The hypothesis is simple — you don't change by defeating yourself. You change by teaming up with yourself.
For the past twenty years, my life has been a series of grand experiments. I play large games to open myself up to new possibilities. One such game, involved becoming a competitive runner in my forties, and it went well: four-time U.S. Masters Runner of the Year, twenty national titles, and an American Record. But the trophies were never the point. It was all about 'what if?'.
I'm not an athlete. I'm an experimenter — a work in practice. Playing an infinite game. This site is my journal of how it all unfolds.
How fast can I run a mile — little run training, no speed work, no intervals — at 58 and over 170 lbs.?
Gentle approach · nothing earned by force
Using a high-volume, low-intensity approach, can I keep building endurance, strength and technique on XC skis — without ever training hard — and enjoy the experience of getting better year after year?
Cross-country skiing · World Masters, Norway '27
How much muscle and strength can I build the gentle way — never training hard, never going to failure, never taking time off?
No failure · no force · no rest weeks
Updated when the games change — not on a schedule.
Twenty years ago, I toed the line in order to prove something. Many times, I did. But the medals and titles are not what keeps me in the game. They are not even the most memorable part of this journey. Their value, now, is to point to all the different ways in which I won. None of which were standard. None of which were planned. They were simply the result of my adaptive attempts to remain relevant, when door after door closed on my running career. Hail Mary experimentation was all that I had left... and for this, I am eternally grateful.
When I look back at 2019, my head spins. The magnitude of what I achieved that year does not make sense... and I'm not even sure how to talk about it without sounding boastful. But I am curious to unpack it, examine the underlying mechanics, and try to understand what I have stumbled upon. So, here we go...
Essays on endurance, attention, and the long practice. A living manifesto.
Twenty years of races, climbs, and trail numbers. Kept honestly.
Work with Tim one-on-one. Available for new clients quarterly.
Short notes from the training log. Posted when useful, not daily.
Audiobooks, ebooks, lectures, and a hat. Shipped from Vermont.
Letters welcomed. Please be patient with my reply time.