Recounting my recent experience downhill mountain biking to a friend, I said it was fun, but I didn’t feel I got much exercise. I barely pedaled at all or broke a sweat. She responded with, “Sally, I think you and I are ‘uphill’ people, meaning we like the challenge of climbing up hills to earn our down hills.”
Later, she emailed me a link to an article (tinyurl.com/54xnsy8w) by Brendan Leonard from Jan. 29, 2023. This humorous short piece explained the concept of “uphill” and “downhill” people and applied it to a wide range of athletic endeavors.
kAm%96 “FA9:== A6@A=6[” {6@?2C5 567:?65 2D “E9@D6 @7 FD H9@ 36=:6G6 2 =:76=@?8 DECF88=6 282:?DE 8C2G:EJ :D >62?:?87F=[ 962=E9J @C D@>6E9:?8]” w6 :?4=F565 4=:>36CD[ >@F?E2:?66CD[ EC2:= CF??6CD[ 9:<6CD 2?5 FA9:== D<:??:?8 D<:6CD]k^Am
kAm|2?J 4J4=:DED 2=D@ 7:E 9:D 567:?:E:@?] %96C6 2C6 C@25 3:<6CD H9@ DA64:2=:K6 :? 4=:>3:?8 9:==D] (2E49 E96 %@FC 56 uC2?46 2?5 J@F’== D66 E9@D6 FA9:==6CD 4C6DE:?8 >@F?E2:? C@25D 7:CDE] $:8? FA 7@C %:? |@F?E2:?’D da?5 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? pFE@ #@25 q:4J4=6 w:==4=:>3 @? pF8] `e[ 2?5 ;@:? @E96C 4J4=:DED A652=:?8 f]e >:=6D FA |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? E@ 62C? E96 E:E=6 @7 “FA9:== A6CD@?]Qk^Am
kAm$@>6 4C2KJ >@F?E2:? 3:<6CD =:<6 >6 6?;@J E96 492==6?86 @7 A652=:?8 FA9:== 2D >F49 2D E96J =:<6 8@:?8 5@H?9:==] (96E96C E96J’C6 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ[ EC2:=[ @C 6?5FC@ C:56CD[ E96J H2?E E@ >:I :? D@>6 8C2G:EJ 7:89E:?8 367@C6 86EE:?8 E96 5@H?9:== A2J@77]k^Am
kAm%96?[ E96C6 2C6 E96 “5@H?9:== A6@A=6]” %96:C E9C:==D 2C6 8@:?8 5@H? 9:==D] {6@?2C5 567:?6D E9@D6 “H9@ =@G6 E96 7=@H DE2E6 @7 H9@@D9:?8 24C@DD 62CE9’D DFC7246[ C624E:?8 BF:4<=J E@ E96 492?86D F?56C 766E @C D<:D @C 3:<6 E:C6 @C H2E6C4C27E]” %96J 2C6 E96 5@H?9:== D<:6CD[ D?@H3@2C56CD[ >@F?E2:? 3:<6CD[ H9:E6H2E6C <2J2<6CD 2?5 C27E6CD] x DFAA@D6 7=@2E:?8 5@H? 2 DH:7E C:G6C :D 2<:? E@ 8@:?8 72DE 5@H? 2 >@F?E2:?D:56]k^Am
kAmu@C E96D6 5@H?9:==6CD[ :E’D E96 25C6?2=:?6 CFD9 @7 8@:?8 72DE[ ?68@E:2E:?8 @3DE24=6D[ 4=62C:?8 ;F>AD 2?5 42E49:?8 2:C @C H2G6D] x >:89E H2?E E@ 4@?EC@= >J DA665 @? E96 5@H?9:==D[ 3FE E96J H2?E E@ AFD9 E96 =:>:ED 2?5 8@ 2D 72DE 2D E96J 42?]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ {6@?2C5 2?5 >J 6IA6C:6?46[ D@>6E:>6D A6@A=6 42? 36 3@E9 FA9:== 2?5 5@H?9:== A6@A=6] x <?@H D<:6CD H9@ =:<6 E@ 8@ 2=A:?6 2?5 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ D<::?8 2?5 >@F?E2:? 3:<6CD H9@ C:56 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ 2?5 5@H?9:== EC2:=D] $@>6E:>6D[ :E 56A6?5D @? E96 52J[ 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 4@>A2?J] pD D@>6 C:56CD 2?5 D<:6CD 86E @=56C[ E96J @AE 7@C 2 D=@H6C\A2465 EC2G6= 2?5 2 =@H6C 492?46 @7 :?;FC:6D] (6 2== 42? >2<6 @FC @H? H2J 2?5 49@:46D] (9:49 @?6 2C6 J@F — 2? FA 9:==6C[ 5@H?9:==6C @C 4@>3@ 9:==6Cnk^Am
kAmrJ4=:?8 324< E@ 2 3:<6 7@4FD[ H92E 2C6 E96 >2:? 5:776C6?46D 36EH66? FA9:== W&wX 2?5 5@H?9:== WswX >@F?E2:? 3:<6CDn x 925 =@ED @7 BF6DE:@?D E@ 2?DH6C]k^Am
kAm(92E :D 6249 EJA6 @7 C:56C =@@<:?8 E@ 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 H92E 2C6 E96:C 8@2=Dn w@H 5@6D 5:776C6?E C:5:?8 E6CC2:? 56E6C>:?6 E96 D<:==D C:56CD ?665 E@ 92G6n u@C G2C:65 EC2:= 56>2?5D[ H92E <:?5 @7 3:<6 2?5 6BF:A>6?E H@F=5 DF:E E96:C ?665D 36DEnk^Am
kAm%92E’D H96C6 x 8@E DEF4<] %96C6 H2D ?@ 4=62C 2?DH6C] sw “=236=65” |%} 3:<6D 2C6 36DE DF:E65 7@C 5@H?9:== C:5:?8 2?5 ?@E 2E 2== 7@C FA9:==[ 3FE 2E =62DE 7:G6 @E96C <:?5D @7 >@F?E2:? 3:<6D 42? 36 C:556? 3@E9 FA 2?5 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?] w@H 4@F=5 x E2=< 23@FE 2== E96D6 EJA6D x 5:5?’E <?@H >F49 23@FEnk^Am
kAmp? @?=:?6 D:E6 WE96AC@4=@D6E]4@>X 82G6 >6 D@>6 2?DH6CD] x 7@F?5 qCF46 {:?’D 3=@8 A@DE65 @? pF8] a[ a_ac[ “w@H E@ r9@@D6 2 |@F?E2:? q:<6 — e |%} %JA6D tIA=2:?65” WE:?JFC=]4@>^Jhd659?hX]k^Am
kAm{:? 6IA=2:?65 5:776C6?46D 36EH66? 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ W)rX[ EC2:=[ 6?5FC@[ 5@H?4@F?ECJ W?6H E6C>X[ 92C54@C6 92C5E2:=D 2?5 5@H?9:== WswX 3:4J4=6D] ~? 2 8C2A9[ 96 2CC2?865 E96> @? 2 4@?E:?FF> 7C@> DFDA6?D:@? H:E9 “=6DD EC2G6=” E@ “>@C6 EC2G6=]” x?4=F565 :? E96 2CE:4=6 H6C6 3C:67 56D4C:AE:@?D 2?5 A9@E@D 7@C 6249 EJA6] tG6? x 4@F=5 D66 E96 5:776C6?46]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 {:?’D 2CE:4=6[ x 5:D4@G6C65 E96 3:<6 x 92G6 ?@H :D 2 EC2:= 3:<6] %96 3:<6 x 925 367@C6 H2D 2 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ C246 3:<6] (9@ <?6H E96C6 H2D 2 5:776C6?46 2?5 D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E EJA6Dnk^Am
kAm%@ D:>A=:7J 5:D4FDD:?8 FA9:== 2?5 5@H?9:== >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8 G2C:2?46D[ x’== FD6 E96 )r 3:<6 2D >J “FA9:==” 3:<6 49@:46 2?5 2 56D:8?2E65 sw 3:<6 2D >J “5@H?9:==” >@56=] q6 2H2C6 E92E E96C6 2C6 =@ED @7 5:776C6?E @AE:@?D :? 36EH66?]k^Am
kAm%6CC2:? 567:?6D E96 C:56] )r C:56CD C:56 2 >:I @7 C@F89 7@C6DE A2E9D[ D:?8=6\EC24<[ D>@@E9 7:C6 C@25D 2?5 A2G65 A2E9D E@ >2<6 4@??64E:@?D 2?5 4@>A=6E6 =@@AD] %96C6 2C6 4=:>3D[ 7=2ED 2?5 56D46?ED 2=@?8 E96 H2J E92E C:56CD 92G6 E@ ?68@E:2E6]k^Am
kAm%96 sw E6CC2:? :D DE66A 2?5 56D46?5D BF:4<=J 2?5 4@?E:?F@FD=J] sw C:56CD 86E FA E@ E96 EC2:=9625D 3J 492:C=:7E @C 42C] %96 DE66A?6DD @7 E96 4=:>3[ 4@FA=65 H:E9 2 sw 3:<6’D H6:89E[ >2<6D E92E ?646DD2CJ] $@>6 sw EC2:=D 2C6 >249:?6\3F:=E “7=@H” EC2:=D H:E9 D>@@E9 36C>D 2?5 5C@AD] ~E96CD 2C6 >@C6 E649?:42= H:E9 762EFC6D =:<6 ;F>AD[ 5C@AD[ C@==6CD[ C@4< 82C56?D 2?5 >@C6 E92E C:56CD 6?4@F?E6C 2E DA665]k^Am
kAm#:56C 7@4FDi )r C:56CD H2?E E@ 4@G6C 5:DE2?46 BF:4<=J 2?5 677:4:6?E=J] %96J H2?E E@ A:4< E96 36DE =:?6 2?5 49@@D6 E96 C:89E 862CD E@ ?68@E:2E6 E96 EC2:= 492==6?86D D>@@E9=J]k^Am
kAmsw C:56CD H2?E E@ 4@?BF6C 492==6?8:?8 56D46?ED H:E9 DA665[ AC64:D:@? 2?5 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm$<:==D ?66565i )r >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8 “C6BF:C6D DEC@?8 26C@3:4 7:E?6DD[ 677:4:6?E A652=:?8 W2?5 D9:7E:?8 2?5 3C2<:?8X E649?:BF6D 2?5 E96 23:=:EJ E@ C:56 G2C:65 E6CC2:?]” #@FE6\7:?5:?8 D<:==D 2C6 2 A=FD]k^Am
kAmsw >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8 “56>2?5D 6I46AE:@?2= 3:<6 92?5=:?8 D<:==D[ 6DA64:2==J H96? ?2G:82E:?8 E649?:42= 56D46?ED[ 5C@AD[ ;F>AD 2?5 5C@AD 2E 9:89 DA665]” sw C:56CD 92G6 E@ 36 DEC@?8[ A9JD:42==J 2?5 >6?E2==J[ 2?5 92G6 BF:4< C67=6I6D] (:E9 DA665 4@>6D 52?86C] sw C:56CD ?665 E@ C64@8?:K6 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C D6C:@FD 2?5 A6C>2?6?E :?;FCJ 2?5 A=2? 244@C5:?8=J]k^Am
kAmtBF:A>6?Ei q:<6D 2?5 2446DD@C:6D E@ >2E49 E96 C:56]k^Am
kAmsw\DA64:7:4 3:4J4=6D 2C6 >256 7@C @?6 E9:?8 — 8@:?8 5@H?9:== 72DE] %96J’C6 E@F89 2?5 DEC@?8[ 2?5 H6:89 bd\c_ A@F?5D] uC2>6D 2C6 FDF2==J 962GJ\5FEJ 2=F>:?F> @C 42C3@? 7:36C]k^Am
kAm(92E D6ED E96> 2A2CE 7C@> @E96C 3:<6D J@F 4@F=5 FD6 7@C 5@H?9:== C:5:?8 :D E96:C DFDA6?D:@? 2?5 7C2>6 56D:8?] uC@?E 2?5 C62C DFDA6?D:@? H:E9 EC2G6= @7 a__>> @C >@C6 2==@HD E96> E@ 8=:56 @G6C C@4<D 2?5 C@@ED] $=24< 9625 2?8=6D[ =@H 3@EE@> 3C24<6ED[ =@?8 H966= 32D6D 2?5 H:56C 92?5=632CD >2<6 E96> H6== DF:E65 7@C 56D46?5:?8 DE66A[ E649?:42= E6CC2:? 2E 9:89 DA665[ H:E9 DE23:=:EJ 2?5 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAm(966=D 2C6 FDF2==J af]f @C ah :?496D[ H:E9 288C6DD:G6 E:C6 EC625D] !@H6C7F= 9J5C2F=:4 3C2<6D 96=A 4@?EC@= E96 C:56C’D DA665 @? E96 56D46?E]k^Am
kAms@H?9:==6CD 5C6DD 7@C 24E:@? 2?5 E@ >:?:>:K6 :?;FC:6D] %96J H62C 96=>6ED H:E9 7F==\7246 AC@E64E:@?[ 8@88=6D 2?5 7F==\7:?86C65 CF8865 8=@G6D] |2?J H62C 2C>[ =68 2?5 496DE AC@E64E:G6 A25D]k^Am
kAm)r 3:<6D 92G6 DFDA6?D:@? 7@C<D H:E9 =6DD EC2G6= — g_\`a_>>] %96 3:<6D 2C6 =:89E6C W`f\ag A@F?5D]X E92? 5@H?9:==[ 3FE 962G:6C E92? C@25 3:<6D] uC2>6 86@>6ECJ :D >@C6 FAC:89E[ H:E9 DE66A6C 9625 EF36 2?8=6D E92? C@25 3:<6D[ 3FE =6DD E92? 5@H?9:==] (:E9 E9:D 7C2>6 56D:8?[ D9@CE6C 92?5=632CD 2?5 862C:?8 C2?86[ )r 3:<6D 2==@H 7@C >@C6 ?:>3=6 92?5=:?8[ 36EE6C 4=:>3:?8 2?5 4@>7@CE23=6 A652= A@D:E:@?D] )r C:56CD H62C H6==\G6?E:=2E65 96=>6ED[ C2E96C E92? 7F==\7246 2?5 >2J @C >2J ?@E H62C 3@5J AC@E64E:@?]k^Am
kAmpC6 J@F 2? FA9:== @C 2 5@H?9:== C:56C @C 2 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 6249n (9:496G6C J@F 2C6[ >2<6 DFC6 J@F 92G6 256BF2E6 D<:==D 2?5 6BF:A>6?E E@ 92?5=6 J@FC C:56[ E96? 92G6 7F?Pk^Am
kAm&A4@>:?8 6G6?EDk^Am
kAmU3F==j (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D }6H t?8=2?5 |@F?E2:? q:<6 pDD@4:2E:@?UCDBF@jD *@FE9 q68:??6C |@F?E2:? q:<6 !C@8C2>i p? 6:89E\H66< AC@8C2> @? %9FCD52J >@C?:?8D 7C@> h 2]>] E@ ?@@?] #F?D E9C@F89 pF8] `c] %96 AC@8C2> :D 7C66 H:E9 2 }t|qp >6>36CD9:A[ 6:E96C J@FE9 WSa_X @C 72>:=J WSedX] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^b6A3D6FbQmE:?JFC=]4@>^b6A3D6Fbk^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j $F>>6C #246 $6C:6D AC6D6?E65 3J }6H t?8=2?5 |@F?E2:? q:<6 pDD@4:2E:@?] p D6C:6D @7 >@?E9=J 5:CE C246D @7 5:776C6?E EJA6D 96=5 :? G2C:@FD =@42E:@?D[ 6?5:?8 H:E9 E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? u2E %:C6 u6DE $6AE] `a\a_ 2E u:6=5D @7 pEE:E2D9] z:5D `c 2?5 F?56C C246 7@C 7C66] #246 }@] a[ :D yF=J a_ U>52D9j {:G6C>@C6 r92==6?86] #246 }@] b U>52D9j )\sFC@ 2E p36?2<:[ u2E%:C6 u6DE[ $6AE] `h\a`] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^b96<>ac?QmE:?JFC=]4@>^b96<>ac?k^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j vC62E v=6? %C2:=UCDBF@jD q:8 s2J qC6H:?8 $F>>6C |E? q:<6 $6C:6Di %F6D52JD[ yF?6 ac U?52D9j yF=J ah[ bib_\eicd A]>] xEUCDBF@jD 2 D:I\H66< C246 AC@8C2> 7@C 2== 286D 2?5 23:=:E:6D] #246CD 42? 49@@D6 E@ C:56 =@?8 Wd]a >:=6DX[ D9@CE Wa]h >:=6DX @C >:?: W`]c>:=6DX 4@FCD6D] xE :D 2? :?5:G:5F2= DE2CE C246 H96C6 C246CD 49@@D6 H96? E@ 8@] xEUCDBF@jD 2 7F? 6G6?E E@ 2EE6?5 2D 2 72>:=J] r@DE 7@C 25F=ED :D Seh 7@C E96 D6C:6D[ S`g 7@C 2 D:?8=6 C246] z:5D `f 2?5 F?56C 2C6 Sch 7@C E96 D6C:6D[ S`` 7@C 2 D:?8=6 C246] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^35G?g?dDQmE:?JFC=]4@>^35G?g?dDk^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j rC2?>@C6 |@F?E2:?UCDBF@jD |:?:\|6:DE6CD $6C:6Di #F?D (65?6D52JD 368:??:?8 yF=J h E9C@F89 pF8] `b[ 7C@> b\f A]>] s@H?9:== q:<6 $6C:6D 7@C <:5D `e 2?5 F?56C] $6C:6D C68:DEC2E:@? :D Shh @C Sac 7@C 2 D:?8=6 C246] #68:DEC2E:@? :?4=F56D =:7E 2446DD DE2CE:?8 2E b A]>] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^A9?dh2DhQmE:?JFC=]4@>^A9?dh2Dhk^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j !@A6 |6>@C:2= {:3C2CJUCDBF@jD q:<6 7@C q@@<Di w6=5 @? yF=J ae[ 7C@> `_ 2]>] E@ ` A]>][ 2E rC2?>@C6 |@F?E2:? #6D@CE] !2C6?ED 2?5 <:5D 42? 49@@D6 E@ 6:E96C C:56 E96 |(' #64 !2E9 7@C 7C66 @C rC2?>@C6 s@H?9:== %C2:=D U>52D9j 25F=ED W`b 2?5 FAX 2C6 Sbd[ <:5D W`a 2?5 F?56CX 2C6 Sa_] !C@4665D 8@ E@ DFAA@CE !@A6 |6>@C:2= {:3C2CJUCDBF@jD 49:=5C6?UCDBF@jD C@@>[ AC@8C2>>:?8[ 36DE\D6==6C =:DE 2?5 >F49 >@C6] u@C :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 E@ C68:DE6C[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^2464g;IhQmE:?JFC=]4@>^2464g;Ihk^2m]k^Am
kAm$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.