Does that mean I’m a fitness model?

“The key word here is authenticity. You never know who is watching, who needs to hear you, and who needs to see you.”  ~ Ebone Bell

“Don’t forget while you’re busy doubting yourself, someone else is admiring your strength.” ~ Kristen Butler

Sometimes I get down on my blogging. Like why are you still doing this, but hey you never know who’s watching!  So, I’m breaking the blog-drought with some exciting & super cool news!

I’m a paid fitness model! I think…

I’m constantly posting my running / exercise journey on social media.  That is the focus of my Instagram profile. I post about everything from running with my  crew, Frisco Running Club, to my everyday exercise happenings. 

Nearly 2yrs ago, height of the pandemic, my wife & I decided to buy an exercise bike. Peloton was all the rage at that time; almost elitist. You know what I mean.. the smug guy with his sweater tied around his neck. Or the “business casual” guy wearing his On Cloud shoes with his blazer. “Why yes, we do have a Peleton. We have two.” Insert eye roll here. Yes, I’m stereotyping, but just to give you the visual. 

Anyway, I’m always bouncing things off of my buddy, Brian. I told him about the idea to get a bike. I have him the rundown of all the positives.  “It would be good for cross training. The whole family could ride it…”  That’s when he reminded me about his Bowflex bike. He had bought it recently. The Bowflex VeloCore. I’ve always been a fan of Bowflex. So, I started researching it & learned all about it.

I’m a gadget guy. So throw something unique & a purposeful at me… I’m sold. This bike actually leaned side-to-side. I’m mean like you could lean to the right while riding, then lean to the left. It was so freaking cool!  It had every other feature that an e-bike of the day would have, but it leaned!  Pack it up, son. We’re sold!

Fast forward, I’ve been riding the VeloCore for about 2yrs. All this time I’m randomly taking pictures, posting about my rides on social media, & tagging the official Bowflex Instagram account.  

One day I get a message from Bowflex asking me if I’d like to be in an ad campaign that they were working on. I was like, uh, yeah!  They set up a call with the ad agency Herman Scheer. We talked through the whole thing. Fitness That Feel Different. Everyday people experiencing their Bowflex equipment in their own way, in their own environment. Contract signed. Let’s ride!

All of the footage was to be shot by us at home. Which is cool & nerve-racking  I received a shot list that contained all of the content that was needed. Ended up with 17 videos & about a dozen photos. I was given direction, but was not told what to say. The main goal was for the information & experience to be authentic. I loved that as well. No scripts just me talking about fitness, my life, & my bike. 

About a week ago, Bowflex ran the first ad, a 30sec spot. It had, what I imagine, is all of the athletes in the campaign. None of us have met. So it’s just speculation. Anyway… Super cool! I’m in a commercial! 

What comes next is a mystery. We shot tons of footage. Interviews, exercising, before & afters, etc. But we aren't privy to the content releases. Without further ado, here’s the spot!  No autographs please...

  

JFK - The 5yr Plan

“Tell me, what is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”  ~Mary Oliver 

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ~Unknown

Since this is a journal of my running life, most of you don’t know that I’m a huge JFK buff. My office wall is covered in JFK memorabilia. I was a teen when all of the JFK conspiracy stuff began. And it just so happened that my mom had a commemorative plate of John & Jackie hanging on our wall. We would watch the conspiracy investigations trying to decipher the mystery. FYI: The government did it. 

Now you're asking, what does this have to do with running?  We’ll, there’s apparently a race in Maryland in honor/memory of JFK. How did I not know? How can I not run it?!? 

I’ve been looking into it & this is the loose, abbreviated version of the story…

Apparently in 1963 John F Kennedy said that our military men should be able to hike 50 miles (taken from an old Teddy Roosevelt quote). The news media covered an event where handpicked military officers attempted to traverse 50 miles.  In turn, it spurred a fury of 50 miles hikes by the general public that year across the country. Then JFK got assassinated. Only one race kept going.  A group of high school runners had asked to continue it in his honor. They are now coined as being America’s oldest ultramarathon. 

I’m sure at this point you’re putting 2&2 together. I'm going to do it before I turn 50. I mean I have to... I have 4 years to train. I’ve laid out what I think is a solid plan. I ran the Pikes Peak Ascent last year so I added it on the front & we have the 5yr plan. 

2021: Pikes Peak Ascent

2022: Dallas Marathon

2023: 50k race tbd

2024: Pikes Peak Marathon

2025: JFK 50-Miler

Could I train & do it next year? Probably.  

So why the 5yr plan?

1. I’m already in Wk4 of Dallas Marathon training.

2. I had already planned to target a 50k next year.

3. The Pikes Peak marathon has been on my mind. 

4. Sept 2026 I’ll be 50 & the race is in Nov. 

That’s some runner logic right there. I’ll see you in Dallas & log a few more updates along the way.

If you’re not growing, you’re dying; & I plan to live forever. ~Me

Fast Forward... 75 Hard COMPLETE

"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." - George Shinn

"Setting goals helps bring your future into the present & the present is the only time that we can take action."  - Zig Ziglar

 So, I got a little busy & didn't make time to update the blog every week.  On the bright side, I did finish 75 Hard!  Here are a few quick thoughts on the process.

I learned, once again, that I can do something that I wasn't really sure that I could do.  Proper planning makes everything easier.  I really enjoy reading & I had forgot that.  Drinking a gallon of water got easier, but was still tough.  I'm without a doubt healthier; mentally & physically.  Excuses have no value.  Just get it done.  I plan to continue most of the habits that I've developed in some capacity.  I'm ready for a burger & fries.

Results:                                                                                                     Over the course of 75 Hard, I read 959 pages, drank 9,632oz of water, & lost 22lbs.  My resting heart is rate down 12 beats per minute & my VO2 Max up 9 points.

Your turn!  Don't give it a shot.  Just do it.  Start tomorrow.  YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

Post 75 Hard goals:                                                                                      PR race times in the 10k (7/16), 15k (9/17), & Half Marathon (12/11).  That all starts with an 8wk speed training program by Frisco Running Club.

75 Hard: Week Two

I try to set goals that seem kind of unreasonable at first. As I live towards them, the more reasonable they look.  

- Katie Ledecky

So how’s week two going?  At then end of last week & now the beginning of this week, I feel like I have found a rhythm.

My legs are still tired, but I’m finding ways to workout out upper body instead of my legs. The days that I double up on legs, I really pay for it the next day. 

So Friday I did 1.5hrs in a 20lb vest and followed that up with 45min on the bike. Saturday I really felt that. 

The weekend will be my first work trip while on the program. So we’ll see how it goes with the water & food. 

Update:  I made it through the convention.  My calories & sleep were a little low, but I made it through.

Now I'm toying with the idea of a 50k in June.

75 Hard: Week One

 

In a world that confronts me with mechanical convenience and idle luxury at virtually every turn, I have decided, nonetheless, to improve my physical fitness.  - Amby Burfoot

This was the first thing that stuck out to me in the book that I'm reading, Runner's World - The Complete Book of Running.  Yeah, I know, I'm already runner. I'm a mediocre runner & I want to know more.  Back to the quote...  It's so true.  We really don't have any reason to get out of our comfort zone to move through this life.  We can just meander along & never challenge ourselves.  

That's how we set it up.  We always bring up the microwave or the remote control, but we're so far past that now.  I don't even want to make my own food. Hell, I want someone to bring it to me. And my groceries. And any other thing that I can think of.  I no longer have to get up to change the channel because the TV is in the palm of my hand.  Even better, I don't even have to watch the commercials anymore.   I'm not condemning anyone.  I use these things.  I say it to illuminate my point.  It's easy to take it easy.

Week One:

I chose the Mediterranean Diet.  Vegetables, fish, chicken, pita bread, whole grain bread, brown rice, etc.  Stay away from highly processed foods like hot dogs, lunch meat, shredded cheese, etc.  I found a week's worth of recipes.  It only took about 3 days of not enough protein & carbs to realize that I needed to make an adjustment.  My body was not fueled enough for the 2-a-day workouts.  I went to a simple meal plan.  Baked fish, shrimp, or chicken paired with roasted veggies, either into a pita or with brown rice. For breakfast I’m doing avocado toast & eggs.  

Initially the hardest part was the water. Drinking a gallon of water takes planning. Another point of the program. You have to be intentional. 

On to Week Two!!!

It’s not called 75 Easy

"Your mind and focus are far more powerful than you could ever comprehend." - Andy Frisella

Here I go again.  Another challenge to stretch & strengthen myself. I had a great year last year as you know, but I’ve been coasting. I got discouraged after the marathon training pulled my pace down. I know… wah wah. (Not sure if that’s how you spell a baby cry) 

Anyway, I decided that I needed to refocus. I have dreams of running faster & further. In order to do that, I’m going to have to work on my head game. 

A couple of my friends had done 75 Hard. It intrigued me to say the least. After a month or so, I decided to go for it. I ordered the book.

What is it, you ask?  Well, it’s described as a 75-day mental toughness program. 

It’s rigid. No substitutions. No compromises. You complete the daily tasks no matter what excuse you may come up with. Sounds easy enough, right? Oh, and if you miss one task that day, you have to start over from Day 1.

Here’s a look at the tasks.

I finished the book & started the next day. The next several blog entries will be following my progress through the program. 

Thanks for tagging along!

2021 Running Recap

When you do what you love, the seemingly impossible becomes simply challenging, the laborious becomes purposeful resistance, the difficult loses its edge and is trampled by your progress.

Steve Maraboli

I had a great year!  It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best year I’ve had since I started running. 

I ran 8 half marathons; 2 on back to back days. I conquered the Pikes Peak Ascent.  

1,235.5 total miles for the year. 

In the beginning, it was very stressful, but the most rewarding thing that I did was pacing for the Frisco Running Club. I ran with some awesome people this year. People in every spectrum of running from new to veteran. People training for their first full marathon were my favorite. The dedication I witnessed was inspiring. It’s amazing what people can do when they set a goal!

That’s it quick & dirty!  Looking forward to see what 2022 has in store for me & my running journey!

If you’re in or near Frisco, TX give me a shout & we’ll get some miles in!