Brad on extreme

A great topic about which I'm surely and rightfully implicated as the extreme of the brothers. I think Ed actually referred to me this weekend as a "fringe lunatic", a moniker I accepted. Marc, you are missing the point of extreme physical challenges by distilling it to the t-shirt. Maybe that's the case for some, but for most it is about something completely different, and something which I think based on previous comments you have an equally difficult time understanding.

For me, doing something extreme like Kilimanjaro, ironman triathlon, mountain bike trips, etc. is all about seeing if I can. I started endurance events simply because I wanted to see if I could. I ran a 5K no problem, what about a 10K? A half marathon later I was thinking Chicago Marathon. Then triathlon since I hadn't done it. First a sprint, then olympic, 1/2 ironman, trained (and still regret not completing) the full ironman. Not for a t-shirt, but because I wanted to see if I could do it. When you push the limits of physical endurance you learn an incredible amount about your physical and mental ability, and it is far greater than you ever imagined. But the only way to really find out how far you can go is just to get out there and do it.

I think Sheila would say that when it comes to physical challenges I'm quite restless. Running, triathlons, mountains, and more. There is so much I want to try, to have the experience and see that I can. It is why, after 5 days and 6 difficult hours in the middle of the night on Kilimanjaro and successfully reaching the summit, as soon as on the way down I was thinking about what was next. You see, I realized in the dark and cold of that mountain, that my body and mind could achieve so much more. That mountain hadn't emptied me, taken all from me that I could give. I had more to give would that mountain have demanded it of me.

I've done a good bit of reading about high altitude mountaineering and a common flood of emotion at the top of a large mountain is among other things: emptiness. I attribute that emptiness to a couple of scenarios, one of which is knowing there was more to give, there was more to achieve. It pales in comparison, but on the summit of Kilimanjaro I was deeply satisfied with my effort and achievement, but I did immediately think about what more I could do if it was asked of me. Perhaps some would translate that thought to an empty feeling.

I won't even try to comment on the topic of religious extremism or restlessness. But I would ask that you not cheapen the idea of extreme effort in sport as mindless bravado or t-shirt seeking.