Vision Quest: Part I and II

I have been on a Vision Quest…

*At some point we all search for something...

Part I:

For the first time ever, I am recommending a book. You may think I am joking, you’d be mistaking if you did. I am serious, serious as He-Man defending Castle Gray-Scull (go 80s). The book is, Men are From Mars, Women are from Venus. There are thousands of copies of this book out there and for good reason. This book may be the best thing from the early 90s.

My mother recommended this book to me. When I was at the bookstore with Jess, I saw a used copy on sale for half price and picked it up. While directed towards relationships between men and women, this book also explains why men and women are the way they are…different.

I was so shocked reading this thing because the author was describing everything that makes me the way I am. Things that I could not answer until reading this book, it was incredible to read it and feel like someone else was describing me better than I could even describe myself. Specifically, the author apprises the readers of how men and women communicate and deal with stress differently. Even more of a mind trip was when the author clearly conveys why men do things like race, workout, set goals, and why they withdraw to be alone (a direct correlation to triathlon training camps and vision quests).

After reading it, the things I pondered for years about relationships and triathlons, they all make perfect sense.  These are things that perplexed me for hundreds of miles while riding my bike, and occupied my mind for hundreds of hours. The questions I had for so many years involving, family, friends, and relationships -- Why did I feel like this? Why did I do this? Why didn't I do that? etc. -- has a perspective and a surprisingly clear and positive answer.

I say if you are a guy, girl, young, old, single, or married, you should read this book. If you want to know why people are the way they are, and why they do the things they do, then read this book. If you are one of the few (and I mean few :) people who read this humble expression of self I call a website, then I urge you to get the book. If you still decide not to read it, I will tell you, you are being foolish.

There are thousands of copies of this book out there for good reason. Pick up a used copy for a few dollars and it will pay huge dividends in understanding why men and women do the things they do. I thank my mother for her numerous recommendations of the book. After reading it, I see why I was hesitant to read it when my mom suggested it all those times (one of the many lesson in the book).

There is a very small downside I have to reading this book, the self reflection on the past. Self reflection about hundreds of things I would do differently after knowing what I know now. The "pain of regret" is a hard feeling, but that's life. I really wish (and hope) the special people close to me read this book, it's a perspective changer on so many levels.  It explains exactly why we (men and women) do the often time confusing things we do.  I can say no more to convince you.


Part II:

*The Dog Whisperer told me to be the "Pack Leader"

Part II involved mountain running and lots of heat.  The first few times made the trek up the mountain I was doing it to get a baseline, and of course, to punish myself.  My first few trips were completed in about 11 minutes.  I used any technique to get to the top of the mountain, switchbacks, straight up, and even bear crawl.

*Left to right: Marles Barkley, Carhardt, Merckx, and Zula

I rounded up "the pack," suited up in my mountain running clothing. Like Forest Gump says, "I just started running."  Hill running is hard, mountain running is torture.  It is a predominantly anaerobic activity which means burning lungs and burning muscles are your best friend...and worst nightmare.  The only thing that is constant is pain. I think this is part of the reason why I like it so much.  I actually have a good time with it, if I didn't, then I wouldn't do it.

*A view from the bottom.  Can you spot the hidden dog?

*If this were a bear, mountain lion, bigfoot, or Chuck Norris you'd already be dead. Sneaky, right?

*Scott scouting the best route for our speed-ascent of the mountain

After a few baseline test runs, I was ready to go for my best time.  Scott decided to try a contrasting method and use the traditional hike (done at high tempo) to go straight to the top.  I stuck with my tried method of running switchback, and then going for broke when the top was in near sight.  I had to stop two times bent over suffering like a dog with anaerobic overload.  Scott would tell me, "Keep going brother!"  Well actually saying "suffering like a dog" would be a misrepresentation, the dogs were having a fantastic time...and so were Scott and I.

When I finally put my hands on the top fence I was hard pressed to do anything but breathe.  I did look at my watch, 8:46, two minutes off my best time.  Scott's approach also broke the previous record, this proves there is more than one "right way" to do things.

*Climb baby climb 

*Summit!

*Trees destroyed by fire

*The mountain ain't so bad, I'm not destroyed, new best time of 8:46.

*Zula, what a good dog.

With the mountain conquered, it was time for heat.  If someone were to ask me, "Do you have any predictions," then just like Mr. T in Rocky 3, I would say my only prediction is....PAIN.  I love the sauna because it's such a mind trip.  Time ticks so slowly.  You have to fight every second to not spring for the door and cool air.  You want mental toughness, then this is it.  I've spent hours in the sauna and really enjoy the uncomfortable feeling (oxymoron).



*Mr. T was once a weather forecaster.  He was fired because the only thing he ever predicted was "pain."

*The dry sauna, aka the "hurt box."

*Get it HOT!

*I hate it, but I love it.  Actually I don't hate it at all :)

*Degrees in Fahrenheit

*Minutes remaining at 145F

*Even my shorts are on fire

*Just stay in the moment, it's okay to go a little nuts

After reading the book and completing the training, I am thinking more clearly, and feeling more fit than any other holiday season.  This was a fun camp with many testing and trying times.  However, like I always say, "Everything I suffer through to get better, is always worth it in the end."  

Part I of the vision quest: Status: Completed.

Part II of the vision quest: Status: Completed.


 Happy holidays everyone, thank you for reading and supporting me.

- Brodacious