Grim Energy

The only way.

It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Reflecting

A year ago I was at Origin’s Immersion Camp, working on jiu jitsu with Jocko Willink and CrossFit with Jason Khalipa.  There was some annoyance expressed by my long-suffering wife over my repeating how the broiest of bro weeks was “the best week ever”.  So no reason to compare it to home life; but it was cool – essentially lifting, rolling, eating, and a very little sleeping.  We also got to see a number of Jocko’s efforts to revive small businesses in Maine which I discussed in Made in America, my Labor Day reflections on small American manufacturers.  This year neither Jocko nor I could make it for different reasons, but he’ll be back next year.  If you want to sign up, there are still some slots but it will sell out fast. 

Training

My coach is away at a CrossFit competition this long weekend and the gym is closed to I have to fend for myself.  The plan is a trail race:

Then immediately after a hero WOD — Hotshots 19 — honoring 19 firefighters that died in the 2013 Yarnell Hill fire.  This weekend I remember them.  The workout is in memory of: Jesse Steed (36), Wade Parker (22), Joe Thurston (32), William Warneke (25), John Percin (24), Clayton Whitted (28), Scott Norris (28), Dustin Deford (24), Sean Misner (26), Garret Zuppiger (27), Travis Carter (31), Grant McKee (21), Travis Turbyfill (27), Andrew Ashcraft (29), Kevin Woyjeck (21), Anthony Rose (23), Eric Marsh (43), Christopher MacKenzie (30), Robert Caldwell (23).  They were young fit men who would love to be getting after it on a long weekend.  They can’t.  We can. 

Six rounds for time of:

• 30 Squats

• 135 pound Power clean, 19 reps

• 7 Strict Pull-ups

• Run 400 meters

Hero WODs always get spicy!  This one certainly will.

Fueling

Smoked venison tenderloin

Whole Foods just started delivering to my home within hours of ordering; Amazon’s grocery subscription is a great deal. 

Supplementing

Since better managing my hormones, my total testosterone has recovered to 683 ng/dL and free T recovered to 23.3 ng/dL.  Hopefully will continue to improve.

Measuring

Recovering

Got new blackout curtains which I love.  100% dark at 6:30 PM even in the summer.  10/10 would recommend.  Next step in the rest and recovery plan is getting the new Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra. 

Closing

My running group posts 5-word reviews of our ultramarathons, most recently my Azores run (which as noted was a bit longer than I thought):