💪Books & Biceps

Welcome to this week’s Books & Biceps! Let’s dominate today!

Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout

I bought this book a long time ago because as a swimmer I’m a sucker for books on or about swimming…but also because the feat described in this book seems impossible. Long before any semblance of modern digital technology and athletic training, preparation, recovery and apparel, a 5’5”, 21-year-old woman, Trudy Ederle, became the first female to swim across the English Channel. The Channel, if you didn’t know, is just about the most treacherous stretch of water in the northern hemisphere to cross without a boat. It’s about 23 miles wide, the water temperature is in the high 50s if you’re lucky, the swells are impossible, the currents are brutal, the wind is pounding and if that’s not all, you’ve got to take an s-shaped route just to make the passage. The story of how Ederle, a three-time swimming medalist in the 1924 Paris, France Olympics, prepared for and took on the channel is nothing short of remarkable. And the research by Stout is impeccable. Read it here.

Seven Things Boxing Taught Me About Risk Taking by Ed Latimore

Ed Latimore is a former heavyweight professional boxer (13-1-1) who also happens to be a competitive chess player, author and modern philosopher. I’ve been a fan of Ed’s and read his newsletter for years now. He’s a unique thinker and I love how he turns his life experience into clever takes on every day issues we all face. His blog post this week really resonated with me. Especially this one line, “To become a better fighter, you have to fight better people.” Obviously this holds true for boxing, but it’s actually a mantra that works in whatever field you’re in. If you don’t keep pushing yourself and elevating yourself to the competition, you’ll never get anywhere. Give this piece a read and then sign up to get his posts, you won’t regret it. Check it out.

15-Minute Full Body Mobility

Here’s some good news. I hit my strength goals for the last twelve months, even doing something I hadn’t done since college, which is bench 305 (you can watch here if you’re interested). The bad news is my mobility sucks beyond belief and the older I get, the more I’m noticing it. Small tweaks and creaks and twinges all over the place when I get up quick or wrestle with my son or do anything, really. So I’ve decided to commit to working on my mobility. I’m experimenting with a few short routines to try once or twice a week to start and I’ll let you know which ones work. So far, this one seems to work for my beginner-level mobility…and by ‘work’ I mean has made me realize I’m about as flexible as beat-up aluminum ladder right now. Give it a shot or if you have a routine you like, please share it with me and I’ll pass it on.

“Flexibility is the key to stability.” - John Wooden

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