The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver are almost here, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I love the Olympics, and the winter sports have a slight emotional edge as my favorite.
That’s because my first sports memory was of the 1980 games in Lake Placid, and Team USA’s “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union. Jim Craig was my hero – yes, I eventually became a goalie, but in the Arizona roller hockey rinks rather than Chicago’s ice rinks. Tony Esposito eventually replaced Craig as my hero, but Craig came first.
Anyway, to celebrate the coming spectacle in Vancouver, here are my five favorite events (I’m equally happy watching men or women in all – also I want to know YOUR 5 favorites!):
Hockey – After that intro, I’m sure you had no doubt it would be my top pick. I understand hockey better than I understand any other sport. I see goals before they happen, and am rarely surprised when a puck goes in. There’s nothing cooler than seeing a goalie make an awesome save, or an old-school defender delivering an open-ice hip check. Sure, I love all the scoring and the “odd tussle” (as Don Cherry might say). But give me a tense, low-scoring game with a pair of brilliant goalies dueling it out.
Bobsled – I shouldn’t even have to explain why this is cool. Really, skeleton and luge are also awesome. But the bobsled! Bullet-shaped, heavy, fast – there’s nothing like hearing it hurtle down a twisting, banked course. [...]
February, 2010:
Winter Olympic Sports – My 5 Favorites
9 Things To Know About Sumits Yoga – Review
A few weeks ago, I pulled a muscle in my back. I rested it for a few days to let it heal. As it was starting to get better, I figured some good, deep stretching would help it. I figured heat would be good, too.
That brilliant line of thought led me to Sumits Yoga in Phoenix, at 20th Street and Camelback. They have a “Two Weeks for $20″ deal, so I showed up, yoga mat in hand, and signed up. Here’s what you need to know about Sumits Yoga.
1. It’s a hot yoga class. The temperature is about 105 degrees. Show up with very cold water, and maybe even a sports drink. I have a 32-ounce H2O bottle and a 10-ounce bottle of Cytomax half-frozen, and topped off with their respective liquids.
2. Dress right. I find Under Armour HeatGear shirts work really well. I think they’re actually a little cooler than just going shirtless, which I also tried. They’re also fitted so they don’t get in the way. Not really happy with my pants situation. But I should probably keep wearing them, ha! The problem is that there are certain poses where I have to brace a foot against my leg, and the incredible gusher of sweat makes me slide all over.
3. Bring towels. The studio sells these fairly pricey towels that keep you from slipping on the mat. I like them a lot. But I also have a regular towel to mop the sweat off myself.
4. All the instructors [...]
The Perils of Sports Drinks – The Primordial Soup
Welcome to Mountain Bike Monday, my mostly weekly feature offering my favorite mountain bike tips and tricks!
A good sports drink can help you ride better. They keep you hydrated, supplying a lot of the electrolytes you sweat out during a ride. For my money, Cytomax by Champion Nutrition is still the best. It has a decent taste, and a good charge of electrolytes.
That said, there is nothing worse than leaving some Cytomax (or any sports drink) in your water bottle and forgetting about it. Let’s put it this way: My wife recently posted on her Facebook status update that she figured out the origins of life: God went for a ride, and left his Cytomax bottles unwashed. He came back, and the Cyto had turned into a primordial soup that was soon sprouting intelligent life.
So this is what you have to do: The second you get back home, clean those bottles out. Otherwise, that stuff’s gonna sit in there and ferment. You’ll totally forget about it until your next ride. Then you’ll open it up and smell a cross between vinegar, stale beer and fruit punch. Nasty, eh? Then you’ll want to throw your bottle away.
So save your bottles. Save your appetite. Take a few moments to get those bottles washed out after you ride.
Got a question or idea for Mountain Bike Monday? Send it to wandering.justins@gmail.com!
