I must admit I had never heard of Cameron Hanes prior to stumbling on this book. I thought I was about to read the inspiring story of an ultrarunner but this work turned out to be much, much more. Hanes is a peer, friend, and contemporary of David Goggins whom I am convinced is the toughest man on the planet. Hanes may be close second. Hanes’ ultra running exploits, however, serve to fuel his true passion – bow hunting. I would imagine Hanes is a well-known figure among bow hunters. I don’t own a bow or hunt, but I learned somethings from Hanes. First, Hanes extolls the virtues of working harder than anyone else to excel at what he’s passionate about. For him, that’s bow hunting, but for others it may be something else. Hanes credits his hunting success not to being naturally gifted, but rather his willingness to work harder than anyone else.
His story begs the question … are you willing to work hard to get where you want to be? If not, why are you doing it? Hanes works harder than anyone. To excel during deep mountain hunts searching for big game, Hanes participates in ultraruns and lifts weights. He does this so he can climb higher, go deeper, and carry out his kills where others wouldn’t be able to do so. It’s an incredible example. Examining his life makes me ponder the fine line between obsession and sacrifice. It makes me wonder how much is too much. I have an obsessive personality bordering on OCD … but I often fail to channel my obsessions in a positive way … and often obsess on the wrong things. However, the obsessive part of my spirit appreciates Hanes. He is an example of how to do things right.
I was surprised when I discovered a spiritual element to Hanes’ story. It was noted that the most influential person in his life was a Christian who lived by his faith. This alone stands as a testament to the power of Christ. Hanes dips his toes a bit into the water of faith in this story but seems to stop just short of immersing himself. I am not sure where he stands explicitly on Christ or God’s Word, but I would love to see him explore that side of his story more in the future. I am a firm believer that true health encompasses mind, body, and spirit. And would enjoy hearing Hanes’ perspective on the spiritual side of things. Hanes is an inspirational guy, and the thought of how many people he could influence for Christ is staggering … and I pray he would be led in that direction.
I enjoyed this book tremendously. Much like a Goggins read, Hanes story is told with some foul language, but not in a way that detracts from the lessons within. I recommend this for runners, hunters, and for anyone looking for inspiration.
DYING 2 SELF 