This morning as I returned from my morning run around the village a couple, younger and faster than I am, ran past our house. A workman on scaffolding at a neighbour’s house called down encouragement, “Keep going, girl!” Yes, “Keep going, GIRL!” No mention of the man who was running with her. Do men running get “encouraging” comments when they run? Or when they cycle? Because that happens too; people, usually men, call out encouragement as I pedal up a hill with my panniers full of shopping from the Wednesday market. In the 21st century are men really so surprised to see a woman taking exercise?
Scanning the papers online over breakfast, I found this article in which climbing experts consider the safety concerns of women climbers and hillwalkers. Even expert women in the field, such as Keri Wallace, a mountain leader in the Scottish highlands who co-founded Girls On Hills eight years ago to encourage more women to enter the sport, encounter a condescending attitude from male climbers and walkers. On excursions she is regularly questioned by men about whether she knows how far away the summit is, prompting comments such as “surely you’re not going the whole way”, as well as expressions of surprise that she is a mountain leader, which she said could make you “feel like you don’t really belong there or you’re not competent”.
Consider the success of women’s football teams … and the fact that the women footballers roll around on the ground in agony far less than their male counterparts. Not that I am itching to play football but it’s something to think about.
In what I suppose is a sort of homage to Dr Michael Mosley who died of heat stroke recently while hiking on a Greek island, the Guardian printed this article about ten of his top health tips. We have enjoyed listening to his series “Just One Thing”, with suggestions for simple things that can improve your health. Of the top ten tips I have to say I don’t follow them all assiduously. I used to swim every day when we lived in a place with a decent sized pool; I suppose I could still organise myself to go to the pool in Uppermill but, no, I don’t do so. I also avoid cold showers unless the weather is really hot - not much chance of that at present! But I do use a lot of tomatoes in cooking. “Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene that helps the body fight off free radicals. These are chemicals that harm cells in the body.
But lycopene is even more effective when tomatoes are cooked because the heat breaks down the skin and makes lycopene more accessible to the body, Mosley explained. “That means tomato sauce from fresh or tinned tomatoes, and even ketchup can actually provide more lycopene than fresh tomatoes.” There you go - even ketchup is good for you! Who knew.
And for those people who complain about bookworms who always have their nose in a book, or for parents who want to encourage their offspring to read, there is this: “Losing yourself in a novel for a short time each day could boost your brain power, improve social bonds and even help you live longer, Mosley said.
“When researchers at Stanford University scanned the brains of people reading Jane Austen, they found a dramatic and unexpected increase in blood flow across the entire brain,” he explained. “Reading can also increase the connectivity in your brain and create new neural pathways.”
In terms of the types of fiction, it doesn’t have to be the classics, Mosley found. The key thing is to cultivate reading into a habit you enjoy and keep coming back to.”
So I’ll keep,on reading! Oh, and I have lots of plants in my house!
Despite the warnings of possible heatstroke, tourists continue to set off on hours-long hikes in the Greek islands. There have been reports of another death and several people missing. What possesses people to go off on long, hot, energetic walks in 40+° heat? Sometimes without enough water to keep themselves hydrated? I suppose that if you have planned your holiday around a series of hikes, you feel somewhat obliged to follow your plan. And then there’s the “stupid optimist” factor that says that this can’t happen to you. It’s rather like to people who set off to walk up Snowdon on a cold winter’s day with lightweight trainers on their feet and inadequate clothing!
Heat is causing problems elsewhere too. Pilgrims have died on the Hajj to Mecca. And warnings are going out about it being too hot for the Olympic Games in Paris this year.
Meanwhile, here I am, thinking twice about hanging my washing out in case it rains, and wondering if it’s even warm enough to get it dry if it doesn’t rain!
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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