Category: Uncategorized

On Cities and Culture

When I was in Chattanooga for the Ragnar, I had the opportunity to speak with a guy named Randy Whorton, who is the director of a local non-profit called Wild Trails that is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles … in their case through outdoor recreation.  We talked about a lot of things, but one of the things that came up was how well the city of Chattanooga has developed itself to promote those kinds of ideals.  There are parks and pedestrian trails and developments that encourage walking.  I was of course there for a road running event, but the area is a draw for rowing regattas, trail running, and rock climbing, among many other activities.  Outside Magazine named Chattanooga the best outdoor town to live in, and there is a thriving community of outdoor enthusiasts and athletes that improves the overall quality of life for the whole town … for everybody.

(And the trail running is apparently pretty legendary – checkout the Rock / Creek Trail Series videos on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/rockcreeker) and then watch this one on the StumpJump … and tell me you don’t want to hit the door.)

The City of Chattanooga paid over $120 million dollars to revitalize its downtown like this, but if you go there today it is a vibrant place, full of energy and absolutely shouting down anybody that might argue that money wasn’t worth it.

The question that struck me was … why wouldn’t all cities want to do this?

I lived in North Little Rock, Arkansas, during the time when the Little Rock River Market was revitalized, including the addition of the Clinton Presidential Library, a twice weekly (and fantastic) farmer’s market, the River Walk, and the Big Dam Bridge over the Arkansas River.  The video below is basically a big commercial for North Little Rock … but doesn’t this demonstrate that all of these things make the city more livable?  And improve everybody’s quality of life?

I was reminded of all of this recently when I discovered the TED Talk below, regarding Oklahoma City’s remarkable turnaround from one of the most obese cities in the country to one of the fittest.  Their mayor had his own epiphany, and launched programs and investments – millions of dollars in investments – to improve the livability for people in Oklahoma City.  And it has worked – the city has grown, and thrived, in a time when many cities are not.

These are three examples, but they are only three of many.  I have yet to see an example of a city that failed when it made a thoughtful, long-term investment in the livability of its core inner areas, and in providing real infrastructure for outdoor recreation.  These things change a culture, and when you can change a culture you can do amazing and wonderful things..

So I ask the question – why wouldn’t every city want to make these kinds of investments?  This transcends politics – or should.  This is about community, economic development, community health … everything.

What does your city do to invest in itself this way?  If nothing – why?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!  Here’s to a great day of friends, family, and eating whatever the hell you want … guilt free.

The Problem With the Do Life Method … or why I decided to start a blog

So … I am one of those people that finds Ben Davis inspirational.  I didn’t start because of him – I found him after I was well along – but his story motivated me.  I bought his book and sent him the receipt so I could get the signed bookplate.   I rooted for him, and root for him still – he’s done impressive things, and is an example of what is possible.

But possible is not the same thing as practical, or even realistic.

See, Ben had a laundry list of built in advantages for starting something like this.  He was young, in college, and had a very flexible schedule.  His living expenses were covered, and he had the freedom to drop everything and do what he felt like doing.  At any time.  Pretty much ever.

When I decided it was time to get it together for myself, I had almost none of those things.

I have a wife and a six month old son at home that expect (and deserve) for me to be present.  I have a career, with a boss that expects me to show up on time, every time, prepared to earn my pay and not merely survive the day.  And I have employees that need to see me model a good schedule, and a good work ethic.  I have a mortgage … which comes with a yard that needs mowing, snow that needs shoveling, and a thousand little (and big) things that need fixing.   I’ve got a 45 minute commute … an hour and a half, every day, sacrificed to the automobile gods.

In short, I’ve got every built in excuse you can think of to not, ahem, “Do It”.

And the inspiration I need is not about saying “screw it” and going for an impromptu 4-miler at midnight.   No, what I need is a real, practical model for how it is possible to go from 327 pounds and not able to run 100 yards to healthy and active.  What the hell does “healthy” even mean?  How do you get up at 5am, day after day, until you don’t even need the alarm clock anymore, until you get it done?

Ben says “All you have to do it do it” … and I agree.  But “I’m going to do it” is the big easy choice.  The hard choices are the hundreds and thousands of little choices you have to make every day.  Going for this run or skipping it.  Eating the cookie or not eating the cookie.   Doing it – and I mean by-God-in-the-trenches-grinding-it-out doing it – or not doing it.

Overcoming a constant state of hunger.

And Ben didn’t help me with that.

Go and read Ben’s blog.  Buy his book.  Be inspired – I’m not a hater.  In this space we’re going to try our hand at some of that inspirational stuff, too.  But I also want to talk about the grind.  The hard little choices.  If we get to an Ironman on the way, then it’ll be by way of an epic string of really early mornings.

Next stop, Ragnar Tennessee.  And then on to the Rock ‘n’ Roll USA marathon, March 15, 2014.

The ides of March better beware of me…