The Misogi Challenge
Test Yourself Before Life Does
Most people don’t know what they’re made of. They have an idea of what they think they can do or what they used to be able to do.
They convince themselves that if the chips were down and they were called on, they would rise to the occasion.
That’s bullshit.
You won't rise to the occasion. You will default to the level you have trained to.
You don’t know where the foundation will fail until you put weight on it.
That’s why we need tests.
Not every day. Not turning every workout into a death march, but regular, deliberate testing to see where you stand.
Because if you never test yourself, you don’t know if your training is doing its job.
I am a fan of Go Ruck events, but most of them are designed for the team to help each other get through.
I recently came across the Ruck Race League, and one of their monthly challenges caught my attention: (I have no affiliation with them, but I do like the concept)
RUCK RACE 3: THE CENTRIFUGE.
A 10-mile ruck broken into 2-mile phases, with the load increasing every phase.
For women: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 pounds.
For men: 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 pounds.
Every two miles, the load goes up.
Your score is your total time.
Just you, the clock, the miles, and the increasing weight.
What I like about RRL is that you complete the race on your own and send in Strava proof.
While you can absolutely sign up and participate through RRL, you can do so on your own or create your own challenge.
A real challenge that gives you information about how your training is working, or where it is falling short.
A lot of people avoid tests because they’re afraid of failure, but failure in a self-imposed test is a lesson.
The Japanese have a concept called misogi.
Traditionally, it refers to purification through hardship, often through standing under a cold-ass waterfall. In modern performance culture, it has become a way of describing a hard, voluntary challenge that really tests you.
A proper misogi should be hard enough that success is not guaranteed.
The high likelihood of failure is the point. It should make you stand at the edge of your known capability and take a fucking leap.
Training is great, but at some point, you have to find out whether it worked.
That might be a Ruck Race League event or a challenge you come up with yourself, but pick a test and put it on the calendar.
Set your standard, do the work, then step to the starting line and find out.
Go test yourself and RTFU.
Until next week,
John
Life is Hard. Be Harder.
Bravo Zulu is the naval signal often sent via flags to acknowledge a job well done:
No BZs this week. Go earn one and let me know.
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There is still only 1 left, and when it’s gone, it’s gone:
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This is good. I recently put together a few monthly tests I do. Track them. Write it down. Basic things — 12 minute Cooper test, reps of 225 on bench, grip test, etc. But I can’t let myself get weaker so on days I don’t want to do the work…I do the work!
I believe the term us older folks learned was Gut Check.