I plan to reflect more on this later, but today is the two year anniversary of me deciding to be more active. Hard to believe these stats over the past two years.
9.12.2011 Update
It took a little longer to get back to this than I thought, but I'm back. Here are the numbers:
76 Miles of swimming with 63 hours spent in the water.
2857 Miles on the bike with 167 hours in the saddle.
724 Miles of running with 130 hours of pavement or treadmill pounding.
On August 31, 2009 I drug myself out of bed and into the pool at the Perry YMCA not knowing what to expect. On that day I started a journey, a journey that is long from over. At the YMCA there is a quote as you exit that says:
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
My hope is that someone that has been thinking about that step reads this and takes it. However, I encourage you to look at long-range goals in addition to short-term goals. Contrary to infomercials there are no "get fit quick schemes" out there. It took me much more than two years to get out of shape and no doubt it will take me more than two years to reach my ultimate goal. In 13 days I'll toe the water for my eighth triathlon, which will be my second Olympic distance race (1500M Swim, 40K Bike and 10K Run). My current plan is that my tenth triathlon will be the Ironman Texas 70.3 event in Galveston, TX and I'll be racing in memory of one of my former students, Kaden Smith.
The numbers above look very large, but in reality they come to 15 days of exercise in two years. That is just over one entire week a year. The average American spends about eight weeks a year watching TV according to some sources. The good news is with today's technology you can watch TV and exercise at the same time if you want to in many cases. My point is that it does take time to exercise, but the time is there if you make it. Like most things in life exercise is about choices. So, based on this math I need to step it up, even after family time, work and sleep I must be leaving some miles on the table!
August 31st has become an important date for me for what's it worth. It is the day I stopped saying and started doing. Huge thanks to my wife Sarah who understands what this means to me. Many of these hours are while everyone is sleeping, but many are not and she supports me by keeping the boys busy during those times and in many other ways. I always have a little more fire in my step when she's at the races. Another huge thanks to my brother, Tobey, who got the crazy hobby kick started and my parents who have become quite the triathlon spectators (not easy). Last but not least my many training partners and mentors in tri4Him.
Until next time!
