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CoachJim's Reviews > Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
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Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.
by Alex Hutchinson
“The cruel metabolic demands of the marathon, which inevitably depletes your stores of readily available fuel, mean that most people are slowing in the final miles. But with the right incentive, some are able to speed up � and it’s only the brain that can respond to abstract incentives like breaking four hours for an arbitrary distance like 26.2 miles.�
The subject of this book � endurance � is a subject near and dear to most distance runners. This book examines the many explanations for endurance that go beyond the usual VO2Max and Lactate Acid Thresholds. Hutchinson devotes chapters to the brain, effort, pain, muscle, oxygen, heat, thrust and fuel. His discussions of each of these and the research of and contributions each of them make to understanding endurance is interesting and thought provoking. He provides real examples of each of these factors, but backs it up with a description of the research being done on these factors. His descriptions of this research is presented in a way that is easy for anyone to understand.
The question Hutchinson is trying to answer is it the body that is incapable or the mind that is unwilling. He starts this discussion with an analysis of Tim Noakes “Central Governor�. He connects this later in the book when he refers to the Brain that: “it doesn’t just wait for the Catastrophe; it anticipates it.� (Page 211)
The author relates Tim Noake’s observation “about the second-place Olympic marathoner jogging around the track waving his country’s flag. ‘Do you notice he’s not dead?� he asked. ‘It means he could have run faster.’� (Page 209)
These examples, and the quote at the beginning of this review, show the conclusion arrived at by Hutchinson.
For me I like the quote:
“All pleasure is alike, as Leo Tolstoy might have put it, but each pain hurts in its own unique way.�
I wish I could write a review this book deserves. I have read as many books about running as I could. This one would go at the top of any list I recommend. The book will not tell you how to train for your sport, but if that sport requires endurance, then it will tell you about the limits you will encounter.
by Alex Hutchinson
“The cruel metabolic demands of the marathon, which inevitably depletes your stores of readily available fuel, mean that most people are slowing in the final miles. But with the right incentive, some are able to speed up � and it’s only the brain that can respond to abstract incentives like breaking four hours for an arbitrary distance like 26.2 miles.�
The subject of this book � endurance � is a subject near and dear to most distance runners. This book examines the many explanations for endurance that go beyond the usual VO2Max and Lactate Acid Thresholds. Hutchinson devotes chapters to the brain, effort, pain, muscle, oxygen, heat, thrust and fuel. His discussions of each of these and the research of and contributions each of them make to understanding endurance is interesting and thought provoking. He provides real examples of each of these factors, but backs it up with a description of the research being done on these factors. His descriptions of this research is presented in a way that is easy for anyone to understand.
The question Hutchinson is trying to answer is it the body that is incapable or the mind that is unwilling. He starts this discussion with an analysis of Tim Noakes “Central Governor�. He connects this later in the book when he refers to the Brain that: “it doesn’t just wait for the Catastrophe; it anticipates it.� (Page 211)
The author relates Tim Noake’s observation “about the second-place Olympic marathoner jogging around the track waving his country’s flag. ‘Do you notice he’s not dead?� he asked. ‘It means he could have run faster.’� (Page 209)
These examples, and the quote at the beginning of this review, show the conclusion arrived at by Hutchinson.
For me I like the quote:
“All pleasure is alike, as Leo Tolstoy might have put it, but each pain hurts in its own unique way.�
I wish I could write a review this book deserves. I have read as many books about running as I could. This one would go at the top of any list I recommend. The book will not tell you how to train for your sport, but if that sport requires endurance, then it will tell you about the limits you will encounter.
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Reading Progress
September 9, 2019
–
Started Reading
September 9, 2019
– Shelved
September 17, 2019
–
Finished Reading
September 19, 2019
– Shelved as:
health-fitness
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Libby wrote: "I like the quote about the 2nd place Olympic marathoner jogging around the track. It brings a chuckle to think that if an athlete is not dead, he could have performed better. I have a friend who ..."
Thank you Libby. Sorry about taking soloing to reply.
Your mention of the horse race where Vets check the horses reminds me of the Iditarod -- the sled dog race in Alaska. At checkpoint there are Vets checking on the dogs, but no where during the race is the health of the human drivers checked.
That is OK with me. The humans choose to do this. The dogs and horses don't get a choice.
Thanks again.
Jim
Interesting review, Jim. You mention reading many books about running. I gather that you have participated in marathons?
Thank you Debbie. I have been a distance runner since Ninth grade when I was 14 years old. I caught the bug and have been running ever since. It has been 25 years since I last ran a marathon. We have a great course here in the Twin Cities that is run on the first Sunday each October since 1982 I think. Lots of people come out to cheer which makes it quite fun. There is a horrid hill at about the 16 mile mark. By the 20 mile mark I am usually running on fumes. On a humorous note, on at least 3 different occasions and by different people, people have seen me near the end of the course and have mentioned how horrible I look. That was nothing compared to how I felt. But when you are that close to the end what can you do. You keep moving.
CoachJim wrote: "Thank you Debbie. I have been a distance runner since Ninth grade when I was 14 years old. I caught the bug and have been running ever since. It has been 25 years since I last ran a marathon. We ha..."Wow! That's dedication! One of my daughters ran a marathon in Edmonton, AB, and I remember seeing dried salt on her face. Do you have any issues with joint pain from all that running?
I have a friend who runs a horse in endurance races, which was always interesting to me. The horses have to go through vet checks which include the heart rate. The heart rate as I understand it has to be under a certain number for the horse to continue. One year my friend's horse won the local endurance ride. I don't remember if it was 25 or 50 miles, a long distance to be sure. My friend was ecstatic.
The question of is it the body or the mind is fascinating. The mind will boggle us up in so many things.
Excellent review, Jim :-)