Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Paul Staso is a Catholic ultra-endurance athlete who writes about faith, fitness and family while keeping Psalm 147:10-11 at the forefront of his mind and heart: "He takes... no pleasure in the runner’s stride. Rather the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His mercy." Please visit www.PaulStaso.com
Monday, October 26, 2020
As Mr. Rogers Used to Sing: "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!"
Monday, October 19, 2020
From the Atlantic Shore to the Cornfields of Indiana: A 14-year Journey
Kelley and I have been married for two years and the past 5+ years of being in each other's lives have been an indescribable joy. We share a beautiful home, eight wonderful children, excellent health, stable jobs, and a life that is truly filled with love, laughter and happily ever after. I am honestly the happiest and most content I have ever been in my entire life.
This year, I came into full communion with the Catholic Church and as a result have been blessed beyond measure. My family attends Mass each week and I've been teaching the junior high faith formation classes at our church. God has been so good to me and my family. I thank Him each day for bringing the paths of Kelley and I together in 2015 and for blessing our lives with all that both of us had truly desired in our hearts.
Although this has been a pandemic year, Kelley and I have aimed to make cherished family memories in every way we possibly could. Along the way, we worked side-by-side on numerous home projects while enjoying outings with two daughters that live with us. One is in the seventh grade and the other in 10th grade. All of our other children are adults and although we don't see several of them as much as we would like, we aim to keep in touch and they are always in our hearts and prayers. I've been blessed to be a dad for over 27 years, and a stepdad for the past two years. Kelley and I have been given the gift of children who are a joy, and we love having the 'parent' title.
The photo that is accompanying my writing today was taken last week on our backyard patio. The autumn leaves are stunning at the moment and the vibrant colors remind us that the holidays are just around the corner. We're looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas -- building even more special memories.
Yes, so much can happen in 14 years, and 14 years from now I'll be nearly 70. Between now and then, Kelley and I will continue to grow in our love and in our faith... and inevitably begin growing in new roles as grandparents and retirees. Life is an amazing journey and I'm so glad that I get to step through the rest of this journey with Kelley by my side.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Monday, October 12, 2020
I Love The Colors That Are Around And In My Life!
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Friday, October 9, 2020
Cardboard Fans Support Teams and Make Up For Some Lost Revenue
Not all schools have resorted to cardboard fans. Some are allowing limited capacity in gymnasiums and stadiums -- utilizing social distancing and mask wearing. However, for those schools, universities and professional teams that have decided the fans will be represented by photos, there's certainly a cost factor. This week, Michigan State announced it will sell fans the chance to have their cutouts fill seats at upcoming football games. Costs are $75 for sideline and end zone sections, $55 for season ticket holders, and $50 for students or a pet. Yes... you read that right. A pet can have its own cutout! If fans want their cutouts after the Michigan State football season is over, there's an additional $25 shipping cost.
The Philadelphia Phillies packed its stadium with 10,000 photographs that fill most of the ballpark’s lower bowl and spots in the upper deck. Other clubs have done similar, with the cost being between $25 and $300 for each photographic representation. Some people honor a loved one who has passed away by purchasing a cutout of that person. Celebrities have purchased cutouts, as have political figures.
Selling cardboard fans could be a small way for teams to make up some lost revenue, and give fans a way to support their favorite teams from a distance. However, there are some pitfalls with printing fan-submitted photos in mass. This past summer, at a rugby game in Australia, 4,000 supporters bought cardboard cutouts -- including a prankster who uploaded an image of a prolific serial killer. No one caught it and the cutout was printed and put in the stands before the team played for a televised broadcast. The National Rugby League promised to tighten its screening process for photo uploads.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
52 Percent of Millennials Are Back to Living at Mom and Dad's House
A recent Pew Research Center study shows that amid economic uncertainty and few job prospects, most young adults have actually moved back in with their parents. In fact, for the first time ever, the majority of 18- to 34-year-olds now live at home with their mom and dad.
As of July 2020, 52 percent of millennials were living in their parents' home, according to the Pew analysis of Census Bureau data. That percentage surpasses the previous high hit in 1940, when 48 percent of young adults lived with their parents. In 2020, the number of young adults living with their parents jumped across the board for men and women, all racial and ethnic groups, and in every geographical region.
If you're wondering why this is, there are many reasons. With many college campuses closed, undergraduates are forced to move back home and study remotely or take a gap year. Those who recently earned their diploma face the worst job market in modern history and have more student debt than ever before -- putting a huge strain on their finances. Also, those young adults who are already in the workforce are more likely to lose their jobs or take a pay cut. In less than six months, the share of 16- to 24-year-olds who are neither enrolled in school nor employed more than doubled due to the Coronavirus and the economic downturn since March 2020.
Even before the pandemic, young adults were increasingly dependent on their parents. The study found that about 60 percent of parents with children between the ages of 18 and 29 had given their kids at least some financial help in the past year -- primarily for recurring expenses such as tuition, rent, groceries or bills. However, for parents the task of supporting grown children can be a substantial drain at a time when their own financial security can be at risk. Medical coverage, auto insurance, groceries and other expenses related to having young adults at home can definitely derail retirement plans.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
10-Day Battle With Iliotibial Band Syndrome in Oregon and Washington
During my 2006 run across America, I had to wear knee brace-compression sleeve for about a week on my left leg early on in the 3,260-mile journey. I began the run on the Oregon coast and for the last few days in Oregon, and the first few days in Washington state, I had to wear the brace to help with an inflamed Iliotibial band at my left knee. Running such extreme distances requires knowledge on how to handle and manage pain, and it was certainly painful for about a week. However, I was able to maintain my targeted daily mileage and with a nightly icing routine -- and a slightly slower pace -- I was able to remedy the situation within 10 days.
Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when the connective tissue (ligament) extending from the pelvic bone to the shinbone becomes so tight that it rubs against the thighbone. Distance runners are especially susceptible to it. The main symptom is pain between the hip and knees that typically worsens with activity. Essentially, the problem is friction where the Iliotibial band crosses over your knee. A fluid-filled sac, called a bursa, normally helps the band glide smoothly over your knee as you bend and straighten your leg. However, if the band is too tight, bending your knee creates friction. The Iliotibial band and the bursa can both start to swell, which leads to the pain.
My 10-day battle with it was a result of substantial downhill running (Oregon's Cascade Mountain Range) and running only on one side of the road -- facing traffic for safety, but my left leg was on the lowest part of the slope. Because roads slope toward the curb, my outside foot was always lower -- which tilts the hips and throws the body off alignment. When you look at some of the early pictures from that 108-day run, you'll see me wearing the brace. Click here to check out the photos.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Monday, October 5, 2020
"Save The Graffiti: We're Not Just a Movement, We're a Generation"
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Saturday, October 3, 2020
Experts Say Getting a Flu Vaccine in 2020 is More Important Than Ever
The flu shot offers protection against the flu for about 6 months. Historically, I have not been one to get a flu shot. In fact, it has been about 15 years since I've done so. However, I recently got one! Now that I'm 55 years of age, I am a bit more cautious and take more preventive measures than I use to. Next month is my annual physical exam and each year I'm told by the doctor that I'm very fit with no health issues. I don't need to take any medications and am fortunate to be going through my 50's without any concerns about my health. Forty-four percent of all Americans take at least one prescription medication, and 17 percent take three or more medications. And, 75 percent of 50-64 year olds report taking prescription drugs. I'm not in that percentage!
Flu vaccines will not prevent the Coronavirus, but they will reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths on the health care system and conserve scarce medical resources for the care of people with COVID-19. Last year's flu shot was shown to be 45 percent effective overall against influenza A and B viruses. Specifically, the flu vaccine was 50 percent effective against influenza B/Victoria viruses and 37 percent effective against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09.
The Centers for Disease Control believes it's likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will be spreading simultaneously this autumn and winter. As a result, experts say that getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Friday, October 2, 2020
Tim Bamforth Does Not Have The Stroller I Pushed Across America
- The Mojave Desert in 2011 (506 miles in 17 days)
- Germany in 2010 (500 miles in 21 days)
- Alaska in 2009 (500 miles in 18 days)
- Montana in 2008 (620 miles in 20 days)
- United States in 2006 (3,260 miles, 108 days, 30 miles daily)
- Miscellaneous Photos From Mileposts Gone By
- Students From Around The World Who Ran Virtually With Me
- Some Roadside Sights From My Running Adventures
For 108 days I hurt, bled and cried my way across the country. No fame or riches came from it, and none was sought. There are no documentaries about it, no books dedicated to it, and no awards as a result of completing it. I simply ran to keep my word, and I nearly died 7 times in the process. Was it all truly worth it? There are days when I really wonder. Regardless, I still have BOB... that stroller I got in May 2006 and pushed across the United States, Montana, Alaska, Germany, and the Mojave Desert. Its wheels are pretty worn -- similar to my legs -- and now gathers dust in a dark attic. Together, that stroller and I achieved some running adventures that many said were uncommon, unfathomable and unprecedented. You won't find my name in any record books or the stroller in the Smithsonian Museum. And, I'm okay with that.
At the end of the day, a man's character boils down to his faith and his integrity. I'm determined to go to the grave with both.
Gotta Run,
Rising and Running Before the Sunrise -- Some of the Pros and Cons
I usually ran with a hydration belt around my waist, having water handy as well as some PowerBars, banana, and other on-the-go fuel. When I did those early morning runs, I lived in Montana and when the colder months would come I would typically wait until the warmer afternoon hours to log my miles. The other day, I was driving to the office and noticed a lone runner logging his early-morning miles. It made me recall many mornings of doing the same thing. Now, before you begin to think that I'm missing those 4:00 a.m. alarm bells to get up and out the door, I can tell you that it has been about 30 years since I did that. Even when I trained in my 40's to run across states and countries I logged most of my miles in the afternoon. No, I don't miss pounding my body into the pavement to start the day.
Here's what some experts say can be gained from an early morning run:
- You can lose weight and eat less. Weight watchers vouch for a morning run without breakfast as the body starts burning up fat in the absence of carbs and proteins to burn for energy. If you usually eat a high-fat, high-calorie diet, running in the morning on an empty stomach can prevent weight gain and improve your glucose tolerance. Also, a morning workout has been seen to reduce one’s motivation for eating through the day.
- You can build muscles. Early morning is a good time if you want to build your muscles. Testosterone, the hormone for muscle growth, is said to peak between 5:30 and 8:00 a.m. However, you need to eat a good protein-rich breakfast after the run. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing muscle mass.
- Your mood can improve and you can fight depression. Most patients of depression complain they feel the worst in the morning. This is because levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, are the highest in the morning at around 8:00 a.m. Running can help with depression as it helps release mood-lifting hormones called endorphins. And this may show a more pronounced effect in the morning. But running at any other point of the day can also beat depression.
- You can lower your blood pressure. A study has shown that running in the morning (6–8 am) can bring down the systolic blood pressure (the first number in your BP reading) during the day in patients with hypertension. It also brings down the 24-hour BP in dippers — patients whose blood pressure naturally dips at night. If you have depression and high blood pressure, running in the morning can help. But a good warm-up is mandatory to avoid injuries or heart-related problems. Another study on pre-hypertensive people showed that exercising at 7:00 a.m. resulted in a 10 percent drop in blood pressure during the day and 25 percent during night. People who exercised at 7:00 a.m. also slept better than before.
However, there are also some cons that may come from running early in the morning. The core body temperature remains low during morning, which means that your muscles are stiff, your power output is low, and you are more vulnerable to injuries. Both your oxygen intake and outflow are low, and this can affect your breathing capacity. Your blood pressure is also higher. People are most vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes in the morning.
Honestly, I enjoyed the long distances I ran before the sun came up. Even when I ran solo across America I would typically be on the road by 7 a.m., and when I had a 40+ mile day with the temperature expected to reach 90+ degrees, I would often get on the road at around 5:30 a.m. The earliest I hit the road during my coast-to-coast run was 3:45 a.m. when I was facing a 45-mile, 100-degree day with windy conditions.
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,
Thursday, October 1, 2020
The 3,000-Mile Men and 10 MPH -- Documentaries Worth Your Time!
The premise of 10 MPH hinges on two friends who decide to travel from Seattle to Boston at 10 mph on a Segway in an attempt to change their lives forever. What results is a 100-day trek across America's back roads where they meet many interesting people, and their journey occurred in 2004 -- two years before I ran solo across the USA. The combination of the stories, the scenery and the music in 10 MPH makes this documentary one that is worth 90 minutes of your time.
The other documentary that I want to share with you is "The 3,000-Mile Men". It is the story of two British men (Chris Finill and Steve Pope) who run across America. Their adventure occurred in 2011 -- five years after I finished my coast-to-coast run. This nearly two-hour documentary, directed by Ben J. Southern, shows you America at an even slower pace than the 10 MPH documentary. You'll see what struggles these two men had to overcome in order to run from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. When the run was over, Chris Finill was asked how he tackled the distance each day. He said, "You have to eat the elephant in bite-sized chunks and think today we're going to run from x to y." Yep... that's how you do it!
With summer behind us and the cooler months ahead, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or some hot chocolate), put your feet up, and check out these documentaries!
Keep Reaching For Life's Mileposts,