Right, this is an unusual pairing of titular themes.

Yet please bear with me as we delve in ways to chase Big Hairy Audacious Goals (aka BHAGs) that are performance models of Epic Sh*t.

You may dust off your Wayback Machine to find the acronym BHAG. Though the acronym started with Collins and Porris in a 2012 book, I liberally extend BHAGs to world record athletic pursuits.

As an example, this lone hiker’s BHAG is to “summit” that distant and lofty mountain peak.

As my personal example, I share a recent ultra-distance performance by five bucket-list guys, average age 72.

Why did we choose to set a world record for the relay distance rowed on a indoor rower ? That is a great question, as many good folks (like my wife) thought that this was a loony idea.

Well, all of us believe in imposing new demands on our aging bodies. Amassing 189 miles (304,302 meters) in a day was an imposition. Yet the worthy returns on imposed investment of sweat and kilocalories are both explicit and implicit.

The one to two pounds of body fat expended by each of us is just one explicit reward. That’s right, my 7-hour contribution of 95,000 meters rowed internally combusted ~6,000 dietary calories. Yess, there are easier ways to shed fat, yet setting a world record isn’t supposed to be easy.

I asked each of my 4 teammates to adopt a book by Christopher Bergland as a training manual, The Athlete’s Way (Sweat and the Biology of Bliss).

Bergland was an off-the-charts endurance athlete who set the world record for non-stop running distance on a treadmill. Yes, a quest like that is out of my league and probably yours, too. Please follow my science-backed and sweat-based lesson on DOSE-RESPONSE that conclude too much of a good thing is not wonderful.

Yet, the premise of his book is that we should celebrate the gains in confidence, resilience, and humble pride that we gain by chasing BHAGs. He wrote,

“when I am running, biking, or swimming, happiness pours out of me…everyone who exercises to sweat (properly) experiences this bliss.”

For the record, so to speak, here is our Well Past Forty Record certificate 🙂

Earth Day

I was a mere junior in High School when Earth Day began. I shout out to the forward-leaning activists, and a U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who originated the BHAG of Earth Day, to be celebrated near the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Let’s salute, and honor this terrestrial ball that we call home!

Four Ways to Fit Mother Earth into your Fitness Bliss

As an ever-practical scribe and athlete, I suggest activities like these to integrate personal health with planetary health:

Fitness is a dynamic way to connect personal health and planetary health.

1. Catch a Local Yoga Session

Guided yoga sessions help us connect with the only environment we have. Yoga, or similar mind-body efforts, are great to work on your flexibility and mental clarity when surrounded by community energy.

2. Take an “Earth Day Challenge” (Virtual 5K/10K)

Participate in an Earth Day Challenge happening today.

• 100% of the proceeds go to humanitarian aid like water filters for remote villages. It’s a great way to make your daily cardio count for a global cause.

3. Plogging anytime, anywhere

Picking up litter while jogging is more physically demanding, immersive and rewarding than a “run of the mill” jog.

4. Trail Maintenance & Hiking

Find an earthly functional strength workout

• Move mulch, plant trees, or clear brush as “nature’s CrossFit.”

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And, as you are headed for an out-of-doors workout today and everyday, please avoid the “plastic trap.” Drink from a stainless steel bottle or non-PBA canister, and strive to don workout gear made from recycled materials.

When you return home, enjoy non-inflammatory macros and micros, like the home-grown Vitamin “P”lant shown in this image.

I trust that you sense my encouragement to do Epic Sh*t, and perhaps celebrate your BHAG with bubbly or noble grapes from the Browne Family Vineyards.

After all, measured sips of earthly wine have phytonutrients (polyphenols) that can healthily keep you in good cheer for many more Earth Days

Stay Well Past Forty,

Koach Dave

ps – Stay tuned for the launch of my third book, Burden? or Banish! in the late 2026. And, BOLO (Be On the LOokout) for comprehensive 7s. fit training and education packages too.

Are you ready to join the Big KAHUNA grass-roots effort?

Please join our mailing list by sending me an email with your intent.