Dedication vs Stupidity

Last week I asked where to draw the line between dedication and stupidity. At what point does one's dedication to their sport or activity cross the line to where they are exposing themselves to undue risk and maybe even jeopardize their ability to continue what it is that they enjoy so much?

If you are one of the handful of people that read my blog, you know I am not at risk for overdoing anything other than questioning what it is I am doing. So my question was posed to those of you that have that 'thing' you do. That thing, or maybe things, that you have such passion for it has become a compulsion. You don't just want to do it, it's an urge. But I want to know, when have you taken it too far?

Just to recap for those too lazy to click the link above, last Sunday, was a monsoon here in southern NH. I was set to go for my first legitimate trail run with my friend Chris. Through various texts while getting ready to go not so bright and pretty early in the morning, he suggested we postpone my inaugural run through the backwoods mostly due to my lack of gear for the terrain in conditions with a high suck factor. Although initially reluctant I finally succumbed to his logic as well as the call of my pillow.

When I 'woke up', so to speak, I had this sinking feeling that I wussed out. Well if Chris still went out was he taking it a bit far? Were conditions that bad or was I that mentally weak? Or with clocks jumping ahead an hour was Chris too exhausted to endure both the weather and my bitching and moaning if I couldn't hack it? Thanks for letting me down easy, Chris...

This was his official take on what transpired...

Chris:

haha....I decided. You were ready to go, which certainly does not make you a wuss. Here is my reasoning....as stated you are now just getting back into running. Sure, a quick jaunt over roads and you would have been fine, even in those miserable conditions. But on the trail we were hitting, you can run into the unexpected all the time (trail underwater and having to traverse over rocks or fallen trees, etc). And, you don't want to be in Nike frees. That would have been like running in wet socks (blister city). My goal was for you to enjoy your first time, wanting to come back for more. Maybe even spread the word on how awesome trail running is. Not sending you home with feet made out of hamburger, or rolled ankles from slippery rocks and roots (nike frees are not good in wet conditions, on that terrain). As a host, it would have been irresponsible for me to bring you out there without gear that keeps you semi dry, and upright on the trail (well most of the time with experience). Hence smart vs wuss. There are many ways to get a workout in, as you know. With that, a good reason for someone to get out in those conditions, is if they are training for a race or series of races. That is because you never know what you will get for weather on race day. Now don't get me wrong. Running in the rain, on trail, is a ton of fun. Let's just get that first run out of the way.

Plenty of logic and reason there, Chris, and I appreciate that you take your role as 'host' so seriously. My feet and ankles thank you. But I still had this ache that I let myself down. I figured if anyone would give me a constructive smackdown it would be Kevin. He didn't disappoint.

Kevin:

Reading this I get the sense that you feel like you should have gone for the run. In my opinion, not having sufficient gear is not an excuse to not go for a run. "Sufficient gear" is a modern phenomenon that enables more comfort for doing the same tasks that people have been doing forever without "sufficient gear".. People were running in rain and wind long before Nike and Gore-Tex…

There you have it… WUSS! Seriously though, it is quite true. It's not the gear that provides us the means to do these things. We already have the means. The gear provides comfort for sure, mostly to allow one the ability to perform at a level they otherwise would not have.

However, to Chris's point, the other intent is injury prevention. Whether it is cold weather gear that protects from extreme temps/frost-bite or water-proof trail shoes with better grip to avoid slips and ankle rolls while also preventing blisters, the intent is not only to make training safer and more accessible in any conditions, it is to keep training and enjoying our sports. Who wants to be sidelined with a sprain or slowed by never ending blisters? Nagging injuries due to poor preparation hurt worse than the ones that just happen despite your best efforts. You have that sense that it could have been prevented and it's your own fault that you're icing your ankle instead of riding your bike or playing basketball with the guys.

So what's the verdict? Well, despite the fact that I think not going for that trail run with Chris was the right decision, I still wussed out. Seeing as this would be my first run through mud and over rocks it would not have been smart. Could I have done it? Sure. Would I have been injured? Maybe. Would I have loved it? In a sick sort of way probably.. when it was over.

I wussed out because I did not seize the opportunity. I don't typically get up early on a Sunday, or any other day, and run. It's not part of my routine at the moment. But here I was out of bed and about to lace up my running shoes. I was ready to go. I wasn't just faced with a decision to trail run, I had the opportunity to push myself somewhere other than my bed and I didn't take it. Sure, maybe a trail would have been a questionable choice for me that morning, but I could have hacked the perfectly good roads right outside my door despite the wind and rain. Or I could have gone to the basement and put myself through some intense intervals instead. It's a challenge I didn't meet or even recognize. That's where my disappointment came from.

So are these 'nutjobs' on their bikes in mid-January dedicated or stupid? Well that depends on the conditions, their level of preparation and the rider. When the Jens Factor is high, the most dedicated cyclists will opt for riding the trainers in their garage instead of risking certain death. But the point is, when a limit is reached they don't pack it in. They adapt. In conditions most people don't even want to run to their car in, dedicated athletes suck it up and endure.

The latter portion of Kevin's comment brought it all together for me:

...I'm not going to call you a wuss. I might suggest that you're uncomfortable with your decision to bail on the run and that the next time you are confronted with the same decision you should get out there and do it. I admire the fact that you are questioning your decision. Too many people would have been more than happy with their decision to pull up the covers and "sit this one out". You clearly are not, and that's a good thing!

What I have learned is that it's about preparation and knowing the limits of safety as well as your own limits. The trouble is, not only do you have to be willing to find your limits, but you need to have the courage to reach them and redefine them whenever the opportunity presents itself.

That's enough

I've noticed that those who are truly passionate and committed to something know how to answer the question 'What's enough?' Look at those 'crazy' bikers or runners out there in the bone-chilling winter months or battling through a classic New England Nor'Easter. Those 'nutjobs' are out there because they know the answer. Although I wonder, do they even ask the question?

When faced with a late January freeze, many people will say it's too cold for a ride. A dedicated biker will say 'It's warm enough' as they slip on their thermal gear and hit the road.

As buckets of water pour from the sky, some may find themselves rolling over and tugging the blankets up tight to their chin, happy for the extra sleep. The passionate runner will say 'It's not wet enough' as they slip on their Gore-Tex and hit the trails.

You've probably heard the rationalizations from friends and co-workers, or it may even be your own; 'I didn't complete the workout but I think I did enough to work off the doughnut I had for breakfast.', 'I would have run more but I think that mile was enough, don't want to over do it you know.', 'I ate well enough today, I'll go with the meat-lover's pizza for dinner.'

I'm thinking if you have to convince yourself it's enough, it isn't. When you feel it's enough, you'll never question it.

Now with that said, where's the line between dedication and stupidity? This past Sunday I was supposed to go for an inaugural trail run with my friend Chris the super-ultra-runner. (Not his legal name) After a late night and a one hour 'spring ahead' imposed on the clock I stumbled out of bed raring to go.. ok, whimpering, but going nonetheless. Chris sends me a text asking about my rain gear. Huh? It's my inaugural trail run, I haven't invested in 'gear' aside from the shoes I have been using on the road 1-2 times a week for the last month. (Or is it 1-2 times in the last month?) I have some hiking shoes and a Gore-Tex ski jacket, but heavy shoes and a parka didn't seem like the sort of 'gear' I needed.

I reply that I have none but wasn't really thinking about it. I didn't want to 'wuss out' over some rain. In fairness, we were in the midst of one of those aforementioned Nor'Easters with strong winds and a steady stream of rain. Chris suggested we don't go if I don't have sufficient gear. 'There's a difference between being a wuss and being smart', he tells me... Fair enough, he's the super-ultra-runner that knows best, back to bed I went. But then today something occurred to me... I think he still went running. Who's a wuss now? Maybe it's just paranoia talking, or maybe it's my lack of facial hair that does it, but I am thinking that wuss is ME! Perhaps it wasn't just rain gear that I didn't have enough of. If I am asking the question, I must know the answer.

Tragically Fit? What's that?

"Tragically Fit? What's that? What's a 'Lorg'?"

That's the question I get asked about 2-3 times a day when I wear one of my 'Lurg shirts'. I typically turn my back to the inquisitor as I tactfully correct their pronunciation of Captain Caveman's name, point my thumb at the URL on the shirt and tell them to check it out online. Lurg's story explains it better than I can. However, I've been thinking about it more lately and wondering if there is a more concise and compelling definition I can provide to inquiring minds. Well, maybe not concise...

Tragically Fit is the idea that one can be fit in mind and body through natural means; not based on the gimmicks, pills and contrived training methods we are force fed by the diet and fitness industries over the last several decades. These are industries whose purpose is ultimately to maximize profits and sell a service or product to the broadest market possible. They are not a honest movement towards good health, they're a commercial force.

In the process of becoming experts on fitness and exercise, we got collectively stupid. I blame marketing. You can't package common sense. It's hard to sell hard work. It's even harder to vaguely tell people to move and have fun, without telling them how to move or what fun to have. They need to sell it, it needs to be simple and it only needs to sound legit.

As technology advances to make business allegedly more efficient, we seem to lose more time. So now, not only do we sit on our asses most of the day, we're sitting there longer. So much for efficiency. So now we apply this backwards logic to diet and exercise. It has become a chore, not a lifestyle.

To me, Tragically Fit is as much about being accountable and empowered as it is about being physically fit. It's about creating balance in your body and in your life. It's not about being an ultra-marathoner or MMA fighter, although it can be. It's a way to break from the chains of your Lay-Z-Boy and discover that there is actually a world out there to enjoy, batteries not included, or needed. It is not constrained by the walls of a gym or a line of products. Tragically Fit does not fit in a package and it's not a routine.

It's about redefining your self image. You aren't likely to resemble a magazine cover model or professional athlete, nor do you need to feel like you should. What good is a 'six-pack' if you pull a hammy moving the couch while in search of the remote? (or better yet, your running shoe) Will you be measured by someone else's ideal or will you measure yourself by what you are capable of?

So as for my attempt at a concise definition goes...

Physical fitness and good nutrition are not the means to an end, they are the means to opportunities that are endless. To be Tragically Fit, is to make functional movement and natural health a way of life, not just something else to cram into it.