He's no recluse, but he likes to spend time alone, roaming the mountains near his home in upstate Vermont, which helps keep his head clear.

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"I had to learn to take my time in judo, and I was just able to keep a clear head, " said Rousey, who became the first American woman to win an Olympic judo medal in Beijing.

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These are some of the other things that go sailing through my head as I strain to keep the car between the lines: Leaving the desert on a clear day.

NEWYORKER: Indianapolis (Highway 74)