Happiness and the Pursuit of Bliss
Several recent studies about happiness are quite joy-affirming… A few highlights: 1. Exercise more – 7 minutes might be enough (to increase happiness and reduce depression).…
Post Script to a Second Marathon
I’ll admit, I recently broke rule #1 of long distance running, which goes something like, “Slowly build your mileage (10% per week with an easy week…
Feet First: Part Deux
I was originally going to update my previous running shoe post with some new dirt, but I thought it best to write something from scratch. So…
Whistler’s Meet Your Maker 82km Trail Ultra– And Why I think I Made It
First off, wow. I loved this race, and I loved having the ultra-off-road experience in such a spectacularly beautiful corner of the world. In fact, the…
Meet Your Maker – Or Live Trying
From what I understand, the DNA of a flower contains a blueprint for the potential of that plant. Whether the conditions are right for that flower…
Start Them Young: Make Physical Activity a Lifestyle not a Chore
I don’t hate cars. I really don’t. Some of my best friends have cars. I even borrow my dad’s car from time to time, when I…
Train by Heart: Using Your Heart Rate to Guide You to Better Fitness
So the Whistler Meet Your Maker ultra cross-country run has been on my mind a lot lately. Looking into my future and seeing 12,000 feet of…
Out of the Shadows: Montreal’s Historic Saint-Henri Neighbourhood Shines in a New Light
By Robert J. Brodey MONTREAL, QUEBEC — Below the traffic humming along highway 720, in the shadow of famous neighbourhoods like Westmount and Plateau-Mont-Royal, the worn…
9 Days in Maine’s Outback
By Robert J. Brodey It’s 6:30 in the morning, when my sister, Michelle, and I walk into the diner. The sign above the cash register reads,…
A Trip to Edgy Bonaventure Island
By Robert Brodey “There’s an orgy on the island,” my auntie Pat says. My uncle excitedly agrees. What’s not to like about this adventure? It’s a…
Surrender to Life – Martial arts expert Wayland deLong believes learning to go with the flow will keep you firmly grounded
By Robert J. Brodey I first meet Wayland DeLong’s fist in a small courtyard behind a toy store in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. He parks his giant…
A Field of Dreams – A pickup game of soccer evens the playing field
By Robert J. Brodey He’s tall, lean, and barefoot, and he’s coming at me with a quiet but determined vengeance. The soccer ball at his toe…
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Finding common ground among city commuters
By Robert Brodey A warm spring day in downtown Toronto — seven years ago. Riding my bicycle along an open stretch of road, I was blissfully…