The Funnel

Bolstering Life's Second Half

I’ve never been the smartest guy in the room. In spite of 4 college degrees covering biology, physical therapy and performance psychology, I’m not even the smartest person at the table when Suzanna and I sit down for dinner! However, I am endlessly curious, and I am continuously (and at times, friends will suggest, humorously) experimenting with and testing evidence-based insights from other brilliant people to see how they affect my outcomes in the real world.

I’m also not the most gifted athlete you’ll meet. Few people realized I was even on the high school track team and for some reason the NBA never came calling. However, thanks to the insights and guidance of others, I was fortunate on the eve of age 50 to become the first person ever to win the Race Across America 2-person cycling event (as seen in the film Godspeed), qualify for the Hawaii Ironman World Championship and run a sub-3 hour marathon - and do it all in the same year (at age 49). As usual, this was a result of being willing to give it a try, and then putting others’ insights into practice, certainly not due to some natural talent or ability.

As I approach 60, I’m simultaneously discouraged… and driven. Maybe you’re right there with me. I look around and see so many people over 40 (and especially 50 or 60) who are settling. They’ve fallen for the myth that “it’s all downhill from here!” Perhaps they’ve had ill-informed physicians tell them to take it easy. Or they saw an article saying all things remaining equal (put a pin in that statement - we’ll come back to it), we lose 1% of our muscle mass/year after age 40. Or maybe they’ve decided it’s just easier to blame age rather than consider the change in habits over time that have lead them to their current condition.

It does not have to be that way. All things don’t have to be equal. The population data on which the rapid (1%/year) decline is population data, not N-of-1 data with individuals like you who refuse to settle! We DO have options. The future of our fitness and wellbeing has NOT been predetermined. Yes - age matters. But as we’ll discuss - you have far (far!) more control over its influence than you may have been told.

We live in a world of infinite data and information at our fingertips. I’m here to provide the funnel, not through the eyes of an Olympic athlete, a 30-year-old “bro-science” influencer, or a researcher who rarely leaves the lab. Instead, I’ll provide a real-world funnel, from a real-world human being in his late 50’s. The Not Done Yet Venture will gather the very best evidence-based physiological, psychological and occasional philosophical insights, run them through the application filter of someone just like you: a 50+ individual who is not done yet. I’ve been reading, listening, researching and applying this information for five decades. It’s my hope this new format provides value beyond my direct circle of friends and family, bringing hope, encouragement and actionable guidance to those seeking to move beyond the status quo.

Two other unique (and I think you’ll find important) aspects of note you probably won’t find many places online:

1. I don’t utilize any performance enhancing drugs (e.g., human growth hormone or testosterone) so common among fitness “influencers” (unfortunate choice of words) in this age category. I’m also fortunate at this point to not require any other medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. That time may come, and I’ll share those details when we cross that path. However, for now, you can know any results/findings are not confounded by variables related to medications.

2. I’m not selling anything. I’m writing this because it’s at the core of who I am - who I’ve always been since bagging groceries at age 16 and encouraging my co-workers to join me for a run. If I share an idea, it’s not tied to a sponsorship or financial motivation - it’s because it worked for this N-of-1 guy from Colorado who loves seeing individuals move toward a better tomorrow. We’re in a phase of life where revenue streams are no longer a priority but making a meaningful difference is more important than ever.

Mediocrity surrounds us. The couch is calling. Settling for the status quo is, well, the status quo. But if you’re different… if you’re not done yet… I’d be honored to have you join me on this journey through the 2nd half of life!