Mitchell had the flu when we caught up with him in mid-January .
The tireless Aussie was happy to discuss the physical , mental , and emotional demands ( and rewards ) of systematically engaging in a practice akin to torture .
Mitchell had the flu when we caught up with him in mid-January , but the tireless Aussie was happy to discuss the physical , mental , and emotional demands ( and rewards ) of systematically engaging in a practice akin to torture .