Mans Oldest Sport

With a pop of a gunshot the runners explode with speed and agility. Their minds focus on steady breathing and keeping pace while little do they realize in this moment they are playing the oldest sport known to man. Some may argue that another sport such as wrestling or javelin throwing is older than running, but evidence would suggest otherwise.

Running is one of the most universal forms of exercise, and it is arguably the oldest sport to exist. History shows “The first event in the first ever Olympics in 776 BCE was a foot race” (“8 Oldest Sports”). Furthermore, the evidence suggest it may not be wrong for one to say that Foot racing is the first game that naturally occurs even in the animal kingdom. If even the animal kingdom participated in the life sustaining action of running it should not come as a surprise that humans categorized it as a sport first. There are records of a race taking place in Ireland in 1829 BCE (“8 Oldest Sports”). As long as you have a working pair of legs you can run, which makes it all that much more obvious why it became our first sport.

Some may say wrestling is as old as running due to the fact that there are depictions of both in Lascaux caves in France dating back to ; however, the article also explains that “wrestling became an Olympic sport in 704 BCE” which means running is at least 72 years longer recognized as an official Olympic sport. Running is a much more universal sport as anyone can outrun another without height, weight, or brute strength playing an advantage or disadvantage.

Running is one of our first basic functions, and ties into many of our every day lives. The natural progression as you age is to crawl, walk. and then run and once that has been learned running becomes as easy as breathing. We may run to cross a street, have a friendly sprint, or train for a marathon and any time we do we carry a piece of history with us.

Sources:
“8 Oldest Sports in the World.” Oldest.Org, 30 Oct. 2017, http://www.oldest.org/sports/sports/.

The Legitimacy of Discovery

The Age of Edison: Electric Light and the Invention of Modern America, written by Ernest Freeberg brings to question the ethos and of historical inventor and scholar Thomas Edison. It is safe to say that Freebergs work does not simply aim to tear down the merits of Edison based on a personal coral with the historian. Rather Freeberg used Edison as a primary example of the need to question legitimacy. It is the duty of all people to not judge a book by a cover and rather to question the source, and nature of any creation.

Freebergs work surrounding the origin of the lightbulb support an example of questioning common conceptions; or rather misconceptions. For example Freeberg mentions why exactly it is he believes Edison should not be credited with the invention of the light bulb:

“He was in a very competitive race where he borrowed—some said stole—ideas from other inventors who were also working on an incandescent bulb. What made him ultimately successful was that he was not a lone inventor, a lone genius, but rather the assembler of the first research and development team at Menlo Park, N.J” (Berger, 2013)

Freebergs, work suggest that Edison’s success was contingent upon compounding research and development. The work by Freeberg bolsters the idea that Edison was not the sole producer of facts and information in regards to developing revolutionary technology, and furthermore Edison may have even been desperate in his attempt to be deemed the inventor. Overall the concept that Edison ethos has come into question should be of no surprise because it the creation of the lightbulb represents a example of historical generalizations, and bias in the education system. And with the presents of potential Biases there’s always a need to question the facts.

Working Out

Some days it's easier than others. Some days I need it more than others. Some days I crush it more than others.

The gym is one of my many homes away from home. It equal parts relaxes and stresses me out. I get comfortable finding a good workout plan or groove, but I frustrate myself if I miss too many days in a week or have too much going on to squeeze it in. I'm a bit of a workaholic. 

Legs and abs are my favorite. Core is quite possibly the most essential aspect of a healthy lifestyle. I love to stretch my legs, and to push them to the "limps." I love the feeling of blood pumping through my veins, heavy breathing, and sweat drenched at the end of a successful workout. 

The gym is pretty much my only "hobby" as it is the only time most days I get to just do something for myself with myself. I train 4-6 days a week to keep my stress low, endorphins high, and to build strength. I've grown leaps and bounds in the years that I have put forth the effort, and not just muscle-wise. I'm more confident in the way I hold myself being in or out of the gym. 

The gym is where I go to grow and have learned to love myself more every day.