On VO₂ Max and Virtue
Essay 4 of 17 in the Health Series: “The Body as Civilization”
“Endure and renounce.” - Epictetus
There is a moment in any hard run or long hike when the breath breaks, when the lungs begin to claw for air, and the mind confronts the single question that cannot be escaped: will you continue, or will you stop? I have lifted weights that strained my bones, sprinted until my legs vibrated, and played matches that left …
