It’s a wet November night time right here in Oregon. As I sit in my bus tapping out sentences on my telephone, rain patters on the roof overhead. I’ve spent the day operating, making telephone calls, and serving to my girlfriend Jess construct an A-frame home. At this level within the day, I’m feeling fairly drained, so I sip heat matcha as I work to corral my ideas.
My mind hones in on one thing I’ve been occupied with in current days; the idea of extra. You’ve most likely heard the saying much less is extra. It’s a reasonably widespread and simple to know phrase. It’s merely the concept having much less of one thing is best than having extra of it. For instance, when tapering for a race, you would possibly remind your self that much less is extra, as a result of the principle goal is to relaxation up for race day, not put in additional arduous miles.
Lately, nevertheless, I’ve observed individuals utilizing an identical, however very completely different phrase. Maybe you’ve heard it as nicely. It’s the phrase “extra is extra.” I’ve largely, possibly solely, heard it utilized inside the context of endurance sports activities. To be trustworthy, its that means has felt a bit perplexing.
Jess’s home beginning to take form. Photograph: Zach Miller
Initially, I wasn’t certain what individuals meant once they stated, “extra is extra.” Have been they expressing that doing extra of one thing, like operating, was higher than doing much less of it? In different phrases, is operating extra weekly mileage higher than operating much less? Or, had been they merely saying that having extra of one thing wasn’t essentially higher or worse, simply extra. By this prepare of thought, operating 140 miles per week isn’t essentially higher than operating 70 miles per week. Possibly it’s, possibly it isn’t. All we actually know is that it’s extra miles.
Taking a better look, I feel they meant the previous of those two concepts. This could make sense as a result of the concept having extra of one thing is best than having much less of it’s the reverse of the beforehand talked about “much less is extra” phrase. Reverse statements with reverse meanings; the logic appears to take a look at.
However why am I even speaking about this? Reality is, over the previous week or so I’ve been occupied with humankind’s obsession with “extra.” Why is it that human beings get so caught up on this four-letter phrase? As endurance athletes we will simply discover ourselves wanting extra miles, extra vert, extra races, extra private information, and extra victories.
Zach Miller taking a break on a current coaching run within the Grand Canyon. Photograph: Rob Krar
On the earth outdoors of operating, we appear drawn to different issues. Individuals try to make more cash. Firms push for progress. Individuals lengthy for a larger return on their investments. We wish a stronger economic system and extra money in our pockets, however the place does this seemingly unending push take us?
On the earth of operating, “extra” generally is a harmful factor to chase. Positive, there are occasions when the pursuit is sweet. Extra miles may help to make us fitter and stronger. Extra depth may help to hone our pace. However, as many runners are conscious, an excessive amount of of these items can backfire with a vengeance. The development shouldn’t be all the time optimistic.
I can’t assist however suppose that life is identical. Absolutely extra has its limits. It could actually’t presumably be an infinite trajectory void of unfavorable repercussions. Sooner or later, extra turns into much less.
Outdoors the rain continues to fall. I don’t count on that it’s going to final without end. It by no means does. Like many issues in life, it has its time and place. A rain that by no means stops can be unhealthy for progress, as would one which by no means begins. In any case, much less is extra, extra is extra, and typically, extra is much less. No single mantra is the key, simply the knowledge of all three.
Name for Feedback
- What do you consider the phrase “extra is extra?”
- Do you suppose it leads individuals to fall right into a entice of overtraining, or wanting an excessive amount of from their operating?
- And what about this concept’s software to the remainder of our lives? Is there one thing we will be taught from the phrase in operating than applies to on a regular basis life?
