Let’s talk about the times it doesn’t. What then? A theory and some inspiration. — The positive effect of exercise on mental health has been well-established in the scientific literature, with statements like “exercise has a large and significant antidepressant effect” (Schuch et al., 2016). …

We’ve all been there: you’re running and the urge to poop bubbles up until thinking about everything but not pooping or telling yourself you will make it before the poop makes its grand exit gets overshadowed by an undeniable, anxiety-producing realization that you will poop, whether you like it or…

Break a satisfying sweat while keeping your footsie safe. — Foot injuries really suck. I mean, it sounds so trite and obvious to say, but foot injuries are genuinely obviously sucky. I had never sustained a major injury before fracturing my foot in February 2022. There were the classic overuse injuries like tendonitis and runner’s knee, but nothing ever broke…

If you’re a vulva owner and have had an intense itch between your legs while running, this one’s for you. — You’re on a run, legs on their merry way, but your brain is elsewhere. Brain: “Alert! Alert! There’s an itch that needs scratching! Seek relief at once!” Vagina: “It’s me. I itch.” The itch is so overwhelming you viciously look around to see if anyone would notice if you casually…

Trail running is fun and opens up new possibilities for being active outside. Maybe you want to shake it up from always road running. Maybe your knees have been screaming at you, “Please god no, not the concrete again.” Maybe you’re looking to escape to nature and need something to…

Aka the hard way, but isn’t that the only way? — Formulas are great and all for estimating your max heart rate and target heart rate zones, but if you really want to know your true max, you gotta do it the hard way: Find a good hill. Run up said hill. Repeat. I know, I know. Formulas are far more…

Surprise, surprise, it’s based on a formula that took its science from research on men — Many of us don’t have the means to access an exercise physiology lab where they hook you up with some intense machines and tests to give you all sorts of fun data about your exercise performance. So maybe you turn to math. Numbers don’t lie, right? It depends on who…

How the vaccine infertility scare came to be Let’s start with this: The COVID-19 vaccine does not cause infertility. All the talk about risking infertility as a result of the vaccine is a serious case of misinformation. False information. A myth. An unfounded notion. How can you know? While it’s understandable to have concerns around the COVID-19 vaccine…

Timely life advice from my past self, circa 2013 — The Box of Curiosity, of deeper meaning Sits with a red ribbon loosely tied; The mind tugs At the ribbon’s frayed end. The ribbon slides open With a purpose, As if to suggest The Power that sits inside. My thoughts sink deeper Like roots reaching, stretching Deeper into the soil…