Sunday Story…More Europe

More impressions from the continent!

Probably the biggest impression I got from my visit to Europe is that, in general, society seems more cooperative and collaborative than it is here in the States. By that I mean, and this may be because we spent a lot of time in bigger cities, but people living close together must be more cooperative with each other in terms of resource usage, and things like that.

The public transportation systems were a marvel and heavily used by all kinds of people, not primarily tourists, but mostly people who live there. We traveled by both train and bus. We found that the people on both were helpful and very kind with our questions about the stops and stations. Interestingly, we found that many people spoke very good English, as a matter of fact, way better English than I spoke either French or Italian. When we had questions about which station to go to and what to do there (as in the next connection), it was just amazing to me how helpful and kind people were in general. Most people actually inquired about where we were from, where we were going, and what we were doing there. They seemed genuinely interested in who we were and how we were getting along in their communities.

Overall, I found that whether we were in large cities like Florence and Paris or in very small cities and villages, the people were interesting and interested. Probably the biggest thing I brought home was a greater sense of how I can be kind and helpful to strangers and people who just need a helping hand.

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

 

PS. This photo is of our first meal in Florence: the Florentine steak. It was an amazing meal.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Story... Europe, Part 1

When I initially started writing this, I began it as sort of a travel log: we went here, did this, saw that, and did these other things. Then I realized that that really wasn't an important part of the trip. It was interesting and fun, but it wasn't the important part. It wasn't the part that I really remember.

What we saw and where we went were memorable, and we saw some amazing sites, art, and architecture. We marveled at the ingenuity and abilities of our forebears in building structures that took hundreds of years to assemble. To do so with such beauty and have an amazing structure still standing after hundreds and hundreds of years is just amazing.

What I found most important and memorable about the trip were the people and the experiences we had. One of the most memorable experiences was a cooking class in a couple's home in Pisa, Italy. We arrived around 11:00 a.m. and spent the next five hours learning to make homemade pasta, rolling it out, running it through the pasta maker, hearing the stories behind Nona's meatballs, cooking rabbit on the stove, and just generally enjoying the company and stories. There was another couple there from Ireland, a mother and daughter, and we exchanged stories about current cultural things in Ireland as opposed to America. It was as simple as having a community enjoying other humans. The couple running the cooking class were engaging and fun, and they made it a really memorable experience for everybody. We had a couple of teenagers and some adults, and everybody got something out of it. That was the essence of the European trip. That was the part of the trip that I will never ever forget.

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

 

 

Sunday Story... European Vacation

I just spent two weeks in Europe. We traveled to Nice, France; Pisa and Florence, Italy; and Paris, France. We managed a side trip to Monaco as well. This was my first experience of Europe, and it was truly eye-opening. So many of the things that I've read about and seen pictures of came to life right before my eyes. As a very limited student of art history (thank you, Gonzaga), it was amazing to see so many of the works I studied in class. There is a huge difference between pictures and the real thing. Those things become so much more real and relevant when you're looking at the work of art. I have to say that after four hours in the Louvre, my eyes were completely overwhelmed, almost on fire. It was art and beauty everywhere you looked. Something different to see, something different to imagine, thinking of the artist pouring out his soul as he lay upside down, painting a ceiling in the most vivid and bright colors, with a story or an allegory that he's trying to convey to his audience.

Of course, I have a ton of pictures, none of which do justice to the sights and sounds we experienced.

More next week!

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

 

 

 

 

Sunday Story…Vacation!

 

   

I’m on a European Vacation! Shades of the Griswolds!! Just dropping a short note to you all to let you know you won’t be getting another Sunday Story until 6/14/26!!

Until then…keep on training!

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

Sunday Story…When you’re 80

I recently saw a short article outlining what you should be able to do at 60 to be independent by 80. The data on this is consistent. If you can do these 5 things at 60, you will still be doing them at 80. If you can’t do them, it is time to start training them! And if you aren’t 60 and have trouble now, you really need to get to work!

The 5 things:

v  Sit down on the floor and get back up. No hands, no knees, lower yourself down, sit, and get back up.

v  Carry the groceries. Grab half of your body weight in each hand and walk around for 30 seconds. This is functional strength

v  Stand on one leg for 30 seconds. Eyes open, barefoot, lift one leg. If you can do 10 seconds, that’s a mortality predictor. 30 seconds predicts independence.

v  Climb 4 flights of stairs in under a minute. This is roughly 60 steps and indicates cardiovascular health

v  Walk a mile in 16 minutes. Without stopping. This is not a high bar.

Here’s another thought… the body you have at 60 is the body you will bring to 80. The good news is that what you can’t do, you can train to do. At any age. If you are already 80, you can get better and be better at 90! If you’re only 50 and struggle with these, this is your wake-up call.

Ask your physician if getting off your ass is right for you!

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

 

 

 

 

Sunday Story…You’ve got to have Goals

For many years, my goal in CrossFit wasn't just to get in great shape but also to compete at the CrossFit Games. I managed to achieve that goal several times, but the goals have shifted a little since then. My primary goal is to maintain a level of fitness that supports my life and longevity, and it appears that striving for a place at the CrossFit Games may not support that goal.

You've got to have goals. We all have them, whether we state them or not. We have some sort of goal. Your goal here shouldn’t be to just show up. Your goal is to show up and move yourself forward in some way. More fitness, more strength, more health, and the work should support your goals. If the work isn't supporting them, I must either change the work or change the goals. One of those things needs to happen for me to maintain congruity in my thought process.

This weekend, when we are looking at people doing the semi-finals, I know the question may come up to me as to why I'm not participating, and the answer is that the goal of striving for a place at the table at the CrossFit Games may not be the goal that I'm striving for any longer. In other words, I'm not sure there's any cheese at the end of that tunnel for me.

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412

 

Sunday Story…HYROX Part Three

Should you do HYROX training? We're offering five classes a week, so there are plenty of opportunities for you to give it a shot, but the real question is, why should you?

Because we define fitness broadly and inclusively, you should be able to run well and cover distance. Should you be able to do some powerlifting? Should you be able to do Olympic weightlifting? Yes. Would you be at the top of the game in any of those things? Probably not, but you should be able to show up. If we had a powerlifting meet, you should be able to show up and showcase your skills in a way that benefits you, and that's what it's all about.

Will HYROX work for you and your fitness? Learning and playing new sports is a critical part of your physical preparedness. Being physically prepared for any challenge that comes up in front of you, whether you're going rim to rim in the Grand Canyon, whether you're showing up for a HYROX race for the first time, whether you are running a 10K, or playing some soccer. You should be able to do all those things.

If all I'm doing is HYROX training, I'm going to get good at HYROX. If I'm doing my job and I’m generally physically prepared for any task, for anything that's thrown in front of me, then yes, you should be able to do a HYROX race, and you should be able to do the training. The key is to enjoy it. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it. It doesn't make any sense. If you hate it, you're not going to keep doing it. If HYROX, is it, then go do that.

See you on the turf!

If you're interested in building muscle and strength, sign up for a free fitness assessment at www.crossfitodyssey.com or reach out to me directly, and let's get you started on your journey to extraordinary results.

John Mariotti

www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com

www.crossfitodyssey.com

775-338-2412