In defense of treadmills: I once called the treadmill fake and bad for the soul. I’d like to take that back. At the time, I didn’t have any running goals, so getting on without a “why” sucked. Running on a treadmill without a purpose is the easiest way to hate working out. It is a bit sad that this is many peoples “intro to exercise”. For running beginners, like myself, I’d give my strongest endorsement to running outside where you have the sun, fresh air, and ideally some nature. It strengthens your bond to the world around you, and moving outside is one of the tried and truest ways to feel happy. Just make sure you’re running at a slow/enjoyable pace. But, back to the treadmill, where it’s just you alone in your own world. Where it’s very easy to become bored or even frustrated that time isn’t moving faster. And to be fair, treadmill time can feel like .5 or even .25 speed. Regardless, the belt keeps going, and in turn, so do I. A treadmill is easy in this regard, you’re not providing any of the pace so at a manageable speed it’s easy to go on autopilot. If you’re lucky it can be almost meditative where you forget where you are and what you’re doing. Much easier to do this when you cover up the time and distance. The treadmill is also good for pushing the pace and your limits. It can help you prove to yourself that you have more in the tank both physically and mentally. It’s a really good way to build fitness. It’s also nicer to your joints. Other pros include: don’t have to worry about getting struck by a vehicle, can run shirtless, and can talk to yourself. I feel fortunate to have a treadmill, especially now that it doesn’t squeak on every step. And as my training gets more specific and I’m trying to stay in a tiny heart rate box, a treadmill provides me with a consistent track that I couldn’t get otherwise. And even though the inner Goggins in me might get sad reading this, on days where the weather is not conducive to an outdoor run, I can simply walk downstairs and get on the treadmill. It’s another tool in my toolkit. It’s not for everyday runs. I still love running outside. But I just wanted to take back the mean thing I said about treadmills because my opinion has changed

being here from FL w/ my dad as a 17 yo cards/pujols obsessed kid is my greatest sports memory. after the 8th, I insisted we stay for albert’s last AB, just in case. when he hit his 3rd, we ran out the stadium laughing like little kids. I hope I can vividly remember that moment and that feeling for as long as I live

Catching up with a friend who asked me how my running is going. Here’s my long!!! response (thanks wispr) I currently look forward to a run more than tennis or hoops. running has a clear process. I know today's either going to be an easy day and I need to keep my heart rate between or under 135, or I get to run fast. Running fast is fun. Also there are no expectations but there is a process. I just love waking up every day and pouring into the process and just not being so nitpicky on results whereas in tennis and basketball it's all about results. It's all about if I win or lose. And as you know losing tortures me. Every day I show up and run, there's no winning or losing the run. Inevitably the progress shows up and that part is so cool. For now It's all about: are you putting in the work or are you not putting in the work? Right now I am putting in that work . I am running slow 5-6x per week. I'm doing 45 minutes of really easy cycling. I’ve totally changed the way I’m lifting. Lots of it is boring as fuck, I'm getting passed on the streets by people in my neighborhood and it's all part of the process baby. It’s the discipline muscle I’m building. Same when I’m doing isometrics or prehab instead of squatting heavy . I can even feel it translate into other areas of my life. I'm just becoming more disciplined. I'm becoming more focused because it's like I have this muscle that I've had before but I've never really had to flex it this hard. Running slow will change a man. There's something about just lacing them up, warming up, just putting one foot in front of the other, and just going. Eventually all these slow runs are going to become a little bit faster and a little bit faster. And I’m starting to see and feel progress. Progress is crack. Even today doing strides I was like, wow I'm faster. I’m floating. This is working. It's so fun. This + my body feeling great are coming together and it rocks. I wish more of life was like this, where it's just like, you put your head down and you work. You do the right work. You figure out how to do the right work. You see results. A lot of life is that way but it seems like less of life is that way and that's frustrating for me and probably many other people. The honesty of life has almost been taken from us in this get-rich-quick slop, slot machine world. Running is just the opposite. It's almost old school. It's analog. It's honest and I love it. Running is all I can think about. And when I do run I almost pinch myself and say "You're doing the thing that you wanted to do." It's a good reminder for me to be in the moment. Make sure when you're doing the thing you think about you feel that excitement and gratitude. I hope this feeling for running will last forever and I'm able to continue to run for as long as I live. If I can't, I hope that I could look back on this time and remember how much fun I'm having

still writing weekly about running on substack. not my proudest work (yet) but even the process of writing has been fun. confident the repetitions will allow me to write beautifully in the future for now, we celebrate our wins

got psyoped into thinking running is bad for joints. since realized that running just exposes your weak links. and fast so run (not too fast or too far) pay attention to what aches after, and go fix it. pain-free running is the closest thing to a bulletproof body I’ve found

jackson on an all-time run. maybe the best "generalist" there is. his ability to go deep on any topic (and make it understandable for morons like me) is incredible

nba prediction time, most fun nba year since 2010/11 (as a heat fan) OKC > BOS (okc > sas, bos > nyk) east: nyk/bos/cle/tor/det/mia/phi/orl/ind/atl west: okc/min/sas/den/lal/hou/utah/por/phx/mem mvp: tatum dpoy: wemby coy: finch roy: boozer 6: ayo mip: ajay mitchell

Bought one of these torture devices from the marketplace. I’m not even close to being able to do one. I’m doing the regression of the regression. Fun times ahead 👍👍

How can you not be romantic about post dinner pull-ups under the stars

One time when I was working for the pirates I was flying to nyc for rb’s birthday. I slept on the flight and when I woke up I learned we couldn’t land and ended up back in Pitt At the rental car line there was a guy who needed to get back to Long Island for his kids soccer game. Quickly sized him up and thought it would be nice if I offered him company vs renting my own car. He drove the whole way, we stopped once for McDonalds and gas (hopefully my treat, prob wasn’t because I was getting min wage, if that). Had the best time chatting with him and he dropped me off on the curb of her wall st. Apt at like 3am. What a time to be alive that was.

quick plug for @Alan_Couzens mad crew forum.madcrew.app/ for $5/mo no-brainer for any endurance adjacent athlete. imagine if any q you had about training has been or could be answered by someone who has done what you're trying to do. already have me doing runs <134 bpm 🐌

spontaneous trip to vt after seeing so much fall propaganda. hype very real. 10/10 weekend. eternally grateful for my one and only life with an amazing wife (and dog!) to share these experiences with. nothin quite like fall in new england

this was a must get for me. Gordo is a legend who has done the work and is now sharing it. one of the best follows on this site. pumped to read