Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Worked at station 16 (where I did not want to be), stood most of the morning reading and studying, caught a car fire, studied some more and then caught a brush fire. I fasted most of the day (whoops) and only ate two - 4oz. pieces of wild caught salmon just before the brush fire. Brush fire lasted from approx. 1430 to midnight. As it is with the military, so to it is with the fire service where we play the "hurry up and wait" game. The first few hours we stood around and watched everybody else work and later finally got our chance. I actually enjoyed this. I loved the hard work and was able keep going and going and going... all on two pieces of fish and lots of bottled water. So, what did I gather from this? First, I don't work out like I used to. Back in my crossfit and "more intense" metabolic conditioning days, I would've been gassed on a brush fire like this. No question. I've been there many, many times. These days, I lift heavy weights once or twice a week and sprint for the same mixed in with some surfing, daily walking, and various other low level but fun activities. I also go longer in between meals (fast) and don't require the energy I once did. So, why do people continue to train at such high intensities when they really don't need to? I figure it's because 1: they're simply trying to burn calories, lose weight, and get ripped and believe this is what it takes and 2: they've never "really" been in a situation such as a brush fire where they're actually putting their so-called "fitness" to the test. Everybody wants to train for "function" or "survival" but they really have no idea what that entails. Eat right, work hard but smart, and your body will respond accordingly in precarious situations. What I found even more ironic is the lack of energy, calories, or fuel (whatever you want to call it) that I required to do this kind of extensive and intense type of work for 10 hours. One of hour chiefs brought pizzas, subs, cookies, Five Hour Energy shots, sweet tea, granola bars, etc., for our "replenishment." I watched most everybody else consume this and then falter out later on. By the time we "contained the fire" sure, I was tired and ready to go to bed and probably could have ate something (as I was starting to get hungry). I also told myself that the workout I had planned for the next day was nixed. Well, I went to bed without any food and then worked out the next day. Something about that ongoing adrenaline rush that keeps you wanting to go! And so, I did workout, still on no food and just a couple big cups of coffee. The workout was Farmer's walks/carries and sprints.
