The Outdoor Journey » Inspiration

Farewell Randy Pausch

hak — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:33:41 +0000

Professor Randy Pausch, the Internet phenomenon and accidental inspirational lecturer, finally succumbed to pancreatic cancer yesterday at the age of 47. In August 2007, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and was given six months to live. His YouTube video, “The Last Lecture,” was recorded one month after his diagnosis and has been seen by more than 10 million viewers. You need to set aside an hour to watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

“The Last Lecture”

Some of my favorite gems from Dr. Pausch:

“I’m dying and I’m having fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day I have left because there is no other way to play it.”
“Brick walls are there to show you just how bad you want something.”
“Don’t bail; the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5×6gZTA

Dr. Pausch’s charge to the Carnegie Mellon University class of 2008, delivered May 18, 2008.

Share on Facebook

On going fast and your ego

hak — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:23:27 +0000

If you are dissatisfied with yourself at the back of the pack then you will have the same feelings in the middle of the pack. There are a lot of people chasing self-esteem at the races – I doubt you’ll find it in your racing (you could find it in on your athletic journey, though). - Gordo Byrn

Share on Facebook

Best damned quote of the week: Beat-down

hak — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:39:44 +0000

It’s a bit outdated (from July 2007) but I love it. This is from the Navy Times’ coverage of a memorial service honoring three Navy SEALs who were killed in action in Iraq.

“SO1 (SEAL) Dennis Hoppe, Lewis’ teammate, spoke in his memory. He attended his funeral in Connecticut over the weekend but managed to get a laugh from Wednesday’s gathering when he thanked a biker gang who kept anti-war protesters away from the mourning friends and family, thus preventing ‘the most lopsided beat-down New England has ever seen.’”

I don’t understand these douches who feel the urge to protest the war at a slain serviceman’s memorial service. Hello? America has an all-volunteer military. No one is forcing these brave young men and women to put their lives in harm’s way. Just because going to war in Iraq ranks as one of stupidest decisions in recent history, does not give you the right to piss on the graves of those who lost their lives there.

Share on Facebook

Best damned quote of the week: The Tao athlete

hak — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:47:14 +0000

“At one of my very first seminars I answered a question that would be most revealing over the next 20+ years. I was still in my 20’s and I was asked about motivation for a contest. I really had no prepared answer because I had been an athlete, even mentally my whole life, so the idea of being unmotivated or not motivated never actually occurred to me till that very moment. But my answer had some people shaking their heads. I said what motivates me is that my body is the house where my true self will reside for the rest of my life. Like any house, the more I like the surroundings and lack of clutter and the more clean and organized that environment, than the more likely I am to think more clearly and “be” a better me. That was my answer even way back then about motivation.” — bodybuilding coach Scott Abel

Share on Facebook

Let’s add some oomph to multisports

hak — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:00:49 +0000

Here’s a great clip of New Zealand’s amazing professional rugby team, the All Blacks. Before the start of every match they do a war dance (Haka) to intimidate their opponents. Note the expressions on the opposing French team (Which reminds me of the French frog henchmen from the movie “Flushed Away.” The leader of the henchfrogs tells his gang to attack the protagonists and says, “To action!” All the henchfrogs reply in unison “We surrender!”).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZxRgD8Ls-U

Watching this got me thinking…which, as my wife will tell you, is always a dangerous, but rare, occurrence. Wouldn’t it be cool to do this before a race to psych out your opponents. As a soloist, I don’t think it would work. You would get laughed off the course. But…imagine your club or tri team members doing in front of another team.

Ooooooh. Sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it.

UPDATED: I found another clip that would better show a tri team vs. tri team Haka duel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOWy1vHrpxo

Share on Facebook

Poetry in motion: Sofia Boutella

hak — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:27:18 +0000

Let’s talk about beauty in motion. This has nothing to do with endurance multisports, yet everything to do with balance, both in the figurative and literal sense. Today’s subject is the incredible Sofia Boutella. I first saw her on the Nike Women promotional DVD in 2006 and was blown away by her moves.

Take a break from the endurance mentality for a minute and enjoy a bit of Sunday eye candy from an amazing athlete:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Zo_5wyXMA

Now, I couldn’t dance my way out of a wet paper bag, nor do I have any particular interest to learn. I do, however, appreciate athletic dance and balance. That appreciation comes from trying to even do a simple inversion in yoga, and repeatedly turning any kind of head stand, crane pose, etc. into an instant rollover wreck.

I am in pure awe of Sofia’s one-handed balance moves.

Pure artistry.

Share on Facebook

Pure inspiration: Dustin Clark

hak — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:56:26 +0000

I was sent this video early this morning and was blown away. Not only at the spirit of this young man, but by his friggin’ work ethic that would put most of us to shame. Dustin Carter had both arms and legs amputated when he was five years old due to a rare skin infection that nearly cost him his life.

For those of us who know anatomy fairly well, pay close attention to the difference in the muscle attachment points and muscle mass between his left & right arms and left & right legs. Here is an individual who has obvious structural imbalances and is still kicking ass. What’s your excuse not to brush your teeth in the morning with your non-dominant hand?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQKUYQ_WgQ

Share on Facebook

And the “book” is on its way to New Jersey

hak — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:18:43 +0000

Thanks to all of those who entered the contest to send Dan Millman’s latest book, “Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior,” around the world.

A copy of the book, with an autograph by Millman, and now yours truly, is on it’s way to Curly Su in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Now, you still have five more chances to get your own copy of the book. Head on over to Curly Su’s blog, www.curlysu.com, and make a comment on her competition post to be entered. It’s as easy as that.

Again, congratulations to Curly Su and keep on trying to get the book! I’ll keep you posted on the books travels between now and the end of the competition in June.

Share on Facebook

One more day to be part of the book that went around the world!

hak — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:00:18 +0000

Good morning everyone!

Tomorrow is the last day you can enter to win an autographed copy of Dan Millman’s latest book, “Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior.”

Later on Thursday, I will randomly select the winner using the random generator and announce the winner.

So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself entered!

Find your edge and dance upon it.

hak

Share on Facebook

The Book That Will Go ‘Round the World

hak — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:00:33 +0000

This is your chance to get your hands on one of five autographed copies of Dan Millman’s fantastic book, “Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior” (click here to read my review).

I’m going to do this as a fun experiment and see just how many multisport Peaceful Warriors we have around the world. Here’s how it will work:

1) From January 1-January 31, 2008, post a comment at the bottom of the post stating that you want to enter the contest. Make sure to include your blog’s name and URL.

2) Near the end of the month, one winner will be randomly selected. Let’s call this winner Blogger A.

3) Blogger A will get two copies of the book: One copy signed by Dan Millman that he or she can keep and one book that Blogger A will sign. Blogger A then writes a review of the book and continues the contest for the month of February, with the same rules, on his or her blog. Blogger A must link back to TheOutdoorJourney.com during the contest promotion.

4) At the end of February, Blogger A announces a random winner from his or her blog. This winner, Blogger B, then gets two copies of the book. One signed by Dan to keep and the other signed by Blogger A. Blogger B also writes a review of the book and promotes the contest on his or her blog for the month of March, linking back to TheOutdoorJourney.com and Blogger A.

5) We continue this until we get to Blogger E in June. At this point, Blogger E writes a review of the book on his her blog, linking back to the blogs of TheOutdoorJourney.com and Bloggers A-D (who in turn link to each other throughout the tour). The passed along book will have everyone’s autograph on it and we’ll ship it back to Dan Millman to add to his personal library…the book that has gone around the world.

Are you game?

Share on Facebook