Have you ever read David Goggin’s book, “Can’t Hurt Me”? Absolutely fantastic. Someone who’s been through hell and back who cracked the mental code to push the mind/body to overcome anything.
Chris from reading your posts I train similar to you minus the grappling. I run a lot and do a lot of cross fit type work. I found 4-6 extended rest and recovery post surgery I was able to quickly surpass where I was at strength and endurance wise in my training ( aside from exercise specific to the joint affected by the injury). I think for me this was due to chronic over training. Which reminds me of the story of Emil Zapotek. Link here https://joefrieltraining.com/history-lesson-the-zatopek-effect/
Basically the guy trained harder than anybody else and he ended up getting really sick and bed ridden prior to major competition. Turns out his time away from training allowed for an incredible and much needed recovery helping reach the next level.
In times of injury (I've had a couple of really brutal setbacks) I found crossfit masters boards to be particularly useful. Especially the experience of high level masters games athletes. They are the type of people that go near insane when they cannot train. A lot of the these people can reached via direct message on Instagram and Facebook. I found those with injuries specific to mine to be super useful. I believe Trevor Bachemeyer has dealt with blood clot and lung issues. He is on instagram under the Smashwerx account and offers a lot of really good ideas for prehab and rehab.
Anyway I really enjoy reading your work and I hope you recover quickly and completely. I sincerely hope you experience an a amazing "Zapotek Effect" like no other and end up finding that next level.
Hey Chris! Sorry to hear about your health challenges. A positive attitude and mindset are a powerful combo to most challenges in life. You have both, so I know you will come out stronger and better at the end of this journey. Plus, I believe good things happen to good people… and you’re one of them!
While I am an avid fitness junkie, I have a question off-topic but more inline with your primary profession. Following a successful 17 year career in the SASS world, my company closed and I am looking for my next chapter. I’ve always been interested in and fascinated by the markets. I would like to make day/swing trading my next profession. I’ve been studying the markets the past year. While I’ve learned a ton, I’ve experienced mixed results.
You’ve been extremely successful in your career and while I realize short-term trading is not your focus, I would love to hear your best advice. I am highly motivated, focused and extremely passionate. But lack experience, a system or a clear routine or direction. If you’re willing to share, what is your best advice as I pursue a career as a trader?
Thanks, Chris. Wishing you a speedy and smooth recovery! David Roth
Hey Chris. You know that like you, I’m out with a bad meniscus. Plus I stupidly went running in old shoes last week, and I haven’t really been able to walk since. So I feel you.
You also know that my attention right now is almost a sole focus on Events outside this country. However I realize that ignoring everything in my own life is not actually helping their security efforts! Shocking, but true. So let’s focus elsewhere.
To that end, here’s a crazy challenge for you: I recently completed a course on plant-based diets. One of the big assertions made was that Americans eat entirely too much protein, and it’s not only unhelpful, it’s detrimental. So my challenge to you is this: Investigate the protein issue. You’ve been very high-protein guy for a very long time. See if you can agree with any research indicating that a lower protein diet is actually adequate or even superior, even for endurance athletes.
Hey Chris, very sorry to hear about your health stuff. I have had health issues most of my life and I've always tried to focus on enjoying what I'm doing and can do right now, making progress and focusing on "even though X happened I can still do Y" type thinking. When feeling more down I'll tell myself "I bet other people wouldn't do this if they felt this way". Maybe not as nice of a sentiment, but good motivation.
Right now my biggest goal is to build up the capacity to do two hard things in a day. For example, crossfit in the morning, tennis in the afternoon and still energy to play with the kids. Right now I'm at least doing easy cardio and a hard thing but want to step it up. I have a feeling the answer is to just start doing it and accept that the 2nd thing might not go great for a while. This has been hard when the second thing is a tennis match. Any wisdom on progressing to a level of capacity to do many hard things a day beyond "just go do them"?
Current things I'm doing to support this goal - hitting my protein every day, getting leaner, regular stretching/easy movement, consistent bed time.
p.s. - I could ask endless gear questions but will refrain. For now....
How has your experience been investing in the boutique mountain accommodation space? IIRC you have something in Cham. There is a running joke about how bad all of the lodging options are in Mount Shasta City and I am curious whether it could support a boutique hotel with the growth in interest in ski mountaineering?
Bifurcated. If the long-suffering wife deems something a “boys trip” then it is primitive. One was described as a “rustic [Soviet era] barrel hostel” (literally a corrugated steel barrel with bunk beds and spiders). Breakfast of grechka (boiled salted buckwheat groats). Weather permitting I just pitch the tent outside for less dank air.
If the long-suffering wife deems something a “family trip” then I stay at whatever hotel is most indicative of the area, ideally in whatever suite or room is on the top floor for the best view. We generally avoid big American chains and go with something that gives the best local feel for the place, often picking where possible from associations we trust such as Relais & Chateaux (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us) – here are some of their mountain accommodations including Blanket Bay which is one of my favorites (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/themes/mountains) and one in Cham (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/hameau-albert-1er) or SLH (https://www.slh.com).
I tend to be a bit of a superlative junky – enjoying especially on first encounter with an area the cheapest or the best place to stay and my marriage generally lets me try the first solo and the second accompanied.
Have you ever read David Goggin’s book, “Can’t Hurt Me”? Absolutely fantastic. Someone who’s been through hell and back who cracked the mental code to push the mind/body to overcome anything.
Chris from reading your posts I train similar to you minus the grappling. I run a lot and do a lot of cross fit type work. I found 4-6 extended rest and recovery post surgery I was able to quickly surpass where I was at strength and endurance wise in my training ( aside from exercise specific to the joint affected by the injury). I think for me this was due to chronic over training. Which reminds me of the story of Emil Zapotek. Link here https://joefrieltraining.com/history-lesson-the-zatopek-effect/
Basically the guy trained harder than anybody else and he ended up getting really sick and bed ridden prior to major competition. Turns out his time away from training allowed for an incredible and much needed recovery helping reach the next level.
In times of injury (I've had a couple of really brutal setbacks) I found crossfit masters boards to be particularly useful. Especially the experience of high level masters games athletes. They are the type of people that go near insane when they cannot train. A lot of the these people can reached via direct message on Instagram and Facebook. I found those with injuries specific to mine to be super useful. I believe Trevor Bachemeyer has dealt with blood clot and lung issues. He is on instagram under the Smashwerx account and offers a lot of really good ideas for prehab and rehab.
Anyway I really enjoy reading your work and I hope you recover quickly and completely. I sincerely hope you experience an a amazing "Zapotek Effect" like no other and end up finding that next level.
Hey Chris! Sorry to hear about your health challenges. A positive attitude and mindset are a powerful combo to most challenges in life. You have both, so I know you will come out stronger and better at the end of this journey. Plus, I believe good things happen to good people… and you’re one of them!
While I am an avid fitness junkie, I have a question off-topic but more inline with your primary profession. Following a successful 17 year career in the SASS world, my company closed and I am looking for my next chapter. I’ve always been interested in and fascinated by the markets. I would like to make day/swing trading my next profession. I’ve been studying the markets the past year. While I’ve learned a ton, I’ve experienced mixed results.
You’ve been extremely successful in your career and while I realize short-term trading is not your focus, I would love to hear your best advice. I am highly motivated, focused and extremely passionate. But lack experience, a system or a clear routine or direction. If you’re willing to share, what is your best advice as I pursue a career as a trader?
Thanks, Chris. Wishing you a speedy and smooth recovery! David Roth
Hey Chris. You know that like you, I’m out with a bad meniscus. Plus I stupidly went running in old shoes last week, and I haven’t really been able to walk since. So I feel you.
You also know that my attention right now is almost a sole focus on Events outside this country. However I realize that ignoring everything in my own life is not actually helping their security efforts! Shocking, but true. So let’s focus elsewhere.
To that end, here’s a crazy challenge for you: I recently completed a course on plant-based diets. One of the big assertions made was that Americans eat entirely too much protein, and it’s not only unhelpful, it’s detrimental. So my challenge to you is this: Investigate the protein issue. You’ve been very high-protein guy for a very long time. See if you can agree with any research indicating that a lower protein diet is actually adequate or even superior, even for endurance athletes.
Hey Chris, very sorry to hear about your health stuff. I have had health issues most of my life and I've always tried to focus on enjoying what I'm doing and can do right now, making progress and focusing on "even though X happened I can still do Y" type thinking. When feeling more down I'll tell myself "I bet other people wouldn't do this if they felt this way". Maybe not as nice of a sentiment, but good motivation.
Right now my biggest goal is to build up the capacity to do two hard things in a day. For example, crossfit in the morning, tennis in the afternoon and still energy to play with the kids. Right now I'm at least doing easy cardio and a hard thing but want to step it up. I have a feeling the answer is to just start doing it and accept that the 2nd thing might not go great for a while. This has been hard when the second thing is a tennis match. Any wisdom on progressing to a level of capacity to do many hard things a day beyond "just go do them"?
Current things I'm doing to support this goal - hitting my protein every day, getting leaner, regular stretching/easy movement, consistent bed time.
p.s. - I could ask endless gear questions but will refrain. For now....
How has your experience been investing in the boutique mountain accommodation space? IIRC you have something in Cham. There is a running joke about how bad all of the lodging options are in Mount Shasta City and I am curious whether it could support a boutique hotel with the growth in interest in ski mountaineering?
Bifurcated. If the long-suffering wife deems something a “boys trip” then it is primitive. One was described as a “rustic [Soviet era] barrel hostel” (literally a corrugated steel barrel with bunk beds and spiders). Breakfast of grechka (boiled salted buckwheat groats). Weather permitting I just pitch the tent outside for less dank air.
If the long-suffering wife deems something a “family trip” then I stay at whatever hotel is most indicative of the area, ideally in whatever suite or room is on the top floor for the best view. We generally avoid big American chains and go with something that gives the best local feel for the place, often picking where possible from associations we trust such as Relais & Chateaux (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us) – here are some of their mountain accommodations including Blanket Bay which is one of my favorites (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/themes/mountains) and one in Cham (https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/hameau-albert-1er) or SLH (https://www.slh.com).
I tend to be a bit of a superlative junky – enjoying especially on first encounter with an area the cheapest or the best place to stay and my marriage generally lets me try the first solo and the second accompanied.