Back From the Mountains
So I may have taken the whole stepping back and time-off thing a little far this summer.
Between traveling to Hawaii, Finland, Jasper, Banff, Vancouver, Seattle, and Jackson Hole, I’ve spent more time in and around the mountains and lakes/ocean than I have been in New York City over the past three months. It’s been a whirlwind of good and bad. But mostly, I had the chance to reconnect with things that matter to me, to hang out with some really fun people and laugh a ton, and to push myself out of my comfort zone more than a few times. Plus, I just feel so much better when I'm immersed in nature. I wish you could bottle up that mountain air because it's just so damn good.
Honestly, it makes me question why I still live in Brooklyn. Remind me again?
While the extended travel has made getting back into the swing of things harder than usual, I don’t regret it. However, I do apologize if I owe you an email because I can’t find anything in my inbox right now.
What I’ve Written
OK, admit it. You have some quirky thing you do before a big race. (We all do!) But does it actually help improve performance? I wrote about what the science says about that pre-race ritual for Runner’s World. Also, everything you need to know about food recalls.
I have a few bigger stories in the works that I can’t wait to share with you soon!
What I’ve Been Reading and Listening To
A Case for Offline Travel (REI): Speaking of unplugging…
What We Miss by Studying Mostly Men (Outside): While I’ve written about the broader problems of excluding women from sport science research, here, Alex Hutchinson takes a closer look at two new studies on beet juice and VO2max to highlight those limitations.
A Tennis Pro’s Parents Ask, ‘Are You Done Yet?’ (The New York Times): There were so many up-and-coming American women crushing it on the courts this year, including Kristy Ahn. Her story is one that I could totally relate to—the Asian parents asking when you are going to get on with our life and pursue a real career, not the pro athlete portion lol. Another highlight of the U.S. Open this year was this Naomi Osaka-Coco Gauff moment.
The Obscenity of Curves (The New York Times): You may have heard about the swimmer in Alaska who was disqualified after winning because of a swimsuit wedgie. While the decision has since been reversed, it speaks to a larger (and continued) issue of policing women’s bodies. This opinion piece talks about why over-sexualizing female athletes is problematic beyond just the obvious.
Laughter Permitted with Simone Maneul and Katie Ledecky: Speaking of swimmers, Julie Foudy chats with Simone Manuel and Katie Ledecky in this live episode of her podcast and I loved hearing from these two women.
The Grandmaster Diet: How to Lose Weight While Barely Moving (ESPN): Whoa. This story blew my mind. Top chess players in the world can burn 560 calories in two hours of sitting and playing chess—roughly what Roger Federer burns in an hour of singles tennis—and can lose an average of two pounds a day!
“It’s Time For Me To Use My Voice” (Kara Goucher): If you haven’t read this yet, it’s worth your time. After Nike announced that they were updating athlete contract’s to support athletes during maternity, Adam Goucher (Kara’s husband) spoke about their family’s experience with the company during and after Kara’s pregnancy. For example, when she ran a PR of 2:24 at the Boston Marathon, she was suspended without pay. And that’s just the tip of it.
Meet the Unfluencers (The Cut): This story makes me hate myself a little: “There is clarity in knowing what doesn’t do it for you. The breaking point for me always hinges on the unfluencer’s taste’s not being what she thinks it is. But my being provoked probably has less to do with the narcissism I perceive on the unfluencer’s part than with my own: I’m not as original as I wish to be; my taste is not as interesting and refined as I think it is.”
The Rage Mothers Don’t Talk About (The New York Times): This story is so relatable. Mothers are supposed to be patient martyrs and an endless well of love and support, so our rage festers beneath our shame.
What’s the Difference Between Anxiety and Ambition? (The Cut): Asking for a friend. And also listening to this podcast from The Cut on Tuesdays.
Taylor Swift BBC Radio Live Lounge: Because I’m obsessed with her new album.
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