People You Need to Know: KILIAN JORNET

     Kilian Jornet in his mountain playground

It's hard to distinguish who the greatest endurance athlete in the world is. There are many different disciplines that the world's ultra-racers compete in as well over uniquely punishing terrain. They race over mountains, through snow, for extreme distances and against the clock. The punishing demands of ultra-racing is reflected by an elite community of athletes who defy conventional definitions of endurance and will.

And then there is Kilian Jornet.

This 25 year old Spainard has already conquered every notable endurance race his discipline has to offer, as well as shattering the record ascent times of some of the world's most dangerous peaks. Jornet's ability cannot be compared, same as his method. He will often run for over eight hours at high altitude and not eat any food or drink any water.

This New York Times article is an incredible glimpse into the life of an athlete you've likely never heard of. Kilian Jornet is both insightful and inspiring, now taking the power of his endurance as a personal challenge; setting records climbing and descending the world's best known peaks. 

Read the full story here (NYT article)

It's Tournament Time: Be Optimistic

March is one of the most exciting times of the year and can also be one of the most stressful. Millions of Americans will be glued to the television cheering on their favorite schools in the NCAA basketball tournament. It is a cherished past time to scribble in an empty bracket, marking sure-bets, sleepers, and bracket busters. Pitting your falsely inflated knowledge about 68 teams (most of which you've never heard of) against your closest friends and family. But then it comes time to predict how far your school will go. Maybe you're a student or an alumni. Maybe you only like them for them for the tastefully gawdy uniforms they have no short supply of. Either way, there is always a sense of betrayal when you stop advancing your own school through the bracket. It makes you feel like you've given up on them... Even if your reasoning is statistically sound, and you know they can't hit enough outside shots against the zone defense, you never want to be the first person to put a cap on their tournament dreams. And you shouldn't.

Optimism is a powerful trait for a team and it comes in many forms. The belief that any team has the chance to make a run at a national championship is what makes March such a centerfold of the sporting calendar. There is a field of 68 teams all with this insane belief, when in reality there can only be one champion. That means 67 teams will come up short. So why even dream? Why put yourself out there? Why have your team, an 8 seed, playing in the championship game?

Because if you don't believe in them, who will?

Research shows that optimistic teams perform better. This has been shown in both individual athletes and also professional basketball teams. When a coach creates an environment for the team to set high goals and then the players create a culture of optimism, success is most likely the outcome. The best athletes in the world are the day-dreamers, the ones who believe in an outcome regardless of how many "facts" show that they will fail. The higher the bar, the further a team is willing to push themselves to get as close as they can.

"Gentleman, we will chase perfection. We will chase it relentlessly. Knowing all the while we will never attain it. But along the way, we will catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi

So let the computers compile stats and rankings to try and predict a winner of this tournament. As a fan, pick your favorite team, believe that they will win every game they play, convince everyone you know that they will win the tournament, and then cheer your heart out to let those players know that you believe in them. Any coach that says they are only happy to be in the tournament and "will see what happens" has essentially crossed their name off the guest list to this dance. Blind and fearless optimism, in the face of almost certain failure; it is what a team needs to win in March. And it can start with you.

"This is Not a Story About Last Place" - Wall Street Journal

[Inspiring story about the determination of professional cyclist, Taylor Phinney.]

This is a story about a guy who finished last. Which is technically true. You can look up the results of the race, and you'll see his name, right there, lonely at the bottom. Taylor Phinney. USA. Finishing time of six hours, twenty-two minutes, fifty-four seconds. One hundred-and-ninth place. Last.

But this story is better than that.

Continue reading here.

Some motivation to get the week started

200 Calories: Choose Wisely

A bunch of different ways to eat 200 calories (LINK)

OH HOW FAR WE'VE COME

Take a moment to look back at how far the sports we love have come. While today they look so different, I like to think about how much they've stayed the same... 

Gives "warmups" a whole new meaning

 The thrill of a buzzer-beater

The STEEL is real

Performing under pressure even without a Nike deal

READY TO PLAY

Here are some athletes getting ready to perform at the highest level. Every player has a different "temperature" that unlocks their peak performance? Do you know yours?

Ray Lewis - Football

Flames, music, dancing...HIGH ENERGY

This choreographed grass grabbing takes focus from the game... LOW FOCUS

 Ryan Miller - Ice Hockey

Quiet reflection on an empty sheet of ice ... LOW ENERGY

Feeling each save he's going to make for the Sabers that night ... HIGH FOCUS

  Aaron Rodgers - Football

Calm, relaxed, and a pirate patch? ...  LOW ENERGY

Keeping things light before the game with a team tradition photo-bomb ...  LOW FOCUS

 Bradley Wiggins - Cycling

Like a bullet ready to get shot out of a gun, the engine is hot ... HIGH ENERGY

Zeroed in on the course and the internal war waged during the time trial ... HIGH FOCUS

...

Too much energy Owen, too much!!