Is HABIT off brand?

Some people are a little surprised when they hear I (Ryan) wrote a cookbook. Understandably. I’ve spent the last 20-odd years writing about the outdoors: adventures, gear,  trends, personalities, news and issues related to all things wet, dirty, cold and sweaty. Of the hundreds of articles and stories I have written I can’t think of one focused on food or cooking. For a time I too thought a cookbook was way out of my wheel house. 

But, the more I worked on the book the more I saw I was wrong. As I wrote in the intro to HABIT, playing in the outdoors is inherently connected to what you put in your mouth. A cold beer and a slice of pizza never tastes as good than when it’s shared with friends after an adventure. Eating is the highlight of any day on a backcountry adventure. And, as someone that loves food, half the pleasure of exercising is knowing I can eat more later. Implicitly or explicitly, food is central to my time outside.

But it’s also more than that. Surviving an adventure race or completing an eight day bike-packing trip, both hinge on me hydrating and fuelling properly. Even a light hike is more enjoyable when I’m properly nourished. And I eventually I learned it extended beyond exercise to any activity. Giving thought and purpose to what I put in my body helped me feel and perform better, whether it was writing a blog post or completing a six hour run. 

Food has been a constant in the background of every assignment and adventure in my career. Even if I never penned a word about it. In fact, when I really think about it, I spend more time thinking about cooking and eating than I do about any of my other passions. It might be more shocking that it took me this long to write a cookbook.

Writing this post makes me wonder what other niches and interests I might be overlooking. What about you? Have you ever accidentally discovered an expertise hiding in plain sight? Any tips for uncovering unexpected passions?