A few posts ago I mentioned a new movie I discovered titled, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. If you have not had a chance to see it, it's super. It's a documentary about two guys who transform their lives after being incredibly unhealthy and obese. A major theme of the movie is Reboot Your Life which has become a trademarked product. Check it out. I'm always up for another inspirational movie, quote, book, story, whatever. It keeps things fresh and helps me avoid ruts. However, I've found myself in a new rut.
Over a year ago, I was nearly 270 lbs. again. You can see what I mean in the My Progress page. I spent the year before that running a few half marathons, achieving my personal record with a 2:07 at the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon. That was two years ago. Last summer, I was down and out. I'd run half marathons. I'd tackled the Men's Health Urbanathlon in Chicago. I'd been with personal trainers, belonged to every globo gym in a 5 mile radius of my house. Then I found Crossfit. It was what I was looking for. It challenged me in every area of my health and fitness. It pushed me to my limits and it instantly gave me access to a community of like-minded people. However, arguably the most important aspect of my "new community of like minded people" was the access to others who were concerned with eating healthy.......permanently........forever. I figured, if I'm going to push myself this hard, then I'm not going to ruin it with my food choices. After all, finishing a Crossfit workout provides the same feeling of accomplishment as crossing the finish line at a race. Only it happens several times per week.
So I have not hit the pavement to really run in a year. A WHOLE YEAR! While I sometimes am in shock that I let that much time go by, I justify it by saying, "Look what you've done with your body, your strength, endurance, and dietary habits."
"OK, OK," I say to myself. "Give yourself a break. Why do it if you are getting the results you have been looking for your whole life?" The answer I come back to is...."I want to use my new-found strength and endurance gains and apply it to something." Sounds fair, right? But I'm not sure I want a typical road race. I want a challenge. Something that will test me beyond just running, running, running. I think I found the answer. I've registered for the following........
The Super Spartan Race: An 8 mile course with crazy, challenging obstacles that will challenge my running, strength and endurance. While there are races closer to home, this one is two miles from my family on Staten Island, NY and will give me something for which to aim. It will force me to ramp up my running milage and make me learn to apply my Crossfit training to running/endurance work. More importantly, it will force me to focus on a part of my diet I've not paid a ton of attention to: body fat content. I've spent a lot of time concerned with pounds and portion control, but I think to get to where I'd like to be, I'd prefer to be a bit more lean than I am.
Out of the rut I come. Stay tuned....
P.S. If you haven't had a chance to check out the new cSpinHealthy Facebook page, head over there. I'd love it if you'd "like it".
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