Keeping the Knees Supple

All of the pain and trouble I have had with my knees has helped me learn a bunch of stuff about myself, my body and athletes in general. The FIRST is that I have to go out and work my body to keep it functioning- resting the damaged joints is often bad for them. Now I don't go crazy but I go regularly. I also rest and ice them when they are BAD. I am talking about TOO MUCH rest. SECOND is the value of diet. I mean this 2 ways- keeping bodyweight is good zone and the fuel that I put into my body. If I eat crap ( salty, sugary, bad fatty or processed,....) I feel it even if just a little in the midst of a good eating day. I eat raw fruits and veggies as well as many vegetarian meals. Being Vegan I have the opportunity to eat bad Veg or Good Veg or Great Veg.... I need to live in the great Veg zone more. The real value of shoes and treating my feet. if I take care of my feet and wear the best I will feel it and know it all the way up my legs. The biggest concern for shoes is not the type- nearly 100% of the shoe companies are full of baloney in what they sell and talk about- Number one concern is proper fit and flexibility. I now am prepping for the Charlottesville Fall Classic Half Marathon 9 www.badtothebone.biz) Not as a runner but as a Director; such a race is a 20-24 hour endeavor for us, but it is a lot of fun. .

Emergency Planning

Hopefully you / we never have to deal directly with a disaster but in all likelihood we will have periods without power-water or other basics. It is best to be ready for some or all potential disaster situations. What will you eat? How will you prepare it? How will you stay warm /dry? How can you stay hydrated? This is the real lifesaver if all else falls short. Where will/can you go? There are many considerations and many places to get info for planning purposes. The best- but very basic- site is ready.gov SUMMARIZED- have at least a gallon of clean water per day per person. Now this can change if you are in a hot climate or have any health issues. We can survive a few days without food but not without water. We lose water every minute and need to replace it all day long. Where do you live? What emergencies / disasters threaten you and your “neighborhood” ? This will guide your decisions on what and how to prepare. No body and no places are immune but some are more likely to be impacted by wind/rain, storms, tornado , snow and earthquakes. How about Safety and First Aid? You can not forget some Basics for boo-boos- bandages, cleaner, antibiotic ointment, support bandages and a few other necessities. Safety will also include blankets or sleeping bags or warm clothing if cold weather emergencies as well as covering needs. And of course flashlights with spare batteries and/or lanterns with the same power. A battery or hand cranked radio is also helpful and useful. What have you done to be ready?