“It is not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“No pain no gain is crap.” When I heard Phil Maffetone, trainer to the world’s greatest long-distance athletes say it, it changed how I was training, and it changed my fitness for this race for the better. I had been pushing my body to failure too often at the gym. It was killing my shoulders and knees. Too often I was injured from my workouts. I changed up my workouts. I stopped doing what injured me.
Phil said that when you finish a workout you should feel like you can do it all over again. I started bicycling instead of running to get my knee better since surgery. His book told me to train in my cardio heart rate zone – 180 minus my age (54). So, I’d train with my heart rate between 116 and 126. In a race longer than one hour, 90% of your fuel is fat. In a race longer than two hours, all you are burning is fat. This is why energy drinks and sugar are no good for an event like the one I was in. I’d eat and drink plenty, and still lose 8-10 pounds during the race.
I trained intelligently. I recovered just as intelligently. When you train your muscles break down with little micro tears. It’s in the recovery day that they mend themselves and make you stronger. You have to rest in between the right workouts. Just six weeks before the race I started doing it right.
When you show up to the starting line, the sales call, the presentation, or the performance, it’s too late to prepare.
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The course wound up mountains, along ridges and back down. Up, around and down again. My goal was to get to 600 by daylight. It was 5AM and I was at mile 573. There was a steep descent from a high elevation Oscar called “The Snake” for its switchbacks.
In Angela Duckworth’s book “Grit” she lays out a formula. Talent + Effort = Skill. Skill + Effort = Achievement. You will notice that EFFORT factors in twice. Read that again.
Many people try to be happy by avoiding effort. But what if effort was the secret to happiness?
Effort is how we become our best selves, and in that, is true happiness and contentment.
Really enjoying the story. Look forward to reading the next chapter every morning. It’s so inspiring.
Hi Larry, I’ve really enjoyed your Baja race stories and the THINK DAILY for Businesspeople every day. Yours is the only one/two of the hundred of emails I receive daily that I look forward too and read everyday. You are wise beyond your years and I plan to meet with you one day.
Sincerely, Dale
It is a wild story and I love how you are adding life lessons into the mix.
I am really enjoying your adventure—thanks!
I look forward to hearing how your race is progressing every morning (as I did with your last race! ?)
Great. Keep going!!! You cant stop now :).
Amazing story as always. Write another book!
I was following your story on FB thru Kevin Koval. Kevin missed a day or two so I now I receive your email each morning.
Your message each day makes me try to better myself.
Thank you for your writings and I look forward to them each morning.
Love the story. I followed along on the website throughout the Baja 1000. I’ve been waiting to read about the details and the story that detailed the journey. Well done!
It’s a Great Story – taking me to other places! Thanks for your Heart, Sharing and Encouraging, Always
Wow! The movie in my head is playing. It’s like I can feel the dirt, sand and exhaustion. But also the sense of accomplishment.
Your morning blog is all I’m reading right now and it is plenty!
I want to see and touch that bike! It’s like a piece of history….maybe at next barn get together:) keep writing!
The suspense is killing me!
Appreciate the story telling.
It isn’t the race it self that matters. It is the accomplishment of something that is important, by preparation and sticking to it that counts. This applies in all aspects of our lives.
love the story the way you can break it down makes it feel like your there with you.
can’t wait for Movie Movie Movie Movie Movie !!!!!!
Awesome!!!