We spend our lives building an identity.. You probably see me as the guy obsessed with being active and cooking healthy meals, at least I hope so.
For decades Rich Roll's been the ultra-enduring, savage athlete. Rich has built an identity in wellness that goes further than almost anyone in the space. When his back became too much to ignore he needed surgery, and it forced him to slow down completely.
This year I watched him get it back, and how he did it has stuck with me more than anything I've learned about food all year.
If someone told me I couldn't train for a long stretch it'd mess with my head. A lot. Reckon you'd be the same. Rich isn't shy about saying it was the same for him.
So he got up at 4am and got on the bike. On his own, nothing to show anyone for it. No audience, no announcement, then he did it again the next day, and the day after that.
In March I ran next to him for his first mile back in New York. Four months later, he's reshaped his body and is putting out serious watts. He's also more excited about life and the work he's doing than I've ever seen him. Like a kid straight out of college.
Reminds me of washing pans in kitchens when I was starting out. Nobody saw a second of it.
Being told what to do only gets you so far. Doing it when there's no one around to notice is the part that actually builds you.
Full article if you’re interested:
legendary.beehiiv.com/p/what…