E037 Running Marathons and Beyond

11/07/23 • 57 min

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E037

Running Marathons and Beyond

Key takeaway: A regular fitness habit is key to not just health but happiness and success in life. Randy and James talk about their various endurance exploits, from marathons to special forces courses, and what these experiences taught them.

Topics covered in this video:

What is a Six Star Finisher? What marathons does a person need to complete?
How many people have done it? How long does it take?
What’s the finisher ceremony like?
Why Tokyo 2023 was special for six star finishers
The feeling of working intensely hard for a goal and what that does to your emotions
Randy’s running career and marathon experiences; running a race without training for it
James’s running origins and career - progressively more distance
Running a half marathon in Switzerland, finding a like-minded community
Randy pushing his way through a torn ACL
Spartan races - sprint, super, and beast (trifecta medal)
Why difficult races are appealing to certain people; obsessive behavior is common
Other endurance challenges: running streaks, triathlons, ultras (50K and up)
Running and marching in boots, jungle boots
Best Ranger Competition
Is it just a question of training, and how much does natural ability play a role?
How it’s helpful to just keep going as one ages
Success factors for the Green Beret Q course (qualification course)
The importance of attitude, mental fortitude (Lancero school example)
James’s and Randy’s favorite races and the reasons why: NY, Berlin, Tokyo, Boston, Disney
Having a fitness habit is a great contributor to happiness and performance in life
Don’t neglect stretching!

Resources in this video

Six Star Finisher home page

NY Road Runners Complete Book of Running book

Support the show

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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggxZuXzexBtEhsX_TpV5yQ
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Randy's Editor Webpage: https://randysurles.com/

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E037

Running Marathons and Beyond

Topics covered in this video:

What is a Six Star Finisher? What marathons does a person need to complete?
How many people have done it? How long does it take?
What’s the finisher ceremony like?
Why Tokyo 2023 was special for six star finishers
The feeling of working intensely hard for a goal and what that does to your emotions
Randy’s running career and marathon experiences; running a race without training for it
James’s running origins and career - progressively more distance
Running a half marathon in Switzerland, finding a like-minded community
Randy pushing his way through a torn ACL
Spartan races - sprint, super, and beast (trifecta medal)
Why difficult races are appealing to certain people; obsessive behavior is common
Other endurance challenges: running streaks, triathlons, ultras (50K and up)
Running and marching in boots, jungle boots
Best Ranger Competition
Is it just a question of training, and how much does natural ability play a role?
How it’s helpful to just keep going as one ages
Success factors for the Green Beret Q course (qualification course)
The importance of attitude, mental fortitude (Lancero school example)
James’s and Randy’s favorite races and the reasons why: NY, Berlin, Tokyo, Boston, Disney
Having a fitness habit is a great contributor to happiness and performance in life
Don’t neglect stretching!

Resources in this video

Six Star Finisher home page

NY Road Runners Complete Book of Running book

Support the show

Previous Episode

E036 Why Don't Smart People Agree?

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E036

Why Don’t Smart People Agree?

Key takeaway: Smart people don’t disagree for a variety of reasons, having to do with their background, their sources of information, and their motivation. In this episode, Randy and James discuss reasons why people disagree and a variety of things one can do to have better discussions.

Topics covered in this video:

Smart people acting in good faith can disagree about a topic for many reasons. They come from different circumstances, get input from diverse sources (which may be incomplete or biased), and have different outlooks on life. Some people have book smarts and others have street smarts
Can we assume parties to a discussion come to it with an open mind? A person can be acting in good faith and not have an open mind at all.
More people are unwilling to have a discussion or entertain alternative viewpoints
When you attack a person rather than their viewpoint, it says something about you and your ability to defend your own viewpoint
People have evolved to make quick decisions on incomplete information and are emotional when making decisions. Being intelligent does not protect as much as we’d like to think
How to disagree with (or question) an expert.
The many pitfalls of expertise as it relates to thinking and decision-making
People have different objectives, which allows them to disagree when they agree on the facts
Why recognizing and stating your objectives is helpful
When it’s OK to experiment with other approaches, and how
Explain your reasoning, show some humility

Support the show

Next Episode

E038 Myths about Enlisting in the Military

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E038

Myths about Enlisting in the Military

Key takeaway: A military career can be varied and rewarding, but how do you set yourself up from success from the start? Randy provides perspective on preparing for enlisting, thinking through what you might want, and how to succeed once you’re in.

Topics covered in this video:

Where a recruiter might find you; what’s ROTC
Officers vs. enlisted, level of education
Length of enlistments, bonuses on enlistment
Upward mobility of different professions - informing yourself before you enlist
Choosing other roles after your initial enlistment period
Thoughts on Green Berets vs. Rangers and career opportunities
Your ability to do side jobs outside the military, approval
Military entrance qualifications - intelligence, fitness, drugs, mental health, criminal record
Reasons for failing basic training
Rucking - what is it and why is it important
Impact of military careers on men vs. women, injuries, and wear and tear
Need to be in good shape and stay in good shape to have a longer career