Recent Articles

Fewer miles, stronger legs, real recovery. Layn Chess on training for the Bandera 50k trail race, and why running less makes you faster on the dirt.

Run Better in 2027

September 29, 2026

The 2021 version of this post said run less and get stronger. The 2027 edition takes that off the pavement and onto the trail, because the Facet Seven Fitness Hippies are running the Bandera 50k on 1.10.27. Trail multiplies three things mileage alone cannot fix: stability, eccentric strength, and recovery. Layn Chess walks through the four questions that tell you when you are running too much, what actually breaks runners down (size to weight ratio, movement patterns, stride and foot strike, footwear), the three energy systems and where a 50k spends them, why power shortens ground contact time, DOMS and the recovery window, sleep stages, and a sample trail week of three runs and two strength sessions. Ends with a FitnessEQ baseline and the Sunday 7:00 AM Memorial Park run.

Training

here is no clean room for getting healthy. Thirty honest days inside a full, real month, and what the breath, the pace, and the FitnessEQ actually did.

Your Life Is the Lab

August 5, 2026

There is no clean room for getting healthy. You get a full month with work, the kids, and a trip you already booked. I ran the experiment inside exactly that, and here is what the breath, the pace, and the number did.

I Started Running Again, & the First Mile Told Me What I Needed to Know.

June 24, 2026

A year off the dashboard, a new watch, and the honest cost of drifting. Part one of running again, measured out loud.

The 10 most-searched peptides, what the science actually says, and why the body you earn always outlasts the one you borrow. The Facet Seven take.

Peptides for Longevity: No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

June 11, 2026

Ten peptides everyone is searching, the honest science, and why good old-fashioned work is still undefeated. The Facet Seven take on longevity.

Are You Fit? Nature Already Knows the Answer.

April 30, 2026

How a 7-station assessment, scored across the 6 facets of fitness, helps you finally see what the body has been telling you all along.

Six Facets™. Four Seasons. One System. Here’s How It Works.

April 16, 2026

Most people in Houston don’t have a fitness problem. They have a definition problem. Here’s the system we built to fix it — six facets, four seasons, one complete training model.

He did not leave behind a fitness plan or productivity framework. What he did leave behind was a pattern of behavior that made sustained performance possible.

What Martin Luther King Jr. Teaches Us About Accomplishing Goals Under Pressure

January 14, 2026

He lived in turbulence. And yet, he executed a long-term vision with precision.

It's that time of year again, when the sun sets hit sooner, the smell of the air begins to change, the world begins to slow, & most prepare to feast — to gather, to indulge, & to celebrate.

The Fast Before the Feast 2025

November 10, 2025

Fasting before the feast isn’t about restriction — it’s about reverence.

Pesticides, processed foods, antibiotics, synthetic preservatives, all designed not just to destroy gut flora, but to destroy our capacity to feel clearly.

Who’s really in control of your body?

August 5, 2025

Pesticides, processed foods, antibiotics, synthetic preservatives, all designed not just to destroy gut flora, but to destroy our capacity to feel clearly.

The Benefits of Massage Therapy on Performance and Longevity

November 20, 2024

Massage therapy offers a multitude of benefits that can significantly impact performance and longevity.

Fasting before the feast can reset your system, enhance your mental clarity, and foster a sense of gratitude. Explore the benefits of 1, 2, and 3-day fasts

THE Thanksgiving Fast

November 20, 2024

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us anticipate the joy of gathering with loved ones and sharing a bountiful feast.

Don’t let an injury undo all your endurance training. Here are some simple things you can do to stay in shape while injured so you can come back even stronger!

Can’t run for a while? Here’s how to stay in shape while injured

Don’t let an injury undo all your endurance training. Here are some simple things you can do to stay in shape while injured so you can come back even stronger!

Hydration, recovery, and avoiding overtraining are essential when running in heat and humidity. Summer’s upon us, so read our article to prepare.

How to handle the heat of summer running

Hydration, recovery, and avoiding overtraining are essential when running in heat and humidity. Summer’s upon us, so read our article to prepare.

The Essential Components of a Complete Fitness Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines physical fitness as “the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and...

You’ve probably heard this countless times, but being overweight or obese can cause serious complications to your health.

Tips to get rid of different types of body fat

You’ve probably heard this countless times, but being overweight or obese can cause serious complications to your health.

The day begins at 4:30 a.m. with a half-mile run to breakfast. Then comes three to four hours of grueling physical training...

Push Yourself: The Mind Quits Before the Body