Unrealistic Bike Policy at Southwest, Alaska & American Better

Ask a Southwest Airlines representative about the cost and size restrictions to check your bike on board and their first response likely will be, "I don't really know."

We know. We looked.

First is cost. $75 EACH WAY. So yes, you may have booked that non-refundable ticket and now you have another $150 add-on. In the old days, if your case met the size guidelines, it was free. BUT, the size guidelines were completely unrealistic, so you still had to pay up. 

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Colonoscopy - No Big Deal: Helpful Tips and Recommendations For an Easy Colonoscopy

2021 Editors' Update.  Wow, time flies. We first posted tips to survive a colonoscopy back in 2011. That post follows this update. Since then, we've learned a few things. Our third procedure was this week and we have new tips. 

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Holiday Gift Guide 2016 from Athletic-Minded Traveler

Here we are again! Another year gone by. So that means another Athletic-Minded Traveler Gift Guide. These are products that caught our eye this year, and we especially love recommending stocking stuffers! Note, we don't get any SWAG or payment for recommending the products :) We just like to share what we like.

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Outdoor Workout? Yes! Parcourse, fitness & obstacle courses & trails for travelers

At Athletic-Minded Traveler, we value “freebies” (Are you on our eNews list?) and that frugality extends to our workouts.  Outdoor fitness facilities are a budget-minded, active traveler’s best friend. To help those in our athletic-minded traveling community who prefer the outdoors, we have compiled a list of alternative venues to the traditional indoor gym.
 

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Hip Pain. Total Hip Replacement at Age 44. Protocol & Recovery.

For those landing here after a Google search for “total hip replacement”, this is for you: a "guide" of sorts. Our goal is to educate and demystify the surgical process, especially for younger, active, patients. 
 
BACKGROUND/PATIENT INFORMATION
  • Patient Age: 44
  • Health going into surgery: Excellent. Daily Bikram yoga practice, lift weights 1-2x a week; and ride a stationary bicycle each day. Thin. Strong upper body. 
  • When did pain start: 10 years ago.
  • Why wait?

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San Diego Airport was a Pioneer in offering Free WiFi

We read earlier this summer about a number of airports moving to free WiFi access for travelers, and it made us proud to remember that our hometown San Diego Airport was one of the first to "see the light" and make available wireless internet access in all terminals -- Commuter, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 -- FREE...GRATIS...COMPED...PRO BONO (pick your adjective). This was 7 years ago! 

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Swim training in the pool. Improve technique now.

Carrie Jesse, a USAT certified Triathlon coach & US Masters Swimming coach, contributed this article.  Carrie specializes in helping beginner athletes conquer the open swim. 

I admit it. When the outside temperature rests in single digits for multiple days in a row, the last thing I want to do is jump into a pool. Even when the pool is inside, heated, and a hot tub is readily available, I can’t quite commit to leaving my warm bed for an early morning swim. 

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Our brains need exercise. Another reason to MOVE!

Yeah, we know, we know…exercise is good for us. 

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Fitting it in: How to Train in a 60 hour Workweek

The age-old question for any committed athlete, "when"?  It is NEVER EVER "IF". It is always when.  

Successful executive age-groupers have figured out how to fit their training into a 60+ hour work week. What is the trick? We explored the topic years ago in this post, and we detailed a training plan for a Half Ironman Triathlon.

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The Sniff Test: why this yoga mat is a winner.

It took a year before we were sold.

But even at the very beginning we took notice.  There was never, ever, a wet spot under our mat. Ever. Wow. We are BIG sweaters. Big. Ask anyone. We pour. At one point in our Bikram Yoga practice, we were offered a 3rd towel. We sweat that much. So having a mat completely impervious to liquid is a wonderful thing.

But it is what we noticed after a year that has made us believers.

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