Limits - Intertwingled: Information Changes Everything - page 99

Chapter 5, Limits
“In a single individual it can happen in a millisecond. All it takes is a click in the mind, a falling of scales
from eyes, a new way of seeing.”
- Donella Meadows
The end is near. The pain is great. I steal a glance at my wife and our two beautiful daughters,
but the moment is too much. I fight back tears and watch my breath. I can't afford to lose focus.
Physically and emotionally, I'm devastated, but I've come too far to collapse with the end in
sight. So, I put one foot in front of the other. I run past my limits and over the line. A 7:12 pace
for 26.2 miles. I've met my goal.
People said it couldn't be done. You're too old. It's your first marathon. Go slow. Just aim to fin-
ish. But I would not yield. My race began with research. I read all about the science of endurance
and nutrition. I changed my diet, learned to boost my VO2 max, and taught my brain to relax its
thresholds. I adopted the “run less, run faster” system for optimal efficiency and minimal risk of
injury. cxxxii I hoped to qualify for the Boston Marathon with no more pain than necessary. Still,
two hour training runs open the door to doubt: push yourself, but not too hard, tendonitis is
game over, all this suffering for naught. When I grew dispirited, I sustained myself with uplift-
ing stories. In Once a Runner and The Extra Mile, I found the will to run on. As race day drew
near, I studied a map, sketched a plan, and made a checklist.
The morning of the marathon was unseasonably cold, but I was prepared for surprises. I wore
an extra shirt, gloves, two hats, and shorts, so I could shed layers over time. By the end, I was
sweating, but not too much, and that's the lesson I learned. A marathon blends information, in-
spiration, and perspiration. What we read changes how we run. Grit is an essential ingredient,
but the plan matters too. So does the goal. While it's fun to fix on a target, the pace isn't the
point. Marathons, triathlons, and wilderness hiking quests are all part of a strategy to maintain a
healthy mindbody. Each event is a tool for motivation. My race was a success before I ran it.
The architect Eliel Saarinen said “always design a thing by considering it in its next larger con-
text: a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city
plan.” I find this advice useful as an athlete, as a dad, and as an information architect.
In volleyball, we teach our girls that while it's fun to win, it's better to focus on teamwork, self-
cultivation, and health. Ironically, this reframing leads to more wins. This holds true in design as
well. All too often we hit the wall for want of a wide-angle lens. It may feel safe to focus on
simple metrics, but it's not. Obstacles, opportunities, connections, and consequences are often re-
vealed only by seeing the bigger picture. There are no closed systems. Everything is entangled
from code to culture. That's why it's malpractice to design a product, service, or experience
without considering strategy.