Getting Up Early: An Ode, A Lament
bySome mornings, after I have been jarred out of a deep sleep far too early by my watch alarm, which is a booby trap…
ESSAYS
The Joy Of Planning Trips I’ll Never Take
byI was opening a fifth browser tab when I caught myself. Researching an 600+-mile bike packing route had nothing to do with what I…
Going Fast, Going Far
byEven when I was just taping off my steps before the race started, I was comparing myself to the other runners. I don’t remember…
I Hate Running
by[NOTE: To mark the publication of my new book, I Hate Running and You Can Too, on March 16th, I’m re-posting the original essay…
Make 2021 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm
byNote: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make 2012 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm.” Every year around…
The Life-Changing Magic Of Ignoring The Ratings
bySeveral years ago, I had an idea to collect some bad Yelp reviews of U.S. national parks for a story on Adventure Journal. Since…
The Dog’s Guide To Being Present
byMy dog, probably like many dogs you know, lives inside, but lives for any opportunity to go outside. As he starts to detect signs…
The Loop Routes That Don’t Show Up On The Map
byLast Friday afternoon, I locked my bike to a sign next to the trail and tried to convince myself it wasn’t that hot—it was…
A Psychologist Rates The Strategies I Use To Deal With Stress And Anxiety
byLike you, I am trying to get better at dealing with stress and anxiety. I am aware that I suck at it, and that…
Weren’t We Lucky
byThanks for reading. If you’d like to help keep Semi-Rad going, forward this piece to…
Why We Can Still Listen To “What’s Going On” 50 Years Later
byThanks for reading. If you’d like to help keep Semi-Rad going, forward this piece…
Zen And The Act Of Washing Dishes
by—Brendan Thanks for reading. If you’d like to help keep Semi-Rad going, forward this piece to someone who’d like it,…
How To Win When There’s No Finish Line
by[If you’re interested in the “One Day At A…
An Illustrated Story About Anxiety
by—Brendan Thanks for reading. If you’d like to help keep Semi-Rad going, forward this piece…
A Bicycle Crash
byIn my memory of the house, which is from when I was much smaller, the retaining wall was always around three feet high. But…
How To Show Up
byI looked at the menu at a booth in Morg’s, a diner in Waterloo, Iowa, on a cold morning this past January, sure of…
Make 2020 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm
byNote: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make 2012 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm.” Every year around…
Choose Wonder
byThe South Rim of the Grand Canyon can be a magical place: You stand with a 180-degree view of a thing so big and…
Remember When We Were Young?
byMark and I sat in the front window of a Denver coffee shop, talking about aging. Mark was 44, I was 37. Thirty-seven and…
Morning Rituals For The Reasonably Productive And Moderately Successful
byYou may have heard or read a lot about the morning rituals of high-functioning people—CEOs, visionary businesswomen and men, political leaders, gurus, life coaches,…
Ski Boots Are Ridiculous, Long Live Ski Boots
byYou know what this ritual feels like: You loosen every buckle on your ski boots, pull your sock up, and mentally armor yourself for…
Yes, A Friend Can Make Miserable Things Less Miserable
byI trudge forward, the muddy road tugging at my running shoes, splattering my ankles and shins, as I finish the uphill part of my…
Lessons From Eight Years Of Writing An Adventure Blog
byOne afternoon last August, a delivery truck rolled up outside my house in Denver. Two men got out, dollied a large box through the…
Experience The Joy of Not Bringing The Noise
byHere’s a crazy story: I spent four and a half hours outdoors alone the other day and didn’t listen to music, or a podcast,…
Make 2019 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm
byNote: I first wrote and published this post on December 29, 2011, calling it “Make 2012 The Year Of Maximum Enthusiasm.” Every year around…
A Simple Way To Write Your Own Ending To 2018
byIf you’re anything like most of us, another year ending means a lot of things: anxiety, hectic planning and travel, trying to meet everyone’s…
Why Finish Lines Will Get You Every Time
byI didn’t know why it happened. I was doing OK until the guy with the dog came through, and then, all of a sudden,…