I was thinking about humanity and simplicity and the state of the world we live in and remembered this journal entry. It’s a good jumping off point—
San Francisco, CA – 4/11/2024 (airport entry)
I head out to Boston today [for the marathon]. For the first time in a long time I’m sitting in the Delta Lounge.
There’s something sad about this experience. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it feels unauthentic. It’s a common trend I’m seeing these days. Curated experiences for everyone, that appeal to no one? I get the same feeling when I’m in an over-stylized Marriott.
Sterile? Maybe that’s the word.
When I was working full time, I was here in the lounge often. It’s convenient and I was working so I didn’t really think about it.
But now, I just see it for what it is: a manufactured landing spot for the oddest people (the same as anywhere in the airport).
The housewife traveling with her husband who never leaves Bluetooth even while peeing.
The insecure intern juggling five devices at the same time.
The divorcee talking to their friend about the divorce.
The starry eyed first-timer who wonders how they got here.
The men in their corporate polos. Too many, really.
I was just talking to my older brother about flying. We’re a curious bunch so we tend to strike up a conversation with our seatmates on flights. I usually ask if the person is headed home.
My brother asks the best question I’ve ever heard: What’s your favorite thing about yourself? I feel like a lot of people in this lounge would answer: my status.
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
I am blown away by this question and adore it. When meeting new people, I’ve definitely stopped asking people what they do, as in for work. I’d rather know what drives them or what they do for fun or their favorite experience.
To be honest though, I don’t know how I would answer the favorite-thing-about-yourself question. I think it may be that I adapt really well. (notice I didn’t say that my favorite thing is that I got x time in a race or worked at x company).
So what’s yours?
When I sat down to write today, Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden started to play on the radio. Instantly I was transported to times watching Jerry Maguire with my brothers in the cool of our house while the Michigan heat sweltered outside and the smell of fresh cut grass filled my nostrils and walloped me into a sneezing frenzy. [note: I still hate the smell of fresh cut grass - my deepest, darkest secret.]
“You had me at hello,” is such an iconic line.
Has anyone ever said this in real life? At the time, it felt like someone might one day say such a thing.
Times felt simple(r) in 1996-97 (28 years ago!). I was 11 years old. Around the same time some other favorites came out: My Best Friend’s Wedding, One Fine Day, and Independence Day. There was something about these films that really appealed to young-Ryan. Perhaps on some level it was the underlying theme that things would work out, one way or another (something I continually remind myself of daily). Thinking about it now, isn’t this the American dream?
Quit your job? You’ll make it work. Love your friend who doesn’t love you? You’ll still have your gay bestie. Overworked and at wit’s end? Maybe love will give you a chance to pause and prioritize. Aliens attacking the globe? Everyone will come together.
Simple.
The collective narrative was uncomplicated. I spent summer days sleeping on our 90s-appropriate plaid couch. We ate Velveeta macaroni and cheese and had no questions about its dramatic orange coloring. It was real cheese, after all! The box said so. I would run the block around my house, exactly two miles. I hated every second of my perfunctory runs.
Since the internet was barely a thing we were contacted only when we wanted to be. Long summer days led to warm nights when we’d sneek out onto the roof to look at the stars and over the fields; a whole lot of nothing between us and where we wanted to go. Every now and then, I close my eyes and I’m transported to the rooftop, U2 playing just loud enough for the rest of the house not to hear. Five years later I’d find myself in Japan where the streets literally “have no name”, my brothers on their own journeys.
Damn, has the world changed. We have internet. We have apps. We have notifications. We have [others’] opinions. There’s so much more between us and where we want to go. If I had thought about others in my formative years, I wouldn’t have done half the things I set out to do. Every day I’m thankful that I got to experience this world without all the noise.
But, that’s not the world we are in now. I’m not saying I want to go back to those days when kids would call things they didn’t like gay. Or go back to the high school where my teachers would make fun of same-sex couples attending prom. But, there is something to be said for slowing down and for disconnecting. You just have to be more intentional now.
Don’t let your phone be the first thing you look at when you wake up
I know, you probably use your phone as an alarm. Just turn it on airplane mode and avoid the notifications.
Leave your phone on airplane mode for an hour after waking up (or if you need to connect to maps, just don’t look at messages. I’ve made a habit of downloading maps for offline use.
Designate time to be disconnected
I used to answer calls on runs - that’s like taking a call during a therapy session. Silly.
Let others know that you will be offline. It will all be okay.
Stop taking so many pictures
I’m guilty of doing this too often - but I love when I just enjoy the moment and burn that image into my mind.
This doesn’t mean no pictures, but it means some pictures only for you. That picture of you looking like you’re enjoying the sunset but really your insta-boy/girlfriend is telling you to tilt your head, etc. should not be your default. As humans all we get is experience - THAT’S IT!
Talk to someone you don’t know
Okay, I am not the most extroverted person I know (despite talking to my seat partners on airplanes — that’s just practice for sales work) but we all need to talk a bit more instead of relying on some social media platform for snippets of information.
Why is this all important and why am I talking about it?
Because this kind of decluttering will help you focus as an athlete or in any horizon you point your sails at. It also helps you be a more empathetic person with the capacity to help others, or at least come to others from a place of oppenness.
Mantra - mindset
I am the only one who knows what’s best for me.
Turn on your computer and get online. How many times a day are you being told that x is the best thing for you? Hundreds, I’d guess.
But you have to find what works for you. An example I always see is the ice bath. It’s trendy and looks badass. Is this what humanity has been missing for the last 50,000 years? No. It’s hype. Starting your day with your hardest thing is great, but it does not have to be an extreme bathing routine.
For me, my morning run is my hardest thing. I have to be up by 4:15 to get on the road by 4:30 to start by 5. It’s a lot and I am fortunate to have the means to do that. But, does everyone have to be up at 4:30 to run? Absolutely not!
Some questions to ask yourself:
Does this get me closer to a goal? (ice bath is questionable)
For me the run helps me wake up and be a better runner
Does this work for my life?
Not everything works for everyone. That’s okay!
Who am I doing this for?
If the answer is anyone but you, then you have the wrong answer. Sorry. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others (like airplane oxygen masks!).
Workout
The long run.
Thinking of anything longer than what you are doing on a daily basis can be daunting. Sometimes it is a real struggle for me to get a long run done but it’s important if you are looking to up your running game.
As a general rule of thumb the longest run you should do if you are averaging around 40 miles a week is about 30% of that, or 12 miles. Typically anything over 2.5 hours is a bit much if you’re looking for marathon training (Credit: Daniels’ Running Formula).
The long run is a good way to:
Get a feeling for race day leg/body fatigue
Figure out your race day needs - water/nutrition
Reduce nerves and prove to yourself that you can go far
If you get part way through your run and you are realizing that something feels off, stop. It’s not going to help you to keep going and get injured.
Gear
Maker: Therabody
Model: Theragun Mini (first gen)
Price: $199 (Second Gen) / $179 (First Gen)
Weight: 1.47lbs (669g) (though second gen is 30% lighter)
NAR Score*: 6/10
Recovery, recovery, recovery. I cannot stress this enough. I know it seems ridiculous to make time to do soemthing that doesn’t feel productive. But your body will thank you later. And it is, in fact, productive.
One way I get some recovery in is with this tool. It is like gettting a massage but cheaper and relieves pain and increases mobility.
What I love:
Compact - It fits nicely in a carry-on suitcase
Simple - 3 clicks and you have it mastered. No need to over think it
What I don’t love:
Weight - while it is compact, I don’t want to put one more thing in my backback or carry-on suitcase. When all is said and done, this gets the axe when I’m optimizing pack out.
Price - You can find refurb ones and First Gen models for cheaper that will get the job done. But it is still a big purchase.
*NAR Score: Not a Runner score is a rating for tools and such. 1 = Meh, 5 = I use it more than 2x a week, 10 = I can’t live without it
Song of the Day
Title: Brighter Shade
Band: Lost Dog Street Band
I officiated a wedding recently. It was humbling to stand before two people that inspire me to be a better human every day. Whenever I think of these friends, the first thing that comes to mind is unconditional love; the kind that doesn’t need a reason and can bend with you like a long bamboo rod with it’s deep roots, impervious to wind, tilting with you and standing with you, grounded in love.
So, why this song? Well, as you may have guessed, these two beautiful humans surround themselves with other beautiful humans. And one of them turned me onto Lost Dog Street Band. This album as seen some heavy rotation recently.
And aren’t these lyrics beautiful?
Each day I love you more
Every time I seem to open up the door
I think I could be someone you adore
Or at least better than I used to be