It has been fasciting and inspiring over the last couple of weeks to read
Jamie's updates from New Zealand. He has been living through the massive earthquake in Christchurch and the subsequent aftermath.
I wanted to highlight something he wrote today:
....that said however, as I reflect on the events of that and subsequent days, I can see a degree of capacity there that many didn't have. There was a lot of sprinting, lifting, and digging going on. I truly believe, that had I been anywhere in town that had required me to move objects, climb, jump, run, dodge, or weave, to get out alive, I would have backed myself to the hilt to give it the best go I could, simply because the training I do gives me that capacity. Several buildings had their stairwells separate from the building itself (some catastrophically). Could I have got myself down a couple of floors if I had to? Yes I think I could. I can jump gaps, lift objects getting on for twice my own mass, fit into tight gaps, crawl, climb... To me, that is stacking the deck in one's favour. I might not get out of every situation, but I would sure as hell try and wouldn't go down passively without a fight.
The base of all of this? Strength. At no point throughout the initial aftermath, and in the days after, did the ability to function at a high level of my maximum aerobic output have any use whatsoever. Strength formed the basis of everything I did. And it gave me a degree of confidence in everything I did.
Two important ideas there:
- Skill - movnat style. Erwan talks about learning skills that will allow you to survive - run for your life, crawl etc. You won't survive on the basis of your elliptical trainer ability
- Strength - is fundamental to all skills
This stuff - and all Jamie's writings - should give you pause for thought
