Stats and Facts of the 2016 Olympic Games

Last Sunday, the flame went out on the 2016 Olympics in Rio, bringing to an end 16 incredible days of sports action. More than 10,000 athletes, representing 207 nations, competed in 31 sports, with 306 sets of medals awarded over the course of the Games. For the second successive Games, and the 17th time overall, the United States topped the medal standings with 43 golds and 116 overall medals -- the country's highest since 1984.

The US were dominant in track and field, winning 31 medals (13 of which were gold) -- 20 more than second-placed Jamaica, who won six golds. The nation also ruled in the pool, winning 33 of the 104 medals awarded, which is 32%. Of these medals, 16 were gold. Their nearest rivals, Australia, won 10 swimming medals (three gold).

Three nations won their first ever Olympic medal -- Fiji (in the first ever Olympic men's rugby sevens), Jordan (the men's -68kg taekwondo) and Kosovo (the women's -52kg judo).

In his fourth Games, Michael Phelps brought his personal medal tally to 28 (23 golds, three silvers and two bronzes). Swimmer Katie Ledecky followed up her solitary gold in London in 2012 with four more, along with a silver, and Simone Biles added four golds and a bronze through her gymnastics abilities.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt confirmed, once again, his status as the greatest sprinter of all time, winning three more golds to achieve an unprecedented Olympic 'triple triple' in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. Bolt's haul of nine golds puts him equal with USA sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis and Finnish long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

Japan's Kohei Uchimura became the first artistic gymnast in 44 years to successfully win back-to-back Olympic all-around titles. He also helped Japan take team gold for the first time since the Athens Games in 2004.

South Korea completed a clean sweep of archery's four gold medals for the first time to continue their dominance in the sport. Of the last 36 archery golds available (over nine Olympics), South Korea has won 23 -- that is 76.67%.

Britain's Mo Farah became the first man to complete the 5,000m and 10,000m double at back-to-back Games since Finland's Lasse Viren at the Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976.

Team GB's Andy Murray became the first ever player to defend an Olympic individual tennis title on the same day that Justin Rose won the first Games golf gold in 112 years.

World-record holder Ashton Eaton of the USA became the first man to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the decathlon since Britain's Daley Thompson at the 1980 and 1984 Games.

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson became the first woman to complete the sprint double at the Olympic Games for 28 years, following Florence Griffith-Joyner in Seoul in 1988.

China's Wu Minxia became the first diver to win five Olympic golds when she sealed victory in the women's 3m synchronized springboard event with Shi Tingmao.

27 new world records were set in Rio within the seven Olympic sports that recognize them -- archery, athletics (track and field), modern pentathlon, track cycling, shooting, swimming and weightlifting.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

McDonald's Restaurant Recalls 29 Million Activity Trackers

McDonald's is recalling 29 million activity trackers from Happy Meals. The company issued the recall Tuesday after more than 70 incidents of skin irritation were discovered. "We are now asking customers who have the activity bands to stop wearing them and return to any McDonald's for a free replacement toy and a choice of a yogurt or apple slices," McDonald's spokeswoman Terri Hickey said. The Step-It Fitness plastic wristbands -- in blue, green, purple, orange and red -- look like watches and are supposed to track physical activity.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

77% of Americans Want to Live to 100 Years of Age

Yesterday I made a post about a village in Italy where one third of the residents are over 100 years old. Today, I'm sharing some information about Americans and the century mark.

According to a recent survey by the Stanford Center on Longevity, in partnership with TIME magazine, most Americans want to live to their 100th birthday. The survey of 2,330 adults reveals that 77% of Americans want to live to 100, and more than a third believe they will live past 90.

However, the data also shows that only one third of people say they’re happy with their current body weight and their financial situation. Of Americans under age 65 who want to retire by the time they reach 65, slightly more than 40% say they will not have the financial means to live to 100.

Americans admit to having overweight bodies and underweight financial strength in preparing for a long life -- and among the Americans surveyed who want to be centenarians, only 42% say they're making a serious effort to get there.

It is interesting to see in the survey results that 77% of people say they're happy with their lives overall and feel that their family, career and education make them happy, and 74% of people surveyed said that when they think about themselves growing older, they think of mostly positive things.

Although most of those surveyed said they think a healthy diet and exercise are critical to a long life, just 25% report eating as well as they think they should, and only 24% exercise as much as they think they should.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

An Italian Village Where One-third of Residents Are Over 100 Years Old

The small Italian village of Acciaroli is a laid-back fishing town known for its pristine beaches. However, Acciaroli is also known for residents who defy Father Time. About one-third of the people who live there are over 100 years old. Why? Researchers believe it’s their diet and lifestyle.

You probably won’t be packing your bags to move to Italy anytime soon, but you can live like someone from this remote village to improve your health and live longer. What does it take? A healthy way of eating has been part of life for people living near the Mediterranean Sea for centuries.

Following their example, you should eat lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fish, nuts, and some low-fat dairy products. Cook with spices, such as rosemary. Use ample olive oil in cooking, and red wine in moderation. But food isn’t the only thing on the menu for living a long and healthy life. The residents of Acciaroli also believe in the importance of healthy relationships, a relaxed approach to life, and regular exercise.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Is Forrest Gump's 19,024-mile Run Possible?

I can't begin to tell you how many people have yelled at me "Run Forrest Run!" as I've run across states and countries!

In 2013, an article was published online which caught my eye -- "Could Forrest Gump have possibly survived his epic run?" Of course, the author is referring to the fictional character that actor Tom Hanks portrayed in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump.

Forrest's epic run was a 19,024-mile run across America that he started in 1979 and repeatedly did for over 3 years. Having run solo across America myself, I find the cross country scenes in the movie enjoyable... although a bit impractical since Forrest runs alone and has no supplies with him. I pushed a stroller containing gear, food and water. However, Forrest manages to get by with just the clothes on his back. If you haven't seen the movie, or need a refresher, watch the short video below:

So, Forrest says that he just felt like running. I can relate with that! However, let's take a look at what the 35-year-old fictional character accomplished in the movie. He says that he ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hours -- which is 1,169 days. Based on the map and pacing of his first two years worth of crossings that is shown on a television news report in the movie, he would have run 19,024 miles in the 1,169 days he was on the road. Yes... there have actually been people who have plotted his 3+ year route in Google maps to confirm that it was around 19,000 miles! That means that Forrest would have averaged 16 miles per day as he ran back and forth across America for more than 3 years. I averaged 30 miles per day for my coast-to-coast run (108 days). There have been those who have run more daily miles than Forrest did as they've literally run around the world for several years. So, Forrest's run is not impossible, particularly at 16 miles per day.

I believe that given enough time and resources, anyone can go coast to coast across America on foot. Historically, more people have summited Mount Everest than have actually run across the United States. I must say, I do see some similarities between Forrest's run and my own of ten years ago. For instance, he wasn't running to promote any cause, and neither was I. He ran because he just felt like running. I ran to keep a promise. Also, neither Forrest nor I got rich from our runs across America. In fact, he gained more media attention than I did!

There have been people who have set off to run across America in an effort to mimic the fictional character Forrest Gump. Many get out on the highway and realize the enormity of the task and quit. However, some actually finish and embrace their connection to the Forrest Gump character. Although I've had many people call me "Forrest Gump," the fact is that my name is Paul Staso and I ran across America for REAL... with my sole intent being to keep a promise I had made to a group of elementary children. Also, my first attempt to run across America happened 8 years before Forrest ever ran across movie screens. The movie continues to be aired frequently on television and I believe that the phrase "Run Forrest Run!" will never truly fade away.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Usain Bolt: A Catholic Athlete Who Wears The Miraculous Medal

Since 2008, Usain Bolt has won many gold medals at the Olympic Games for the 100 Meter and 200 Meter races. There is no doubt that he is the fastest man in the world. However, many may not know about Bolt’s deep Catholic faith.

Aside from the gold medals that have been placed around his neck, he wears the "Miraculous Medal." It is a Catholic devotional medal given to Saint Catherine Laboure in a vision in 1830. The Miraculous Medal features an inscription invoking the prayerful intercession of the Lord’s Mother with these French words: “O, Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous” (“O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee”). The words appear over an image of Mary standing upon a half globe, hands raised up to her waist, fingers giving off rays of light. On the reverse side of the medal are twelve stars encircling a large “M” from which arises a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. Thorns encircle one heart and a sword pierces the other. In the vision, Our Lady promised that “those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.”

As a devout Catholic, Bolt is known for making the sign of the cross before racing. Additionally, his faith and his celebrity inspired the Vatican to invite him to speak at a conference on global religious liberty.

When Bolt beat his teammate Yohan Blake in the Olympic 200 Meter final in London 2012, he made history by becoming the first man ever to defend the 200 Meter Olympic title. After the race, Bolt posted this on his Twitter account:

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

This Blog's Global Audience: 16 Countries In The Past Few Weeks!

I dusted off this blog a couple of months ago (in June) and have made 50 posts since then. I had taken about five years off from blogging and decided to see if there would be any interest in my writings if I were to start again. Looking at the visitor statistics for this blog, I can tell you that the readership is global and frequent. Just in the past few weeks I've had readers from the United States, China, Portugal, Germany, France, Latvia, Sweden, Romania, United Kingdom, Philippines, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Canada, and Ireland. Of course, my blog has a translation tool to turn my English text into whatever language the reader prefers. That definitely helps to increase my audience.

Some blog posts are more popular than others. So far, my most read blog post has been "Only 9 States Require Providing Recess." This could be because in many locations the new school year is beginning. I'm encouraged by the readership numbers I'm seeing and will continue to write on this blog. I may not post daily, but I will post frequently. Thank you for reading! I appreciate it!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

There Are Still 81.6 Million Inactive Americans!

I was recently reading through the "2016 Participation Report," which is The Physical Activity Council’s annual study tracking sports, fitness, and recreation participation in the United States. I won't get into all of the details of how the extensive study was conducted, but there is a sentence in the study that truly caught my eye: "There are still 81.6 million inactive Americans."

Last month I wrote a blog post titled "Is Running in America Seeing a Decline in Interest and/or Participation?" As I read this recent 2016 Participation Report I saw that for those age 45 and older, running is NOT listed in their top ten fitness activities of interest. Even for those in the 35-45 age category, running is ranked 7th in their list of fitness interests.

Individual sports declined slightly in 2015 -- which is what can be seen from the national running statistics for last year. So, what sport is popular for any age? In terms of interest, all age groups continue to look at swimming as a means for future fitness. While both winter and water sports are only participated in by less than 15% of the population, their rates have increased over the past year.

Over the last three years, pay-to-play school programs have seen decreases in sports fees compared to the previous year. However, 43% of parents reported an increase from 2014 to 2015. Since 2013, 67% of parents, on average, spend over $100 on their children's school sports fees. When I participated in high school sports between 1979-1983 there were no fees to participate. It's unfortunate that today's youth must, in many circumstances, "pay to play."

Survey participants, ages 18+, were asked about PE during their past school years. Their responses show that participation in physical education class during school had a extreme impact on participation in other activities. Those who had PE while in grade school and high school were two to three times more likely to also engage in team sports, outdoor activities, cycling, or running/jogging and other activities during that same time. Almost half said that team sports was an additional activity.

Of adults ages 18 and over who reported having PE in school, 80% said they were active in 2015 and 39% were active to a healthy level (151+ times a year). While those who didn’t have PE, only 61% reported activity and less than a quarter participated 151 times or more in 2015.

Perhaps not surprising is the fact that the highest rates of inactivity remains among those ages 65 and over. Senior citizens need to be active to the extent they are able. My parents are in their early 80's and are always on the go! They live in a cabin that my father built (when he was in his 70's!) in the heart of Alaska and are a shining example of how active senior citizens should be. I'm 51 years old and truly hope to be as healthy and active as they are when I reach their age 30 years from now.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

A Look Back at the Men's Marathon World Records

The 2016 Olympic Men's Marathon will take place this coming Sunday, August 21, in Rio. The existing world record was established in 2014 by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya, who ran the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 2 minutes, 57 seconds. That's a pace of 4 minutes, 41 seconds per mile! My best time ever for ONE mile was 4 minutes, 50 seconds back in 1985 when I was 20 years old. I can't imagine doing that 26 times repeatedly!

I was curious as to how many American men have held the world record for the marathon in the past 100 years, so I did a little looking through the marathon records kept by the International Association of Athletics Federations and the Association of Road Racing Statisticians. There have been three U.S. men to hold the world record for the marathon in the past 100 years:

• 1925 - Albert Michelsen (2:29:01)
• 1963 - Leonard Edelen (2:14:28)
• 2002 - Khalid Khannouchi (2:05:38)

Since 2003, Kenya and Ethiopia have been the two countries to have runners set the world record for the men's marathon. The country who has had runners that have achieved the marathon world record the most in the past 100 years is the United Kingdom (10 times).

In the past 100 years the men's marathon world record has lowered from 2:38:00 to 2:02:57 -- a drop of 35 minutes! How long will it be until a marathoner breaks the 2-hour mark for the 26.2-mile distance? It's hard to tell, but it's only 177 seconds away!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Each Year 200,000+ Kids Go To Hospitals With Playground Injuries

Recess might be the best part of a kid's school day and the playground is all fun and games -- until someone gets hurt.

Last year in the United States, emergency departments treated more than 200,000 children (age 14 and younger) for playground-related injuries, and 45% of playground injuries are severe fractures, internal injuries, dislocations or concussions. Children ages five to nine have higher rates of emergency department visits for playground injuries than any other age group. Most of these injuries occur at school.

I'm sharing these statistics because it is important for schools to maintain playgrounds that are as safe as possible, and playground monitors need to be on the lookout for situations that may create a hazard for children. Softer surfaces -- such as mulch, grass, sand and wood chips -- go a long way to preventing serious injuries. However, children tend to play in groups and that can be a recipe for trouble.

When I was a 5th grade teacher and a playground monitor I would see children stopping at the bottom of the slide and not getting out of the way of the next person coming down. I saw children who were not paying attention and walking directly into the path of someone on the swing set. There are many situations for a playground monitor to be on the lookout for in order to try and lessen the number of nearly a quarter million children that go to the emergency room each year with playground-related injuries.

Kids are going to be kids, but we as adults need to do what we can to keep them safe while they're in the classroom, cafeteria, gymnasium, or on the playground.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

My Brief Experience Being Paralyzed and How it Impacted my Life

I was 23 years old in July 1988 when I awoke with a migraine headache. I had never had such a headache and just two years earlier had attempted the world record for running across the United States, sponsored by several companies. I was 138 pounds, running daily, and never had any significant medical problem. However, on this July day I would experience a dramatic health issue that I still recall vividly, even though it happened 28 years ago.

The migraine I had quickly advanced over the course of an hour, to the point where I could not even look at light without incredible pain in my head. I felt nauseous and weak, being unable to stand. Ultimately, an ambulance was called and I was taken to the local emergency room. It was apparent to the ER doctor that I was in excruciating pain and an IV of a pain-relieving drug was immediately administered. Blood was drawn and a CAT scan of my head was ordered. The results showed a mass at the base of the Medulla Oblongata in my brainstem where it connects with the spinal cord.

Fear immediately flowed through me because my mother had battled cancer and I was concerned that perhaps it was a cancerous mass. I went through a very uncomfortable spinal tap and other tests were performed. However, as the tests were being performed I began to lose feeling in my legs. Over the course of hours I eventually lost all sensation in my legs, not being able to stand, walk, or even feel a doctor scrape the bottom of my foot. I was paralyzed at the age of 23.

I will never forget laying in that hospital bed alone the first night with no feeling whatsoever from the waist down. Simply stated, I was scared. As a runner it was a living nightmare to not feel my legs. It was that night when I said a prayer and told God that I would commit my running to positive purposes and not self-seeking medals and glory if He were to bless me with the ability to run again. Up to that point in my life I had focused on setting personal records against the clock and trying to beat as many competitors as possible. My running had been all about ME and was a rather selfish pursuit. In my mind the purpose of running had been about being better than someone else. As I was lying in that hospital bed all alone, my perspective changed.

After a restless night of tears and praying, I awoke to a nurse checking my IV tube. I had to urinate and it was an incredibly embarrassing feeling to have two nurses turn me on my side so that I could use a urination pan on the bed. It was that morning that a local minister stopped by my room while on rounds through the hospital visiting with patients. We talked about my situation and prayed. Then, more tests followed.

Late in the day, and quite unexpectedly, I began to have a tingling sensation in my legs. The nurse called in my doctor and he did some tests to my legs and feet. Over the course of the next few hours I regained feeling in my legs and was actually able to stand. An MRI of my head was ordered and I was excited to have feeling back... but was also confused. The doctor came into my room with two X-ray films -- in one hand was my initial CAT Scan showing the mass and in the other hand was the MRI results... which showed no mass! He couldn't explain it and more tests were ordered. After a barrage of testing – but no definitive determination as to the cause – I was told that they couldn't explain what happened.

I walked out of the hospital and over the course of a few weeks I regained strength and was back to my running. That was nearly 30 years ago and in that time I've aimed to make my running more about benefiting others than benefiting myself. I've run to promote the American Cancer Society, the National Marrow Donor Program, and the World Vision organization. I've also run to promote youth fitness, creating The P.A.C.E. Fitness Foundation in an effort to encourage young people toward greater health/fitness and goal setting. The focus of my running changed as a result of momentary paralysis.

I've never had another paralyzing episode like that and migraines are not a part of my life. It was a moment when I experienced what it would be like to not have the function of my legs and it gave me a greater appreciation for the health that I have. It also strengthened my faith in a way unlike any other time in my life. Every day I count my blessings... one by one.

Psalm 147:10–11

"The Lord does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.."

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Olympic Village Food Waste Feeds Homeless of Rio

I recently read about an initiative at the 2016 Olympic Games that I believe is wonderful and worthy of sharing with my blog readers.

According to the United Nations, around 40% of food produced around the world is thrown away or spoiled – while an estimated 800 million people are expected to go hungry on any given night. The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are center stage right now and Brazil has managed to bring the number of those living without enough food to under 5%. However, with a population of 208 million this still means that millions of residents are starving.

In a move to combat malnutrition in Rio, dozens of volunteers are reclaiming unwanted food from athletes competing in the Olympic Games. Chefs David Hertz from Brazil and Massimo Bottura from Italy have enlisted the aid of over 40 colleagues to help utilize large quantities of excess food leftovers from the Olympic Village.

Their aim is to turn surplus food from the village into 5,000 nutritious meals each day, which will go on to feed the homeless and those in need. The team will produce meals using ingredients that are about to be thrown out, including odd-shaped fruit and vegetables and yogurts nearing their best-before date.

The Olympic Village kitchen prepares 60,000 meals daily, produced from daily shipments of 460,000 pounds of raw ingredients.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

Performance-enhancing Drugs Do More Harm Than Good!

Competitive running has seen performance-enhancing drug (PED) use for years. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency reports that 477 American track and field athletes were tested a total of 1,202 times last year. However, even though testing is frequent there are still athletes who try to get away with PED use.

Athletes who are found to have banned substances in their possession, or who tamper with or refuse to submit to drug testing, can receive bans from the sport. Typically, any athlete who tests positive for banned substances after having served a previous ban receives a lifetime ban from the sport of athletics (track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking).

Anabolic steroids, a catch-all term for male hormones, are the oldest and still the most widely used banned drugs in sport. Nearly half of banned substances detected in drug tests are steroids.

Although PEDs can give an athlete unfair advantages on the track, they also bring adverse health effects in the long run. Many of these substances cause cardiovascular conditions, organ damage, tumors and endocrine effects, all of which do more harm to the athlete than good. ProjectKnow.com, a drug and alcohol addiction treatment resource, created an infographic to illustrate the effects of PEDs. Click on the graphic below to download it and view a larger version.

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

_______________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past

So, What's The Story Behind The Umbrella Hat?

Before I set off to run solo across America in 2006, my then 8-year-old son, Kyler, gave me an umbrella hat to help keep me dry on rainy days. I've taken a picture wearing that hat on each journey run that I've done across a state or country! Today, Kyler is 18 years old and likely thinks his Dad looks pretty silly in that hat. However, to me... the umbrella hat is priceless because it was given out of love and concern for my well being.

I must admit, each time I put on the umbrella hat it turns heads. It's not something you see every day! However, you too can have an umbrella hat. They're not very expensive (less than $10) and come in a variety of colors. I like the multi-colored one that Kyler chose!

The umbrella hat has even made it onto the big screen in the movie Bruce Almighty when actor Jim Carrey (as Bruce Nolan) wears it in the "Maid of the Mist" scene. Actor Bill Murray also wore an umbrella hat in the movie Space Jam.

In December 1880, there was a patent taken out on the umbrella hat (Patent 250,803). Today, the umbrella hat is often associated as a cheap and comical novelty item, but it can be used to shield a person against rain or sunshine hands-free. Umbrella hats are particularly useful to wheelchair users who need the use of both hands in the rain. It is also useful for gardeners, cyclists, walkers, shoppers, hunters, fishers and general manual laborers.

However, you must be careful if lightning is occurring. In 2012, a 19-year-old gentleman was wearing an umbrella hat in the United Kingdom when he was struck by lightning. It is suspected that the metal in the hat may have contributed to the lightning hitting him since he was in an open field at the time. He is quoted as follows: "The umbrella hat has metal spokes, which didn’t help, but at 6ft 4in I was the tallest thing there so may have been hit anyway. But the hat stopped my head taking the full force and saved my life.” Yes, that's right. He believes the umbrella hat saved his life.

Just a couple of weeks ago at a Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels baseball game they were giving away umbrella hats. So, they are around. When is the last time you saw someone wearing one?

I just had to end this post with a picture of my son Kyler, which was taken when he was 8 years old. He's wearing both a run across America sweatshirt and the umbrella hat! I still have the hat and whatever my next running adventure will be I'll certainly be taking along the well-traveled umbrella hat. Thanks Kyler!

From Him, Through Him, For Him (Romans 11:36),

Paul J. Staso

___________________________________

Visit my YouTube channel -- https://www.youtube.com/user/pacetrek

Click on any of the links below to see some of my adventure photos:

• United States in 2006 (3,260 miles solo in 108 days at age 41)
• Montana in 2008 (620 miles solo in 20 days at age 43)
• Alaska in 2009 (500 miles solo in 18 days at age 44)
• Germany in 2010 (500 miles solo in 21 days at age 45)
• The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles solo in 17 days at age 46)
• Various Photos From Mileposts Gone By
• Students Worldwide Who Ran With Me Virtually
• Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
• Some Cycling Moments From The Past