Disqus - Latest Comments for jfellrath

Re: The Witcher 3's Geralt actor isn't Team Triss or Team Yen: "I would have liked an option to romance Shani"

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 10:50:13 -0000

I entirely agree. While I am definitely Team Triss over Yen, Shani is definitely the most attractive as an actual good person of the three of them.

Re: How to Take a Full-Page Screenshot in Chrome and Firefox

Jamie Fellrath — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:46:11 -0000

Great information, thanks. I found that the "Screen Capture" Chrome extension didn't work as well on Microsoft Edge - it jumbled some content at the bottom of what would be the visible browser window. But GoFullPage worked perfectly.

Re: Product Reviews: Best Pants for All-Day Movement

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 13:38:57 -0000

My pleasure! You and I are in the same boat there. I've worn the different tactical pants for several hikes and they work GREAT. Also, since I know you live in Central Ohio, you can try some on at the 5.11 store at Easton. Very convenient!

Re: US pinterest

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 09:22:40 -0000

I have the same issue. Monitoring this myself.

Re: Getting Ready for 2018 – Are YOU Ready?

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 21:12:05 -0000

Do you still have all the equipment you got when you were working with Jeff Turner back then? That’ll put you in good stead for working your grip to stay on those bars...

And yes - the Back to What Worked is. BIG thing for me this year. I know what to do, just need to do it and not go chasing fitness butterflies.

I’ve got a couple iPhone apps that are great timers for breaking up the day for movement...let me pull the names of them together and maybe we’ll get a post about such stuff together.

Re: Latest Race: Indian Mud Run 2017

Jamie Fellrath — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 15:52:47 -0000

Thanks Jeff! This was easily the hardest one I've done thus far, though the Spartan Sprint I did last year came close (the burpees added a lot of the difficulty - mostly from grip-strength stuff).

I hope you'll let me know how Bonefrog goes - that's another that I'd love to try, if and when time allows.

Re: Gear Advice: Minimalist Shoes for the OCR Athlete

Jamie Fellrath — Sun, 14 May 2017 11:23:57 -0000

Hi Fikri,

I haven't tried the KMD models, but looking at them I see why they might not have been great for the flat surfaces - especially once those surfaces got muddy and such. The soles remind me of the KSO model I ran my first few races with and that was good though not great. The Spyridon LS sole was, in my opinion, much superior as it was more aggressively lugged on the soles Of course, sole wear would most certainly have something to do with that as well.

I will be putting out a new post on the Spyridon MR model that I recently got after I run the Tough Mudder on June 3 with them. These are the official shoe of Warrior Dash and are made for OCR, apparently. But a quick preview: they've got a slightly higher upper that goes up nearly to the ankle bones, and they laces can be tucked away. Other than that they seem to be the same as the LS model of Spyridon which I talk about in this post.

I've not worn them with any socks yet - the dirt/sand in the toes hasn't really been an issue for me and it just seems like it'd hold in more water. But then, not having tried it I can't say for sure if your method is superior. I'd have to get a pair that socks would fit into (a size larger than I normally wear, in other words) and as of yet, my lucrative shoe contract with Vibram hasn't kicked in. :)

Glad you've had a good experience with them. Did you have any of the adjustment issues that I had with them upon changing from standard shoes to minimalist?

Thanks for commenting and visiting the site!
Jamie

Re: Ditch the Labels for Better Health

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 14:08:30 -0000

Yes indeed. We talked a bit about that in the comments of the post I pushed out today (http://mudlife-crisis.com/2... but 'tis worth going into here as well.

We in the West, I think, take too much pleasure and ideology out of labeling and categorizing everything to the point of absurdity. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of our lives frequently (nay, usually) overlap with other aspects. One imbalance causes another imbalance - and making a change in one area makes the change in all areas. And that goes for diets as well. I feel not only physically better, but mentally clearer, emotionally happier, and spiritually more observant and receptive when I eat properly. These things are all intertwined and we need to speak of them so.

Re: Why We Don’t Change for the Better

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 12:22:12 -0000

Thanks Joyce! For all the Columbus people, I go to the Downtown YMCA on Tuesdays and Fridays for yoga - Lori is the instructor there and she's really very good. I'm pleased.

This post was one that grew as I was writing it. Frankly, it wasn't going to be quite a positive and constructive as I set out, it was much more of a rant at first. But the reasons portion sort of grew as I was writing and kept thinking of more reasons people might be this way - ways that I've been in the past (or heck, ways that I still am at times).

#5 is tough, especially as I get more into the rewilding world and more of the folks I follow talk about community and its importance in our lives. If there's one thing that I've discovered as I've delved into this world and especially this blog, I've discovered that the philosophy we have in the west of categorizing everything is rarely constructive. Separating the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual from each other doesn't work, functionally, for anyone but the people who are cashing in on the categories in question. Physical effects the mental, emotional, and therefore the spiritual; and vice versa. Diet means everything, but so does mindset, movement, a sense of belonging, and more. You can't discount one just because another has treated you well. These things obviously go back and forth, but there's a growing thought among the writers I follow that says community and spirituality may be the most important factor. We can't discount them just because they interfere with another aspect of life.

On the other hand, the community we are in must be one that is healthy on all four of those levels (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). Heck, I'd even say three of four is pretty good. Most communities in the western world, it seems, are lacking in two to three of these because of the preconceptions we have about them. It's tough to find a community that truly wants all its members to succeed, I think - there's too much selfishness and poor self-esteem that gets in the way of seeing any member's success as a success for all of the community. That's the ideal, and we have to search to find that (and to supply that support ourselves).

I haven't looked into thyroid and cold treatment, though there's a part of me that wants to say it's gotta help due to the idea of getting back into the practice of hardship, hormesis and health. I'm sure there are people who have tried it, though, I'll keep my eyes open. But I will say this - you frequently hear people say "as soon as I get this under control, I'll try 'X'," when "X" is what will help the most. While I understand wanting to try a treatment/lifestyle change uninterrupted and without other inputs to see if the answer comes from a specific thing, I'm also of the "if it works, it works" school. Food for thought.

Re: Smoother, Better, Faster, Smarter: we’re upgrading our fleet

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 08:42:22 -0000

Enjoyed my first drive in one of the new Smart Cars this morning in Columbus. Only problem I had was that the phone app was telling me to insert the key and stop the car after I swiped to stop the rental, and I had already done those things. I had to start the car back up and then stop it and try again. Other than that, the car is fantastic - better pickup, the bluetooth is great, and I loved the driving experience in it.

Re: Find The Hidden Gym in Your Neighborhood

Jamie Fellrath — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:15:07 -0000

Thanks! And... agreed. You can tailor your workout to how you're feeling, what's available, what your goals are, and more, all as you go along your route. All you have to know is where you're going.

Another benefit to this sort of workout is that, over time, you'll get a situational awareness change that I alluded to in my post How Sidewalk Running Improves Mind and Body a while back. You start to look at your routes, your surroundings, and the possibilities/dangers of the area with a different mindset. It's sort of cool when you're passing a house and suddenly see an overhang, perhaps over the house's air conditioning unit but just within reach, and you think "whoa - I could get onto that house's roof."

Don't do it, of course, unless it's your own house and you can prove it, but you get my drift. :)

Re: What Tools Can You Use To Boost Your Vitality?

Jamie Fellrath — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:49:43 -0000

Good stuff, Rahul. I have actually started using a different kind of protein powder, bone broth protein. I just started with it so I don't really have any results to report yet, but it's something I'm keeping track of. I used to do my morning coffee with butter, MCT oil, and a pastured egg, but I switched the egg out for the bone broth protein. I'll keep everyone posted!

Re: Gimme a Big Cold Hug…

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 14:03:43 -0000

Awesome, man! Let me know when you do, I'll be interested in your reactions!

Re: Awesome and Terrible: Wim Hof Cold Shower Week #1

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 09:11:32 -0000

Yeah, for me it goes away. By the time I am done drying off, I'm pretty much back to normal. My skin may be a bit chilly, but that's about it. It's sort of a tingly feeling but I don't stay cold.

I don't know if it's the breathing aspect or what... maybe it's how hard I dry myself, or that I get out to walk and build up some heat afterward, or what. I am one of those people who never really gets cold, anyway, despite my (previous?) hate of cold water, so that might have something to do with it. I'd also imagine that your thyroid issues have something to do with your issues with it, too. Must make it harder to keep a warm internal temperature if your thyroid isn't sending out the correct signals regularly.

There's a Wim Hof Facebook group, I'll ask over there.

Re: Enter the Shrinkage: Dealing with Cold

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 08:53:19 -0000

I'm almost halfway through the first free challenge now - up to day four of a 30-second cold shower. And yes, I am almost enjoying it now! I'll be keeping everyone posted as I progress. Don't miss the first update post:

http://mudlife-crisis.com/2...

Re: Awesome and Terrible: Wim Hof Cold Shower Week #1

Jamie Fellrath — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:48:25 -0000

It's partially that, yes. There are a ton of benefits to cold water immersion beyond just fat loss, though. Boosted immunity, better circulation, relief from depression and anxiety (could be part of why I felt so darned good yesterday!), sped-up relief of muscle soreness, and more. But yeah, Ben was one of the reasons I'm taking this on.

Re: How Do I Just Get Over It?

Jamie Fellrath — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:58:21 -0000

Oh, I'm good now. The toe is back, the infection is disappearing, and the finger is slowly getting better. And let's face it, taking on some other challenges while I waited was the way to go. Had to start that earlier, actually. :)

Epstein-Barr... oh boy. I know a fellow who had that in high school and it pretty much wiped him out for a good semester as he recovered. Hope it's going better for you!

Re: What is Jaggery and What Benefits Does it Have?

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 10:47:13 -0000

Great stuff. So many of these health claims for "superfoods" really do come down to "yes, they're better than the alternative... marginally."

Re: First Spartan Race Complete! And…wow.

Jamie Fellrath — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:54:59 -0000

Don't be discouraged from trying other races, Ryan! There are a bunch of great ones out there with different "feels" to them. Yeah, Spartan sets a high standard, but that doesn't mean that the others aren't worth trying out as well. Try a couple more out - if you need suggestions, let me know! And like I said in another post... don't count out the local races!

Re: Grip Strength Can Be In Your Grasp

Jamie Fellrath — Tue, 24 May 2016 15:16:14 -0000

Oh man, Tim, you said it. Manual labor is definitely the way to go. As you may know from my recent post about yard work and exercise, I got a metric s**t-ton of grip work in Sunday by chopping down two 15' bushes outside my house. The thing is you have to do it a lot, and I don't think my wife would appreciate my defoliating our yard just for my own training purposes. :) But seriously, there's a reason you always hear the term "grip like a pipe fitter" - people who use their hands all day for their work get that strength built up naturally... much akin to greasing the groove with an exercise.

I've not heard of Gorilla Grips... is this the product you mean? It sort of makes it sound like a weight-belt for your hands - to let you do more work without damaging the hands from chafing and such. I'm not sure that's what I'd be going for - while I would obviously love to do more pull-ups, I also want to build up the grip strength AND the calluses to protect my hands naturally. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the purpose here.

And as far as elbow soreness from pull-ups, I hear you entirely. I was doing one of those "25 pull-ups" workouts to build up that strength a couple years ago and using my suspension trainer. It's not one where you can set the handles apart from each other, so all my pulling was happening with the hands close together. That's apparently one of the ways you can hurt your elbow (it's very similar to golfer's elbow from what I understand). So I have been doing jump pull-ups on an actual bar to build that strength, as well as just hanging from a branch on the remaining tree in front of my house, with careful form, to push that grip strength even more. I also found this link on avoiding elbow pain from Breaking Muscle.

Re: Work Out With Your Kids

Jamie Fellrath — Sat, 14 May 2016 09:31:05 -0000

Or Kettlebells. I can see Kettlebell swings working really well. 🏋

Re: First Spartan Race Complete! And…wow.

Jamie Fellrath — Mon, 09 May 2016 11:01:29 -0000

Thanks Sporty! It was a great race, for sure. I'm fortunate that I have some great ravines to practice/train in for the hills. And I plan to keep people posted on my grip strength work here so I hope you'll check back or subscribe for training ideas!

Re: Work Out With Your Kids

Jamie Fellrath — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 10:04:27 -0000

Sounds similar to my situation! I used to joke that I was going to emulate the Greek wrestler Milo, who used to carry a calf the length of a stadium daily. And as the cow grew, he had more resistance. Similarly, I used to military press my son until he got too wiggly. My daughter is more amenable, but not on a daily basis. No greasing the groove with the kids. :) We still roughhouse a lot, though, I pick them up and run around and such.

Now the kids do races with me - our local Mud Ninja race has a fun kids' race, and even my son goes through it despite his autism. He loves it - for different reasons that my race-loving daughter, but who cares as long as he's getting positive movement and having fun!

Re: Get Back To Sleep!

Jamie Fellrath — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 11:12:39 -0000

I have a similar app from Calm.com, but I've normally tried it in the morning. Hadn't thought of it as a nighty-night tool, yet... I'll have to see what they have as far as programs for that. Thanks for the idea!

Re: What Do I Do to Hack My Sleep?

Jamie Fellrath — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 15:17:51 -0000

Hi Simon! My intense exercise periods are early in the morning so I don't think that's the issue. I do the old wind-down pretty well.

And I do know about the blue-light issue with devices and screens, check out this post from a few months back on that issue. I wear amber glasses regularly at night, and according to my Fitbit I don't have much trouble falling asleep on most nights. The problem seems to be frequent wakefulness throughout the night. I could definitely get away from the phone/computer and read an actual book (what? Those still exist? :) ) later in the evening, but from what I've read the glasses should nip that in the bud. Still, not a bad idea.

I have read that Apple is planning on making the f.lux app available for iPhones (and actually blocking the blue light from the phone's screen) in a future release, too, so I'm REALLY looking forward to that!

Thanks for the input!