Why I do hard runs and hard things.
My running resume has gotten pretty extensive:
Full Ironman (2.4M swim, 112M bike, 26.3M run)
50 Mile Grandmaster on my 50th birthday
Spartan Beast
Over 90 marathons (my favorite was the New York Marathon)
15-20 Ultra Marathons (31-50 Miles Each)
Northface Endurance Challenge…twice
Night Marathons, Dessert Marathons, Trail Marathons, Winter Marathons
My Nike+ app says I have run 22,687 miles. That’s nearing one lap around the earth (24,901 miles)
The question is why? Why do I run? Why do I do especially hard runs?
To create my own struggle
You life will not be struggle free. The sooner you accept that the easier your life become. We are designed to struggle. We are designed to be in a fight. If we don’t fight for the right things we will fight for the wrong things and with the wrong things. I have found that as I create my own struggle I have very little of the common struggles most people have (relationships, money, marriage, faith).
I want to be known for what I am doing now…not for what I did in high school or college
I played three sports in high school and two in college. But that was a long time ago. I don’t want my kids or anyone to see me as a has-been. Running allows me to compete now.
I make my body my slave
1 Cor 9:27 says “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” or as the WEB version puts it “I beat my body and bring it into submission.” I’ve simply noticed that for most people their body is in charge rather than their mind. They make excuses like “I don’t feel like going to work today” or “I don’t feel like working out.” I run because I don’t want to be so weak minded that my body is in charge. Instead, I make my body my slave. If I take my cues from my body rather than my mind I will have let the inmates take over the asylum.
David Goggin’s 40% Rule
David Goggins is the worlds toughest man. His book “Can’t hurt me” is one of my all time favorites. His rule is simply this “most people never do more than 40% of what they are capable of doing.” Doing hard things has enabled me to push well past 40%. I’ve learned my body (and mind) is far more capable of what I thought it can do.
Reverse Aging
"You don't stop working out because you are growing old, you grow old because you stop working out" (Peter Attia). Below is a picture of me at 50 years old. I’m more ripped now than I was at 30.
Discipline begets discipline
I find that doing hard things in one area of life leads me to be confident in other hard areas of life (marriage, parenting, leading). Isn’t this why people make their beds first thing in the morning?
I don’t want to be a fat pastor
I noticed twenty years ago that most experienced pastors (and most older men regardless of their profession) have big bellies. After several years in ministry and post-college sports I noticed I was on that trajectory. I changed my lifestyle in order to change that trajectory.
I want to be able eat whatever I want to eat
To be fair I don’t eat whatever I want to eat…but I can.
My family needs me to be healthy
My wife and kids need me around. And thankfully they also want me around. I need to be healthy to provide for them, to care for them, and to protect them.
I run to see how far I can go
How far can I push myself? How far can I go? So far I haven’t found the limit.
Wanna hear more?
If you are interested in having Dave speak to your team about doing hard things in life, leadership, church and/or business he’d be glad to do so. Click here to contact Dave.
