Sendō means "the way of the hermit".

I post monthly updates on:

Why? And what?

Well, where some folks used lockdowns to improve their lives, I did the opposite. Stayed in an unfulfilling job, stopped socializing with anyone and ripped Honey Backwoods like a demon. Four years later I reached my final form: deadbeat.

I could say the pandemic led me to self-destructive behaviors but I had been praying for a reason to stay indoors forever. No more long commutes to work, weddings of distant cousins or amateur DJ sets of kids from high school.

When lockdowns started, I jumped into the deep end.

It started innocently enough - work like a dog during the day then inhale an epic backlog of media all night. I wanted it all: rewatching the classic TV shows that influenced my childhood, seeing every top-tier movie adored by critics, endless episodes of premiere television.

I saw the heights of imagination through every creative medium. When I exhausted fantasy there was history: human achievement and insanity in biographies, documentaries and an embarrassing amount of Wikipedia pages. Then the bookmarks I never reopened: countless long-read articles to ancient stickies on long-gone forums.

It was a lot, sure, but I could leave the mental swamp whenever I wanted. And I was at the top of my game at work - excited customers, happy bosses, being the go-to guy for getting stuff done.

Nobody would know how weird it was getting.

And so, a year passed.

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Maybe two.

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It started during the summer.

Emails I should've responded to, meetings to schedule, projects to complete: late. Instead it was another YouTube video about the fall of Rome, hours-long rants on the Star Wars sequel trilogy, deep dives on cars I'd never buy. Stupid shit. Sneaky pints became double-stuffed spliffs; dog walks in nature became pilgrimages to the bodega for the reload.

Self-discipline melted away and the sirens of content took me into the depths. New shows, Steam sales, an endless web of Related Videos.

I transformed into Captain Ahab as I gorged on content: endlessly searching for it. That show, that game, that book, that article - with it I'd have the ultimate answer to what I should be doing with my life. Then I'd go on the straight and narrow.

This was a quest for the holy grail.

Sure.

But after inhaling all of the content I ever wanted for years, what was it?

As a kid I felt happiest in front of a screen or a book. I was afraid of the outside world: lil nerd, big glasses, physical consistency of a green bean. Attended several Harry Potter book premieres at Barnes & Nobles.

You get the idea.

I found happiness through fantasy: arcades, books, D&D sessions, gaming with online friends. Without realizing it I created a subconscious split between an everyday life that I resented and fantasy where I could be free.

I thought I grew out of it as I got older. I had a good job, great friends and a loving partner. But when times got harder than I could handle, I didn't rise up to the occasion. I didn't talk it out, ask for help or think my way out.

Instead I ran away into the hobbit hole of my dreams. I was on a roller coaster of chemical dependence but at the root was a lifelong desire for escapism.

The real world became a haze.

Years later, an epiphany.

I found it.

No special place or moment. I'd been through the cycle so many times that I felt like a zombie. After years of going nowhere fast I accepted that confronting reality was the only way to grow up. It was the friends we made along the way.

Cue genius idea: start a blog in 2023.

I'm not here to replace the hamster wheel of distraction with external validation. Let's call it "internal redemption through self-expression".

I never considered yoga until lockdowns during the pandemic era. Trolling around on YouTube as per usual I came across Leslie Fightmaster's channel. I was amazed by her teaching style, personality and the depth of resources she provided for free. I started with 10 minute hatha yoga videos and life changed for the better.

I felt graceful and limber for the first time in years. Meditation helped me understand my thoughts and feelings, while breathing exercises taught me how to stay present in every moment.

As a lifelong nerd who admired the discipline of martial artists, yoga offered me a way to cultivate that physical and mental excellence in a gentle way. Although Leslie passed away in 2022, I’m grateful for the introduction to yoga through her.

Every morning I aim for three rounds of Wim Hof breathing exercises, 15+ minutes of meditation and 20+ minutes of yoga asanas.

There's something romantic about the hero on a quest. Getting in adventures, overcoming challenges and connecting with people from every walk of life. The pursuit of a marathon felt just like that. You don't need expensive equipment, a monthly gym membership or someone to compete against. It's just you and the trails.

I've completed several road races and events like the Tough Mudder, but reading Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running inspired me to approach the marathon. His words made running feel obtainable, distant and spiritual at the same time.

I have loved surfing ever since I watched Endless Summer by Bruce Brown as a kid. Growing up in the city that wasn't going to happen without a trek to the Rockaways so I found the next best thing: skateboarding. I loved the culture, the passion, the weirdness of it all. Whether it was the technical aspects of tricks or the elegance of longboarding, it was physically demanding and mentally rewarding.

Now that my kickflip days are behind me, I found the next best thing: cycling. Yuck to the spandex and goofy helmets but in picking up a cheap bicycle I rediscovered how fun it can be to ride. It's just like surfing and skateboarding: finding flow and getting technical when you want. Road, gravel or mountain biking - they all deliver on feeling.

The Century (160.93km) is the marathon of the cycling world. All you need is a bike, a helmet and a dream. Maybe some electrolyte drinks and gel packs too.

Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask.

Here's some fun facts though:

I write a monthly blog: Go The Distance (GTD). Every now and again I'll release a second post during the month: could be a review, interview or anything in between.

Subscribe to get an email when new posts come out. You can email me with questions or comments.

Data summarizes my progress: total practices, runs, race results, PRs and so on.

Equipment includes my fitness tracker, running shoes, workout apps and more.

Research is the summary of what I’ve learned during the Sendō Challenge: my training system, workout programs, educational resources and more.

All icons courtesy of Game-Icons.net.