"No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without even seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
- Socrates
Hello all,
Well, let's get the ugly out of the way first. I raced last weekend, May 17, and it wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't pretty. And it definitely wasn't me. To use an excuse is weak, and I'm not doing that. The weather was cold, but we all raced in it. The bike was windy, but it wasn't just windy when I was riding. It was simply a matter of me not focusing, not putting the race first after a couple stressful weeks at home and I got my ass handed to me. I ran like my legs were weighted down with anchors, I rode like I had a piano on my back.
This isn't to say I thought I would win, the field was stupid fast, but I had given up any chance of being in the mix the day before, while riding the course. I was slow on the hills, and mentally I couldn't get out of my own way. When the gun went off last Saturday morning, all I wanted was to be back in bed. But its a good thing, a learning experience, and it allowed me to come home, not feel sorry for myself, and get my shit together. We all have things in life that can cause us to allow our minds to wander. That's why its called life. But to be at the front, to be on the podium, its the ability to push those things aside when its go time. And to recognize that if you can't, then perhaps its better to pack up your tent and go home before trying to push through something that you aren't mentally in. So back to the drawing board, but my faith in my coaches provides comfort and confidence, so I know I'll be ready for June. Not to mention, a very big change in my life has helped not only lift my spirits, but has provided me an opportunity to truly follow my dreams on and off the race course.
I have recently taken a position at INTENT, a multisport training facility that is expanding its horizon to add classes not only for athletes, but for people simply looking to get fit, to live a healthy life. The founders, Mary Ann Sedor, and Rick Schoop, welcomed me in with open arms, and open minds, excited about the skill set I bring, my passion for fitness, my belief that we are all limiting ourselves in some fashion, and that with the right coaching, all of us can do more, can achieve our dreams and beyond. I'll be teaching strength classes, some cycling classes, but I will also be head coach of the Elite Tri team and the Age Group Tri team, coaching athletes of all levels.
The facility is awesome, stripped down of any needless equipment - you won't find an elliptical in there - and provides an opportunity for people to discover true strength. Not to mention, learning how to move correctly, not simply for fitness, but for life. For all the time spent outside the gym. As I've always said - its easy to be a hero in the gym. But the real test is how much better your life becomes outside the gym, utilizing all the tools that you have learned. To be able to walk without pain, to do things you once thought were no longer available to you because of age, lack of mobility, etc. INTENT is about making that happen. From elite athletes to someone who hasn't worked out in decades. Its for everyone. So come check us out -
www.intentlife.com
Above is the website - give it a look, and swing by. Its warm and welcoming, and will change your life. The credo of the facility is to do everything in life with "intent". When you think about it, that's not a bad way to live. And for those who know me, that's the stuff that speaks to me best.
Enjoy the holiday weekend. And please, please, thank a soldier. As a child of a veteran, as a nephew of veterans, as a friend of veterans, a simple thank you, can do wonders. Remember the good men and women who gave themselves selflessly for our freedom, our way of life.
Stay Strong.
