The Breathe article is finally out (you'll have to click on 'preview' in the upper right of the site to see the most recent issue, V6 I3). This is a great magazine, chock full of inspiring stories, race reports, and stunning photography. You can even order single issues, digitally or hard-copy. Go get yours. If you live nearby i'll even sign it for you. Years from now when i'm famous for being a visionary and bringing a new fitness paradigm to the masses you'll be able to say to all your friends that you were one of my first nine followers (yeah baby! i have nine now!!!!) and so were clearly on the cutting edge of things.
And you'll have the signed copy to prove it.
Love the last paragraph.
ReplyDelete"Race until its not racing anymore."
Nice article.
Dan S.
I did a google search for training 3 hours a week and found your site. I just read your article on Breathe and it is amazing to find a like-minded person. I'm a 44 year old family man with a 2 and 5 year old and just don't have the time to work out like I used to. I've been a climber for 20+ years so I have a similar background to you and do similar type of training (although not as intense but will now change!).
ReplyDeleteMy wife laughs at me all the time for picking bike races/rides that are over my head and doing it off the couch with 3 hours of training a week. I'm signed up for a 6 hour mtn bike race next month and I don't have the time to train more than 3 hours a week. I'm guessing I'll finish mid-pack and I'm okay with that. I've found the endurance races are the closest I can get to an adventure that is somewhat similar to climbing. I won't say I like suffering but it just doesn't bother me like other people so I'm going to read more of your blog and see what you do.
The way my climbing partner and I convinced ourselves on climbing adventures was to always say "it's a fine line between bold and stupid." Sounds like you might be cut from the same cloth.
Mike - I feel the same way you do (amazed to find like minded people) every time someone connects to me. It seems there aren't many of us out there sometimes, so i'm glad you commented.
ReplyDeleteAnd good for you about getting in over your head - there's really no such thing anyway. The deeper you are 'over your head' the more opportunity you have to learn and explore your potential is how i see it. And FYI - i've found my training to be pretty effective at getting me fit - i'm never going to win anything but the longer the event the more i'm competitive because i think the balance shifts towards mental needs over physical, and my climbing background gives me mental toughness in spades.
I love you and your partners line too - i agree but also have noticed that the line is so often drawn after the fact - a dangerous/ambitious, etc trip that meets with success if often called (reflectively) bold, the same trip would meet with failure or injury or death then it is labelled as stupid. we can't ever please the critics i suppose. http://threehoursaweek.blogspot.com/2012/07/stupidity-sociological-extensions-of.html
I agree with you that you can't get in over your head (with a few exceptions) and it has always been an eye opener for what is possible. Because of that I just pick bigger and bigger goals and it seems you are the same. My example of getting in over my head was attempting the Rostrum with two months training. I did forget that there is no way to get in shape for climbing other than climbing. http://astromantraining.blogspot.com/2009/09/rostrum-91209.html
ReplyDeleteYou are right about stupid and legend. I've been lucky on most of my adventures to be "bold" but while doing it, it was definitely Type 2 fun and we spent lots of time questioning our sanity. If not for people that keep pushing the limits, how would be learn what is possible? It's funny but I have a list of quotes I like and that Teddy Roosevelt quote is one of my favorites.
I think your idea that anything is possible is similar to mine. I think the base idea is that there will be suffering of some kind but as long as you can did deep enough, it usually works out. I've compiled some thoughts and it seems that lots of it came from my years climbing. http://astromantraining.blogspot.com/2011/03/lessons-from-climbing.html