I am working on an experiment called UltraStrong, completing an Open Strongman Competition, and running a 50 miler Ultramarathon over a single weekend. I have done each separately but can you do both simultaneously? During the process I am keeping a journal, documenting everything, with the idea of writing a book at the end in a similar style to Henry David Thoreau's Walden.
All these comments about people struggling with 8am classes. From 18-19 I had air traffic control training, on the job after our initial schoolhouse, at 545am. You learn to adjust or fail.
I had a restaurant job for a couple years where I had to regularly be in before 5am to accept deliveries. And those were 11 hour shifts. Just because I endured it does not in any way make me feel like we should impose that kind of schedule on others. What kind of nonsense is that? We should aim for schedules that work best for the most people most of the time, obviously.
I went from air traffic controller in my 20s to data scientist (economist as DS is vague in specialization) in my 30s.
1. I realized the hours of ATC were not for me and began graduate school in international relations, while I was finishing that I applied for grad school again this time in economics.
2. Got hired as a data scientist for a labor market economics firm, and upped my skillet. Now work as a data scientist manager for a cyber security company. They hired because of my economics background, needed someone for financial/economic risk quantification of cyber events.
3. You have to realize you'll go from expert to beginner again. You'll have experience in the work force but from a domain perspective you're a beginner.
Beginning two long endeavors this year.
1. Becoming UltraStrong. A concept I made-up to test myself. Compete and not zero any events in an open strongman event on a Saturday, then complete a 50 miler (ultra marathon) on a Sunday. I did ultras in my 20s and competed in two strongman competitions last year.
2. Reading and writing an essay on all the books in my library; roughly 300 books.
Gotta say, I absolutely love the UltraStrong concept. Are you being particularly selective about the strongman events you're entering? I've come across a few that have one or two events where even the opening weight/implement might cause issues for anyone trying to run the next day, let alone run an ultramarathon.
Thanks! My only requirement is they have a stone event. I don't like them but when people think strongman they think atlas stones. Also needs to be in the open category; I can enter the masters division in 2.5 years but I feel that would be cheating as the weights are significantly less. I believe I have ~7 years to complete (45) this goal as age will become a factor in doing both at once.
1. Becoming UltraStrong. A concept I made-up to test myself. Compete and not zero any events in an open strongman event on a Saturday, then complete a 50 miler (ultra marathon) on a Sunday. I did ultras in my 20s and competed in two strongman competitions last year.
2. Reading and writing an essay on all the books in my library; roughly 300 books.
Eight years ago I was accepted to do a PhD in either economics or mathematics at a local state school, no where near any ranking list. However, I had just separated from the military a year prior after 11 years as enlisted member. I was the first one in my family to graduate college, let alone be accepted for a PhD program.
During the orientation process I had to speak with a young woman about grants and scholarships. She was showing me what was available pulling up a grant or scholarship, each one she selected was for women, people of color, or women of color. After seeing these for ten minutes in a row without one I could I apply for, I made the joke, there doesn't seem to be a lot here for white males. She said I can just apply and let them know I was a white male and I would get like we do for everything else. I ended the process there with a sour taste left in my mouth.
She was unaware of my background, growing up on an island in Alaska in housing built during WWII that was eventually condemned in our last year. Moving to rural NC for my last two years of high school, then spending time in the military, separating from Turkey literally months before the attempted coup.
She saw my race not the diversity I would bring from my experiences.
The body can handle any exercise regime you desire, given the time the feature most people lack. Either being afforded the time to exercise, will power to exercise or interest to exercise. Then there are those who see strength training or long-distance running as being detrimental to long-term health.
Where I believe most people fail is not setting an objective goal; to get fit is vague. You need a goal that is measurable, preferably not body weight as your body will structure itself properly for your goal. I suppose your goal could not be ambitious enough but I assume people seek to push themselves.
At the beginning of Covid I was a 235 lbs powerlifter, then I started boxing (gyms opens 6-weeks in Covid) training to compete, dropped to 185 last November with a 10k run at 53:23. Now I am working towards my own goal the 15-50 project; to be able to have powerlifting total of 1500 lbs and run a 50 miler within a weekend. Current lifts are squat - 555, bench - 405, deadlift 605, with my one mile run at 8:43. I have to build my run slow (running at 220 lbs) while I maintain my lifts. I have planned for this take 3 years.
It won't always be pleasant but given time the body will adjust and you will have a much healthier life!
I feel like Powerlifting has become such a crap shoot. You have ppl doing ultra wide sumo on DL, crazy back arch on bench, squat suits, wrapped knees, ultra wide foot placement low bar squat blah blah. To me these lifts no longer even remotely resemble what I do in the gym. That being said I love John Haack - conventional DL, relatively narrow/normal grip on bench, doesn't the dude even high bar? Wish that shit was just the standard.
I have started this year using knee sleeves once I go above 400 lbs on squats. At 37 it keeps warm and secured, better for longevity.
If there are any real complaints for strength sports (I've done strongman as well) are the high usages of PEDs. Not that I am against people using them but it makes it difficult to have apples to apples comparison, particularly when competing.
Let’s be honest, by “healthier life” you primarily mean you will look good and feel good. It’s not really about living longer or keeping your organs in good shape or any of that, you can accomplish that with just light cardio. The real reason men lift weights is to pick up women and gain respect in the eyes of other men.
Great advice. I've done ultra marathons, powerlifting and strongman (open division). Knowing I'll never be the best and there is an upper limit I've created my own goal Project 15-50. Complete the big three lifts (squat, bench and deadlift) for a total of 1500lbs and run a 50 miler within a week, a three year goal.
Though I do feel I need to see what my mind can accomplish. I'm a DS Manager (was an air traffic controller) but the role isn't technically difficult.
