If this whole blog were to be an answer to a single question, I'd have to say that the question was supplied a couple years ago by my friend Justin. It was a simple question, yet, I still find myself working on the best way to answer. The question was "why?" It was in reference to why I run so much. Justin is one of "those" people. You know the type, the people that see running as an unwanted but necessary interruption between sessions of picking up heavy things and then setting them down. He does the running that he has to in order to do well and stay in shape, but that doesn't mean that he has to like it. (To set the record straight, there's nothing wrong with Justin's workout regimen. It works for him and he likes it)
So, in going through my past posts I can see that they are directly and indirectly answering Justin's question. This is one of those "direct answer" posts.
I recently spent some time listening to a Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode which included Sebastian Junger. In this episode, Junger delved into his book Tribe (of which Rogan had read exactly 1 episode). The book hits on some of the same points that the podcast/online community "Mixed Mental Arts" has been harping on the last few months - we are a social species. The Dunbar number, 150, comes from our brain power and extrapolates out to see exactly how social we can be. (The Dunbar number represents roughly the amount of people that we are able to maintain consistent relationships with.) With the advent of social media, our world is shrinking and growing at the same time. Shrinking because it is easier to reach greater audiences (case in point, this blog gets roughly 35% of its hits from outside the U.S.), growing because our circles which were once tribal now can easily include 7 billion people. So, we seek out our own tribes.
What in the world does this have to do with me and why I run? Well, runners are the tribe that I have sought out the last few years. My first "tribe" was martial artists. I began training in Tang Soo Do in 1998 and quickly found my groove. I spent 5-7 days a week training/hanging out at the school and ended up working in martial arts schools between the time I graduated high school and eventually joined the Air Force.
The Air Force is another example of a "tribe." We are given shared experiences and are forced to be around each other for 24 hours a day at the start. You do your best to make friends with people from all over the country. I have been lucky to find a few friends that I consider family now.
However, I still felt the need to seek out my tribe. As you can tell, it ended up being runners. I have written about Team RWB and several running groups in San Antonio. I was seeking a place to belong. Not only the organizational belonging of the Air Force, but the more niche belonging of "a place where everybody knows your name" and notices if you're not there. I just don't drink enough to be Norm. My tribe, the people that take up a large chunk of my 150, are runners.
But that's not all. I, like nearly everyone else on this planet, have followed this strong urge to belong. Mine just led me to running. However, Justin's question isn't answered so simply. Another part of the answer lies in looking back to my childhood.
Most little boys idolize their dads, right? They're often our first superheroes. If you would've asked me at 8 years old, my dad was the strongest, toughest dad out there and he could DEFINITELY beat up your dad. I would have done anything to be like him and to make him proud. One of his qualities that most struck me as a kid was toughness. When I was 16, I dislocated my shoulder seconds into a karate match. I switched my stance to protect the shoulder and finished the match. (If I remember correctly, I lost 5-3) It wasn't until after the match that I told anyone what had happened. Why? Bob Boyce didn't raise no wussy.
How does that tie in to the rest of this? Junger and Rogan also discussed the need for struggle and hardship (hence the blog title) in our lives. I no longer get kicked in the face for fun. I work in an office building. I whine if my A/C doesn't work for a couple days. Where do I find the struggle in all that? I am lucky enough to have a life where struggle and hardship are rarely present. Unless I manufacture it. If you look at our history as a species, this is a fairly recent and uncommon occurrence.
I can find this struggle and "proof of toughness" in distance running. When I tell anyone but a few runners that I fully plan on finishing a 50 mile race this year, I get looks of confusion. The typical worn out responses revolve around owning vehicles that can drive that far. I know that it will hurt. I know that there will be moments on the course where I ask why I signed up for it. I know that it will take a few days (if I'm lucky) to be able to walk normally afterward. I know that in the months leading up to the race that I will be getting up earlier than desirable most mornings and will spend hours in frigid ice baths. If I'm honest, the prospect of travelling (I don't dare say that I'd be running all 50 miles) scares me. So many things could go wrong. The prospect of injury is very real. And, there is the chance that I'll fail. That is possibly scarier than turning an ankle or taking an ugly fall. Why do it? It'll sure feel great if I pull it off. I'll have proven how tough I am, if only to myself.
I imagine that as I continue listening to these podcasts, reading some of the books suggested by them, and running, I will find more answers to Justin's question. For sure, my blog posts will continue to answer it in indirect ways.
My blog hit 1,000 views in a month for the first time in June. Thank you to everyone that reads! I will be volunteering at Christoval Fire Department 5k on the 4th of July and I'm sure my blog post will cover that. I am also working on my San Angelo runner rankings, focusing on the 8K-15K distances right now. Have a happy 4th of July!
So, in going through my past posts I can see that they are directly and indirectly answering Justin's question. This is one of those "direct answer" posts.
I recently spent some time listening to a Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode which included Sebastian Junger. In this episode, Junger delved into his book Tribe (of which Rogan had read exactly 1 episode). The book hits on some of the same points that the podcast/online community "Mixed Mental Arts" has been harping on the last few months - we are a social species. The Dunbar number, 150, comes from our brain power and extrapolates out to see exactly how social we can be. (The Dunbar number represents roughly the amount of people that we are able to maintain consistent relationships with.) With the advent of social media, our world is shrinking and growing at the same time. Shrinking because it is easier to reach greater audiences (case in point, this blog gets roughly 35% of its hits from outside the U.S.), growing because our circles which were once tribal now can easily include 7 billion people. So, we seek out our own tribes.
What in the world does this have to do with me and why I run? Well, runners are the tribe that I have sought out the last few years. My first "tribe" was martial artists. I began training in Tang Soo Do in 1998 and quickly found my groove. I spent 5-7 days a week training/hanging out at the school and ended up working in martial arts schools between the time I graduated high school and eventually joined the Air Force.
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| Look at all that hair!!! |
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| these pics have to be from around 2002-2004 |
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| Britt's b-day in 2009 |
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| me, Britt, and Chels summer 2016 |
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| probably the only picture of just James and I in existence, summer 2016 |
But that's not all. I, like nearly everyone else on this planet, have followed this strong urge to belong. Mine just led me to running. However, Justin's question isn't answered so simply. Another part of the answer lies in looking back to my childhood.
Most little boys idolize their dads, right? They're often our first superheroes. If you would've asked me at 8 years old, my dad was the strongest, toughest dad out there and he could DEFINITELY beat up your dad. I would have done anything to be like him and to make him proud. One of his qualities that most struck me as a kid was toughness. When I was 16, I dislocated my shoulder seconds into a karate match. I switched my stance to protect the shoulder and finished the match. (If I remember correctly, I lost 5-3) It wasn't until after the match that I told anyone what had happened. Why? Bob Boyce didn't raise no wussy.
How does that tie in to the rest of this? Junger and Rogan also discussed the need for struggle and hardship (hence the blog title) in our lives. I no longer get kicked in the face for fun. I work in an office building. I whine if my A/C doesn't work for a couple days. Where do I find the struggle in all that? I am lucky enough to have a life where struggle and hardship are rarely present. Unless I manufacture it. If you look at our history as a species, this is a fairly recent and uncommon occurrence.
I can find this struggle and "proof of toughness" in distance running. When I tell anyone but a few runners that I fully plan on finishing a 50 mile race this year, I get looks of confusion. The typical worn out responses revolve around owning vehicles that can drive that far. I know that it will hurt. I know that there will be moments on the course where I ask why I signed up for it. I know that it will take a few days (if I'm lucky) to be able to walk normally afterward. I know that in the months leading up to the race that I will be getting up earlier than desirable most mornings and will spend hours in frigid ice baths. If I'm honest, the prospect of travelling (I don't dare say that I'd be running all 50 miles) scares me. So many things could go wrong. The prospect of injury is very real. And, there is the chance that I'll fail. That is possibly scarier than turning an ankle or taking an ugly fall. Why do it? It'll sure feel great if I pull it off. I'll have proven how tough I am, if only to myself.
I imagine that as I continue listening to these podcasts, reading some of the books suggested by them, and running, I will find more answers to Justin's question. For sure, my blog posts will continue to answer it in indirect ways.
My blog hit 1,000 views in a month for the first time in June. Thank you to everyone that reads! I will be volunteering at Christoval Fire Department 5k on the 4th of July and I'm sure my blog post will cover that. I am also working on my San Angelo runner rankings, focusing on the 8K-15K distances right now. Have a happy 4th of July!
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