A little bit of everything
A weekly round-up of books, podcasts, music and training
Happy February! January sure was a long year, right?
I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by several people and this year, I agree. After the poison oak fiasco, Nick came down with a cold, which I then caught, too. I neglected to stay on top of the bodywork I’m normally attentive to and that’s resulted in my pelvis feeling all sorts of funky thanks to idiopathic scoliosis. But, we’re on the mend, I’ve learned that I need to stick to myofascial release therapy and/or chiropractic on a regular schedule, and I have a feeling February will be much brighter.
This week, inspired by my friend Kristen’s weekly round-ups (which I suggest subscribing to here) I’m sharing recommendations of music, books, podcasts, and articles that I’ve found interesting.
Music
Do you remember the late night TV infomercials by Time Life? The most memorable to me was one hosted by the Cowsills themselves—Paul, Susan, and Bob Cowsill, best known for their song “Hair.” The Cowsills introduced various clips from prolific 60s and early 70s bands: The Box Tops, The Rascals, The Grassroots, The Association. I was captivated. I grew up listening to AM radio stations that played oldies and classic rock, and this Time Life collection was the best of the era. The collection spanned from 1965 to 1972. I’m still grateful to my mom for purchasing the AM Gold set for me. It helped foster an early appreciation for music of that era, along with an eventual interest in my favorite singers of all time, like Gordon Lightfoot, Jackson Browne, John Denver, and Crosby Stills Nash and Young.
I didn’t make this playlist, but I’m sharing it nonetheless because it’s a fun listen. Check it out here:
Books
I spent the first few weeks of January in a book rut but have since found some that I think are worth checking out.
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
At first this book reads like a light adventure novel—a woman heads east from LA and books herself into a Best Western motel near Joshua Tree for several nights, interested in exploring the nearby trails. Within a few chapters, however, it’s obvious something more is at play and the novel turns darker before veering off into magical realism territory: think giant saguaros that can be stepped into and hold your own father as a young boy. Confused? Intrigued? Check it out.
Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life by Vivian Tu
Sure, the title reads like a clickbait article. But Vivian Tu knows how to write about a topic that can feel overwhelming and no matter your financial literacy, her writing is approachable. She also has some great ideas on how to budget. I wouldn’t call myself financially illiterate, but I’m planning on integrating several of her ideas into my daily life.
Another fun read, The Fury is an unreliable narrator/Greek vacation/tragedy/play novel that picks up speed as it goes. Similar to a play, the book is split into three parts, each time the narrator suggesting that what you just read might not be the full story. It’s a light read, despite also being categorized as a murder mystery.
I wouldn’t give it a 5/5, but it’s definitely worth your time if you’re looking for an engaging book.
Podcasts
Distance to Empty: Sports Psychology in 200 Milers
I’d be remiss to not share a podcast that Nick was recently on. Hosted by Peter Noyes and Kevin Goldberg (two of our own Lightfoot Coaching athletes), the podcast explores how Nick’s mindset around racing has changed over the last decade. He also talks about his new career in sports psychology (he graduates with his Masters in June!) and how he works with athletes of all backgrounds to improve their performance and self-talk. I’m biased, of course, but I think it’s worth a listen!
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Continuing with the classic rock and oldies theme, this podcast looks at 500 songs that influenced the world of rock, beginning in 1939 with the swing song, “Flying Home.” I’ll be honest, I’ve been picking and choosing which episodes to listen to, mostly based on my prior interest in the song. Some episodes I’m particularly interested in include Episode 135: The Sounds of Silence, Episode 139: Eight Miles High and Episode 151: San Fransisco. And, of course, the bonus episode about the origin of Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki,” which was originally called “Ue o Muite Aruko.”
Articles
California sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they're rescuing their coastal habitat
I don’t read or listen to much news at this point in my life, simply because I find the vast majority of it depressing. But, I do keep an eye out for articles that are interesting or hopeful. This one, about how California sea otters are helping coastal habitat, is optimistic for several reasons. One, sea otters were once hunted to extinction but have slowly increased their numbers and can now be seen throughout California (including right near us in Morro Bay—see picture below!). Two, there’s a big incentive to ensuring their populations remain healthy, thanks to the crabs they consume. When the shore crab population is left unchecked, the health of the marshes they inhabit can be at risk due to erosion. This impacts the health of the ecosystem, including humans. Supporting sea otters therefore supports us, too.
Upcoming Races
Nick and I both have some competitive 50Ks on the calendar, but I can tell you one race we’re not doing: Arizona’s Black Canyon 100K. I ran this race last year (you can read about that here) and am looking forward to instead be cheering on my athletes and friends from afar at their races. The weather is looking atypical, with forecasts showing below-freezing temperatures at the start. Good luck to everyone running! If you’d like to follow along, you can check the live results once the race begins Saturday morning.
Wishing you a restful weekend ahead!
