The pursuit of excellence often involves hardship. This might not be enjoyable, but it's a crucial part of the process. Undergoing challenging experiences can increase our capacity for happiness and prepare us better for life's obstacles.
In this episode of The Blueprint, cyclist and podcaster Anthony Walsh chats with Dr. Erik Korem to explore why hardship is so essential in the profound joys of sport, and how it helps build resilience that benefits us beyond competition.
In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why intense physical exertion provides an invaluable frame of reference for overcoming everyday difficulties
How contrast experiences of intense hardship can profoundly amplify subsequent feelings of comfort and contentment
Why voluntarily embracing periodic discomfort is key for resilience
How the accumulation of status symbols and possessions often fails to bring lasting fulfillment
How the iterative process of refining skills through small daily sacrifices builds character transferable to other pursuits

Get my weekly newsletter - Adaptation.
Start AIM7 for Free
Learn more about Anthony Walsh at roadmancycling.com
Roadman cycling podcast
 

Quotable moments:
"I would aim to do...80% of your time...long aerobic training. But you definitely want to throw in some harder stuff." - Anthony Walsh
"Go till you see Jesus." - Anthony Walsh on VO2 Max sessions
"If you distribute your time across the zones...you're taking a lot boxes for longevity, disease prevention." - Anthony Walsh
"The ROI on training time is massive...a 20 minute workout can trash yourself." - Anthony Walsh
"Don't drown your own voice out in data...How do I feel? should resonate as much as biometrics." - Anthony Walsh

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST:
The BluePrint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals.   Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.
On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.
Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.
SUPPORT & CONNECT
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erikkorem/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ErikKorem
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-korem-phd-19991734/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/erikkorem
Website - https://www.erikkorem.com/
Newsletter - https://erikkoremhpcoach.activehosted.com/fSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.