![]() ![]() Instead, I found myself quite captivated by this book from start to finish. For me, this connection of abstract straight-out-of-the-lab scientific theory to both a real-life quest to push the known boundaries of human performance limits and the everyday training of an (exceptional talented and accomplished) runner added a compelling storyline and humanization to the academic text I might have otherwise dismissed as a dry and over-my-head read. Hutchinson further demonstrates his range as a storyteller and a scientist as he applies exercise science theory to his behind-the-scenes observations of Nike’s original Breaking 2 project and his own running career and breakthrough performances. The Breaking 2 Project and Personal Experience The Central Governor also holds up in the instance of a free diver who sets a new world record for the deepest unassisted dive at distance that had previously caused him to black out from oxygen deprivation as result of dramatic pressure changes in his lungs on his ascent to the surface. This theory explains the curious case of an ultra-runner who is able to conquer multiple endurance running and thru-hiking records after having part of her temporal cortex removed, thus impairing her sense of time and interpretation of fatigue and pain. performance limitations are not a result of failure or exhaustion of the skeletal muscles and heart, but the brain. The Central GovernorĪn interesting theory that Hutchinson alludes to over the course of the book is South African physiologist Tim Noakes’ idea of “The Central Governor.” This theory suggests that performance limitations are not a result of failure or exhaustion of the skeletal muscles and heart, but the brain, which puts out a protective emergency override signal to the body’s systems before they reach their maximal output limits. I did, indeed, find Hutchinson’s ability to weave together data-driven facts with fascinating accounts of triumphs of the human body and spirit, to be quite on par with Malcom Gladwell’s style and story-telling ability as promised. Gripping examples range from a man who survived an entire week without water in the Mexican desert, to free diving dare devils, to Ernest Shackleton and his Antarctic expeditions of the early 1900s. Each of these components was highlighted in its own chapter and supplemented with interesting anecdotal case studies which touch on feats of grit, endurance, and survival against all odds. Hutchinson showcases his abilities as a journalist and a physiologist in breaking the components of human performance limitations into the concise and easily digestible components of pain, oxygen, heat, thirst, and fuel. What it was, however, was a well-crafted, smart, research and experience backed examination of the physiological factors that set the limits of human performance, and what keeps those limits elastic. I Amazon Primed myself a copy and dove right into my personal quest toward better understanding and overcoming my own running psyche.Īs it turns out, Endure was not exactly the “Chin up! You can do anything you set your mind to!” go-girl guide to positive self-talk and validation I was seeking when I asked my coach for reading recommendations. (In fact, Malcolm Gladwell wrote the forward to Endure!). The reviews indicated that this was something Hutchinson did well also. Additionally, I’m a fan of Malcolm Gladwell’s style of writing that seamlessly blends statistical data with anecdotal accounts to add meaning and practical application to what might otherwise, to the untrained eye, look like a random jumble of math and science. Hutchinson’s diverse and well-rounded resume which boasts impressive accomplishments as a journalist, scientist, and runner immediately piqued my interest, along with his exclusive press access to Nike’s Breaking 2 project and the research, product development, and training leading up to it in 2017. in Physics from Cambridge, and two-time finalist in the 1500 meters at the Canadian Olympic Trials. He suggested Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchinson, columnist for Outside Magazine, holder of a Ph.D. ![]() After logging a disappointing A-race, preceded by an extra mentally draining training cycle this spring, I asked my coach if he had any recommendations that might help boost my mental game. I'm always on the hunt for reading material that might unlock some sort of performance-boosting breakthrough for my personal running goals. ![]()
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