The Road to Recovery

"What's peak condition? It's one step from falling off a cliff."

 James M. Pivarnik, exercise physiologist

Today marks one week since I had my second (and hopefully final) knee surgery. All in all, it has been over 7 months since I hurt my knee and I am told it could be another 18 months before I am back to trail running and soccer again.

Looking back, I know I sprinted into that goal keeper at the top of my game. From excellent performances on the soccer pitch, running sub-19 minute 5k races, completing 50 mile ultra races through the night, to having my nutrition both at home and on the road right where I wanted it, I was feeling great. I did realize I could injure myself, knowing the more I pushed myself there existed more opportunities for overtraining or rogue goalkeepers to set me back. As I sit here now icing the knee or precariously going up and down steps on crutches and opiates, I have no regrets. Injuries come with the territory.

All that being said, fuck an 18 month recovery. I'll be back before then.

30 Days Strict and Discussing Paleo

I have been going strict paleo for 30 days now. Besides a few bites of pork juice soaked bread at Woodberry Kitchen, I have been eating great without any urges to cheat. And other than a few late night social outings, I have been getting great sleep. All in all, I feel amazing.

One issue I've had when I've talked to people about how eating paleo has helped me lean up has been the response: "well you run like a 1,000 miles each week." Looking past the fact I would have shot myself long before completing that type of distance in a week, people would always attribute my improved health to my ultra-marathon running and training. They would assume that my ability to once or twice a month go off and run 30-50+ miles of backwoods trail involved a heavy training schedule. Hardly.

30 miles into Highland Sky 40M Trail Race

Having been rocking the paleo lifestyle for a few years, I quickly found the aerobic and anaerobic benefits of sprinting. For minimal time investment each week I was maintaining and improving my performance during my ultra trail races. So if anything, it was not 1,000 miles per week but maybe 10 minutes of sprints that helped me stay in shape. Ultimately though I know it was the high quality fuel I was consuming: high fat, moderate protein, and low to no carbohydrates from local, organic vegetables and grass-fed/pastured meat.

Where I am going with this is simple. With my knee I am unable to run. And although I've leaned out considerably over the years, I am far from having single digit body fat or well-defined six pack. And given I will not be able to run for at least a year, and not play soccer for probably two, I can now show results purely from diet.

That brings up other issues, as to do I care that much about wanting a six-pack and do I need the approval of others as to how I've accomplished my weight loss? First, yes I would like to at some point in my life have a noticeable six-pack and may be a little vain (see item 6). Second, I do not care what others think, however I do like to argue and debate. And when someone overweight gives me fitness or nutrition advice I want to tell them to STFU and smack the low-fat yogurt out of their hand. That is after I explain how they are wrong.