The Secret to Solving the Maze—And Your Running Goals
Posted by George Parker onThis past weekend, my family and I tried something new — we went to an escape room. If you’ve never done one, it’s basically a giant puzzle where you’re “locked” in a themed room and...
The Retreating Knight Move
Posted by George Parker onMy youngest son plays Scholastic Chess, which means I often find myself spending weekends at chess tournaments. That’s how I ended up at the Holiday Inn in North Atlanta last weekend. Chess tournaments are a...
The Trees of Biosphere 2: Growth Through Stress
Posted by George Parker onIn the 1990s, a group of scientists created an ambitious experiment called Biosphere 2—a self-sustaining ecosystem designed to mimic life in a sealed colony. The project included rainforests, deserts, and even a mini-ocean. The idea...
When the Going Gets Tough: Lessons from Horatio Nelson
Posted by George Parker onI’ve been diving into episodes of The Rest Is History podcast, hosted by British historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook. If you haven’t listened, it’s a brilliant mix of storytelling and historical analysis that brings...
Friends You Haven't Yet Met
Posted by George Parker on"There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met." – W.B. Yeats These words are attributed to W.B. Yeats, the Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet, who believed in the power of connection. I often...
The Peppermint Test: The Power of Performance Triggers
Posted by George Parker onBack in high school, I had a teacher, Mrs. Stanescu, who handed out a peppermint candy before every test. At first, it seemed like a small, sweet tradition. But Mrs. Stanescu had a plan—a method...
Living in the Past, Present, and Future
Posted by George Parker onThis past weekend, I saw A Christmas Carol on stage with my family and friends. It follows Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas story about Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man visited by the Ghosts of Christmas...
WD-40: The Power of Persistence
Posted by George Parker onIf you’ve been following along for a while, you probably know I’m a bit of a nerd. As a chemical engineer by training, I love stories about chemistry and invention—especially when they involve persistence, failure,...
The Comeback Trail
Posted by George Parker onThrough the woods behind my childhood home was a public golf course. As a kid, I would sneak onto the 14th hole in the evening and play a few holes before darkness. (Year later, I...
From the Pages of James to the Miles You Run
Posted by George Parker onThis week, I picked up James by Everett Percival, the National Book Award Winner and a New York Times bestselling author. It’s a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Jim,...
Confidence Doesn't Come From Success: A Lesson From My Valedictorian Speech
Posted by George Parker onThis is a little embarrassing to share, but I think it's relevant, so here goes. In high school, I was the valedictorian of my class. Looking back, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend chasing that goal—there’s a...
Ohtani’s Warmup Magic and How It Can Boost Your Running
Posted by George Parker onIt’s baseball post-season, and while my Atlanta Braves are out of the race, maybe your team is still hanging strong. One team that's still in it is the LA Dodgers, led by their generational talent,...
How I Found Victory Without a PR at the Atlanta PNC 10 Miler
Posted by George Parker onThis past weekend, I returned to the racecourse for the Atlanta 10 Miler. I knew a PR wasn’t in the cards. How did I know? It’s a feeling we all recognize as runners. My training...
Why Runners Should Care About Collagen: Boosting Recovery, Strength, and Longevity
Posted by George Parker onWhy Runners Should Care About Collagen: Boosting Recovery, Strength, and Longevity As runners, we're always looking for that next edge—whether it’s a new workout routine, the latest running gear, or a supplement to improve performance...