Aerobic threshold testing
After hiking at 15 degrees on a treadmill and uploading my HR information to Training Peaks, my coach was able to calculate my aerobic threshold — for Zone 2 purposes — at 130. That seems really low and slow to me, but Ellie reminds me that all of our favorite endurance athletes remark that the feeling I’m having is not uncommon and that i just need to “trust the process”, which of course I know is true. After all, Sam has successfully trained many endurance athletes to excel at their events, including many who have reached the summit of Everest. So, I will be running a bit slow for a while, but I will adjust.
One of my most important team members who I forgot to mention
In my haste to get yesterday’s blog post out — while, at the same time, preparing for a trip — I failed to mention a key team member who is helping me prepare for Everest: Taylor Somerville. I’m a bit embarrassed by the omission because Taylor has been an an amazing breath work coach and purveyor of the art of making one less fragile by having participants in his weekly heat and ice sessions sit in a really hot sauna for 15 minutes, sit in an ice bath for 3 minutes and repeat the process two more times.
I’ve learned so much about myself from the heat and ice experience, from the private breathing sessions I do with Taylor when I’m in Memphis, and, maybe most importantly, watching how Taylor navigates life’s challenges with an uncommon grace that I strive to emulate, but fall short more than I succeed. So, Taylor, here is a public apology for failing to include you yesterday. You are a key part of my team and I’m really grateful for you.
Public Service Announcement
If you haven’t heard about Tony Robbins’ new book, Life Force, I highly recommend you pick it up. Most agree that our current medical system, which mostly treats disease through meds and surgeries — often unnecessary if one would make lifestyle changes — more than promoting health, is broken. Robbins and his co-authors discuss cutting edge tests and techniques to take back control of our health and provide actionable recommendations that were unheard of just a few years ago. If you want the Clif Note version, here is a great podcast I listened to today about the book.
