It has been quite some time since I did a Playlist Pondering, so I thought it was time to resurrect the idea. Today’s pondering is on one of the greatest rock bands to grace the planet – Rush.

Growing up in Canada, Rush entered into my consciousness at an early age. Back in the day, it seemed like they played virtually every high school in Canada – except mine. Rush was always on the radio, at least on the rock stations like CHEZ 106 in Ottawa or Q107 in Toronto.

The stellar musicianship and incredible jams initially caught my attention. How could it not, with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neal Peart playing their hearts out? All you had to do was watch “Exit … Stage Left” and you would be hooked. Awesome sauce, indeed.

But it was far more than that. My high school years, like many other people I am sure, found me struggling to find meaning. I was struggling to find out who I was and where I fit in, and the timing was right: there were Neal Peart’s lyrics right in front of me.

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This is the 22nd in a series of RunSmart videos. The series is on-going, with a new video released on a biweekly basis. These videos complement the material presented in the book “RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running”. The full series of videos can be found here. A compilation of the first 10 videos will be available on Vimeo as well.

For those of you that are interested in a more interactive learning environment, consider attending a Level One (half day), Level Two (one day), or Level Three (two day) RunSmart program. The Level One program is 4 hours and focuses on basic training principles, running mechanics, and injury prevention. The Level Two program is 8.5 hours and focuses on performance optimization and training program development. The Level Three program is a two day, 15 hour program that includes a comprehensive approach to running injuries. I am currently putting together a 2013 schedule. If you are interested in attending an upcoming session, schedule updates will be posted here and on my newsletter. If you would like to host a session in your community, please contact me.

In this video, I discuss principles and practices. Stephen Covey has put forth the idea of principles, the “why” we do, as contrasted with practices, the “what” we do. This is discussed in the context of run training.

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Before I get this Rumination rolling, I must pause for a moment and take note. Thus far this year, I have maintained my goal of writing more frequently – three times a week, in fact. The net result has been not only a consistent writing schedule, but also a new record in blog posts on my site. This serves as a good reminder – that consistency of effort is key. And, of course, how better to display consistency than in the Ruminations – where truth is consistently stranger than fiction.

In this episode of the Ruminations, I bring to you the wackiness that is California, Roger’s mistrial, and the psychosis that is (once again) US politics. Onwards and away!

1. A California official – Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone – has made a proposal that only Rick Perry could truly appreciate. He has suggested that “South California” should become the 51st state. Wait a second here. Wasn’t that going to be Puerto Rico? Don’t most Americans think that the 51st state is Mexico or Canada?

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By the year 2015, the United States will have 62,900 fewer doctors than needed. By 2025, the number will double. Even if you don’t factor in changes in health care law, there will still be a need for over 100,000 doctors by 2025. These statistics are from the latest estimates from the Association of American Medical Colleges. But these numbers really haven’t changed much since 2010. The greatest demand will be for primary-care physicians, traditionally the gatekeepers within the current health care system..

Patients need access to care. But as it stands right now, in the current gatekeeper-driven model, they won’t get any care (or it will be expensive, emergency room-based care) because there simply aren’t enough gatekeepers (physicians).

But there is an easy solution – and physical therapists can provide it. Now.

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