I had the privilege to be running up Giant Mountain on a beautiful
and sunny day in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York on a recent
vacation when a funny thing happened.Just as I was nearing the summit, I came across
a middle-aged husband and wife.Excited
to see someone I said, “wonderful day, isn’t it!”The woman, however, looked at me with a
pained expression and complained “but there’s no wildflowers.”
Shocked that someone could ignore all the beauty in their
midst in favor of complaining about what was allegedly “missing,” I quickly said
to her husband “please buy her some wildflowers when you get back down into
town.”I am positive, however, that even
if he bought her thousands of the most brilliant wildflowers, she would find
something that was missing – something to make her unhappy or unfulfilled.Perhaps that is why the husband was chagrined
by my comment.
As I continued on to the summit, the views opened up and the
day became even more special as a panoramic scene of the Adirondack mountain range came into
sight.The woman’s comment and
expression, however, stayed with me.She
confirmed a fundamental truth: that we
can always conjure up a reason not to be happy at things that are apparently “missing” from our lives –
even in the best of places.
When my wife Sarah Jane summited, we rejoiced in the
day.I figured that if one could make
themselves unhappy by perceived inadequacies in their environment, one could reverse
this black magic by doing the opposite – reveling in what is present.
Atop Mount Giant
Henry David
Thoreau once said that “[a] man is rich in proportion to the number of things
he can afford to let alone.” Here's a pledge to try and be happier with what I have, and less worried about what I do not.
I went for a four hour run with my longtime friend Neil about 11 weeks ago, in December 2011.A problem arose quickly:I couldn’t run for four hours.I ended up walking much of the “run,” which didn’t last four hours for that matter.I was a tad deflated, but not too bad, because I figured the passage of time -- I turn 50 this year -- and life’s demands cause “_ _ it” to happen sometimes.
I was wrong.Things have changed in the last 11 weeks.With about the same amount of training -- averaging 2-4 runs a week -- I was able to complete a 50 mile race called the Old Pueblo 50, taking 9th place in a time of (oldpueblo50.com).In the buildup for the race I had no lackluster sessions like the one I had with Neil.What happened?I went against the grain in two fundamental areas:I stopped doing all hard running -- no speed work -- and started eating Paleo.
In stopping all hard running and by only running aerobically, I adopted the philosophy of Dr. Philip Maffetone, who developed and coined “The Maffetone Method” of training.The method is counterintuitive:run easy, at a relatively low heart rate, to achieve the highest level of health and fitness (http://philmaffetone.com/home.cfm).The triathlon great Mark Allen adopted this approach in much of his training; this led to multiple world championships.However, Maffetone’s method is generally eschewed and ignored by the mainstream, which touts speed work and hard running as the fastest and best way to fitness. I disagree.
I employed the Maffetone Method based on past knowledge of it.However, my adoption of the so-called “Paleo diet” was pure luck and serendipity.In December, we were having dinner with friends Thad and Missy Reeves.Both were Division I athletes -- Thad in baseball and Missy in gymnastics.With the built-in respect that I give anyone who played at the top level of college sports, I listened carefully when Missy mentioned to me that “you might like the Paleo diet.”After asking a few questions, and after our dinner guests left, I hit Google to find out more about “Paleo.”I found marksdailyapple.com.There I found an intelligent, world-class athlete who had adopted the Paleo lifestyle and could articulate its benefits and, in a dignified and professional manner, refute its critics.I was hooked on figuring out whether it would work for me.
The Paleo diet incorporates meat, vegetables, and fruits as its core foods (http://altmed.creighton.edu/Paleodiet/Foodlist.html).Fat is not feared when one eats Paleo; it is embraced.Philosophically, Paleo diet followers generally believe that “man” ate this way as he/she evolved over the past two million years.It was only approximately ten thousand years ago that man cultivated grains on a regular basis, and grains are largely worthless, even anti-nutrition, agents (http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-grains-are-unhealthy/#axzz1opoCyfs5).Paleo followers believe that grains and/or low fat diets are causing many health problems, and that those who promote grains and the like are wrong and misguided (for a scholarly debate on the topic, go tohttp://crossfitcoronado.typepad.com/files/proteindebate.pdf) (for an excellent discussion of how Americans came to eat a high grain diet, read “Good Calories, Bad Calories” by Taubes).
Within days of starting the Paleo diet my body shed fat and inflammation.I became stronger and fitter.Recovery time from training sessions was significantly reduced. I was hooked.In 11 weeks I dropped 14 pounds and was able to run a 50 mile race I could not have even finished in December… in just over 9 hours.Thanks, Missy, Mark Sisson, and two million years of evolution.
For most Americans, going against the grain -- literally -- is against everything they have been told. Whether running, eating, or anything you do or think, question what you have been told. This ex-vegetarian does.
I like to train at night without a headlamp. It gets me in touch with more primal thoughts and feelings; it also helps to keep me light on my feet and more aware of my surroundings because I need to have an acute feel for the ground -- stepping lightly, with a slightly higher cadence relative to speed, and with the flexibility to roll over uneven terrain.
Last night I went out for 88 minutes and had a rewarding experience. It was quiet and the vibes were very calming. I again realized that the darkness of the night is nothing to fear, but a really neat alternative to the "normal" life that most of us lead -- available to us every single day (i.e. night).
Many people fear being alone and in the wilderness at night, just as they fear death (even many of those that claim that they are positive they will be sent to everlasting joy in heaven with all their friends and family for some unexplained reason fear death). Although most of my night training is a relative hop, skip, and a jump from "civilization," every time I am out there in the dark I feel more accepting and less afraid of what is "out there" and next for me.
You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah
My buddy Neil has been doing some hill repeats over in New Mexico. Naturally, I could not resist the temptation to find a new hill here in Phoenix and bust out some repeats myself. So I did-- this afternoon. It was relatively hot, but I tried to keep it cool by focusing on effort, breathing, staying light on my feet, and getting stronger with each stride. As a result, I had a "good time" cranking out 4 one minute repeats with 90 second jogs down the hill, followed by 4 more two minute repeats with two minute jogs in between on random up and down terrain. I then wrapped up the 75 minute session with a few 30 second blasts up a few small bumps.
The workout was hard and rewarding. Thanks for planting the seed, Neil -- now go easy or you might kill me!
Since incorporating Laird Hamilton training techniques both my physical and mental training has been a blast. All I can say is mix it up, try it, and you will be a convert. Whether you a runner seeking faster times, a hiker looking for better balance and climbing ability, or an older person looking to "stay young," continue to challenge yourself and, above all, enjoy your training.
Since Saturday: two intense -- and very enjoyable -- Hamilton workouts; one 3:53 run at aerobic pace to Shaw Butte and back; and, I just hit a 1:45 run with 52 minutes hard -- the climbs were the best I've had in months.
I practice law during the day (and sometimes at night). As an employment lawyer, sometimes I conduct "diversity training" for employers. In employment law parlance this means "training for the purpose of increasing participants' cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills, which is based on the assumption that the training will benefit an organization..."
The is another type of "diversity training" -- one that will benefit your organism. It entails mixing up your workouts and constantly incorporating challenging physical movements, different activities, and even new sports.
This morning I woke up and went in search of more diversity training from one of my favorite "mentors," big wave surfer Laird Hamilton (LH). I do not know the man and could not surf a wave in a toddler wave pool if you paid me, but by watching and listening to LH I have learned a ton. Sure enough, this morning on the web I found videos of LH and his buddies performing a variety of moves -- many of which I will now adopt and incorporate into my own training (I was also very surprised that record mogul Rick Rubin trains, let alone is so fit).
I haven't lifted a thing or run an inch this morning but I already feel mentally stronger and fitter knowing I can incorporate some dynamic new moves into my training. I am also very motivated to get at it. Who knew diversity training was so easy?
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