Cloud Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown

Tomorrow I fly to Japan and soon begin the 88 Temple Pilgrimage on Shikoku.

I feel excited and nervous at the same time.  Have I trained enough?   Will I be able to manage with very little Japanese?  How will I find food and accommodation? Is my backpack too heavy.. is there something else I can eliminate from it?  Have I forgotten something I’ll need?

Such are my thoughts at this moment.

But then I change my focus.   I imagine entering the temples–  washing my hands at the entrance,  ringing the bell,  bowing 3 times….  meditating for a few moments.   I imagine strolling through the Shikoku countryside… up and down forested hills… alongside rice fields… next to the shore… through towns and cities.

I imagine nearly 2 months without the usual distractions of modern life.   Two months to just walk, meditate, meet people…   Two months under the open sky.

Nervous, I grin about walking into the unknown…….

[Short article about the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, click here:  88 Temple Pilgrimage and here: Overview of Shikoku Pilgrimage ]

Training Details

This week I have reached my peak mileage– training for the 750 mile Shikoku hike.    The actual start of the hike is about 2 weeks away.

I’m following the same basic training schedule as I did for past marathons… modified for walking with much higher mileage.

The big challenge of this hike is that a marathon is just a one day event…   but for this hike I must sustain 16-20 mile days every single day for 45 days.

The Shikoku 88 trip therefore requires a much greater level of aerobic fitness and endurance.  With marathon training, for example, I peaked at about 45-50 miles a week during my training.

I’ll hit about 95 miles this week.   During the hike I’ll be doing 120-140 miles a week–  starting lower during the first couple of weeks, and relentlessly ramping up as the hike goes on.

Which is to say, I’m in the best aerobic shape of my life already…  and it’s going to get better!!

That was ONE of my motivations for this hike.   I find that exercising just to exercise is boring.   I prefer to train for inspiring, challenging and interesting events.    I would never have done this kind of mileage if my only goal was to “get in shape”.

But the Shikoku trip inspires me.   First, it’s a physical challenge– which is motivating.  Second,  it’s a cultural challenge.  I’ll be hiking around rural Japan and must adjust to the culture, food, people, etc.  (and I speak only a few Japanese phrases).   Thirdly, this is also an opportunity to re-connect with nature– doing most of the hike in rural and semi-wilderness areas. Finally, this is a spiritual trip…  an 1100 year old Buddhist pilgrimage route.  I’ll be meditating every day during the pilgrimage.

Here in the West.. and increasingly all over the world…  people my age are in terrible physical shape.   It makes me very sad to see this.   I’m 42 and in the best shape of my life.   I say that only to illustrate that age is no excuse.

Of course, I know that a lot of people are unhappy about their physical condition.  They have tried many things but just can’t seem to sustain consistent exercise.  My Mom is one such person.

The problem with a lot of people, I think, is that they associate exercise with discomfort and pain.   They exercise just to exercise… or to “get in shape”.    Some people may like that… but for most people that’s boring and unpleasant.

It’s much more inspiring and motivating to think like an athlete.  Athletes don’t “exercise”… they “train”.  They train for a purpose that excites and motivates them.  Maybe they want to win a championship.   Or become a professional.   Or whatever.

The point is that they have a BIG DREAM–  a BIG REASON to exercise.   They don’t just lift weights and run “to lose 40 pounds”.

This is the secret to consistently exercising.  Find a big inspiring PHYSICAL challenge and dream.  Maybe you always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail?  Or bicycle across Europe?  Or climb Mount Ranier?  or whatever.   It can be small or big.    The only important thing is that you get excited thinking about it.

The next very important step is to schedule this event!  Pick a time in the future that gives you enough time to prepare for the event (this depends on your current fitness level).  Then buy the tickets, register, etc…  Commit totally to doing it.

Once you do this, you’ll be inspired to train every week.   You’ll know that big event is coming… and you’ll be exercising for a reason.. for an adventure!

This is exactly what I did for Shikoku.   When I decided to do it, I’d been sedentary for several years (by my standards).   I was not physically ready for the challenge…   but I calculated how long I needed to prepare…  then chose a date.  Then I told EVERYONE I was going to do it… all my friends and family.

I got a little map and picture book for the route… and that got me more excited.  I watched a couple of Youtube clips about Shikoku.   And I got more and more excited.

That’s what kept me going… that’s what motivated me to walk 4-8 hours a day  (4-5 times a week).    That was the rocket fuel that energized me.

Now I feel great.   I’ve lost about 7 pounds of fat and gained a bit of lean muscle.  I have momentum.

The trip itself will increase my health and fitness level.

And afterward I won’t quit.  I’ve learned that valuable lesson from the past.    And so I already have my next physical challenge and adventure planned:   cycling around Italy for a few weeks. And after that… hiking in Patagonia…  and/or the Appalachian Trail.

So… get out there!   Don’t just suffer and sweat in the gym for no reason.   Choose an inspiring physical challenge/adventure and TRAIN for it!

Shikoku 88 Videos

Here are a couple of videos by people who have done the same “Shikoku 88″ route I’ll be doing in a couple of weeks:

Breakthrough

Watch this show, it’s fantastic! I hope it inspires you.

Shoot The Sacred Money Cows

My Favorite– Go to College and Everything will be OK:

Go to School from Rich Dad on Vimeo.

Get a Job:

Get a Job from Rich Dad on Vimeo.

Work Hard:

Work Hard from Rich Dad on Vimeo.

401Ks:

Invest for the Long Term in a Diversified Portfolio from Rich Dad on Vimeo.

Disc Golf

I started playing disc golf many years ago…   when I was a poor social worker    It’s a great game!

Basically, disc golf is golf played with a frisbee.   Instead of “holes” you have baskets.   Your goal is to get your disc into the basket using the fewest possible throws.

Like regular golf, each “hole” in disc golf has a par…   usually all “holes” (baskets) are par 3.   This means the “average” number of throws needed from tee to basket is three throws.   If you only use 2 throws, you get a “birdie”.

To my mind, disc golf has all of the benefits of regular golf, and none of the drawbacks.

It’s a casual game, played outdoors,… with lots of walking in woods and fields.  I love this aspect of the game.. getting outdoors in the park.

Because the pace is relaxed, disc golf is also a very social game.   It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours with friends.

And unlike regular golf, disc golf is almost always free.   No memberships, no green fees,.. no country clubs.   There’s no status attached to disc golf… which I like.   The people who play are usually very friendly and very relaxed.

And so… today I’m going to play disc golf again with my good friend Joe.  We play at the course in Golden Gate Park.   And since we have the advantage of being Hobopoets with flexible schedules… we can play on weekdays when the course and the park are not crowded.

I have many fond memories of playing this game… in South Carolina,…  in Athens, Georgia (actually Elberton),… and here in California.

Why not give it a try yourself?

Find a course near you on the PDGA’s Course Director!

Power Walking

My daily walks have now increased to 3.5 hours each.

Of course, I’m getting physical benefits from the walks.  I’m feeling more fit and healthy and energetic.  That will increase as the walks get longer every week.  My goal is to be doing 7 hours a day before I go to Shikoku for the 88 Temple pilgrimage.

While the physical benefits of the walks are great… I’m also experiencing mental benefits.   I find that LONG walks are great for clearing my mind.

Usually, during the first hour and a half, my mind is racing with thoughts and ideas.   However, as I walk, I pay attention to my breathing… and to my environment.   And what happens is that my mind gradually quiets as I walk…  so that walking becomes a form of meditation.   By the end of the walk my mind is calmer and clearer.

Another nice thing about the long walks is that I am often learning while walking.   Sometimes I listen to a Tony Robbins speech,  or to Tomoe’s Japanese podcast….  and in this way feed my mind and strengthen my body at the same time.   At other times I’ll think of new ideas for my life or my business… and I find that I think more creatively when I’m moving (instead of sitting on my butt).

I’ve even begun to think about the goal of running most of my business from a smart phone (like an iPhone)!  Honestly, I HATE being stuck indoors! And with phones rapidly becoming little computers… it’s becoming possible to do many business tasks just with the phone.  I can give quick answers to emails…  I can email, text, or call my assistants…   I can add posts to my business Facebook account.

I like the idea of “working” while I’m walking,…   creating while I’m walking…  learning while I’m walking…. meditating while I’m walking!

I’ve had enough of sitting indoors in front of a computer.

My office is the whole wide world

Italia

I watched a Roberto Benigni movie two nights ago…  and it brought back memories of my one trip to Italy…  many years ago.   That was a package tour that my grandmother won in a contest.   She gave the tickets to my sister and I.

I enjoyed that trip, but not the overly-organized package tour method of travel.    At that time, I swore I’d return to Italy independently some day.

Well, I’m now thinking of going to Italy next Spring.    I’m thinking of renting a villa for a month…  as a kind of work retreat.   I’d plan new VIP lesson sets…  and I’d also dabble in sketching, writing for pleasure, reading, and Italian.

After a month of doing that, Id then bicycle around (northern) Italy for another month… then return to San Francisco.  I’d spend the first month in Italy training for the bike ride..   which should be enough so long as I maintain my general fitness level from the Shikoku hiking trip.

Fortune Favors The Bold

From Tim Ferris,  The 4-Hour Workweek:

There are two types of mistakes:  mistakes of ambition and mistakes of sloth.

The first is the result of a decision to act– to do something.  This type of mistake is made with incomplete information, as it’s impossible to have all the facts beforehand.  This is to be encouraged. Fortune favors the bold.

The second is the result of a decision of sloth- to not do something- wherein we refuse to change a bad situation out of fear despite having all the facts.   This is how learning experiences become terminal punishments, bad relationships become bad marriages, and poor job choices become lifelong prison sentences.

Tim is right on the money.  I find that most people are terrified of making mistakes of action… and therefore end up making continuous, horrible, soul-crushing mistakes of inaction (sloth).   People fear change far too much.

Most people will, for example,  waste years (even decades) in a job they hate…  simply because they fear making a “mistake of action” by quitting.   They imagine horrible possibilities if they quit,…  and neglect to imagine all the wonderful possibilities.  And so they stay in that same boring job year after year after year….   dying inside long before their body dies.

I have found that in my life, decisiveness itself is incredibly powerful…  even when I make lots of “bad” decisions.   In fact, “bad” decisions don’t scare me… because as soon as I realize the decision was bad… I quickly make another decision to rectify or improve the situation.   In this way, negative effects are quickly corrected… while positive outcomes grow, gain momentum, and multiply.

Inaction is the great killer of souls.   Staying with a boring job is always far worse than quitting.   There are always other jobs…. (and sometimes you can even go back to the old one if you leave nicely and stay in touch– something I’ve done in the past). There are also other lifestyles, other ways of living.  Too many people create a lifestyle (mortgage, car payments, etc..) and then let it become a prison and an excuse for doing nothing.

But you can sell or walk away from the house.  You can sell or abandon the car.   You can get rid of most of your possessions.. if you want to.  There are always options.

The point is to stay true to your vision for a magnificent life and never ever quit on it.   Never “settle”.  Never!

And any time you feel you have lost your way, that you’re not living (or at least moving towards) your magnificent life– make an immediate change.  Do something!  Don’t fear a mistake… because the biggest mistake of all is doing nothing.

This is your life….

Get out there and live my friends!

Walking

According to research cited in the book “Brain Rules”,  the human species evolved to walk 12-25 miles PER DAY.   According to anthropologists and biologists, ancient humans walked this amount every single day.  That’s 4-8 hours a day of walking.

Compare that to the activity the average “modern” human gets… and it’s easy to understand why so many people are fat and unhealthy (of course, their food is terrible too).

Most people sit on their butt for most of the day.   Some stand (in one place) much of the day.  We sit on our butts in front of computers.  We sit on our butts in front of TVs.  We sit on our butts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  We sit on our butts while socializing.  We sit on our butts in cars, buses, trains (or occasionally stand).

We are, to be perfectly honest, a pathetic shadow of our ancient selves.

Forget all of the diet books and complex exercise programs.  The simplest and easiest solution is to walk a lot (and eat fresh vegetables as much as possible).    Walking is the most natural and effortless human activity.  No special equipment is required.

I have always loved walking,… but I’m now discovering the wonderful benefits of doing long walks every day.   It’s amazing.   As part of my training for the Shikoku, Japan hiking trip… I’m now walking three hours every day.

Yesterday I walked from my apartment (in The Mission district) up Haight Street through the Haight area,…  and into Golden Gate Park.   It was a chilly windy day, but I had a great time.   The more I walked, the warmer my body got.

And the more I walked, the more energized my body became.   My mind became energized (yet calm) too–  and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the trees, people, and city as I strolled.

This is one of the sublime simple pleasures of life– to stroll outside, breath fresh air, take in the sky, clouds, trees,…. it’s meditation in motion.

As the weeks go by, I will be adding more time to my walks.. and soon I’ll be matching those ancient humans– doing 12-25 miles a day.

I highly recommend this kind of walking as the basis for health and fitness.

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