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.
I have. I'm a big fan of the man and the book. However, his motivation always seems angrier and darker than mine. It works well for him but I hope that someday he finds more peace and equanimity than he's expressed thus far in his writing.
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
Start with a small amount of your net worth but trade a fixed amount in an account that you never add to or subtract from. Being able to adjust the denominator can be a false comfort to personal accounts. Doesn't matter if it is $10k or $25k in an IBKR account but whatever it is: no additions, no subtractions in cash and stick with it for as long as you can -- 5 years ideas, 3 okay, at least 1. But just get a falsifiable track record started ASAP so that you have as clear a view as possible for what performance looks like. Otherwise it is just an N=1 problem of any success or failure just resulting from one particular market moment.
Thank you, Chris! Appreciate the advice. Good luck with your upcoming surgery and recovery. Sending positive thoughts. I am speaking it into existence… it will go well for you. 🙏
Thanks that would be a big change of events from how things have gone so far. I'm a bit concerned about being awake for hours of surgery now that I've lost so much confidence in doctors. I'll try to back seat drive and double check everything.
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.
Will do. Associative diet studies are tricky but I love trying to filter out data to reach better conclusions. In the case of food, some things that are not necessarily unhealthy are bad because people that eat them also overeat and some things that are not necessarily healthy are good because people that eat them also control portions better. But will dig in more... More importantly -- I hope that your knee heals and I endlessly admire and root for all that you're working on.
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....
Today I would normally be doing a 5 AM long run then straight to CrossFit then meeting up with 2 jiu jitsu coaches to roll with. My innovation in trying to do multiple hard things per day: keep them secret from each other -- secret from the people I do them with and also secret from my conscious mind. I generally babble about CrossFit and BJJ to trail runners (they don't care), trail running and BJJ with CrossFitters (they don't care) and trail running and CrossFit to BJJ players (they don't care). The people I play with are specialists. In fairness to me, it is all I have to chat about and what I'm doing that matters to me. The problem is that it can creep inadvertently into excuse territory. My Saturday CrossFit is (/was?) a partner WOD and I'd often just mention "ran 15 miles of hills" or something and it would impact how much work he'd expect out of me. I don't want to do running 25%, CrossFit 25%, BJJ 25% and bouldering 25% on a weekend -- I want to do each 100% in that moment. So for me that required not mentioning the others or reflecting on the aggregate task. I just remind myself that I'm exactly where I choose to be doing exactly what I choose to do. Sure I chose to run, but I also chose to not be tired and hungover so I gave myself some tailwinds as well as headwinds. Don't hedge. Don't risk giving yourself an excuse. Just refresh you mind for each evolution as if it were the first of the day. Then allow your body to feel the aggregate result when your head hits the pillow and your fall asleep within seconds that night.
Thanks! Great advice, the second I read this I realized I do this frequently both as an excuse and as a chest thump moment. Will change this going forward.
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.
I have. I'm a big fan of the man and the book. However, his motivation always seems angrier and darker than mine. It works well for him but I hope that someday he finds more peace and equanimity than he's expressed thus far in his writing.
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.
Incredibly relevant and appreciated. Thank you!
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
Start with a small amount of your net worth but trade a fixed amount in an account that you never add to or subtract from. Being able to adjust the denominator can be a false comfort to personal accounts. Doesn't matter if it is $10k or $25k in an IBKR account but whatever it is: no additions, no subtractions in cash and stick with it for as long as you can -- 5 years ideas, 3 okay, at least 1. But just get a falsifiable track record started ASAP so that you have as clear a view as possible for what performance looks like. Otherwise it is just an N=1 problem of any success or failure just resulting from one particular market moment.
Thank you, Chris! Appreciate the advice. Good luck with your upcoming surgery and recovery. Sending positive thoughts. I am speaking it into existence… it will go well for you. 🙏
Thanks that would be a big change of events from how things have gone so far. I'm a bit concerned about being awake for hours of surgery now that I've lost so much confidence in doctors. I'll try to back seat drive and double check everything.
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.
Will do. Associative diet studies are tricky but I love trying to filter out data to reach better conclusions. In the case of food, some things that are not necessarily unhealthy are bad because people that eat them also overeat and some things that are not necessarily healthy are good because people that eat them also control portions better. But will dig in more... More importantly -- I hope that your knee heals and I endlessly admire and root for all that you're working on.
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....
Today I would normally be doing a 5 AM long run then straight to CrossFit then meeting up with 2 jiu jitsu coaches to roll with. My innovation in trying to do multiple hard things per day: keep them secret from each other -- secret from the people I do them with and also secret from my conscious mind. I generally babble about CrossFit and BJJ to trail runners (they don't care), trail running and BJJ with CrossFitters (they don't care) and trail running and CrossFit to BJJ players (they don't care). The people I play with are specialists. In fairness to me, it is all I have to chat about and what I'm doing that matters to me. The problem is that it can creep inadvertently into excuse territory. My Saturday CrossFit is (/was?) a partner WOD and I'd often just mention "ran 15 miles of hills" or something and it would impact how much work he'd expect out of me. I don't want to do running 25%, CrossFit 25%, BJJ 25% and bouldering 25% on a weekend -- I want to do each 100% in that moment. So for me that required not mentioning the others or reflecting on the aggregate task. I just remind myself that I'm exactly where I choose to be doing exactly what I choose to do. Sure I chose to run, but I also chose to not be tired and hungover so I gave myself some tailwinds as well as headwinds. Don't hedge. Don't risk giving yourself an excuse. Just refresh you mind for each evolution as if it were the first of the day. Then allow your body to feel the aggregate result when your head hits the pillow and your fall asleep within seconds that night.
Thanks! Great advice, the second I read this I realized I do this frequently both as an excuse and as a chest thump moment. Will change this going forward.
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.