BookBabble #29: "50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 5...

"…and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance!"

This is one of my most recently read books, and following on from Goggins last time we have a prime example of someone pushing the limits of human potential…

I'm not sure how I came across this book, I think it popped up in my Kindle recommendations and I went with it. The title says it all - yes, that would be 50 marathons, in 50 consecutive days, in all 50 US States.

Quite a remit ;)

So this is a true test of endurance, logistics, mind, body and spirit. One marathon is a huge achievement and many runners wouldn't consider a second on in a year.

A few years back I was aware of Eddie Izzard doing 27 in a row which was almost inconceivable. And back in BookBabble 3 we discussed Rich Roll's exploits looking to complete 5 Iron Man events in 5 days in Hawaii.

Now we're stepping up another gear. Obviously the sheer physical and mental aspects but getting around all the Sates, dealing with all the people and admin, lack of sleep, dodgy diet… all when you need them to be at their best, are at their lowest ebb and somehow getting through it all without a glitch.

Impossible? Apparently not.

I didn't know much about the author/athlete but it wasn't his first rodeo so he had some experience. This is the story of a crazy idea taking on a life of its own!

Top Takes: quotes from the book, followed by my additional thoughts…

Running is much more than a good way to lose weight. It’s a cure for depression and a potential path to personal growth and self-fulfillment

Yes, there is more than the obvious benefits to this pursuit. Fitness and health are one thing but the mental side is even more superior, and tapping into more spiritual aspects. Different for all people of course and a journey of discovery!

There’s no cure for an addictive personality. If you’re going to express a compulsive tendency, it might as well be through running. As Lily Tomlin once joked, “Exercise is for people who can’t handle drugs and alcohol.”

Pick your battles. One habit is usually only snuffed out by a new habit replacing it. If you have an obsession, make it a healthy one.

There’s something about the goal of finishing a marathon, or even a half-marathon or 10k, that enables an individual to establish exercise as a daily habit and shed excess weight. Strangely enough, those who start running with no other goal than to lose weight often do not have the same level of success.

There needs to be more to it. There can be an obvious goal such as a race but it should be more about who you're becoming. Short-term weight loss goals for example are exactly that, just a short-term view and you can easily slip back to old ways without the identity shift that comes with it.

Fifteen years earlier I was a tiny moving part in a corporate machine and my only ambition was to become a somewhat bigger and more influential moving part in that machine.

Like most people. Many operate in a machine and the only ambition is 'progressing' up that ladder, and many people are realising that's not what they want. Nothing wrong with it if that's the life you genuinely want but good to take a look outside and see if there's something better for you.

Some primal instinct lurking deep inside is trying to tell us that what is needed is a good, hard sweat—some struggle in our lives; some physical challenge.

Physical exertion and a good sweat are great for us (within the realms of your abilities and health of course). We need something to keep us moving that goes way back to our ancestors and is as true today as ever, considering our more sedentary lifestyles.

The 10 Percent Rule

This is a 'rule' in running that you don't increase your mileage by any more than 10% over the previous week. As ever, these things depend on a lot of factors but that's a good guide. Always try and improve but in small increments otherwise you may do yourself a mischief.

spend five minutes a day breathing through a straw

This is a tip on simulating training at altitude. The author mentions a special tent you can get but simply doing the above can help. Obviously, it restricts the air flow, which strengthens the breathing muscles so they don't fatigue as quickly during high-intensity running.

When you have great passion for running, or anything else, you don’t need any extra motivation. But motivation without passion can only take you so far.

Motivation is crap to a degree. It can help with a push but just isn't sustainable. There needs to be a burning passion for something that pulls you.

Not once have I ever felt worse after finishing a run than I did before I started. I always feel better after a run.

Precisely, same here. Unless you injure yourself or something bad happens whilst you're out running there is only a positive outcome and you'll feel so much better. You know this but it's hard to do beforehand at times.

Running, to me, is the purest expression of absolute freedom.

It's about freedom and the challenge with yourself.

He who suffers remembers.

Goes back to suffering which Goggins talked about in the last BookBabble. It sounds bad but it does serve a purpose. Lessons can be properly learnt, and it can open doors which weren't available without it.

Source

There are, however, certain characteristics that are almost universal in the strides of faster runners and are less often seen in the strides of average runners. These characteristics include a high stride rate (relative to speed), a tendency to strike the ground on the midfoot rather than heel-first, less ground-contact time and more time floating in the air, more bend in the knee during ground contact, less twisting of the hips and spine, and a more relaxed upper body. In a word, the best runners run more efficiently than the rest of us.

Talking technique. I used to run incorrectly (still need to improve, especially as I'm a little rusty ;)), as did/do many others. We think we need to use the whole foot but it should just be the front part of it. And how we bend and stretch our legs are important too.

Eighty percent of runners overstride, and this is the most common technique error that causes running injuries

Shorter strides are better, not mistakenly thinking longer is better.

second wind

Dean discusses the concept of the second wind. It's something that we all experience, when we think we're done but then get that burst of energy. Certain things can trigger it and there have been many theories on it but either way, good to embrace it when it comes!

“We are all living in cages with the door wide open,” George Lucas once said.

Learned helplessness. It's like those dogs taught there's an electric field at the edge of a garden; then the electric is turned off and they can go free but won't go near the edge for fear of the shock. Reality vs perception.

The past is the past, the future’s uncertain, and today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.

Cheesy yet classic quote ;)

“You can have anything you want, you just can’t have everything you want.”

The world is indeed your oyster. You can pick anything but it's simply not possible to have everything.

When all else fails, start running.

If in doubt, put on the shoes and get out there!

exist completely in the moment

One thing we're all striving for, but it's difficult. Running is a particularly good method - you're not thinking about too much else whilst running, other than running! And even if you do, it's much slower and passes through. A very meditative experience at times.

As Charles Darwin has written, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

One of my favourite quotes which has been attributed to Darwin. Adaptability is key in all areas, and those who can learn this (and be ok and even thrive with it) will win.

Ian Thompson once said, “When I am running well I am happy, and when I am happy I am running well.”

Not too much to add to that.

“Every run is a great run!” said Sasha Azevedo, film star and runner.

Again, going back to an earlier point. Even a poor run is better than no run. Plus some of your best ones are when you think they'll be terrible, which enhances you even more.

Attack Your Weakness

This was also discussed in the last article. David Goggins is very much about attacking weaknesses. I made the comparison to Gary Vee who is more in the camp of forgetting your weaknesses (at least to a degree) and focusing your energy on your strengths. I made the point that there's a balance to be had.

In this context, it's more about running in particular, so you really do want to sure up any weaknesses!

Thanks Dean! Anything Else?

Each chapter includes sections with tips for runners and those that want to be. Including; how to avoid sickness during a race, marathon aftermath, tips to prevent jet-lag, nature's recovery secrets, interval runs, strengthening abdominals, correcting muscle imbalances and more (you get the idea). Along with other resources, books and websites to check out.

Dean goes into a lot of details about some of the early marathons but skims over a few. That's to be expected with 50 of them, so the early ones set the scene and subsequent ones have some of the highlights and characters he met on route.

It struck me how blasé and how well he took it in his stride (don't excuse the pun). At times, it doesn't come across the severity of the situation… another day, another marathon kind of thing. You don't feel the pain he must have had or the true impact of this kind of feat. Then again, what do you say after 48 of the bloody things.

Other than some minor injuries (and a couple that could have finished the challenge), the main issue was all the running around (so to speak ;)) in a van with a load of people with all their supplies. Then having to attend post race events with media interest and all.

All in all, a great book and an interesting insight into what can be achieved and the mindset of some folk out there. This guy isn't a novice of course but it does show we can get off the couch and knock out a 10k in the not too distant future. And those who have done a few of those can work up to a marathon.

Good for the runners out there (or just interested in reading about it) as well as those who like reading about feats of human endurance.

I have no idea what Dean's next challenge is, or how you top that!

First image my own, second linked to source + quotes used are all from the book

Check out the others in the series…

BookBabble #29: "50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days" by Dean Karnazes

Top Takes: quotes from the book, followed by my additional thoughts…

Thanks Dean! Anything Else?