Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself

by Rich Roll

“You’re what I call terminally unique. You think you’re special. Your problems remarkable and singular. People like you die.”

No more gut-busting trail runs. Forget about battling my buddies up the Santa Monica Mountains on the bike. From that minute forward, I was to never escalate my heart rate above 140 beats per minute on any run. And on the bike? Cap it at 130. Zone Two. All day. Every day.

“The prize never goes to the fastest guy,” Chris replied. “It goes to the guy who slows down the least.” True in endurance sports. And possibly even truer in life.

Very true in life. We overestimate how much we can accomplish in a day and underestimate how much we can accomplish in a year. We believe we can fit an incredible amount into a single day when in reality we only have time for maybe 1 or 2 important things. But if you persistently tackle 1 or 2 important things a day, and never miss a day, what you can achieve in a year is remarkable. What most of us, including myself, usually do is let numerous days go to waste. Don't slow down. Consistency over intensity.

Only a week later I found myself at Jamba Juice, awaiting a large carrot-and-orange concoction after a morning run, when I casually picked up a copy of Competitor magazine lying on the countertop. One of those free multisport-focused periodicals with race schedules and obligatory running-shoe reviews found in most large cities, a piece in the magazine featured a picture of a large and impossibly muscled African-American man running shirtless in Hawaii. Entranced, I began reading the amazing story of a Navy SEAL known as David Goggins.

Its remarkable to me that David Goggins has been doing what he does long enough to inspire the current generation of ultra-athletes and he continues to be a badass today.

I didn’t get into ultra-endurance sports to win races, beat others, or stand atop podiums. I got into it because it’s a perfect template for self-discovery—a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual odyssey to more deeply understand myself, determine my purpose, and discover my place in the world. A way to tap into my unexplored reservoirs of potential—and touch the other side.

This has been one of the most influential pieces of advice I've taken from David Goggins. Working out is not a physical challenge, its a mental challenge.

It begins at dawn. In the early mornings, carve out private space and quiet time to probe your imagination. Only have ten minutes? Great. Thirty minutes? Better. The point is to devote some precious morning time to quiet reflection—meditation followed by journaling. Allow your whimsy wide berth, unfettered and unedited. Prioritize this exercise in calm rumination as a daily practice. Should an impulse arise that excites the senses, know that you are on the right track. Before that enthusiasm wanes, capture it on the page. Because pen and paper hold magical powers. It makes it real. Build on that entry daily. Protect this time as sacred. And be patient. This process cannot be rushed.