I think I just finished the fifth week of this 12-week PLS bootcamp session this morning. I say “I think” because honestly, I don’t know. The 4 a.m. Wake-up Club is also the The 4 a.m. Memory Loss Club. Fatigue will do that.
The first four weeks felt terrible. This week, for some reason, I felt pretty strong. My body, as old as it is, responded and I’ve picked up some speed. Maybe it is because I’m inspired by my son’s running. Maybe it is just that my brain is finally getting out of the way of my exercise. I don’t know. But whatever it is, I appreciate it.
It’s nice not to nearly croak every morning.
I started doing PLS in 2012. I had run a marathon, had a job change and started working two jobs. I was exhausted, stopped exercising and began self-medicating with Coca-Cola. I went from 195 to 220 to 250 in a year. Paul Lacoste’s son went to my wife’s school and one day, he convinced her that I needed to do the bootcamp.
I did and for the first two weeks, I hated every freaking second it. I’d get up at 4 a.m. and would curse the world. I was so tired by the time I got off the radio every night at 6 p.m. that I barely could stay awake to drive home. But I did it — I kept waking up early and doing the workout. And soon, my body responded. Twelve weeks later, I lost back down to 200. I had energy again. I didn’t need to self medicate with soda. Today, I’m 220, but thin. My resting heart rate is in the 50’s. I’m in very good shape — Last Sunday, I ran nine miles.
The point of this is not to say “I can workout!” The point is, “you can workout!” — because I am a pretty awkward athlete. So if I can, you can. Trust me. You’ve got this.
My inspiration? My Dad. He waterskied at the age of 78. He died at 81. If not for the Dementia, he’d have lived easily another 10 years. He’s my inspiration. My goal is to continue to be athletic until the day I drop. I don’t want a slow decline. I’m sure you want the same thing. Exercise and a decent diet are so important.
If I live as long as my Dad (God willing), I have 31 years left. I have the choice about how I am going to live it. My choice is this: I want to wear out, not rust out.