Website Update

I've made some changes to my website. You can now download selected PDFs in the CLIPS and ARCHIVE sections.

Tracking Down Typewriters

Please check out my essay about my typewriter collection in the Sept/Oct issue of Poet & Writers.

Walk-Run for Better Running

Interesting article in the New York Times about using the “run-walk” method — run for a while, walk for awhile, etc. — popularized by the distance coach Jeff Galloway. (www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/health/02well.html?em)

Run-walk means taking brief walk breaks during your run — for example, run a minute and walk for a minute. If you are training for a race, say a marathon, this approach makes workouts less grueling and reduces the risk of injury, because it gives the muscles regular recovery time during a long run, according to the article. (Experienced runners say run-walk training has helped them post faster race times.)

The most interesting aspect of this approach is that it enables a way for older, less fit, or overweight people to take up running.

Medical Checkups for Men

I recently finished a story for Men's Health (Take Charge of Your Checkup, May 2009) about what guys can do to make sure their medical test results are accurate. I wrote it about the time I got my annual physical and used a few of the tips. They were quite helpful. So a note to all the men out there — take the time to get a complete physical, including blood work. It's not as time consuming as you may think.

Sprint Triathlon Training

I'm currently training for a mid-March sprint triathlon with my stepson. It's our first attempt at such an endeavor, and so far it's been a great start-the-year-right fitness challenge. Sprints are the "beginner level" triathlons -- you swim 1/4 mile, bike 10 miles, and run 3 miles. The running as been the easiest part so far. It's taken me about two weeks to get back in the groove or regular running. I've taken a few spinning classes, and next week begin what will be the most challenging leg for me — swimming. If you're active and looking for a new challenge, consider a sprint. I've been much more focused and enthusiastic about my workouts. Our goal is to finish with our heads held high, but I've been told to be prepared to get hooked. I found a great website for newbies called, BeginnerTriathlete.com, which offers various training programs for sprints and more challenging races, and a list of triathlons around the country. 

Welcome!

This is my first post of 2009 and, well, my first post ever as a blogger. So here I go. As a freelance health, fitness, and nutrition writer I come across a lot of interesting and compelling research and studies. My blog goal is to share some of this valuable, somewhat intriguing, and need-to-know information with the masses. The kind of stuff that makes you think, "hmmm, that's interesting" or "I didn't know that," or "are you sure that's real?" Check out my web site, www.matthewsolan.com for more info about me and my recent work.