Jul

14

Three Essential Elementary Lessons from Running Many Miles for Modern Life

The first lesson is how far a mile is.

There are really two lessons in learning about the effort it takes to get from point A to B. Modern life allows you to forget about that effort. As the miles running slowly add up, it is clear magic and beauty of modern life is largely possible due to the modern communal spirit allowing the efficiency of commuting. Yet, this easily is taken for granted. The communal spirit of capitalism drives this intricate web of oil, trains, planes and automobiles. This great efficiency allows the governmental monopolies of public transportation, the roads and even the often terrible inefficient mandate of too many handicap spaces. These government "freebies" all imply we have forgotten that there is a price to pay for getting from point A to B.

The other lesson is that you get an intuitive feel for distance. The beginner often closely counts each mile, watching them add up to 100s then 1000s. The more you run, the closer your estimate gets to the actual correct distance, the more you know what pace you are going. The better shape you get in the more you understand how hard those that are in superior shape must work. The closer you get to the best of your abilities the more you understand the talent, effort, youthful vigor and luck it took for the race leaders to be there. Soon you dream of 10k runs or perhaps running a half marathon. Next you might start obsessing over your times or even step up to what most people can’t begin to comprehend, running a full 26.2 mile marathon. The lesson learned is how much effort and talent it takes to be great at anything, while at the same time learning how much potential is in almost anyone.

Numerical illiteracy is perhaps so rampant, because few can develop a mentally relevant personal relationship to the numbers. This relevancy can be fostered by attaching them to personal effort. Fostering such understanding of numbers to individual effort is dangerous to expansion of government.

The second lesson is effort produces contentment How great the most meager meal is when your body has earned it and needs it. Rice and beans after a marathon taste better than a five-star meal in New York. Modern life has allowed us to forget what a true need is and for most of us how simple satisfying those true needs could be.

The final lesson is nature’s intention for adrenaline.

Running teaches the true meaning of our fight and flight instinct. Clearly, running or flight is a natural outlet for the over-stimulation modern life can give. This shouldn’t be underestimated.

When there is real danger, I usually did something stupid, listened to the wrong guide, or tested my limits beyond the reasonable. Rather than panic, it is time to think. Often I can relate to the hobo’s tales. Perhaps not to the depths or as close to life and death. Nor can I claim the clever solutions that he has came up with. But I too have jumped a train or two, got caught in a few storms with lightning nearby, answered a few questions about trespassing, ended up dehydrated to confusion, felt hypothermia to exhaustion and felt the sting of frost bite.

Finally, if the there is a natural fight or flight moment, the answer almost always is what is the best path out, or flight. Who needs the barbaric, artificial, drunken adrenaline rush of running of the bulls? Try coming out of the woods into a pasture early at dawn in Montana awakening a herd of elk moms and calves resting, causing yourself to start a short stampede. Or even respectfully but unexpected close, facing the lone bison bull standing perfectly still. There are two exits or flight strategies, often the quick exit is best, but sometimes its a slow stealthy exit to avoid causing attention or the pounce on prey instinct.

What does this say to the trader/speculators? Perhaps, much of this is self evident or there are more important lessons, but in reverse order as listed:

Few modern jobs can have much adrenaline both in their depth and in their frequency as trading. Total immersion into this culture is not the answer. For most of us, trying to condition yourself to its effects by over-exposure will leave you with a burn-out, an empty wallet, and a nervous tick.

Learning to control adrenaline the way nature intended: exercise for an outlet; limit your exposure to artificially interjected adrenaline; shun gambling, especially gambling where you cannot out think the other. Don’t ever let those paid to scream BUY! BUY! or SELL! SELL! induce panic. Enjoy nature, and learn from it; nature respects man. Position yourself as the owner and you generally have a pleasant run. If you do test your limits expect to stay sharp.

Second, all is never lost if you still have hope, it takes very little to recover. A study of what this means, how to achieve this, is best found in studying The Chair’s life and philosophy in his low point. A study of the opposite of what this mean, but all too frequent for the speculators profession, is to learn from the mistakes of those loosing a fortune and committing suicide. But let me say I believe it begins with a respect for all those that take pride in their work. No matter how low rung they are.

Finally, while not totally quantitative, may I suggest that it’s not just about the fundamental analysis of a company? Rather, it is understanding the effort, the talent, the youthful vigor and even the luck that went into getting those numbers. My mistaken analysis of Google last year shows this. I completely missed their youthful vigor which the market keeps rewarding. And always consider the best path to the exit, not just planning your entry.


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