What Are You Doing With Your Health?

Friday I read an amazing article about the Marathon Monks. (and will definitely be getting the book by John Stevens, The Marathon Monks of Mount Hiei.)  

If you haven't heard of these monks, I'm quite certain there is no comparison of any individual "endurance athlete" I've ever heard of.

These Buddhist Monks of Japans push the boundaries of endurance limits in search of a higher plane of spirituality. And after five full Ironman events, I can definitely say that 140.6 can become quite "spiritual" - I cannot even fathom the level of spirituality that this would send you into :) Here is the 7 year commitment they make:

• 1st year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2-mile marathons, beginning at 1:30 a.m., each day after an hour of prayer

• 2nd year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons

• 3rd year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons

• 4th year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons - performed twice

• 5th year: 100 consecutive days of 26.2 mile marathons - performed twice

• On the 700th day, the monks undergo a 9 day fast without food, water, rest or sleep - a mind-boggling feat which would result in certain death for most human beings, before having a short rest of a few weeks and increasing their gruelling schedule

• 6th year: 100 consecutive days of 37.5 mile marathons

• 7th year: 100 days of 52.2 mile marathons and 100 days of 26.2 mile marathons.

However, it is not just the relentless running that they are disciplined by. It also includes stopping at different stations along the way to recite prayers and perform ritual chants. Upon completion of each day's marathon, they don't stop for burgers, get a massage and go home to lay on the couch the rest of the day (mind you, they have been up since 1:30am). 

The monks perform chores, clean the temple and continue to pray until going to bed at 9:00 p.m. The ritual begins again a few hours later. Alarmingly, if at any time the monk finds himself physically or mentally unable to complete the 100-day ritual, he is duty-bound to commit suicide by hanging himself with the belt from his robe or through ritual disembowelment.

Amazing. Unimaginable. There are so many words that come to mind, but there is NONE that I can find that really describe what these individuals are doing.

I read this article right after helping a client/friend fine tune her mental and physical training for an upcoming Ironman. Prior to that, I read an email from a person who was throwing in the towel on "challenging" herself to Get Out 30' a day OR eat 8 fruits/veggies a day. Too "hard" she said.

Within about ten minutes of reading about the Monks, I opened my email and saw a blog update from Brandon Marsh. He and his wife have raced pro in half and full Ironman events for some time and represent Austin quite well. In December, Amy was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). As you would expect, they were both shocked that her "exhaustion" was not typical post-Ironman season fatigue, but something much more intense. Amy is fighting hard at MD Anderson awaiting a stem cell transplant.However, the point of what I'm sharing follows. It's Brandon's perspective on how a super-fit, elite Ironman triathlete shifts gears and does what he can when he can - and not take his health for granted while "Taking Care of Himself" so he can be a caretaker of his wife. 

"My ideal minimum (of exercise) is 20 minutes, 7+ hours of sleep, and at least 1 big greens based salad meal a day. Some days my minimum has been a few trips up a full 7 flights of stairs at Seton. Others like yesterday it was 30+ minutes of walking the halls at MD Anderson. Everyone with 2 workable legs can walk. Everyone. Everyone can put down their fork or order something with a few less calories. Everyone can grab for the carrots instead of the cookies. To go from 20+ hours of actual training a week to 6-8 hours of exercising has been an adjustment. 

To go from 2 plates of food at each meal to 1 has been a bigger adjustment! 

My average week has probably been 6 hours of exercise. 1 day every 7-10 days that might be considered a zero in most books. I've hit the gym...2x a week.Amy was inpatient at Seton for 45 days. 45 days. Over the course of those 45 days her initial fitness helped her handle the chemotherapy. She probably averaged a 20 minute daily walk outside of her room, and on some days she rode an archaic Schwinn Airdyne 10-30 minutes.

20 minutes a day for 45 days while undergoing chemotherapy. What's your excuse?"

Would Brandon, or sweet Amy, fighting through the biggest endurance event of her life, prefer to be logging 25-30 hours a week of Ironman training as opposed to this? You know that answer. But when anyone with any level of "good" health doesn't prioritize staying "healthy" there truly is no excuse.

Amy Marsh, Pro Ironman Athlete

Amy Marsh, No Excuses