Chess Opening Journal is out for testing 📓

And I started to run!

Hi,

First I want to tell you about my chess publishing projects.

My Chess Opening Journal I wrote about in an earlier newsletter is now published on Amazon. If you want to try it out you can get it here:

Secondly I have updated some things in the kindle-version of 100 Headachingly Hard Mate in Two Puzzles, so if you have it on your Kindle already just remove it and download the new version.

Thirdly, the paperwork version is still being polished. I decided to redo all the diagrams since the first was a bit blurry on print. Then I printed a new book and posted this picture:

The feedback was that people missed a black border on the diagram. So that is now being fixed.

I hope that you will like the final layout!

Now to something else!

Most know that physical exercise is good for your health, but that is not always enough motivation to get out running, at least not for me.

What got me motivated to start running was my low activity levels because I’m still working from home (most days).

As you can see there is room for more running, but you got to start somewhere. On my first run in March I ran 5K in 38 minutes. Now I’m at 28 minutes, so I’m getting better.

Studies have shown that Physical exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male rats provided it is aerobic and sustained.¹ Though I’m not a rat I still find it interesting. Neurogenesis is the creation of new neurons, which I suppose is helpful if you want to improve at chess. This week a new episode of the Huberman podcast also hit with the subject of ‘How to Build Endurance in Your Brain & Body’.

In the podcast, you will hear more about the science behind why long bouts of endurance training are helpful for your brain and body. Huberman mentions that when we hit a wall during a run and stop, we have reached not our physical limits, but a mental wall since the mind gives up first to help preserve the body from breakdown.

I hit this mental wall on my last run and decided to stop to walk for 100 m. My body would have survived had I continued, but I surrendered mentally. I think the same sometimes happens when I play chess in a worse position.. So I think there is something to be learned from knowing more about how the body works and how to build endurance. In short check out this podcast!

Best,

Martin

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818598/