Newbie New Year: The Resolution Revolution

According to howstuffoworks.com, only one out of every 1,000 eggs laid by salmon survive. The New Year’s resolution rush is no different. Everyone is excited to try out their newest fitness gadgets. People are infused with a new sense of hope for the year, promising themselves that they will improve mentally, physically, and spiritually. It’s an exciting time even for us veterans because it infuses us with renewed commitment to our goals; our finish line (which is just another starting line for us).

However, like our salmony kin, we face a few natural obstacles. We face complacency. We face stress. We face temptation. We face a whole slew of things that serve no other purpose than to derail our efforts. I once read somewhere that the universe is good at creating life, but it is absolutely masterful at ending it. So too are the obstacles we face. How easy is it to say I give up? How easy is it to blame you, and gorge yourself into a depressed stupor from overeating? It’s too easy. We are electricity. We like to take the easiest path. However, I say be water. Bruce Lee said that water can flow or it can crash. It is also the most powerful force on earth. You can be that force. Do not believe in the numbers on the scale, your watch, your gadget, your do hickey, or your thinga ma jiggy. Believe in yourself and trust in your journey.

You are here. You have all the support and all of the friends you need to be successful. Finances got you down? Well we’re all broke. Boyfriend or girlfriend just left you? We’ve all been there and done that! The local Fried Chicken joint gave you mayo for your chicken tenders instead of honey mustard sauce? We have badges aplenty for that one. Use the resources that are given to you and make the best decision based on your situation. Running too hard for you? Slow down. Lifting weights causing pain? Reduce the weight. Workouts too long? Shorten them! Do not imagine yourself as being chased by the wolf to keep you motivated; instead, imagine yourself as the wolf doing the chasing! Now that’s BAWSS!

Many will enter, but few will win. I encourage you to not be the ones to drop out of the race. You are racing for your life, your health, and most importantly yourself. I will not sugar coat it and say that it will be easy; I will only tell you that it will be worth it! Don’t wait until January 1^st to start! As a test of your commitment to yourself, I would encourage you to drop right now, wherever you are, and give me 10 pushups! Give me 20 if you’re extra BAWSS! See? You’ve just done the hardest part ever: You have taken that first step! We’ll see you at the finish line if you don’t beat us to it! Good luck!

Morning Runs So Far

The morning runs have been quite interesting so far. Outside of having a total stranger run along with me at 4:30am and hearing what I could have sworn were footsteps snapping a few twigs, nothing eventful has happened.

While uneventful, I would have to say that the mornings are hardly less than interesting. While the world slumbers, I'm also reminded of how much is constantly moving. The night seems to envelope you and things like time and distance appear to fade away into the blackness of the night. In fact, the only time I really notice myself is when I am called back from my thoughts by the mechanical meanderings of my GPS application as it vies for my undivided attention. It will tell me my time, pace, and distance. However, the longer I run the less I care. It is my time. I am breathing with mother earth and she is breathing with me. Together we consummate each other's existence with an intimacy unmatched between two mortal lovers.

Morning runs reminds me of the rhythm of the people. I see firetrucks whir past. Cars soldier on to their destinations. Scragglers walk past me with a passive curiosity. Even the police continue their rounds, content with me as long as I'm not running with a VCR under my arms. The Krispy Kreme Hot light cuts through the night, and the smell of guranteed comfort from the warmth of succulent doughnuts tries to hijack my thoughts.  I stay the course.

It is a sexy time. The world has not quite awakened, yet it is far from being asleep. The cool night air is caressing me and ushering me towards my goal at the same time and I bask in her attention. When she is done, I'm a total mess! I have spent part of my night with her. I pant heavily at first, then slow my breathing as I cool down from the run. I look to mother earth, and I promise her that the next time I run, I'll be sure to give her as much of an experience as she gives me! 

Chasing The Dragon (Inspired by GoLeanWendy)

One of my MFP battle buddies, GoLeanWendy, posted a blog regarding her thoughts on a size 0 little black dress that she wore in high school. To make a short story even shorter, she outlined the mindset shift it took to no longer chase her high school weight. She could most certainly achieve it, but she stated that it was unhealthy to have been so small. Now she's rocking solid, building muscle, and feeling better than ever before!

How many of us "Chase the Dragon?" Chasing a real dragon is difficult because not only are they elusive, they cannot be fully tamed. Certainly we can handle them for a while, but in the end the dragon will rear it's ugly head and bite us hard. The dragon can be anything:

• The weight on the scale
• Your high school weight
• Fad diets
• Slimming Pills
• Surgery for weight loss
• Too many other things to mention

Of course, that list is by no means comprehensive, but if you were to research the negative psychological effects of those dragons, you may be surprised at what you find. Instead, chase fitness. Being fit is to your well being what hope was to Pandora's Box. Sure, it's the smallest thing in our closets sometimes. Certainly the benefits don't happen overnight. However, of all the dragons you'll ever chase, this one small thing will slowly grow into something great. In the beginning you'll have to carry fitness because it is weak and feeble. However, through continued dedication and grooming, fitness will most assuredly carry you. Never chase a pipe dream or quick scheme. Pull fitness out of your Pandora's box and begin to experience the world like you never have before. As long as the snakes strike at our heels, we should continue to move forward with fitness as our guide. Keep pushing forward my friends! 

Exercise is for LOSERS!!!!! UGH!!!

That's right! I said it! I regret NOTHING! Exercise is for losers. I see you running and lifting weights. I see you with those smug grins on your faces and that sense of community that you call "camaraderie." I see it all. You think you're special, huh? You think that you are somehow different than the rest of the world because you get up every day and find a way to move and twist your body in all kinds of weird ways to drop weight or get in shape. Don't even get me started on counting calories! Isn't that something? Instead of enjoying the Earth's bountiful harvest, you have to pause every single day to critique and criticize it instead of stuffing your face and just letting it be! So yeah, you guys are total and complete LOSERS! Here's the thing though: So am I!

We exercise to lower our carbon footprint. We exercise to better our minds, our temples (the body) and our spirits. We exercise to inspire others not to our full potential, but to their own personal potential. We are special because we have chosen to read the labels. We have chosen to not blindly indulge in the man made foods that continue to draw us away from our natural selves year after year. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I sometimes wonder if the food companies are in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies. Think about it! There is no cure for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or general obesity. These things, outside of exercise (unless it’s a genetic predisposition) can only be "treated" with expensive drugs and therapies, but I digress!

We choose to move and twist our bodies, as our primal ancestors did, for the very same reason: SURVIVAL! Sure, we're no longer being chased by Mammoths and Saber tooth tigers (unless you're that homeless guy that sits outside of my workplace), but we are being chased by all manners of malicious ailments threatening our way of life and ultimately our very existence. We have chosen to eschew complacency and embrace change the likes of which Obama could have never hoped to manifest.

During Thanksgiving, I was telling my uncle-in-law that I was planning on eating like never before. However, I was going to be logging every calorie that I consumed. He gave me this look and asked "So you're one of THEM?" You know what uncle-in-law (who is in great shape by the way)? You're damned right I'm one of them. If that is what my journey involves, then that is what I'm going to do. If that is how I define my success, then 2 minutes in front of a computer or on my phone logging calories isn't going to burden anyone but myself.  I will eat the biggest, greasiest burger and top it off with a beer with you, but you best believe your tight glutes that I'm going to log it!

The camaraderie cannot be underestimated either. We need support like your grandmother who just got into running needs a sports bra (seriously... someone needs to talk to her ASAP).  It reinvigorates us and keeps us in check with our goals, both realistically and otherwise. So we're all losers in this game. We are losing complacency. We are losing fat. We are losing depression, shame, fatigue, and self loathing. With all this losing, it's a wonder we gain anything at all. We do gain many things, of course, but there is something that is gained that trumps all others: We gain our true SELVES! Keeping rocking and being BAWSS!

8 Mile: A Reflection

Recently I completed an 8.15 mile run. I wanted to write about it to capture what I felt during the run and how I felt when I completed the run. I remember back when I first ran 3.1 miles. I was on top of the world and you couldn't bring me down. I wrote a long post on a popular forum I frequent because completing that distance actually made me cry. I was overwhelmed with emotion. Why? Because sometimes life kicks dirt in your eye and it is sometimes hard to wash your face afterwards. Here's why I cried.

 My Mom had struggled with crack addiction every since I could remember. In fact, one of the first memories I have is of her smoking in her bedroom a few days before I started Kindergarten. Fast forward to many hard years later to 1994. She informed us that she tested postive for HIV from behind the glass of the county jail. Fast forward to 2008. A relative sold her some drugs. She smoked it, went into a siezure, and was in ICU for several weeks. She died in ICU, at the young age of 48 years. I was 28 at the time and paid for her funeral out of my own pocket. 2 years later her mother, my grandmother, would succumb to lung cancer. 

I don't know why, when I completed that first 3.1 mile run, these emotions overtook me. Growing up was difficult, but so was it for so many others. Yet that run was significant. It cleansed me. It let me know that anything was possible if I just put my mind to it and maintain discipline. My first 5k was committed to my mother's memory, the AIDS Atlanta Walk/Run 5k. 

So, the 8 miles that I ran this weekend reaffirmed many things. It made me feel a part of something greater. It let me know that you may not be able to control that which is around you. You may not be able to improve your situation. However, the thing you can control is your Temple; your body. It's only 8 miles, but it's not the distance that I will forever remember because that will increase with time. It will be the way I felt. It will be the solidarity and the humility in which I remember those whom I have loved and lost. It will be the rememberance of those whom I love today and why I continue to live, thrive, possess joy, and give joy. It will be for the journey, because my only destination is to encourage others and to continue to live. So, if you are ever feeling doubtful about your journey and doubt yourself: Believe in me who believes in you! 

My First 5k

Originally Submitted on 10/17/2011

 

Yesterday, 10/16/11, I ran my first 5k. I parked a little over a mile away from the park where the run was going to start. It was convenient because I was able to completely avoid traffic, and it provided a measure of safety since it was in my company's secured lot. I arrived at the park at approximately 11:30. The run was not to start until 1PM.

While I waited, I met up with other individuals from within my company. It was a sponser for this particular race, so we had a table set aside. I signed in, received my number and chip, and waited in the increasingly hot sun discussing running for newbies and why it isn't a good idea to break away from the run to attend the local bar. I have to thank John and his partner, Eric, for that little doosey of a gem!

I lined up in the streets for the race at 1PM, but it would still be another 15 minutes before the horn sounded to signal the start of the race. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, it was 85 degrees, and thankfully the humidity was low. To top it off, there was a slight hint of a breeze. Hey, anything helps right?

The horn sounded loud and clear, and we were off. My fastest time had been 33:50 on a 5k. I was hoping for 30:00 flat. The first thing we ran up was a hill. It leveled off eventually and we ran relatively flat for a good portion of the race. I knew that there was going to be a hill that would filter out many of the runners, so I conserved my energy and actually managed to maintain about a 9:48 pace. However, the hill came up and it was worse than I had previously imagined. It slowed me down tremendously, so my goal ceased to be about the time it took to clear the hill. My goal was to simply not to stop! "Do not walk," is what I kept telling myself. It was tough, but the hill was cleared and I passed many people that had been far ahead of me in the race that had either started walking or stopped altogether.

The remainder of the race was at a slight decline. I was able to pick my speed up a little, but not enough to get me under the 30 minute mark, unfortunately. I cleared the race in 31:47, at least 2 minutes faster than my previous record. There were people there that I would never beat in a race, but my competition was myself so I felt great either way!

The thing that surprised me is the mix of volunteers and neighborhood folk that you pass along the route that cheer you on! It was so encouraging to see all of the people that had come out to support the cause and the runners. I have another 5k this weekend. I won't be trying for 30 officially, but it would be good if I could somehow pull it off! Wish me luck!

The Power of Will

A few days ago, I tried a new path to run on near my work place. The first leg of the run was excellent. It was mostly downhill but the grade wasn't steep enough to make it too easy of a run. The sky was cloudy and there was a light drizzle, but it was still an enjoyable run because it was new. Besides having to splash through a few muddy puddles and avoid the occasional walker armed to the teeth with umbrellas, I did pretty well.

 The second leg was not so enjoyable. I had to dodge bikers speeding down the sidewalks that seemed to have been built for single occupancy. I was beginning to get a bit winded because I was already at 2 miles that had been ran in record time according to my Runkeeper application faithfully updating me on my phone. Sweat was making my clothes wet and heavy, but thankfully there was no chaffing! All of this is just part of doing business when running, but what happens when you encounter the biggest hill you have ever had the privilege of traversing? What happens when the hill is at least a half mile long? Well, you have some people that are fit enough to blast up that hill like there is no tomorrow without thinking twice about it. Overwhelmingly, however, you have people like me!

 I am not a small guy. I'm 6'2" and 264 pounds. I'm moving a lot of weight when I run and am breathing like the whistle of a locomotive when I run. You will hear me way before you see me. You will feel the hot wind I generate in my wake as I pass you at a modest 10 minute per mile pace. The weight is a challenge when you see a hill like the one I encountered, but I had a secret weapon: Will Power!

 So there I was! I was approaching the biggest hill I had ever run. It smiled down at me sinisterly, smartly promising me that it was going to do everything in its power to stop me. The flames of the downwind breeze blasted me in the face while the uneven sidewalks mocked that they would give me no rest; no quarter for my troubles. I was cocky. I was confident. These weapons were strong enough to get me a quarter of the way up the hill. The harsh concrete sidewalk sent shocks up my thighs causing them to burn with the fierceness of a thousand suns. The rain picked up from a drizzle and the clouds gathered a bit closer; A bit darker; A bit more sinister. The hill mocked me as my pace began to slow from this beating. My mind began to betray me with phrases like "You've gone so far already; surely you can take a small break?" The hill constantly reminded me that I have so much farther to go in order to conquer it. 

Halfway up I was sweating harder, breathing heavier, and had slowed down by at least a minute. I passed a tantalizing bench that offered solace and rest for the weary. I drearily pressed on. One of my feet threatened to stop altogether. There was no pain, only fatigue. Suddenly from the deepest depths of my heart something told me "You know what you have to do. You know where you are trying to be. You will not get there if you stop now. You will regret it for many nights to come!" I said screw this, but in more colorful language. I was suddenly infused with the Will to make it to the finish line, even if I embarrassingly passed out from the process. My legs stopped complaining. My posture got its act together.  My breathing decided to succumb to better regulation. The hill began to get smaller and it suddenly disappeared to a wonderful, flat, horizon! Will Power had saved the day once again!

You will often encounter challenges even greater than these. Remember those who are far heavier than you who are out there busting their butts to get their health in order.  Remember those without limbs that still work out everyday. Remember the mom who, despite a disorder that will not allow her to lose weight, still gets out and swims 3 miles every morning. Remember that your enemy is the excuse and the regret later. Now get your ass out there and be awesome. Awesome is not relative to those whom you admire, it is relative to yourself. Have a good day!

My First NSV!

Where I work, our offices are split up into two campuses about 3-5 miles apart. I had a meeting at the other campus, so I left my office a little early to make sure that I beat any traffic, runaway homeless people, and captain "sticky beards" that may be wallowing around the mean streets of my city wallowing in their own wooden buckets of self loathing, but I digress! I parked in the "Pigeon Pit," so named because of the large number of pigeons that indescriminantly perch dozens of feet above our heads and bomb our vehicles with what can only be described as white bird do-do. After locking my car up right next to a public port-a-potty because there was no other place to park, I made my way to the parking elevator.

The button was pressed and the elevator hesitantly greeted me and two other unfortunate individuals and opened it's doors to begin the the 3 story ride to the top of the parking deck. Of course, the two other people I was in the elevator with were professionals, so there was no small talk. There was no "Oh, did you catch the game last night?" or "Nice weather we're having, huh?" conversations to be found. We rode up in silence, butt cheeks clinched, praying that one of us would not speak to the rest of us.

The elevator finally made it to the top and I crossed the bridge after flashing my complementary badge to the complementary security officer with the complementary gun loaded with complementary bullets. I walked across the bridge quickly because that is what professional people do, right? We cross the bridges quickly to look industrious and important!

I finally reached our work space, swiped my ID badge, and heard the subtle woosh of the glass doors as it welcomed me into the cool air of our shared workspace. Three of my colleagues, with surprised looks on their faces, told me that my face had gotten slimmer since they last saw me a month ago. While I'm not one to take compliments well, I was very grateful that my hard work had manifested itself in such a way. With this renewed boost of confidence, I went to my meeting completely refreshed and ready to tackle the remainder of my day with a blitz of awesome! Stay thirsty my friends!

Who is this Dude?

This is my first blog post, so I feel that it is incumbent upon me to introduce myself. I am a husband and father of 3 young children. I work in IT, so my work life means that many days out of the month I am sedentary. Sure, there are days when things kick into gear and I'm on my feet most of the day, but those are not as numerous as I would like them (or want them to be perfectly honest). I must digress with a random fact: Those who have known me since middle school call me Big Worm. It's a long story, but mostly involves the movie "Friday" that was directed by Ice Cube back in the days when I was young. I'm not a kid anymore but sometimes I sit and wish I was a kid again (catch the reference and I'll give you 100 Internets).

For the past 9 weeks, give or take 4 days, I have been participating in a program called C25K. It is an awesome program that basically builds up your ability to run a 5K program in 9 weeks. So far I have found the program challenging, but rewarding. I have used a few forums as well to help me keep track of my progress. So far, I don't know where I want this blog to go or what I want it to do, but I think I will just wing it for a while and see how it goes. So far this ride only consists of myself, but maybe time will bring along someone that wants to ride shotgun!