April 12
Tomorrow is a banner day. It will be the five year anniversary of me taking my health more seriously. It also happens to coincide with an ex-girlfriend’s birthday. It’s easy to remember, as it’s exactly 6 months before my birthday.
She and I dated for about 4 years, lived together for about a year and even rescued a golden retriever. Essentially that all went by the wasteside (pun intended) when she met someone else and broke up with me. She declared that I was fat, unhealthy (I practically chain-smoked) and she wasn’t attracted to me anymore. Ouch.
Shortly after, I started going to the gym and mountain biking out of spite. I’ll admit my motives to get healthy and shed my fat were originally to get her back (yeah, right, like that was going to work…), but as time went on, I quit smoking and could truly see the results from my hard work (I used to weigh 240+ lbs and I’m currently down to 195 lbs).
I started mountain biking with co-workers in 2001 after my gym closed its doors, and by 2002, I was waiting at the top of the hills for them to catch up. Based on a suggestion from another biker, I started racing – I immediately got hooked. The drive from spite quickly turned into competition. After I got home from work today, I reflected on the 80+ number plates stapled to the walls of my garage. It's a long way from 5 years ago.
And here I sit, anxiously waiting for my first endurance race in 4 weeks. The first Michigan race of the season is next Sunday, but I’ve opted out of doing it. Not my thing – I’m more into the long distance rides. I’m nervous and contemplating how much (how little) training I’ve put in since starting the new job, and next Sunday’s race would show how little I’ve been training. I still have about 15 lbs to lose by August for Leadville, but as the weather gets better, I’ll get more miles in. Don’t take it too seriously.
Tomorrow will be a good day. I’ll probably do the Stony group ride, if I can escape work early enough. Time really flies there if you don’t pay attention.
So, this entry inspired me to post a happy birthday wish to Sarah - thanks for the much needed kick in the balls. I appreciate it.
She and I dated for about 4 years, lived together for about a year and even rescued a golden retriever. Essentially that all went by the wasteside (pun intended) when she met someone else and broke up with me. She declared that I was fat, unhealthy (I practically chain-smoked) and she wasn’t attracted to me anymore. Ouch.
Shortly after, I started going to the gym and mountain biking out of spite. I’ll admit my motives to get healthy and shed my fat were originally to get her back (yeah, right, like that was going to work…), but as time went on, I quit smoking and could truly see the results from my hard work (I used to weigh 240+ lbs and I’m currently down to 195 lbs).
I started mountain biking with co-workers in 2001 after my gym closed its doors, and by 2002, I was waiting at the top of the hills for them to catch up. Based on a suggestion from another biker, I started racing – I immediately got hooked. The drive from spite quickly turned into competition. After I got home from work today, I reflected on the 80+ number plates stapled to the walls of my garage. It's a long way from 5 years ago.
And here I sit, anxiously waiting for my first endurance race in 4 weeks. The first Michigan race of the season is next Sunday, but I’ve opted out of doing it. Not my thing – I’m more into the long distance rides. I’m nervous and contemplating how much (how little) training I’ve put in since starting the new job, and next Sunday’s race would show how little I’ve been training. I still have about 15 lbs to lose by August for Leadville, but as the weather gets better, I’ll get more miles in. Don’t take it too seriously.
Tomorrow will be a good day. I’ll probably do the Stony group ride, if I can escape work early enough. Time really flies there if you don’t pay attention.
So, this entry inspired me to post a happy birthday wish to Sarah - thanks for the much needed kick in the balls. I appreciate it.
posted by Circus Freak at 9:19 PM
<< Home