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Exercised – Daniel Lieberman & coaching

I’ve just finished this excellent book by Daniel Lieberman. He unpicks various beliefs around movement / sedentary lifestyle / health and the implications for each of us. Supported with his research and resultant opinions it is a really helpful guide to understand the how and why exercise is important. In terms of looking at sensible advice on the amount and type of exercise to do – as with food – it comes as no surprise to learn that regular exercise, that doesn’t have to be hugely demanding (ie HIIT) for 150 mins a week will be integral in supporting health and longevity. I really enjoyed the chapter on Endurance and ageing (possibly as it chimed with my own current thinking) in that age should not be, nor need not be a trigger for everything to fall apart. More that as we age, we need to be watchful of what and how we do to keep active (strength work being important) and whilst there will be some decline it needn’t be anywhere near as dramatic as people expect. In this regard it feels like a self fulfilling prophesy. If you stop using things, they atrophy and lose their ability to perform. If you stop looking after things they don’t work as well – nutrition, rest, movement all key to ensuring we can not endure long life, but enjoy it.

The second exciting thing for me is taking on a new running coach Andrew Bumbalough (https://www.highgearrunning.com/) who I found listening to the Morning Shakeout podcast. We had a good initial meeting and I’m hopeful that he’ll work alongside Dom well to help get me to a really strong place for the London Marathon in October. So far, so good – 2 runs and no reaction as of yet. Just the feeling that I’ve not really run properly for a few weeks. I got in touch as I felt some synergy with his outlook on running when listening to the Podcast. I’m curious as to how this manifests itself – he discussed how he likes getting the engine running first via 10k/HMP training before going into more detailed marathon training. I’m looking forward to the journey and seeing what I can learn from him (as he learns how to coach himself)

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