Finding the Right Balance

“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.” ~ Brian Tracy

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they begin to exercise again is they try to do too much too fast! In their excitement to 'get after it', they end up over exerting themselves or trying to accomplish more than what their body's are able to give at that moment. Not only can this lead to injury but this can also be very dangerous. Euripides said, “The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.”

In our zeal, we seem to forget we are not where we once were, nor are we as young as we use to be. There is something about the human condition that causes us to not be honest with ourselves. I am not sure if we just don't think we have aged or if we just believe we will forever be 'young'. So we make up our minds to exercise and think all things are as they used to be. This 'knee jerk' move back into exercise is a common issue I have witnessed over the years. Our minds are still seemingly functioning as an eighteen year old, but our bodies have lagged a little behind (no pun intended here)! The challenges of life have kept our minds mentally exercised, but in the meantime we have slacked bodily. Therefore, when we finally decide to 'move', we still think we have the body of an youthful teenager and we begin to match our bodies to our mental enthusiasm. Obviously, when this happens, I have witnessed a common cycle amongst all who endeavor to match the body to the mental...its called 'Crash and Burn'.

Part of the problem is definitely a 'nature of man' issue. All of us are engineered to look for the 'easy way out'. Most of us want and look for what I call the 'magic pill solution'. Its part of our human makeup and its also a part of this instant gratification culture we live in. After twenty years of doing nothing, we want immediate results. After years of inactivity we burst back onto the scene with this idea that we are going to blast our way back to those 'buns of steel' and a six pack of abs!!! We jump on the treadmill with an excited tenacity to finally get 'back in shape. Mentally and physically, we feel good. We have finally conquered this demon of laziness. In our newly awakened zeal, we push too hard, do too much, and over do it! Then comes the inevitable completion of the 'crash and burn' cycle. Though we feel good after getting off the treadmill, we wake up the next morning, feeling, well, to put it lightly...rough. Our muscles are sore. Our bodily pains seem to send very clear signals to our once excited mind and the signals are not nice. The inner voices rise up and the body begins to preach a message entitled, "What Was I Thinking?". Then to top it off, you are already scheduled your next exercise routine to do it all over again! This begins the process of it all spiraling out of control, its far easier to fall back into your old excuses and habits.

One of the most difficult things for people to do is to find a right balance. Its seems like the extreme is the fashion of today. Its an all or nothing attitude, but if the real truth be known, the victory lies in your patience. You have to balance reason with passion; reason keeps you open, passion keeps your adrenaline going. So today, I implore you to start SLOW! The goal is to build a strong base and a strong base can be your spring board into a new you! Don't let the moment get away from you and allow your zeal to be misused. Think LONG TERM! Think slow, not fast! Remember, it took you a long time to get into the condition you are in right now, and it will take some time to garner the results you desire to see. Be sure to keep your program fun and you will not have to enter the cycle of crash and burn.

The 5K Challenge

Why the Challenge?

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."  Zig Ziglar

Today I want to set the record straight on what this challenge is all about. When I talk to people and try to get them to see the importance of exercise, one of the first things they say is..."Well, I can't run a marathon!" Most people immediately equate exercise with the level I am at as a marathon runner. They compare themselves with me, thereby missing the whole point! So today, I want to boot this thought completely out your head. This challenge is not about becoming a marathon runner or 'beating' me at this 5K in the spring. This challenge is about YOU and you alone!

Now, certainly, as a runner, I have learned many things, so when I say things it may come across as a 'challenge' to you on a personal level, but the reality of what I say is more of a challenge to what level you are at NOW. This challenge was issued to motivate ALL of us to do whatever we need to do that gets us off our butts and do SOMETHING! If you are able to run, then RUN. If walking is the best you can do, then WALK. If you can ride a bike, then RIDE. If you can swim, then SWIM. Whatever you can do, you NEED to do it! The point of the challenge is to motivate you out of your lethargy and off the couch! Over these past ten years, as a runner, I have been through a few season changes and I understand all too well the difficulties of transitioning from fall into winter. To me it is by far the most difficult of the seasonal transitions.

Now, it has been said, you may have forty million reasons to not exercise, but you don't have one legitimate excuse! In this day and age, the technology that is available to us leaves us without an excuse. There are many runners, who suit up in 'winter running clothing' and run outside throughout the winter. We have so many choices, from purchasing actual exercise equipment to buying a workout DVD, there is something available 'out there' that will meet our need to meet the challenge! Then comes the excuse I don't have any money for any of this stuff (which I find interesting, since you have been able to find the 'money' for a lot of other things that support your continual path to sickness!). Truly, running/walking is one of the cheapest hobbies you can get involved in. It takes but a decent pair of shoes, proper clothing, and you are off to the 'races'! In the end, the only thing it costs, is the price you pay when you make all those excuses.

When I issued this 'challenge' I thought about what a drag it is to deal with these winter months. It's difficult enough to get motivated let alone deal with being cooped up inside for the next three months. Then I thought, how great it would be to have a 'network' of people sharing a common goal. A group of people encouraging one another to DO SOMETHING this winter! Working together to break down the doors of the cabin with a different kind of fever.

So, remember, this challenge is NOT about you 'beating' me, but really about you beating yourself! This challenge is about meeting you where you are at RIGHT NOW, and doing something, anything to get yourself to the next level! When race day comes this spring and we cross the finish line, I don't care if you come in last place. The fact that you accepted the challenge and kept to your commitment to transform yourself, will truly make you a champion in my eyes! And I know, if I can someway help get you to the finish line, you will also feel the same way about yourself and THAT will make all the difference in the world!

The 5K Challenge

Lets Go Postal!

Have you joined up yet? Lets go! YOU can do this! I want everyone who is in to post a comment on this blog site. Its time to encourage one another. It is important for all of us to post what we are doing or what we have done. Post a workout! Post a dilemma! Post a problem! Post a question! There are no stupid questions! No more insanity! No more procrastination! No more tomorrows! Today is THE day you take a step toward a new you!

The 5K Challenge

The Run, Walk, or Crawl 5K Challenge

Over the years I have heard so many people murmur and complain about being cooped up during the winter with nothing to do. Today, you have an opportunity to put a stop to the whiny flesh and commit your body to do something active this winter! I am challenging anyone and everyone to the Run, Walk, or Crawl your way through the winter and into a 5K run this spring. The goal, whether you be in state or out of state, is to begin working out NOW, so by the time spring rolls into town you will be ready to run, walk, or even crawl through a 5K road race in your area. In my area, we are shooting for the annual Bill Roney / Hanson's 5K in Utica, Michigan. The race will be held on Saturday, March 26. If you live too far away to run with us, then find a race in your area, and commit to training for that race. We will use the next three months to encourage one another to train, get in shape, stay active, etc...throughout the dreaded months winter.

I can already hear the excuses! Isn't it something about this flesh that always wants to make a way out of anything that has to do with discipline? It is in our nature to desire something for nothing. It seems our DNA is programmed for the belief that all good things come to do those who do nothing! But once again, I want to remind you of the definition of insanity. "Doing the same behavior over and over again, and expecting different results!" You cannot sit on the couch and expect to lose that weight. You cannot continue on the same way you have with no exercise, no effort, no movement and expect great things to happen in your life.

Our personal mantras are built on the premise of procrastination. Why is it we always say to ourselves, 'I will start tomorrow', and when tomorrow gets here, we repeat our mantra, 'I will start tomorrow'. Sure we may get a little more sophisticated and say, 'I will start Monday' or 'I will start in the spring' or 'I will start, ad nauseam, fill in the blank __________________________'. Blah, blah, blah! Its time to change this fabricated, make believe, and deceitful way we always justify ourselves out of doing what we know we need to do!

Today, you have an opportunity to do something about it! Today, you have an opportunity to actually implement change in your life! Today, you can make a decision to change your mantra! And the great thing about it, is you do not have to do this alone. One of the reasons I decided to issue this challenge is to create a network of people who have personalized the mantra 'I'll start tomorrow!' BUT are tired of living within the insanity of a mantra to nowhere! A well known runner said it this way, “The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Today, with your commitment, you begin! Today, you are going to take the first step! Today, you are beginning to walk out of the mantra of insanity and into the reality of your inner dreams! From this point on you will NEVER be the same!

It's time! Be courageous! Take a step! Commit! Don't worry, you are not alone! We, the run, walk, or crawl network will help you along the way. Together, we will meet in the spring as 'new' people that have a new mantra!