I typically write this post on a Friday, but as yesterday was the 4th of July, it’s coming your way on Saturday. This week, I did my first full day in the kitchen of our bakery (switchbakery.com) since the surgery. We had a short week and anticipated a big day at the market in Santa Cruz on Wednesday. 

Boy, were we right! We sold out of bread in an hour and ended up serving one-and-a-half times the people of our normal market.

The upside is that we have a bunch of days off until next week. We spent our 4th hiking a loop at Point Lobos and hanging out with my oldest daughter who came down from Oregon. I hope you found some respite on a day intended to celebrate our country at time when it feels incredibly difficult to do. Here’s what I found this week that helped me stay focused on the good work.

A few weeks ago, I heard Jonathan Stewart of EverGreen Adventures on the AboutIBD Podcast and reached out to see if he would be interested in connecting. Jonathan and his wife started EverGreen Adventures as a non-profit to help people with chronic illnesses get outdoors. This week, we got a chance to get on a Zoom and it was super energizing to connect with someone who has gone through similar challenges and is looking to help others and keep moving. EverGreen is hosting the IBD Adventure Alliance run, a free event, in Bozeman, Montana. I wish I could make it out, but I’m sure at some point our paths and passion will cross.

This week, I read a fascinating study that was presented at the 2024 Integrative Physiology of Exercise Conference. The research looked at how kettlebell training might help older adults (60-80 years old) maintain muscle mass and reduce inflammation. In a couple of weeks, I’m giving a talk at the Elk’s Club in Santa Cruz (along with some gluten-free dessert from our bakery) about how my experience with an autoimmune disease has led me toward longevity research and how this applies to aging, so this was perfect timing.  What’s particularly encouraging is that the participants had no prior resistance training experience—proving it’s never too late to start. After just six months of twice-weekly kettlebell training, participants showed improved grip strength, stronger legs, and increased muscle mass. By the one-year mark, they were climbing stairs faster and had reduced body-wide inflammation.

I’ve had to rebuild strength multiple times after health setbacks. Even now, after my surgery a few months ago, I’m starting over. The study is a reminder that consistency (training) applied to relatively simple tools (like kettlebells and a Peloton) is the path to meaningful improvements in both strength, overall health and giving ourselves the best shot at having a long health span.

With the Tour de France kicking off, the peloton will dominate my early mornings as it makes its way around France. One of my favorite cyclists, Primoz Roglic, has grit and resilience like no other. The winner of 5 Grand Tour races has also crashed out of the last three years of The Tour, but he keeps coming back.

Before the race, Roglic says in an interview with The Atlantic (paywall or Apple News), "Cycling is one of the toughest sports. That's what attracted me." Roglic has an almost stoic perspective on struggle: "Everybody has that fight in their lives. It doesn't really matter what kind of job you do." While Patrick Lefevere of the Soudal–Quick-Step team describeshim as something almost Homeric, "He never gives up. You hit him, he goes down, he gets back up. He's like a really good boxer." It's a good interview with a fierce competitor who also has some ability to be satisfied with his results.

Last weekend was the Western States 100, one of the most prestigious and challenging ultramarathons in the U.S. Abby Hall put in an incredible performance, winning the race with the fourth fastest finish by a woman, and bested her own previous effort by almost 6 hours! What I love about this profile on the CTS blog breaking down her victory is whenCoach Jason Koop describes “a section-by-section mental plan that defined the attitude she would bring to specific portions of the race.” Her plan describes when to assert herself, how to use big sections of the race to relax by reminding her of her home training, and when to really dig into big efforts. We are so used to seeing structure in training plans for when to ride, lift, run, and stretch, but this kind of mindset work is inspiring.

Need more to read? One of my favorite Outdoor writers published his list of the best summer reads for adventurers and fitness fans. I’ve read several of these: North by running legend Scott Jurek, Win the Inside Game by Steve Magness, and, recently, the author’s own, The Explorer’s Gene, by Alex Hutchinson. I’ve added a few of these others to my summer reading list.

You may be sensing a theme for this week — Rebecca Rusch is known as "The Queen of Pain" for her incredible ultra-endurance achievements. After a mountain bike crash left her with concussion symptoms for two-and-a-half years, Rebecca started a podcast to explore how elite athletes and performers slow down and experience transitions in their life and careers. This week she spoke to the legendary Gabby Reece, in an episode titled, Built for More: Strength, Surrender, and Self Definition. 

Gabby has been one of my athletic heroes since my early 20s. Growing up in Alaska, my sports were largely things done in the snow. I grew up at a ski resort that spawned two Olympians in my age group and several collegiate stars. Downhill skiing, cross-country, and snowboarding were all things I loved, but didn't have enough talent to make me ever feel like I could be an athlete in school. You could say I was in it for the vibes. When I went to college in Pueblo, Colorado, I fell in love with beach volleyball and ended up on a two-man team with a guy who played for the Guam national team. I have no idea why he wanted to play with me; I'm 5'8" and beefier than your average player, but I would hurl my body without a thought to pop something up that he could smash into our opponents.

Gabby (or, Gabriel) Reece was the equivalent of Michael Jordan for me, not just for her fierce competitive spirit and gifted play, but for how she has continuously evolved. In this conversation, she dives deep into what it means to transition from athlete to leader, discussing how "doing something well doesn't mean doing it forever." What resonated with me was her perspective on strength and surrender—that being strong doesn't mean being hard, and that surrender isn't weakness but another form of strength. Her insights about trusting your inner signals over metrics and creating sustainable practices resonate strongly with me as does her commitment to reinvention without apology.

 

That does it for this week. Next week, you’ll find me at the Santa Cruz markets and pouring all of this inspiration into post-surgery cycling fitness with the 14-day Tour de France Challenge Coach Menachem of Human Vortex Training is putting on.