to hear from people that are going to swear that a chemical mixture helped them grow bigger muscles, well they probably took the supplement and ate properly along with hard work at the gym. It wasn't the supplement but the good food and hard work.
These chemical mixes are not regulated and are often found later to actually be harmful. That product that we saw on the TV ads so often, Hydroxy Cut, has been linked to several health problems. Listen to the panda don't use the supplements. Take that money you would spend for supplements and use it for good exercise shoes and a membership at a health club, not on a magic potion.
Now I know I'm going to step on toes here but I wouldn't recommend anything except a name brand multi vitamin. Everything else is a waste of your money and could be dangerous. If you must take something, make an appointment with your doctor and discuss it with them. I think you will find that the majority of them would agree with me that good food is the best supplement. I had the opportunity to work with the full knowledge of a large military hospital and discuss this with doctors of all specialties, I found none that suggested a mix of chemicals over a proper diet in conjunction with regular exercise.
Thanks for reading.
Natural Panda
I spent many years working with training programs for military personnel. Now let me tell you something about the military. There is a tremendous amount of research that goes into building our warriors. The Human performance Lab in Dallas, under the wing of Kenneth Cooper has been an advisor to the military since the 70s. Well guess what? There are no, that's right you heard it here first, there are no supplements that are better for making you stronger, faster and more agile that good wholesome food, plenty of pure water and hard exercise.
We are victims of the power of advertising. Those supplements are only good for building the bank accounts of the manufactures of supplements. Now I know you are going to hear from people that are going to swear that a chemical mixture helped them grow bigger muscles, well they probably took the supplement and ate properly along with hard work at the gym. It wasn't the supplement but the good food and hard work.
These chemical mixes are not regulated and are often found later to actually be harmful. That product that we saw on the TV ads so often, Hydroxy Cut, has been linked to several health problems. Listen to the panda don't use the supplements. Take that money you would spend for supplements and use it for good exercise shoes and a membership at a health club, not on a magic potion.
Now I know I'm going to step on toes here but I wouldn't recommend anything except a name brand multi vitamin. Everything else is a waste of your money and could be dangerous. If you must take something, make an appointment with your doctor and discuss it with them. I think you will find that the majority of them would agree with me that good food is the best supplement. I had the opportunity to work with the full knowledge of a large military hospital and discuss this with doctors of all specialties, I found none that suggested a mix of chemicals over a proper diet in conjunction with regular exercise.
Thanks for reading.
Natural Panda
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Yes I can!
There is a saying that if you have the right attitude that everything is possible. That's is true to an extent, being positive with take you further than being negative. But no amount of positive thinking will help you do something that's just not going to happen. I can be positive that a pro ball team will discover me while I'm working out at the gym and offer me a million dollar contract, but it ain't happening. I can be positive I'll wake up tomorrow so pretty that I'll be the next movie star heart throb, but I won't.
But when we put that positive thinking to work on something that really is possible, then it's magic. You may not be the next action hero but you can get and stay in good physical condition. You can with the right attitude and the proper action do some amazing things. Walking or running regularly probably won't make you a super star but it can take you places you never imagined possible. Several of my friends have with just a regular walking or running program and eating more healthy completed marathons and even ultras.
Positive attitudes along with the powerful spirit we all possess to overcome the road blocks that life throws at us will allow you to do a lot. You have to start with a "Yes I can" attitude and then make it happen. You have to be a bit of a dreamer and keep the dream going. If you just say I'm going to lose 10 lbs, that's a good short term goal but you can't look at that as the finish line but as another milestone on a larger journey. The journey I speak of is a long healthy life, a life filled with joy and accomplishment.
As we get older we have to adapt and adjust our outlook at what we are capable of but we can't sell ourselves short either. We have to give a little ground but we still need that, "Yes I can", attitude. Eating right, getting regular exercise and enjoying life isn't something we have to give up as age, with the right attitude, proper preparation and realistic expectations we can continue to have awesome times.
Every January a lot of people with that, "Yes I can", attitude gather at Walt Disney World for a celebration of health, fitness and life. The magic and the energy flowing there has to be experienced to be believed. We need to carry a little of that magic with us every day. Keep saying to yourself, "I can do this", and then make it happen.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
But when we put that positive thinking to work on something that really is possible, then it's magic. You may not be the next action hero but you can get and stay in good physical condition. You can with the right attitude and the proper action do some amazing things. Walking or running regularly probably won't make you a super star but it can take you places you never imagined possible. Several of my friends have with just a regular walking or running program and eating more healthy completed marathons and even ultras.
Positive attitudes along with the powerful spirit we all possess to overcome the road blocks that life throws at us will allow you to do a lot. You have to start with a "Yes I can" attitude and then make it happen. You have to be a bit of a dreamer and keep the dream going. If you just say I'm going to lose 10 lbs, that's a good short term goal but you can't look at that as the finish line but as another milestone on a larger journey. The journey I speak of is a long healthy life, a life filled with joy and accomplishment.
As we get older we have to adapt and adjust our outlook at what we are capable of but we can't sell ourselves short either. We have to give a little ground but we still need that, "Yes I can", attitude. Eating right, getting regular exercise and enjoying life isn't something we have to give up as age, with the right attitude, proper preparation and realistic expectations we can continue to have awesome times.
Every January a lot of people with that, "Yes I can", attitude gather at Walt Disney World for a celebration of health, fitness and life. The magic and the energy flowing there has to be experienced to be believed. We need to carry a little of that magic with us every day. Keep saying to yourself, "I can do this", and then make it happen.
Thanks for reading.
Rambling Panda
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