Naked Man Moleskin

Today marks my 1000th post. That is 1000 mornings over the last 4 years, rain or shine, hot or cold of getting up, lacing up, showing up, and never giving up.

To get to where I am today did not happen overnight. It began September 2017. Back then, I got a call from FIB asking if I would be interested in being part of this thing called F3. At that time, I viewed the opportunity as a good way to start working out again. I was 44 and for the past 20+ years after college – work, kids, life changed my routine and I rarely found time to make working out a priority.  At that time, I was tipping the scales at an all-time high of around 225 pounds.

I remember the first workout.  It was at the Outpost on a nice warm Saturday.  I thought I was going to die after 15 minutes. Luckily I survived, and lucky for me, I had a week to recover before the next workout (Back then we only offered BCs one day a week – on Saturdays).  At that time, I was not a regular, attending occasional BCs, but more often than not, I would find myself coming up with reasons and talking myself out of going. During the first winter, I completely dropped off the map – I don’t think I attended a single workout during a 3-4 month stretch. In the Spring, I decided to plant myself, resurface and started attending workouts again. Still, I was not a regular. Still struggling through every workout. As we expanded, I found myself hitting the Foxbury (Oswego) AO on Saturdays and it seemed as though every Saturday that I decided to head to Foxbury we ended up doing, what felt to me, never ending Indian runs with the flag through downtown Oswego.  Some thought it was a good way to gain exposure, I viewed it as a death march.  However, what I remember from those runs isn’t just how I struggled, being I hate running, but more so, the constant encouragement from people like Urkel, Captain, and BR. A simple phrase like, “you got this” and “don’t quit on me now”, provided me the encouragement I needed not to quit, to push on, and to better myself. I changed my eating habits and began to attend more regularly and over time began to see improvement in how I looked and felt. I shed 30lbs in the first year and people were noticing. My clients would say I am melting away before there very eyes. On a run at the Outpost Appletini said, “he didn’t recognize me as I had dropped so many lbs”. Another simple compliment that further motivated me.  Another example of how simple encouragement can inspire and ignite someone’s flame.

As summer, 2018, turned into fall I was finding myself becoming more of a regular, often making it 5 days/week but never making a six pack.  Never making a six pack, as that would require me to attend a run club and I hate running.  I avoided them at all costs.  Somehow, I found my way to a run club – most likely only there to support a VQ or something.  When there, I found myself, bringing up the rear, but finishing with a fellow F3er. Together we finished strong. I proved to myself I could do it.  It sucked, and I enjoyed 0% of the run, but I was better because of it.  Once F3 Naperville year 2 started I was determined to start off each day ITG getting better and helping others get better.

Ever since then, I have made it my goal to be part of as many workouts as my body allows.  Of course there were/are days where my body was aching, muscles sore, needing more sleep, but I held true to my goal.  I know that this time every morning is my time.  My time to clear my head and start the day off with a win.  Not only did I want to attend as many workouts as possible, I wanted to better myself every day.  I knew to better myself meant improving my cardio and running.  So I also made it a goal over the last few years to increase my running.  During the first 2 years, I think I can count on one hand the number of run clubs I attended.  Last year I created a goal of attending 20 run clubs and fell a few short of my goal, as I loaded up on BCs.  This year I created a goal of 40 run clubs, and this run club today will mark my 67th run club for the year.  Slowly improving, I am still not a fan of running, but know I need to continue to get after it to better myself.  

So in summary, some nuggets to pull out of this long story:

1. Simple encouragement can spark a flame in someone 
2. Never give up on yourself – you can achieve more than you think you can
3. Set goals to get better every day – and make it happen! 
4. Do something that stretches you, mentally or physically – grow 
5. Give thanks

I am not the fastest, not the strongest,
I am not where I want to be but I am trying to get better everyday. And it is because of all of you that I am motivated to come here day after day after day. So I want to thank all of you for helping get me to where I am today and thank you all for your support and friendship during my first 1000 posts and TIA for the continued support I know you will offer over the next 1000.

Thanks Again PAX.

Handy Manny