The Hour Between Dog and Wolf: How Risk Taking Transforms Us, Body and Mind

by John Coates

It is not surprising, therefore, that sports scientists spend a great deal of time figuring out how to raise testosterone levels in their athletes—legally, of course. We are in the curious situation of harboring within our bodies chemicals that can unlock our full potential—kindling our competitive spirit, focusing our attention, granting access to our metabolic resources, raising us to a state of flow—yet we cannot readily access them. How frustrating! We hold the keys to victory within us, but usually we cannot find them. We would love to self-administer these drugs, but it cannot be done by a mere act of will; you cannot simply say, “I want lots of testosterone now!” or “I want to play my best, now!” It just does not work. Instead we must engage in all sorts of occult rituals and physical exercises before our bodies will even consider our request for more power. The situation is comparable to having money in the bank but being unable to touch it, unless, say, you perform some ceremonial dance, at which point the gates protecting your fortune swing open.