I love low bar squats and deadlifts but I was never challenged much by them. Weightlifting, as far as I've seen it, is about intensity and focus for a short pe

I love low bar squats and deadlifts but I was never challenged much by them. Weightlifting, as far as I've seen it, is about intensity and focus for a short period. That's great and has some benefits. I know how mentally taxing it can be too. But long distance activities are different. Your dopamine runs out and all you have is pain, hunger, thirst, etc. I never had to dig very deep at the gym to make gains. Eat right, sleep right, get fired up with some good music and PRs keep rising. Hiking/trail running changed me in a more fundamental way and required a lot more discipline. I guess we're all naturally inclined to something, and getting outside that takes extra effort.