Going to the Edge | Matthew Futterman

10/09/19 • 32 min

Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone! A comfort zone is something you carry with you as you move through life. This comfort zone is very much like an invisible bubble of sorts that surrounds your psyche. And as you go about your day and encounter different circumstances, this bubble constantly expands and constricts depending on your situation.

Having peak performance in life and in fitness starts by seeking that edge, that threshold, and staying there. If you can’t confront something that’s outside of your comfort zone, then you won’t venture forward. And you can’t expand. In other words, you keep yourself limited.

When it comes to this philosophy, Coach Bob Larsen was the master. When the running craze was in its infancy in the ‘70s, Coach Larsen took an unconventional group of young, rag-tag track and cross-country runners and launched them onto the national stage. During the course of his career, Coach Larsen developed sought-after training techniques that made him one of the greatest coaches of all time.

Our guest is Matthew Futterman, author of Running to the Edge, which presents a riveting account of visionary coach Bob Larsen, who changed the sport of running in America.

The book is about the coach, the runners, and the training techniques. But even if you're not a runner, don’t miss this episode. There's a big takeaway for everyone, no matter what you do or who you are. This is a story about taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, changing your destiny, and knowing that if you work hard, you can do better tomorrow than you did yesterday.

Matthew is a New York Times Deputy Sports Editor, and has previously worked for The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Star-Ledger of New Jersey, where he was a part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News. And, Matthew is also an avid runner.

For show notes, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Our guest is Matthew Futterman, author of Running to the Edge, which presents a riveting account of visionary coach Bob Larsen, who changed the sport of running in America.

For show notes, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Previous Episode

Concentration Visualization | Kathy Smith

Today’s podcast is a 10-minute visualization that I recorded that helps you break old patterns and switch away from negative and limiting ideas and put your energy into more positive outcomes.

These types of visualizations are powerful. I like to start my morning routine with a visualization. Because it helps me focus on what I want to accomplish for the day... and I get so much more done!

Remember, your thoughts create our actions...your actions create your habits... our habits create our character... and your character becomes your destiny.

Where your focus goes, energy flows.

For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Next Episode

The Next Fitness Game-Changer: Blood Flow Restriction Training | Dr. Jim-Stray-Gunderson

Throughout the years, we hear about the latest innovations in fitness that claim to change the way we’re going to workout forever. Although most of these trends don’t really catch on, there is always one that manages to break through and get identified as a game changer. Well, the buzz right now is about “blood flow restriction training.” It is one of the newest training tools to hit both the rehab and sports performance worlds and it’s also being recognized as a potent tool for all of us aging baby boomers. There’s a lot of research that supports it, which is why Blood Flow Restriction or BFR is becoming more popular with athletes, physical therapists, trainers, and even celebrities like Mark Wahlberg.

While the idea has been around for decades, it’s only now that we’re seeing it becoming more mainstream...and largely because of our next guest, Dr. Jim Stray-Gundersen. Jim runs the SG Performance Medicine Center. He is also the chief medical officer of B STRONG, a Utah based company he co-founded in an effort to make blood flow restriction training safe, effective, and affordable for the general public.

For more from Kathy, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.