Endorphins, running faster than a 3-year-old and some advice

John Stanton, founder and president of the Running Room, writes like a man with lots and lots of endorphins coursing through his body.

“Congratulations on your running start. As your body adapts to the rigors of training you will also discover the many benefits running brings to our lives,” said Stanton when asked him for advice on how to adjust my thinking when it comes to running.

A big part of this ambitious overhaul is to put a halt on the impact my desk life is having on my physical health.

Four years later, sea-rescue photos found on beach

A camera containing images of a dramatic sea rescue off the coast of Australia has been located, four years after the men involved made it back to shore.

Peter Trayhurn and diving mate Geoff Masters were temporarily adrift in the ocean during a diving trip Dec. 23, 2006.

They surfaced to find that their dive boat was nowhere in sight and they were alone about 7.4 kilometres offshore.

Running, genetics and the almost disturbing drive of Martin Parnell

Running is a perfect way to get and stay in shape. Or so I have been told.

Obvious perks like weight loss and cardiovascular health aside, I have believed for a long time that running would come in handy for anyone interested in self preservation.

I’m not expecting to have to outrun any large land carnivores in downtown Toronto, but being able to quickly get away from a crowd (or follow a swiftly moving one) would have its advantages.

At this point there is no earthy reason why I wouldn’t try to run.

Hormones give women a survival advantage: study

It seems that being female is an advantage when it comes to recovering from traumatic injuries, according to a study released Tuesday by a researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“Female sex hormones appear to give women better resiliency to extreme injury, while male sex hormones seem to worsen their survival after severe trauma” says Adil H. Haider, assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins. The study shows that those hormones mean severely injured women have a 14 per cent higher chance of surviving than men with similar injuries.

Clean water, frozen food and fear

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit it, but I tend to follow the exploits of Fox News’ Glenn Beck — known for frightening his audience with end-of-days-laced rhetoric before acting as a shill for a list of sponsors that cater in everything from overvalued gold coins to post-apocalyptic goods.

Sled dogs, jump ropes and protective suits...

Here is how I imagine this project is going to work.

The videos will be posted every two weeks. There will be instructions on things like fixing cars and finding food in unusual places, but I plan to have at least a few more that will require signing a waiver and strapping on a protective suit.

First day glitches

Update: Problem solved. emilyvsthecity@thestar.ca is working. Testing welcome and appreciated.  

A big thanks to readers for pointing out that email sent to emilyvsthecity@thestar.ca is bouncing back. Our systems support team is on it and we should have it fixed shortly. In the meantime you can send information to emathieu@thestar.ca

Takedown by Toronto police dog

 

 

 

Toronto Police staff Sgt. Max Carter of Toronto’s Police Dog Services unit is standing with me in the middle of a fenced-in area of grass at 44 Beechwood Dr. in East York.

“I can tell you are getting nervous,” he says. His tone is soothing and supportive, but he is obviously entertained.

Tips for fending off a dog attack

  

Not all dogs are as friendly as they appear to be.

Emily vs. the City

This blog was designed as a solution to a problem, or a way to ease a nagging set of doubts that have been increasingly on my mind.

I’ve lived in Toronto for more than 10 years, where everything I need to survive is a phone call or a three-minute stumble away.

My problem is this: If water, food and shelter and specialty coffee were suddenly taken away, or I was placed in dangerous or potentially life-threatening situations, I'm not sure I could take care of myself.