Tag Archives: swimming

Sports, competition can help you feel young again.

So I’m going to brag on myself here. Warning, you probably want to move on at this point, but I had a notable week. Last Saturday, June 20, did fifty mile bike ride partly to compete against myself and also as a fundraiser for the Family First Health Center in York.  With the help of my brothers and sisters in Jesus at First St Johns we raised $440. Better than last year and my overall time was the same as last year. I flatted at mile 15, but God provides and let me flat about a mile from a rest stop. A gentleman who has a bike shop in Hanover, Pa was helping with bike casualties and I am grateful for his help. Sorry I don’t remember the shop name, please feel free to remind me, I’d appreciate it. Got through the next 35 miles. Overall a nice challenge.

This past Friday I competed in the York Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Games and they really do a great job. They conduct a week long variety of games and sports and just treat everyone so wonderfully. Much thanks to all the volunteers who do such a great job. I highly recommend if you are over fifty and live in York County, Pa. you should come down and give it a shot. Well I decided to give every swimming event a shot, even the individual medley which I haven’t done since Gerald Ford was president.  I came away with a silver medal, go figure. Total haul seven medals: two bronze- 50 and 100 free. Three silver IM, fifty breast and hundred breast. And two gold, my first gold and oddly enough both backstroke which is definitely not my primo stroke either , but gold in fifty and hundred back.

Again thanks, it felt like the old days waiting around for my next event chatting up the competition and enjoying the company. If the Area Agency on Aging’s goal was to give me a shot of youth they succeeded, thank you and God bless you.

How Running [swimming, basketball, cycling, racquetball, resistance exercises, martial arts] Makes You High

I’m going to wax a little philosophical for just a quick comment. I guess I read a lot and I guess that my reading/interests are pretty varied. Because of that, I see a lot of stuff that I really want to share. I’m not trying to rip anyone off, I’m trying to share some chunks of wisdom that others might miss and give them a good reason to try something that will benefit them.

I read “Men’s Health Magazine” and for the most part it has good content. Can’t say I recommend all of it, but I really do like the following. I am ripping it off in toto, there I said it and I’m glad I said it. Do have to make the following disclaimer, before you start any exercise program make sure you get cleared by a physician, now read:

[K. Aleisha Fetters Men’s Health Magazine Jul/August 2014 p 22]

“1. When you run past your comfort level (i.e. after 30 minutes or so at about 80 percent max heart rate), specialized cells secrete two mood modifiers: endorphins – which are opioids – and anandamide, which is similar to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

2. Your blood carries the two chemicals to your blood-brain barriers, the gatekeeper to your brain cells. Anandamide crosses easily. But endorphins are large, and few make it in. No problem, though: Your brain also produces endorphins. Both chemicals boost your mood – and perhaps your mileage.

3. The two mood boosters are now tapped into your central nervous system, where they limit the signaling power of pain sensors called nociceptors that spread out from your spinal cord: Result: You don’t realize how much your legs are burning.

4. The endorphins downshift your brain’s prefrontal and limbic regions, which regulate your emotion and motivation. You begin to feel calm and comfortable. Then, as more endorphins reach these ares, you may even start feeling euphoric.

5. Anandamide triggers a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that contributes to lust, pleasure, and addiction. It also binds to cannabinoid receptors in your brain’s pleasure circuit, where it sends bliss vibes throughout your brain for minutes or even hours.”

Your body is designed by God to give you pleasing, comforting feelings. We too often just go ahead and take the easy way and take drugs, which will hurt us, eat too much, not get any exercise and wonder why we come down with various diseases and disorders. As I said make sure you get checked out, then get rid of the stupid stuff, get out and push yourself and then you realize how good you’re going to feel, the way God intended for you and not you presuming to know better.