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One of my ongoing themes, a constant in my workout life, is circuit training. Of the varied types of circuit training, all have one thing in common:  the objective of increasing work capacity.  Circuit training involves taking a group of exercises and performing them one after the other with limited-to-no rest.

This type of training is extremely demanding!  Not only does it bring into play a fair amount of muscular strength and endurance but it creates tremendous systemic fatigue, which some people have termed metabolic conditioning or met-con, for short.

Because of the tremendous fatigue involved, lighter weights must be usually be employed--and it’s never a good idea to use highly technical movements, i.e. Olympic lifts.

Circuit training is fantastic for team building and camaraderie and is the most efficient way to train a large group at one time.  Because of the lighter weights involved, people mistakenly assume circuit training doesn’t build strength per se, but even strength coaches have been surprised, on experimenting the first time with circuit training, that their athletes do, in fact get stronger.


Who the heck is that guy???
From an early age, I was consumed with physical training. Growing up in rural Carlisle, Pennsylvania, there wasn't much else for boys to do other than entertaining ourselves with our own inner resources. Televisions then were enormous boxes with small black-and-white screens and receiving four channels on any given day was a miracle--God's honest truth!--and video games didn't appear until I was already in college. Summer days off from school, I'd get up early, scarf down breakfast, then pack a sackful of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and run out the door to play in the nearby woods and fields...and my beloved Conodoguinet Creek.


William Wallace Monument, Scotland
One of my all-time favorite movies is Braveheart. In case you're unfamiliar with the story, it's about the Scottish hero, William Wallace, who fought for freedom from the English. While I won't vouch for the historical accuracy of the movie, it is a dramatic, entertaining tale of great physical prowess and the warrior way. In one of the final scenes, as our hero is tortured (including disembowelment and emasculation) in defiance he shouts out freedom!!

The theme in the movie that's always resonated with me is the hero's continued quest for freedom from tyranny and oppression. In my own life, I've always rubbed wrong with authority and the status quo. Consequently, I've shunned the typical life path by becoming a full-time RV-er, which allows me a great deal of liberty in that I can pick up and go where--and when--ever I wish. Like a nomadic Mongol, except I don't travel with a horde! A downside to this (or upside, depending on your point of view) is that I'm unable to carry a lot of stuff but the few items I do keep with me are top-quality and highly functional. My personal quest for freedom includes first-class workouts independent of gyms and health clubs. As most of you probably know by now, I love training outdoors in beautiful, natural settings; I find this utterly soul-soothing.


The dreaded (or blessed, depending on your point of view) holidays descend upon us! This is a stressful time for some of my readers, especially those of you motivated by feelings of social obligation (and its lifelong companion, guilt) than by feelings of genuine joy, much less, "thanksgiving".

It's become cliche the way people corrupt themselves during these social festivities. In truth, I'd say people would be better off forsaking the fuss and bother and going their own ways, but that's not going to happen for most of you, so let's satisfy ourselves with damage control.

   
This...   ...or this
it's your choice!


In my quest to continually improve and evolve (both personally and in performance) I've been known to boldly enter new terrains--sometimes going where no coach has gone before!

When it comes to exercise options and explorations, I'm not above checking out new fads and gizmos --I even admit to being a gear junky--yet at the same time I'll pare things down and simplify. Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself...I am vast, I contain multitudes!*

For the last year, I've explored barefoot running and became thoroughly convinced after reading assorted magazine articles, then Christopher McDougall's book, Born to Run and Danny Dreyer's book, Chi Running.