Philosophy

Energy: What every athlete needs and wants. Energy is not something that can be used up and destroyed; it is simply converted into something else. Yes, exercise can deplete your energy resources, but exercise also enables your body to create and store more and more energy. Human bodies are almost infinitely adaptable, and they respond to the extreme usage of energy by becoming more efficient and creating more stored energy. Just like the body, if the mind is constantly challenged, it will adapt by gaining mental acuity and electric clarity.

Strength: Physical strength. Mental strength. Emotional strength. All are the product of hard work, of perseverance, of self knowledge. Strength is the real result of the cycle of energy. Work, rest, adapt, grow stronger. The simple act of lifting a weight requires all three elements of strength: the pure physical ability, the mental toughness to coerce your body into pushing its limits, and the emotional fortitude to risk failure and not fear its effects.

Wisdom: To achieve wisdom, one must have humility. It takes humility to acknowledge that there are things you might not know. Humility gives you the ability to learn from defeat and failure. Humility allows you to ignore your ego, to shut up and listen, and to position yourself to grow. If we believe we are on top, then we can only go downward; if we believe we are on the bottom, the path upward is infinite.

Balance: Balance is the ability to put it all together. It takes great balance to succeed in endurance sports. One must have strength, energy, and wisdom, plus the ability to reconcile this huge investment of time with the realities of daily life. Balance is the ability to laugh at oneself, to not take things too seriously, to step back and view the world from a different perspective. Balance allows you to find your place in the world and be happy with who you are. Balance is also about variety, about pushing oneself beyond the normal limits into new and different realms where wisdom, strength, and energy can be gained.

I am by no means and expert on Buddhism, and will be the first to admit that what I have learned is but a small portion of what there is to know. (For a great overview of Buddhist philosophy, visit www.thebigview.com ) Many people have a misconception about Buddhism that its practitioners are New Age freaks chanting in the lotus position and smoking tea leaves. You won't find any of that nonsense here.

I will never beat these ideals into your head. But if you read between the lines, these fundamentals are always present. They are your goals, but also can be a source of inspiration.