Friday, September 11, 2015

A great Day in June - A fond memory

Good morning everyone in "Green" cyberspace.  I'm having a lot of fun here promoting sustainable living and good health.  It's something so important to me and with having three kids who are all awesome and healthy I am so blessed.  Not to say there have not been things over the years that have come up, like my daughter Melanie's early struggle with ITP and childhood epilepsy, and my daughter Juliet's ongoing struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis (which is especially difficult for an athlete like her.) But I believe that healthy eating and a strong sense of being and belonging to a loving home and practicing healthy habits, attributed to the general overall welfare of my kids and myself too.

Although today is the 14th anniversary of a terrible event in our country's history, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell a brief story on a more positive note, that I recall, inspired from today's article on the front page of the SF Chronicle Sports section.

The article talks about the 111 year old Dipsea Trail Race, held annually in the Muir Woods just north of San Francisco.  The race is about 7 miles (one way) over the mountain from the Muir woods to Stinson Beach on the other side.  Along the way, you traverse amazingly difficult trails, hills, and approximately 685 "steps" known as the Dipsea Steps. (They are mostly just slippery railroad ties.)

This is a beautiful trail and run right through the forest. Words cannot describe the beauty and atmosphere of this place.

The year was 1999, and it was the day before Father's Day and my Uncle Joe's wedding.  My wife Katie, and children Melanie, Nathan (my Son) and Juliet and I were visiting the Muir Woods trail for the first time.  As soon as we got there, Nathan reached out and touched a stinging Nettle, and let out a scream I heard from the parking lot.  After a little while, and some cool water, were were able to resume our hike, when two amazing things happened. First my daughter Julie took her first steps unattended, right there in the magical Muir Woods! What a great Father's Day gift. Next, I happened upon the trailhead for the formally elusive Dipsea Trail. Wow! I couldn't believe it was right here.  I had been reading and hearing about it over the years but never made the connection to the Woods here.

So the next morning I was off, to run the seven miles to the Beach, and hitchhike back to the car and hightail it to my Uncle's wedding.  Well, let's just say it didn't quite work out that way.  After telling the Park Ranger where I was going so he could send out a search party if necessary, I was off.  I made it up the steps, over the hill and to the beach.  I dumped the rocks out of my shoes and waited by the side of PCH for a lift back.  After about 15 minutes with no cars, I decided that water or not, I needed to head back or I might not make the wedding.  I ran back over that friggin hill, without any water, in June, and missed the entire ceremony and part of the reception. Sorry Joe and Diane.




 Oh well, it still ranks as one of my best days and happiest memories.

Have a great day!

What are your "3 Green Things"?

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

mmmmmm-Fooood :)

Food is good. I have always been a pretty good eater, and I mean that from two directions. First, I, as a young athlete, wanted to put good food in my body.( I loved to watch the Jack LaLaine Show as a very young kid, and actually had a chance to interview him for about an hour after I went into radio.)
As Jack espoused, and I believed,exercise was a key element to health and happiness and so I have always pushed my body, which has driven my appetite through the roof, craving healthy, nutritious food. So in my ongoing quest for a healthier lifestyle, this "good food" thing is really nothing new to me.

My job is to tell everyone else!

So please remember these two things: First, good or bad habits take humans exactly 21 days to establish. (a proven and personally substantiated fact.)Just pick something, put your mind to the grindstone for three weeks, then stop. See if it doesn't make you want it. And second, changing one, two, or even  "3 Green Things" in your life is much easier than you think, Since it will actually become habitual after only three weeks it becomes a healthy part of your life for good!





Remember what Jack told me, "Exercise is King, and Nutrition is Queen, together they make a beautiful kingdom."

What are your 3 Green Things?