Athletic-Minded Traveler

According to yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, the three major airline carriers–American, United, and Delta–hold the highest “lost luggage” rate. United’s mishandled baggage rate during the past 10 years is 29% higher than the best rated airline, Continental.

Delayed flights causing missed connections are the primary reason for luggage blunders. And as the on-time performance of the nation’s carriers sprials down, mishandled baggage rates spike up. Here are the mishandled-bag rates per 1,000 passengers:

United - 5.49
American - 5.30
Delta - 5.00
US Airways - 4.89
Northwest - 4.74
Alaska - 4.58
Southwest - 4.48
Continental - 4.25

One reason that these rates might improve…higher checked-luggage fees. As airlines have added fees for bag checking, passengers are checking less. Presumably, this smaller quantity of luggage should translate into better luggage service, but only time will tell…

For most us, spending 6-10 hours a day glued to an office chair is the norm. Whether we’re hunched over a computer, sitting through board meetings or enduring long conference calls our movement is somewhat limited. Even for the active individual this adds up to a LOT of time spent in “park,” despite our healthy pursuits outside of work.

Enter Dr. James Levine, an Endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic who spent the last decade researching human energy expenditure in daily activities and its correlation to obesity. His findings revealed that while exercise is important, the amount of energy we expend in our everyday activities plays a larger role in our overall health. Specifically, due to our sedentary work environments Levine claims that even lean individuals can “store up to a month’s worth of energy in adipose tissue,” (also known as fat). The cumulative effect of this energy imbalance can lead to significant weight gain and even obesity.

Dr. Levine’s solution to the inert workplace was to build a fully functional desk around a treadmill, allowing an individual to perform their regular tasks while walking at a pace of only 1mph. Maintaining continuous movement over the course of a standard 8-hour work day resulted in an expenditure of up to 800 calories. Levine projected that using the treadmill desk at work could lead to weight loss of up to 57lbs per year (assuming caloric intake remained consistent). Additionally, constant levels of activity help to combat the mid-afternoon energy slump, which is when we’re most likely to reach for unhealthy snack choices.

While the desks are still relatively expensive (about $1000 each), they’re only half the price of a standard office cubicle. And since everything you need is built onto the platform, your office would require no other furniture. While initial setup costs may sting a bit, the long-term benefits such as healthier employees and increased productivity are well worth the price.

But here’s the real question? Do people actually use these things???? Apparently some do. In fact, many inspired walkers have built their own treadmill work stations. There are even blogs devoted to helping people configure their stations.

So if you are thinking this may be something that would work for you, there is a whole community of “walking while working” people out there!

Another week, another city. El Paso is now live on AMT, making it our 5th Texas destination!

As with all of the cities we cover, we personally toured this Mexican border town to identify the most fitness focused hotels, appealing health clubs, legitimate lap pools, healthy places to eat, run/bike shops and fun outdoor/active pursuits.

On another note, we have some BIG news to announce with a new content partner…stay tuned!

Early this summer we added a new team member–Becka Christian.

As a certified yoga teacher and practitioner, Becka has been significantly expanding our yoga studio content. Her objective over the next couple of months is to provide a yoga option in every city we cover. Hooray!

Additionally, because we are Athletic-Minded Traveler, we recognize that a studio needs to be “drop-in” friendly for road warriors. Bikram Yoga studios and CorePower studios meet this criterion, but we have also discovered other studios that meet our very picky qualifications.

Becka’s reviews will tell travelers what they need to know before heading out:

Location Details: Yogis know that some studios are hidden in strip malls or other hard to find places. We provide parking information and other hints that will help you find the studio.

Vibe and Facility: Locker room situation, number of showers, type of practice room, etc. In some cases, we have pictures!

What’s Provided: Whether mats, towels and water can be purchased/rented.

About the Yoga: Type of practice, about the classes, and the schedule.

Costs: How much for a drop-in and any rental costs for equipment.

So instead of sifting through myriad web sites trying to piece it all together, Becka has done it for you! And if Yoga isn’t your thing, remember that along with healthy places to stay and eat, we also provide run route maps, and other places to work out such as health clubs, gyms, YMCAs, lap pools and community centers. Take a look at one of our free preview cities to see what we offer.

This morning I set out on the Saturday morning Swami’s ride –a 40-mile loop that heads east into rural San Diego County. Thanks to the Swamis Cycling Club team members and the customer-friendly new ownership at Nytro bike shop, this ride has become one of the most popular for local two-wheelers.

During the warm-up (first 10 miles), I struck up a conversation with a guy I had never met before. A typical conversation ensued–his name is Anthony, he works for SAP, a San Diegan for 20 years after moving from NJ, etc. As we began the hilly portion of the route, the ebb and flow of the pack separated us and we each went on our way.

After a quick stop at “the church” (where all of the 50 or more riders regroup and decide whether they will join the “long” group or “short” group), I pedaled out with 20 or so others on the short ride. Mundane enough, right?

After 5 more miles, and while heading downhill at 35 mph, I hit a sharp and hard object that slammed my front wheel and bursted my front tire tube — a loud pssshhhhht scared me and the riders around me. Obviously, my front tire was flat, I coasted and squeezed the brakes easy and pulled off the road. The rest of the group continued on as I yelled, “I’m fine” — I knew i had a spare tube and several CO2 cartridges.

As I prepared to change my front tire, I heard a hissing coming from the rear wheel — yep, my rear tube had blown out too. Now what? I’m in the middle of nowhere, have two flat tires, and I only brought one spare tube!! In 15 years of cycling I’ve never blown both tubes simultaneously.

Within 30 seconds, I hear a voice yell, “Are you okay Jim?” Incredulous that someone was calling me by name in no man’s land, I turned to see who was asking. It was Anthony–the guy who was a complete stranger just one hour ago. Fortunately for me, he started a little behind me and the rest of the group from “the church”. Not only did he have a spare tube for me to use, but he fixed my front tire while I worked on the rear. We rode home together the rest of the route. I am tremendously grateful.

Cycling is one of the few sports where “a little help” can mean a lot. And it has been my experience that the pedaling community does look out for its own. Good. We should. Instances such as these prove that going out for a ride is much more than a workout and can benefit more than just YOU and your own stamina.

In true cycling camradarie style, when I told Anthony I’d bring him a tube at next week’s Swami’s ride, he said, “Don’t worry about it, just pay it forward.”

I will.

Another week, another new city. We’re proud to announce that Reno has been added to the site. While the gambling isn’t as good as in Las Vegas, Reno’s athletic-minded opportunities dwarf the Sin City’s–especially when considering nearby Lake Tahoe’s year-round outdoor pursuits as well.

Enjoy the new content and look for another city to be added very soon.

You’d think that given the amount we (as The Team) travel, that we’d have things pretty much figured out, and there wouldn’t be any surprises.

Think again.

1. Don’t bring ice packs — unless it’s for medicine or breast milk

On our last trip to Chicago, we traveled as a family — meaning our 2 year old was in tow. For the 4 hour plane ride I packed a cold case with her lunch and snacks, and to keep it all fresh I also included 2 ice packs. That was a no-no. Both ice packs were confiscated.

Quick Solution to the Ice Pack Dilemma: Bring an extra Ziploc. After my ice packs were “disposed of,” I headed to the Sbux counter for my Americano fix and requested ice for my Ziploc. Problem solved. I added the home-made ice pack to my cold pack and we were good to go.

Check the TSA site for more information on allowable and prohibited items. I found nothing referencing ice packs, cold packs etc.?? It appears a specified amount of dry ice is allowed.

2. Confirm that you are being served BOTTLED water and be prepared to PAY

Yes, it does seem obvious doesn’t it? In fact, I didn’t even think the airlines served “tap” water any longer. I was wrong. An no matter how “safe” the airlines may claim the water is, you’ve got to wonder about the quality when the EPA in 2008 proposed new standards for testing water on aircraft. The EPA’s final ruling is scheduled for 2009.

In my instance, when I received my first glass of water I confirmed that it was bottled–especially since I was also refilling my daughter’s cup. The next time around I was a little preoccupied and very thirsty. I ordered the water, gulped it down and then hacked! The taste was foul. It had a formaldehyde aftertaste and was just plain gross. I asked the flight attendant if there was something wrong with it and she just stared at me blankly. I then queried whether it was bottled water. NOPE! Anyway, I told her it tasted wrong etc. She was rather defensive, and I let it go. Really it was my fault for not asking in the first place.

Bottom Line: Make sure it’s bottled–for your health and the taste.

And, if you are really thirsty make sure you have cash on hand, because some airlines are now charging for water! Just this last week, US Airways announced that it would now charge $2 for bottled water.

Luckily, it’s 3 days post travel and the water didn’t make me sick and I learned a few things along the way…Did I mention that having a portable DVD player is a savior to those will small ones? We purchased ours at Target for $89!!

First a note: We love Whole Foods. We recommend the stores in nearly every city we cover. When I’m on the road, nothing hits my meal sweet spot better than a very large, build it myself, Whole Foods salad. In fact, we posted about our “can’t live without” products from Whole Foods not too long ago.

BUT, we have also complained about the bagging service, moldy fruit, and prices!

So when I recently discovered that a product I bought (Dr. Kracker Seedlander Snackers), could be had for 25%-47% less elsewhere, I was annoyed, especially since this past month the upscale grocer (which gobbled up Wild Oats), launched its new “Real Deal” program in a concerted effort to rid itself of the “Whole Paycheck” alias.

But getting rid of this albatross may not be easy. Despite offering product discounts, coupons, budget tips, recipes ideas and other strategies to help its customers, there still exist BIG price markups.

I paid $6.79 for my 8 oz tub of crackers. I had no idea the crunchy snack cost that much until I looked at my bill when I got home. My two-year old loves them, and they are very nutritious, but at nearly $7/tub…So I did my usual internet sleuthing and asked around and discovered that I overpaid–a lot!

A local grocery store offers the crackers for 27% less (using an ounce by ounce comparison — because the packaging is different). Amazon’s price is also 27% less, but the real deal is Greenshopper which has a similar flavor for 47% less! WOW!

So what’s the upshot? If you love a product and it has a decent shelf life, order in bulk and/or check around. I can buy Fiber One cereal at Target for nearly $2 less than what is charged at my nearby Vons, and I recently ordered Torani sugar-free hazelnut syrup at a HUGE savings…I could go on and on…

Ugh. More bad news on the kid front.

A recent study by the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrates that once kids hit the teen years, physical activity drops significantly. Specifically the study suggests that less than a third of teens get even the minimum recommended daily amount of exercise — ONE HOUR. And walking, playing, swimming, bicycle riding, all count. We’re not talking about hardcore training.

Why is this significant?

Inactivity contributes to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. And if kids start the health nosedive heading into their teens, it’s that much harder to reverse this decline.

All health promoting organizations agree that fitness needs to start IN the family. The “do as I say, not as I do,” strategy is a big loser. This is the second time we’ve commented on a JAMA Study and it further motivates this team to help anyone who wants to embark upon a more active and healthy lifestyle or maintain their good habits wherever they go.

At Athletic-Minded Traveler, we are passionate about helping people (and kids) get fit, stay fit, eat well — all the while having fun along the way.

The organizers of the popular Amgen Tour of California have announced that a stage will finally reach San Diego!! We’ve been informally lobbying for the Tour to come to California’s cycling mecca since attending the event two years ago.

The race’s 9th and final stage will start in Rancho Bernardo on February 22, 2009, and end in Escondido (on the same day). While watching the riders finish is exciting, the most unique experience is getting up-close and personal with all of the riders and their equipment prior to each day’s start. More to come for sure!