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Running and parenting are not mutually exclusive
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I recently received a letter from a reader telling me, among other things, that I needed to focus on running or parenting; both could not be done. I adamantly disagree. Running and parenting are not mutually exclusive. - photo by Arianne Brown
Recently, I received an email with the subject line Antelope Island 50K. Because this race took place last March, I was curious why I would be getting an email about it, especially since it wasnt from the race director.

But this was not an email about the race, nor was it a very kind letter. It was from a reader, and he was not a fan.

This particular reader came across an article I had written about a race I participated in. Actually, I wrote two articles about that race one about gaining inspiration from my children, and the other about not getting discouraged when a run turns into a walk.

In the email, he commented on my improper training and went on to say that if I wanted to become a better runner like him apparently, he had run over 100 marathons I needed to wait until my kids were older so that I had time to properly train.

His last remark stung the most. He said that I could not be a good mother and run, and that I needed to stick to one or the other.

My answer to him would be: Yes, I can, and no, I dont.

Running is something that I have done for as long as I can remember. It found me at the age of 11, when I was trying to find myself in the confusion that is the preteen years. It was something I was good at and something that made me feel like me.

It would be more than a decade before I would find something else that felt as natural to me as running and that was when I held my first-born child in my arms.

Over the next few years, I approached being a mom with the same enthusiasm, ambition and desire as I did running. But as often happens when being a mother, I got lost in the mix of it all and needed to find myself again.

So one day, after having my third child in two and a half years, I laced up my running shoes and did laps around my neighborhood. For the first time in a long time, I was back.

I returned home that morning with more energy and desire to spend quality time with my kids because I had taken care of myself.

It has been nearly nine years since that run around the neighborhood, and I havent stopped since.

Sure, I may not be reaching my full potential as a runner. I may stop to walk up a hill during a grueling 50K. And I may not be at the top of my game all the time.

But that isnt why I do it.

I run to be me, and if there is no me, then my kids are not experiencing the best mom that they can.

I will keep running, and I will keep being the best mom I can be. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.