45 minutes worth of fixie sprints to start this one off today; 17-hours fasted. I stopped off at the library for about an hour, and winded-up leaving with a copy of The 10,000 Year Explosion. I’ve been wanting to read it for some time, now, as I keep seeing anti-Paleo arguments infused with vague references to the book. From what I gather, these arguments are based on misinterpretations of the book’s points, but hey – I just want to see for myself.
Anyway, then it was back in the saddle for another 15 minutes or so, and out to the field where I mixed it up with some 3 cone and pro agility, change-of-direction sprints. Why change-of-direction sprints? Because the start/stop, turn & twist nature of these movements is altogether different than straight-line sprinting. Again, just another tool in the toolbox.
10 x 25 yd sprint starts served as the bike-to-sprint transition; then 6 x pro agility (2 minute rest between runs), followed by 6 x 3 cone drill (2 minute rest between runs)
Pro Agility:
3 cone:
Then it was into the gym and in the power rack for the following:
btn barbell push-press: 135 x 3; 165 x 3; 185 x 3; 195 x 2; 200 x 1
jump squat (from 1/4 squat position):135 x 3; 165 x 3; 185 x 3; 195 x 3; 200 x 3
muscle-ups @ bodyweight: 3 each round
5 total rounds here, then picked it up and biked back home. Good, good stuff.
Holding one’s own convictions in highest suspicion — this is the essence of epistemology. It’s also the “freak flag” I most proudly wave. In the spirit of that epistemocratic philosophy, I offer you the following: a second look at Walmart. Yeah, that Walmart; the enterprise we all love to hate.
I have to admit that I am (was?) a total Walmart snob, opting to do the bulk of my food shopping at farmer’s markets, and upper-end chains such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and, in a pinch, Harris Teeter. Over the past year or so though, those times when I have slunk into a Walmart, I’ve noticed something odd — an abundance of fresh, good-looking fruits and veggies. Plenty of organic choices and a clean, tidy appearance. And damn if they don’t have the market cornered on good avocados. Now, for the most part I’ve turned my nose up at these pleasant offerings (“trucked halfway across hell and back”, shitty employee labor practices, supplier manipulation, etc…). Well, maybe it’s time to give the behemoth another look. Can offerings of grass-fed beef be far behind? Hey, I’m just sayin’…
So check out this recent NPR Talk of the Nation broadcast with guest Corby Kummer, senior editor for The Atlantic. His article, “The Great Grocery Smackdown: Will Wal-Mart, Not Whole Foods, Save The Small Farm And Make America Healthy?” appears in the March 2010 issue of the magazine. It’s a good companion read to the interview.
Anyhow, listen to the broadcast. Read the article. Allow your assumptions to be challenged. Epistemology is not about just flapping in the direction of the prevailing wind; it is, though, about having the strength to see your core convictions dragged out into the light of day and dusted-up a bit. I won’t ever stop going to farmers markets, simply for the purity of that social exchange. But if Walmart is serious about doing good and playing nice with the local farmer, I’ll give them another look, as I will any outlet that does the same. I’m certainly not loaded with dollars, but those that I do have, I will “vote” with.
Oh yeah, and see if you can resist screaming “just go Paleo!” when, during the Talk of the Nation broadcast, the conversation turns to celiac disease, and the availability/cost of gluten-free products. UGH!!
Theory to Practice 