‘You’re doing what, Richard?!’

If you asked me five months ago if I was going to attempt my first triathlon in September 2009, I’d say you’re high or drunk.  But, sure enough, that’s exactly what I’m doing on September 12, 2009.  I’ll be participating in a sprint triathlon to help raise funds for the Special Olympics.  If you’d like to donate to the cause to help me reach my goal of $250, go to http://soazsprinttriathlon.kintera.org/rvanover

A sprint triathlon is the shortest of triathlons.  The swim is 300 yards (swimming is not my strongest suit so this is the one I’m most nervous about), the bike run is 13 miles, and the run is 3.1 miles.  I am not at all concerned about the bike part, and relatively confident on the run, it’s the first leg of the triathlon that concerns me the most, and it’s the shortest part too! 

I’m excited about it though, if you told me five months ago that I’d be addicted to exercise, running, swimming, biking…I’d also say you’re drunk or high.  But it is what it is.  I went to REI (a store that sells outdoor equipment) yesterday to buy a bike, got a nice one, spent a little dough, but worth it.  The salesman that I worked with mentioned that he is a triathlete too, and he went into detail how he’s going to do a ironman triathlon for the first time in November!  Now an ironman triathlon is the longest of triathlons (2 miles swimming, 113 miles biking, and 26 miles running).  To put in perspective exactly how tough it is to do an ironman triathlon: A marathon run is 26 miles, you’re now adding 113 miles biking and two miles swimming.  It takes the average person about 10-12 hours to complete it.  A sprint triathlon takes the average person about 2 hours, and I hope to keep my time at about 2 hours to 2 and a half hours.

I’ll be back in September to tell you how it went, wish me luck!

Also, it dawned on me that I didn’t put down stats for July, so here they are:

July 6, 2009: 268.8 (-1.6)
July 13, 2009: 261.2 (-7.6)
July 20, 2009: 260.6 (-0.6)
July 27, 2009: 260.4 (-0.2)

Til next time, keep on hanging on!

Transformation? What What?

Ya know, back in the day when food was like a hard drug to me, I’d hear people talk about the “transformation” from who they were to who they’d become or were becoming.  Personally, at the time, I thought they were full of it.  I mean, I was SURE that people never changed.  Who you were 10 years ago, is who you are today, and the prick you were 5 years ago is the same prick you will be today.  Those of you who knew me at Gallaudet, and even ASDB, and even before that, can vouch for my transformation, even those of you who knew me a mere year ago.  The person I was a mere five months ago is not the person I am today.

I am not perfect, I ain’t never gonna be.  But we spend our whole lives chasing perfection in everything we do, having the perfect body, throwing the perfect game in baseball, chasing perfection in school/work/home life, etc, etc, etc…..

I have come to a few conclusions over the last five months, but there is one conclusion that ties it all together: THE CHASE FOR PERFECTION IS A MISTAKE.  Read that again, perfection is a flaw.  Who decides what perfect is?  What is perfect for me will not be perfect for the next man.  In baseball, a perfect game means no runs, no hits, no errors, no one left on base, no walks, no hit by pitches, quite literally, 27 batters up, 27 batters down.  But, doesn’t perfection mean you have to throw 3 strikes and you’re out every time, and if they get a hit (fly ball or ground out), doesn’t that mean you weren’t perfect?  True perfection in baseball is 81 strikes thrown, 27 strikeouts.  Guess what?  In the history of baseball, that has never happened.  Who’s to say that my body physique at peak condition should be 180 pounds?  Let me tell you, I know what 180, 6’1″ looks like, they’re scrawny as hell.  If you’re attempting to be perfect at home, or work, what are you losing in other parts of your life because you dedicate perfection to one part?

I have been mulling over this for the last week, and the mood struck.  I am not perfect, I won’t never be.  My life is not perfect, I have a great job, my body is getting on track, my personal life is coming together, but there are things missing.  Things that I can live without, but would rather have.  Things that the next person have but don’t have the good job, health, etc…but they have what they want, and so it’s perfect to them.

So, this brings me back to my point.  The “transformation” from who you were to who you want to be, ought to be.  Life, for me, is much clearer, happier, more fun.  As a friend once said, “focus on the important things in your life, and the rest will fall into place.”  That’s what struck my mood tonight.  Quite interesting, and true.    I know this blog is cheesy, but hey, the mood strikes, and people are starting to listen to what I have to say.  Not that I’m 100% right, just that I wanted to share with you.

So instead of chasing perfection, this is what I suggest: STRIVE TO BE ALL THAT YOU CAN/WANT TO BE, AND BE HAPPY, THAT IS PERFECTION.

What’s your excuse?

When the mood strikes, the mood strikes.

On a side note, finally took a picture of myself that I liked for the first time in…as long as I can remember, yesterday.  It’s on facebook in the “before and after” album.  Check it out.

Now, on to the point of this short blog.  What’s your excuse?  I know we all have excuses for why we’re not working out, eating healthier, focusing on our health issues, etc…”I’m too busy with school,” “I just had surgery and am still not ready,” “I’m a full time mom/dad and have absolutely zero free time,”, etc, etc, etc!

I been there, I get it, times are busy, I’m going back to school in October and will have even less time to work out, but I’m going to find a way, where there’s a will, there’s always a way.  You may come up with the best excuse in the world to give me why you can’t work out, eat healthier, be more focused on your health….but that’s all it is, an excuse.  Even if it’s a good one, it’s still an excuse and it tells me, you are not ready to make a commitment to change your life.  That’s fine, everyone will do it when they’re ready.  But, please don’t sit there and tell me that you have a “get out of jail free” card to improving your health. 

I know I don’t pretend to understand people who are a lot more busy than me, I get it, you’re busy, it sucks.  But I can also tell you, give me your schedule, tell me exactly what it is like and I will tell you exactly when you have free time to focus on your body, and believe me, I can find more time than you think I will.

Realistically you only need to commit at least 30 minutes a day to working out (cardio only if nothing else), 4-5 days a week.  If you can’t find that time in a day, you need to re-evaluate your life and I urge you to seek help to make changes that will put less pressure on your life because I guarantee you that having not even 30 minutes a day TO YOURSELF is unhealthy and I’m sure medical doctors and holistic people both will agree with me on that.

I know this is a bit blunt, but I keep hearing people come up with excuses.  Enough is enough.  Either you are ready, or you’re not, it’s that simple.

So, what’s your excuse?