19 July, 2008. We pulled into the parking lot of Shady Grove YMCA in Richmond, Virginia. At the last minute my friend Brian decided to join in on the fun and games, so he rode with me for the 2 hour drive from Falls Church, where we live. The 3Sports Sprint Triathlon was a pool-swim event, so it was centered around the YMCA. Normal sprint-distance triathlons are half the distance of an Olympic race in each event; a 750m swim, 20k (12.4 mile) bike and a 5k (3.1 mile) run. There are quite a few races however, that are even shorter, usually involving pool swims of laughable distances, that I like to call stupid-sprints. This was one of those races. The distances in the final two disciplines were the same at 20k and 5k, but the swim in this race was a whopping 300 meters; almost not worth getting wet for. We informed the front desk that we were with the race the next day and they let us in to check out the pool. Once through the locker rooms we were greeted by quite possibly the smallest 25m pool I have ever seen in my life, short of those little backyard inflatables. The "deep" end was 5 feet. I'm pretty sure I've seen bathtubs bigger than this pool. I have never seen nor heard of a race with a shorter swim, but standing on the pool deck I was seriously questioning how we were going to squeeze 300 meters out of this thing. The first triathlon I ever did was the only other race I've done that had a pool swim. The pool in that race was a much larger 50m pool, and that swim was one of the roughest, most insane swims I've ever participated in. This was going to be interesting.
This is an excellent opportunity to explain why I hate swimming in pools. You might be surprised to learn that it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm training in a pool six days a week. I love swimming. I just hate pools. It's the principle of it. Pools are to swimming what treadmills are to running and stationary bikes are to cycling. It's just not the same. Swimming in open water is natural, and gives you a powerful sense of freedom. Part of the reason I got into triathlon was because of the predominantly open-water nature of the swims. There is a sense of excitement and adventure involved, because open water is so unpredictable. The water in a pool hovers around a pleasant 80+ degrees. The water in mother nature's oceans, rivers and lakes can be so cold it literally shocks your breath away. Wind creates chop that throws textbook lane-swimming form out the window. Currents push and pull you off course, forcing you to swim at an angle relative to where you want to go. The absence of a black line to use as reference requires one to perfect an aptly named technique called "sighting," or lifting your head periodically to zero in on a buoy or landmark in order to stay on course. Unrestricted by concrete and plastic lane lines, swimming in a vast expanse of open water instills a sense of freedom and accomplishment; you are actually getting somewhere instead of endlessly bouncing off the walls in a 25m pool. Racing in open water forces you to adapt and improvise on the fly, whereas the monotony of the incessantly repetitive and predictable nature of picture-perfect pool swimming is enough to make you nauseous.
When we ran out of insults for the pool's diminutive size, we headed out the back door and walked along the matted corridor that would be our path to run from the pool to the transition area, located 50 yards away in the parking lot. After examining the layout of the bike racks and finding the bike and run exits, we met up with our friend and his brother and headed out to get some dinner. This friend of ours goes by the name of Jordan Chang, and he happens to be my biggest rival for a division first place in the Virginia Triathlon Series. Jordan is a short, compact, energetic runner. Notice I used the word "runner" to define him. This guy is a real runner, the kind who runs so much it makes you tired. He has competed and done well in numerous ultramarathons, and his short-distance speed is off the charts as well. He also happens to be ridiculous at triathlons, and is the president of the Virginia Tech Triathlon Team of which my friend Brian is a member, and is how I was introduced to him. If my strength is the bike, his is most definitely the run. When all is said and done however, we finish extremely close to each other, often just seconds apart, making races with him extremely intense and competitive. I had beaten him earlier in the year in the first race we did together at Smith Mountain Lake by a whopping 28 seconds, and he returned the favor at Yorktown, beating me by 15 seconds. I was looking to break our tie at this race, and was excited to duel with him again. After eating as much pasta as we could stomach we parted ways and Brian and I returned to our hotel to finish prepping our bikes and race gear before calling it a night.
20 July, 0500. After about 4 hours of sleep I opened my eyes to watch my cell phone vibrating off of the nightstand. Now officially 21 years old, I felt like more sleep would be the ideal birthday present. Ugh. Getting up this time felt like a chore, which is never a good start. I went through the usual routine of eating, warming up and stretching out in the shower, then getting dressed in my tri-suit and heading down to the car. After pumping up my new tires I was hoping would be less prone to flats, I very briefly took my bike for a spin around the parking lot to make sure everything was working properly. Satisfied, I racked my Cervelo with Brian's and we drove off to the YMCA. I set up my bike in transition and picked up my timing chip. Afterwards I met up with Brian, Jordan and his brother Joshua outside the pool to stretch out and wait for our numbers to be called up. The way pool swims work is they seed your start time based on an estimated swim time you submit when you register for the race. Jordan registered all of us with the same swim time, so we could race as close to head-to-head as possible. I would be first as 75th in the water, with Jordan 77th and Brian 78th. Finally we were called to line up and get ready to go, and we slowly made our way to the pool as athletes were started 10 seconds apart. Eventually it was my turn, so I jumped in the pool and got ready to launch. The starter counted down the seconds and before I knew it I was sailing down the pool, keeping my strokes long and strong. In what seemed like the blink of an eye I hit the wall and turned around, gliding down the shallow pool and getting pissed I was staring at a black line on the floor. By the time I hit the second turn, ducked under the lane line and launched off for the second lap all three of us were in the water. My form was pretty good, but I wasn't trying terribly hard. With only 200 meters to go, I didn't feel the need to. Another lap or two later when I hit the wall and was about to duck under the lane line I noticed a woman right on my heels followed closely by Jordan who looked like he was trying entirely too hard. He ripped his head up to sight and was practically foaming at the mouth. I generously let them pass me, and honestly hoped that Jordan wouldn't end up hurting anyone by the end of the swim. On the last 50-75m I felt Brian tapping on my feet, and played around with the idea of not letting him pass me, just to be an asshole. I concluded that course of action would culminate in an underwater fist-fight and rapid disqualification, so I paused at the last turn to let him go by. "You're a bitch!" he yelled in my face before he dove under the line and started the final lap. Oh that motherfucker... I let him have his moment as I switched my thoughts to nailing a speedy transition, sailing in the last length of that godforsaken pool. I erupted out of the water and sprinted out the open doors, following the mats laid out to the transition area. Mainly just happy to be done with that retarded swim, I saw both Brian and Jordan unracking their bikes and heading out of transition as I ran up to mine. Good, I thought, they're right where I want them. I ran to the mount line and jumped on my bike, ready to turn on the heat.
My problems on the bike started almost immediately. To cut down time in transition, I leave my shoes clipped in to my pedals and start the bike pedaling with my feet on top of my shoes. When I'm clear of hills and sharp turns, I slip my feet in to my shoes, tighten the strap then take off. This time, however, my shoes refused to let my feet in. What normally takes all of 5 or 6 seconds took probably 60. This is more than just a minute loss in time, because I could have been spending that time at twice the speed I was going. It also stopped me from taking full advantage of the first long downhill, so the time deficit was huge when contrasted with the simplicity of the task that caused it. Finally able to pick up the pace and put down the power, I hauled ass to the first turn. I tried to sprint out of the turn, and discovered my legs were not getting with the program. I felt off, and my body didn't feel peaked and rearing to go like usual. Some invisible limiter was stopping my legs from unleashing their full potential, so I tried to get into a rythm to warm and wake them up. This would never happen, after a few miles I was becoming concerned that I hadn't seen Brian or Jordan, who I needed to be passing very soon if I was going to build an insurmountable lead. After a few minutes I finally caught sight of Brian, and gradually made my way up to him. "You're a bitch!" I yelled as I sailed past Brian, returning the favor from the swim. I intended to sneak into his slipstream then erupt past him in a disheartening surge, but all I could manage was a gradual pass of unimpressive power. Oh well, I thought as I continued to move up the field, one down, one to go. I redirected my energy into powerfully accelerating forward in the hunt for Jordan. This wasn't working well and progress was frustratingly slow. My average power output was 220 watts, compared with my norm of close to 300. For those of you unfamiliar with cycling power output, that's a very fucking big difference, equal to around 3-4mph in average speed. False flats (very slight uphills), that I normally tear up like they weren't even there, were grinding me down to what felt like a snail's pace. I was still passing people, but hardly in the definitive and devastating manner I normally do. I realized I hadn't been paying attention to my hydration and took a few sips of my sports drink. Almost immediately I felt sick to my stomach. What the fuck is going on here?! I didn't have time for this bullshit, and I was getting extremely frustrated that the bike leg was more than half over and I still hadn't caught Jordan. Normally I have to pass him within the first 4-5 miles in a sprint race to ensure he can't catch me on the run. After several minutes of grueling effort, I finally caught sight of him ahead of me, looking strong. After painstakingly working my way up to him, I rode up directly to his rear, then executed a slingshot around him. A slingshot is where you ride up behind someone to take advantage of the reduced air resistance in their slipstream then use that to accelerate and shoot past them in a definitive and power-efficient pass. This short period of drafting is legal so long as you complete the pass in under 15 seconds. It usually never takes longer than 5 to 10 seconds, but this time I was stretching it. I gave 110% effort to this surge, literally everything I had but still couldn't manage a very impressive pass. I promptly burned out after this immense effort, and was barely putting any kind of lead on Jordan, who was obviously determined not to let me out of his sight. After a couple minutes of catching my breath and letting some of the burning lactic acid flush out of my legs, I recollected myself to try once more to put this mediocre performance to rest and pick up the pace. Motivated by frustration and rage, I managed to pull it off for about a mile up a false flat, increasing my speed to that which I normally only see on flat ground. But that impressive show wouldn't last long at all, and my legs shut down soon thereafter. Having expended my last surge of anaerobic effort, I was forced to sit up out of my aero position in nausea for most of the rest of the ride. I rolled into transition knowing my lead wouldn't last. I racked my bike, tossed my helmet, ripped on my running shoes, grabbed my run belt and practically moved the earth underneath my feet as I blitzed out of transition.
I saw Jordan coming in on the bike as I was running out, very close behind. I knew my victory was lost unless I managed to have the best run of my life while he had the worst of his. I did my best to make him work for it, but after about a quarter mile I realized that wasn't going to happen either. My body more or less shut down, and my pace slowed dramatically. By the first half mile I was reduced to a pace so slow that I only use it to run long distances of 12+ miles. My heart rate was through the roof, and my legs just refused to turn over. Around this time Jordan gradually made his way past me, then seemed to continually accelerate away until by the turn around at mile 1.55 he was out of sight. For the remainder of the run I just sucked it up and tried to hold it together, determined not to go any slower. I watched a couple other competitors I recognized from our age group pass me, and I knew that even finishing on the podium was out of the question. I ran back in to the YMCA and across the finish line, ducking under a low-hanging banner that was threatening to clothesline me. I slowed to a stop, then spotted Jordan already cooling down at a picnic table sheltered by a shaded pavilion. I walked over to join him, collapsing onto the bench beside him, and we waited for Brian. He would finish a few minutes later and join us under the pavilion. After we cooled down and rehydrated, we set off to help take down the race site, which we agreed to do in exchange for having our race registration fees waived. Jordan ended up winning our division, while I was forced to settle for 6th place. Since this race came right after my recovery from Buffalo Springs Lake Ironman 70.3, I did exactly zero high intensity speed training leading up to it, but I still should have been a hell of a lot faster than I was. As disappointed as I was with my performance, I can't get too bent out of shape about it. There was absolutely nothing I could do to make myself go any faster; my body simply failed me. Of all the days for it to take a nap, it had to pick this one. Oh well. I still had a great time, spending my birthday with good friends, duking it out in the sport I can't get enough of. Having known the outcome ahead of time, I still would have done it, and I suppose that's all that matters.
-NOUN 1. THE POWER OF ENDURING OR BEARING PAIN, HARDSHIP, ETC. 2. THE ABILITY OR STRENGTH TO CONTINUE OR LAST, ESP. DESPITE FATIGUE, STRESS, OR OTHER ADVERSE CONDITIONS; STAMINA 3. A STATE OF SURVIVING; REMAINING ALIVE 4. SOMETHING ENDURED, AS A HARDSHIP; TRIAL.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
HARD WORK
I define 'hard work' as consistently doing what challenges you. As such, the quality is subject to individuality; what poses a challenge for one person may not for another. There is no absolute standard for a challenge that applies to everyone, though there are common themes. Some clarification is in order here, because while a game of chess is 'challenging,' it is not hard work. The challenge I refer to is that which forces an individual to push through when he would rather quit and one that makes him question his motives for undertaking the endeavor in the first place. This type of challenge is that which places significant physical and mental stress on the individual. These challenges come large and small, and will always originate from within. External stimuli trigger self-imposed stressors within an individual, causing that person to react in a self-defensive manner. Because these stressors are of our own design, they can be trained, tailored or eliminated entirely. The manipulation of subconscious behavioral patterns is a difficult and demanding mental process, one which requires the mastery of perhaps the most difficult mental challenge of all: exerting one's will over one's self. This ability is not innate, nor is it developed overnight. Experience is key here; experience full of hard work, self-criticism and exhaustive mental effort. Extreme challenges of a physical nature are substantially more difficult than those of a mental one, to the point where there is virtually no comparison. No one likes devoting a large portion of their time studying for a test on a subject they don't care about, but all it takes is a little discipline and mental focus and the job gets done. This is because our bodies are not stressed during this "challenge," and a bad test score as penalty for failure is hardly a motivational impetus. Contrast this with the challenge of moving a long distance over rough terrain with a heavy pack in extreme weather when you are completely exhausted, out of food, water and at the limits. Make death the penalty for failure and you have an unimaginably stressful challenge on your hands, one where working hard is not optional. Experience doing optional hard work however, is the key to being successful in such a situation.
When examining the feats of truly accomplished individuals, you will see many variables leading to their success. Right place or right time, good genetics or natural talent, opportunities seized or chances taken. The only common factor you will find between all of them is the willingness to work hard. The individual with the most potential is the one who refuses to quit because he's tired, or because he thinks he's done enough. He takes advantage, but does not take for granted. He makes the most of every experience, triumph or failure. He turns them into fuel to spur forward progress and continues to strive relentlessly toward perfection, refusing to settle for less. With a singularity of mind and purpose, he is willing to sacrifice as necessary in order to advance, understanding that he is in it for the long haul. He finds reasons to succeed instead of excuses to fail. This attitude blossoms conviction, and conviction is unstoppable. Pure conviction is next to extinct these days, but it is obvious when one comes across it. When confronted by conviction, most people will become confused and defensive. This is because true conviction makes people nervous. Understanding is lacking, and people are often quick to rationalize away the hard work and effort of the driven individual in a lame attempt to make their own aimless lives look better. Devoid of direction and unwilling to commit to the hard work it would take to pursue potential lofty goals and dreams, they settle for less and rapidly stagnate. This is no way to be, and a very unfulfilling way to go about life. For true and meaningful accomplishment, hard work is a necessity that cannot be avoided.
Hard work is a quality that is becoming increasingly rare, which is not all that surprising when you consider how it is developed. Hard work is a quality that is learned, whether through teachings; a parent's lesson and example, or by experience; down and dirty. In today's society, diligence is valued--one must be productive--but true hard work is to be avoided at all costs. This is because hard work hurts, and places stress on the mind and body. This trend is beyond self-evident, and has gotten far out of control. As I write this, I am sitting at an airport, observing. As a grown man walks by me rolling a whopping ten pound suitcase and munching on McDonald's, I wonder how he expects anyone to take him seriously. I watch an overweight couple cruise by in a handicap transport cart, as if their diet and lifestyle deserve them a sympathetic free ride. God forbid they burn a few calories walking to their gate; that might require them to do 'hard work.' In disbelief I watch on as dozens and dozens of people avoid an expansive staircase like the plague and instead opt to get in line for the cramped escalators on either side of this spacious staircase. Sometimes I wonder if there is any hope for our society at all. This attitude and trend of excessive leisure is poison, and mark my words when I tell you that the quick and easy shortcut will NOT take you the distance. To master great things one must first master the simple things; discipline in one's daily life is as essential as breathing. The magnitude of one's success in any meaningful endeavor is directly related to the passion and effort with which it is pursued. To put it more bluntly, you get out of life what you put into it. Any reward gained from accomplishment attained without sacrifice is necessarily brief and shallow. Instant gratification is just as it says, and lasts for just as long. The word "gratification" is deceptive in that sense, as it certainly does not leave you satisfied. A better word for "instant" might also be "meaningless." When you discipline yourself to do what is hard, you gain access to a realm of results that are denied everyone else. The reward lasts much longer and is far more fulfilling.
Hard work is the result of discipline, conviction and the full application of the heart. Total focus and intensity are assumed. If you are just putting the time in or simply going through the motions, you are not working hard. Hard work is infinite; it is a life-long journey instead of a goal. If you persistently work hard at something, you will inevitably become better at it. At some point what was once hard will become manageable or even easy. At this time one must increase resistance, repetitions, distance or whatever in order to again make the work hard to inspire meaningful improvement. With respect to the pursuit of athletic excellence, overtraining and injury are common in the super-motivated individual, as he struggles to balance his intensity with the physiological limitations of the human body. It is paramount to note here that the commonly perceived human limitations are terribly inaccurate and grossly underestimated. The body can do ten times more work than the mind thinks it can, and only through an aggressive mindset and hardcore training and experience can this powerful potential be tapped into. It all starts by working hard. In the end, a lifetime of shortcuts, quick fixes and half-hearted efforts will leave one sorely disappointed. In order for success to be realized and goals to be accomplished, hard work is a necessity, and its importance cannot be overstated.
When examining the feats of truly accomplished individuals, you will see many variables leading to their success. Right place or right time, good genetics or natural talent, opportunities seized or chances taken. The only common factor you will find between all of them is the willingness to work hard. The individual with the most potential is the one who refuses to quit because he's tired, or because he thinks he's done enough. He takes advantage, but does not take for granted. He makes the most of every experience, triumph or failure. He turns them into fuel to spur forward progress and continues to strive relentlessly toward perfection, refusing to settle for less. With a singularity of mind and purpose, he is willing to sacrifice as necessary in order to advance, understanding that he is in it for the long haul. He finds reasons to succeed instead of excuses to fail. This attitude blossoms conviction, and conviction is unstoppable. Pure conviction is next to extinct these days, but it is obvious when one comes across it. When confronted by conviction, most people will become confused and defensive. This is because true conviction makes people nervous. Understanding is lacking, and people are often quick to rationalize away the hard work and effort of the driven individual in a lame attempt to make their own aimless lives look better. Devoid of direction and unwilling to commit to the hard work it would take to pursue potential lofty goals and dreams, they settle for less and rapidly stagnate. This is no way to be, and a very unfulfilling way to go about life. For true and meaningful accomplishment, hard work is a necessity that cannot be avoided.
Hard work is a quality that is becoming increasingly rare, which is not all that surprising when you consider how it is developed. Hard work is a quality that is learned, whether through teachings; a parent's lesson and example, or by experience; down and dirty. In today's society, diligence is valued--one must be productive--but true hard work is to be avoided at all costs. This is because hard work hurts, and places stress on the mind and body. This trend is beyond self-evident, and has gotten far out of control. As I write this, I am sitting at an airport, observing. As a grown man walks by me rolling a whopping ten pound suitcase and munching on McDonald's, I wonder how he expects anyone to take him seriously. I watch an overweight couple cruise by in a handicap transport cart, as if their diet and lifestyle deserve them a sympathetic free ride. God forbid they burn a few calories walking to their gate; that might require them to do 'hard work.' In disbelief I watch on as dozens and dozens of people avoid an expansive staircase like the plague and instead opt to get in line for the cramped escalators on either side of this spacious staircase. Sometimes I wonder if there is any hope for our society at all. This attitude and trend of excessive leisure is poison, and mark my words when I tell you that the quick and easy shortcut will NOT take you the distance. To master great things one must first master the simple things; discipline in one's daily life is as essential as breathing. The magnitude of one's success in any meaningful endeavor is directly related to the passion and effort with which it is pursued. To put it more bluntly, you get out of life what you put into it. Any reward gained from accomplishment attained without sacrifice is necessarily brief and shallow. Instant gratification is just as it says, and lasts for just as long. The word "gratification" is deceptive in that sense, as it certainly does not leave you satisfied. A better word for "instant" might also be "meaningless." When you discipline yourself to do what is hard, you gain access to a realm of results that are denied everyone else. The reward lasts much longer and is far more fulfilling.
Hard work is the result of discipline, conviction and the full application of the heart. Total focus and intensity are assumed. If you are just putting the time in or simply going through the motions, you are not working hard. Hard work is infinite; it is a life-long journey instead of a goal. If you persistently work hard at something, you will inevitably become better at it. At some point what was once hard will become manageable or even easy. At this time one must increase resistance, repetitions, distance or whatever in order to again make the work hard to inspire meaningful improvement. With respect to the pursuit of athletic excellence, overtraining and injury are common in the super-motivated individual, as he struggles to balance his intensity with the physiological limitations of the human body. It is paramount to note here that the commonly perceived human limitations are terribly inaccurate and grossly underestimated. The body can do ten times more work than the mind thinks it can, and only through an aggressive mindset and hardcore training and experience can this powerful potential be tapped into. It all starts by working hard. In the end, a lifetime of shortcuts, quick fixes and half-hearted efforts will leave one sorely disappointed. In order for success to be realized and goals to be accomplished, hard work is a necessity, and its importance cannot be overstated.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
DIRECTION
Where are you going? What are you working towards? What is your ultimate goal, and what are you doing right now to achieve it?
Billions of people around the world wake up every day, exist, then return to sleep expecting to repeat the same process thousands of times before they die. An alarmingly small number of them will die fulfilled and satisfied with the way in which they approached that process. Modern American society teaches that one must conform to the group and follow the status quo. This brainwashing leads to millions of young people essentially living the same childhood, developing the same way and following the same beaten path in life--the path of least resistance. This resistance is the favored response to eccentricity; anyone who behaves or believes differently from the majority is viewed as either lesser or misinformed. Anyone with half a brain and a half-cup of maturity agrees this is not true. The sad part is that this attitude is still prevalent in the subconscious of most Americans, regardless of their superficial response to the question of discrimination. All of this adds up to a country full of unsatisfied individuals. The path of least resistance, however, is nothing more than a path. It is one of many paths available to us in our lives--it just so happens that this particular one is favored by the majority. As such there is nothing inherently wrong with it other than it may be misleading for many people. What one person wants, another may not. What fulfills one individual may leave something to be desired for another. To claim the majority path as the correct and fulfilling option for everyone is bullshit.
When all is said and done, courage is what defines our lives. The courage I speak of is that which inspires us to discover what we truly want most out of life and commit ourselves to it fully at the expense of all else. This is the recipe for a successful life--not a social status or bottomless bank account. When you are lying on your deathbed in the universal blink of an eye, will you go out with a grin, satisfied and fulfilled? Or will you lament with regret what could have been, should have been? Life is a precious gift full of opportunity. It is what we make it. It also only comes once. Do NOT let it go to waste. It is imperative that you figure out what YOU want most out of life (not what others want for you) and discover a goal or lifestyle that will bring you true fulfillment. This self-discovery, if not already established, must be undertaken immediately. The past cannot be changed and the future may never come. Talk is fantastic, and pleasing to the ears, but it accomplishes nothing. Talk minus action = zero. The time to act is the present; now. When we die, our actions and accomplishments are all we will have. Emerson said it best; "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." Stop talking. Start doing.
If you have not done something lately that instilled a sense of mountain-moving pride, I suggest you reevaluate your current path in life and examine why it is leaving you unfulfilled. DO NOT conclude that things already set in motion are fixed and cannot be changed. That is the attitude of laziness and naivety; a cop-out reserved for those unwilling to branch away from the path of least resistance. Change is a result of clarity combined with conviction and decisiveness. If you are lacking these qualities, I strongly urge you to drop what you are doing and pursue them ruthlessly to conclusion. Absolutely nothing is more important.
"Some people follow their dreams. Others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."
Billions of people around the world wake up every day, exist, then return to sleep expecting to repeat the same process thousands of times before they die. An alarmingly small number of them will die fulfilled and satisfied with the way in which they approached that process. Modern American society teaches that one must conform to the group and follow the status quo. This brainwashing leads to millions of young people essentially living the same childhood, developing the same way and following the same beaten path in life--the path of least resistance. This resistance is the favored response to eccentricity; anyone who behaves or believes differently from the majority is viewed as either lesser or misinformed. Anyone with half a brain and a half-cup of maturity agrees this is not true. The sad part is that this attitude is still prevalent in the subconscious of most Americans, regardless of their superficial response to the question of discrimination. All of this adds up to a country full of unsatisfied individuals. The path of least resistance, however, is nothing more than a path. It is one of many paths available to us in our lives--it just so happens that this particular one is favored by the majority. As such there is nothing inherently wrong with it other than it may be misleading for many people. What one person wants, another may not. What fulfills one individual may leave something to be desired for another. To claim the majority path as the correct and fulfilling option for everyone is bullshit.
When all is said and done, courage is what defines our lives. The courage I speak of is that which inspires us to discover what we truly want most out of life and commit ourselves to it fully at the expense of all else. This is the recipe for a successful life--not a social status or bottomless bank account. When you are lying on your deathbed in the universal blink of an eye, will you go out with a grin, satisfied and fulfilled? Or will you lament with regret what could have been, should have been? Life is a precious gift full of opportunity. It is what we make it. It also only comes once. Do NOT let it go to waste. It is imperative that you figure out what YOU want most out of life (not what others want for you) and discover a goal or lifestyle that will bring you true fulfillment. This self-discovery, if not already established, must be undertaken immediately. The past cannot be changed and the future may never come. Talk is fantastic, and pleasing to the ears, but it accomplishes nothing. Talk minus action = zero. The time to act is the present; now. When we die, our actions and accomplishments are all we will have. Emerson said it best; "What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say." Stop talking. Start doing.
If you have not done something lately that instilled a sense of mountain-moving pride, I suggest you reevaluate your current path in life and examine why it is leaving you unfulfilled. DO NOT conclude that things already set in motion are fixed and cannot be changed. That is the attitude of laziness and naivety; a cop-out reserved for those unwilling to branch away from the path of least resistance. Change is a result of clarity combined with conviction and decisiveness. If you are lacking these qualities, I strongly urge you to drop what you are doing and pursue them ruthlessly to conclusion. Absolutely nothing is more important.
"Some people follow their dreams. Others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."
Disclaimer
How rude of me to jump right into the thick of it without a proper introduction. Several times already I have been asked why I'm writing this page. I guess the blog summary titled "Awareness" is not sufficiently descriptive. I hope to accomplish two goals here: first to provide insight into what its like to be an endurance athlete, and second to promote understanding with the type of person I am and why I am this way. I will address the first goal by using this page partially as a log containing descriptive accounts of my races and endeavors. I plan to address the second goal by speaking my mind on topics that are important to me. I will warn you that this page is not here for your entertainment. It is as much for my benefit as anyone else's; an outlet to record my thoughts--to have something permanent to draw from in order not to have to entrust them to the unreliability of memory. It is for those who know of me to gain understanding and hopefully learn a thing or two. What I write here is not open for discussion. This is the way it is; the way I am. I will not reply to any comments posted here, and if I feel they take away from what I am trying to do with this page I will promptly remove the commenting feature. This is not to say I don't value your opinion. Quite the contrary. If you have something poignant to say I absolutely want to hear it. A closed mind is a small one, and as opinionated and as obstinate as I may appear, I want every side of the story and as many informative perspectives as possible before I come to any conclusion, regardless of the subject. Do not mistake my tone; simply because I am writing of things that may come across as harsh does not mean I am angry or out to put anyone down. Do not take this page personally; that's my job.
I will be the first to admit that I subscribe to elitism. This is the result of a lifestyle and an outlook on life that leaves no room for compromise. I believe that those who work hard should be valued over those who do not. I believe that those who take care of their health and put forth a sincere effort to better themselves should be valued over those who merely coast through life and settle for less. I believe that those who are productive and take the initiative should be valued over those who take advantage of that productivity and catch a free ride. In my eyes, the status or position you hold does not define how accomplished you are. Instead, the amount of challenging work and sacrifice you have endured determines the magnitude of your accomplishment. Make no mistake about it--the black belt is elite, the white belt is not. Being handed a black belt before your first day of training is obviously not an accomplishment. It is not my intention to offend anyone, and if you find your feelings being hurt as a result of what or how I am then that is your problem, not mine--you may want to address the insecurities that your defensiveness stems from.
I am also fully aware that perspective changes according to your seating arrangement. What one person may value another may not. Very few people understand my perspective, and far, far less can claim that they share it. I do not expect you to take what I say as law; an infallible author is a liar and a fraud. With these things in mind I again ask that you read this page with an open mind. Anything I state as fact I believe to be self-evident. If there is the potential for any confusion you can rest assured I will extensively clarify. Welcome to my blog.
Viewer discretion advised.
I will be the first to admit that I subscribe to elitism. This is the result of a lifestyle and an outlook on life that leaves no room for compromise. I believe that those who work hard should be valued over those who do not. I believe that those who take care of their health and put forth a sincere effort to better themselves should be valued over those who merely coast through life and settle for less. I believe that those who are productive and take the initiative should be valued over those who take advantage of that productivity and catch a free ride. In my eyes, the status or position you hold does not define how accomplished you are. Instead, the amount of challenging work and sacrifice you have endured determines the magnitude of your accomplishment. Make no mistake about it--the black belt is elite, the white belt is not. Being handed a black belt before your first day of training is obviously not an accomplishment. It is not my intention to offend anyone, and if you find your feelings being hurt as a result of what or how I am then that is your problem, not mine--you may want to address the insecurities that your defensiveness stems from.
I am also fully aware that perspective changes according to your seating arrangement. What one person may value another may not. Very few people understand my perspective, and far, far less can claim that they share it. I do not expect you to take what I say as law; an infallible author is a liar and a fraud. With these things in mind I again ask that you read this page with an open mind. Anything I state as fact I believe to be self-evident. If there is the potential for any confusion you can rest assured I will extensively clarify. Welcome to my blog.
Viewer discretion advised.
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