Run Into The Fog

Running out my door I look to my right and see a fog bank descending into the city.  Turning up my street I begin to climb into the last pocket of sunlight.  My cadence begins, one foot after the other.  No slow build here.  Just a pure, aggressive start to my run.

Its been a long week.  I'm tired.  And yet I still head out on foot into the hills, into the fog. 

I hear myself say "come on", as I climb the top of the first hill.  By now the fog is rolling and consuming the last of the sun.  I find myself looking out into a landscape of gray, incomplete outlines, into a dull, cold, face-hurling wind.

The streets are empty.  The city feels deserted.  I am the last one, the last fighter, the last survivor.  I like that feeling; the feeling of being stronger, of deserving to live.

One hill peaks, as my breath follows suite, and I descend into another valley.  The climb and descent is repeated over and over again.  Harder and easier.  Push it and recover.  Cycles.  My mind is quieting to this repetition. 

I climb to the top of Twin Peaks and look out.  The contrast between my vision now of the city, with its faintness, and that of a clear, blue-skied day marvel me.  I feel heightened now.  More awake than I'll ever be.  More aware of my positioning in life, connected by a larger perspective, one which is from above looking down below, where my scope encompasses the entire city.

This is my city.  San Francisco.

Smiling and invigorated I head home with a quickened, excited pace.  The hills and valleys fly past me as I outrun the grasp of the fog and find myself looking back at my run.  There she is: Twin Peaks.

The sun is descending now, highlighting the edges of the fog bank with its glow.  The blue sky floats above.  Nothing is more beautiful than this moment.  I am at peace.

And that is why I run.

My 1st Feature Article!

I've had such a productive week.

I'd like to thank Mike from Accidental Bear for featuring me on his website.  Check out the article:
Accidental Bear featuring Celebrity Trainer Johnny Pearman

So much fun! 

And don't miss what's next. 

A HINT: it is a commercial with me in it. 
hmmm...

But I'm No Athlete

Growing up there are many roads to travel.  At a young age children find themselves being divided and categorized very quickly; your first division is your sex, then, in school, you are measured and placed according to your reading level, you learn height and size equates to power and intimidation, and, finally, your "athletic ability" is measured, as competitiveness is slowly learned. 

I was one of the lucky ones.  I may have been one the of the smallest guys but I won one physical award after the other.  Most pushups.  Me.  Fastest.  Me.  But even knowing I was the best at certain physical challenges didn't overcome my lack of self-confidence based on my LACK of height.  In other words, I may have been an athlete in the eyes of some but I didn't feel like one.

Fast FORWARD...

It is High School now.  I am going into my Senior year and I am finally growing! I've been lifting weights for the past year and my acne is finally clearing.

Senior Year was pivotal in my development and appreciation for exercise and health.  I, like many other "smaller guys", had tried everything: I prayed for growth every night, I ate until sick, and slept as often as possible.  But puberty you can't speed up. 

As a Senior, and as new levels of testosterone flooded my body, I began to grow and grow.  Suddenly, I had a nice chest, big arms, I had muscles!  I started to finally feel like an athlete. 

But what does feeling like an athlete feel like?

Let me tell you.  It is CONFIDENCE.  That's it.  It is a feeling of "anything you can do I can do better".

And BACK TO YOU, my lovely reader.

You don't have to be an athlete to enjoy exercise and incorporate it into your life.   You don't have to be training for the big game or the biggest muscles.  You only have to be training for the feeling it gives you.  The confidence it builds.  The mood of optimism it chemically induces.  The positive outlook you develop.  The comfort you inhibit within your smile knowing that you took time out for yourself, time to invest in your health.

The Menu to Health

I love to eat.  I love to taste and try any food without hesitation.  I love the diversity of taste and the creativity that it inspires in me when I eat.  Nothing compares to a great taste that dissolves all but the present.

But before getting to the juicy part, the climax of taste, decisions and actions have to take place.
Like where am I going to eat and what is on the menu?

Not all menus are created equal.  Nothing creates more indecision for me than a menu with too many options.  If only I could order it all.  But I can't.  I must decide!

This is what it is like for many people when they approach the Menu to Health.  We are inundated with so many fads, tricks, false hopes, products, personalities, and unobtainable images that we can't make a decision, we can't order. 

So, we talk about being hungry for Health, and we talk...but nothing happens.  Indecision.  Inaction. 

Here is the secret.

Just order a few appetizers.  Awaken your taste buds, get something in you, and realize just how hungry you are. Be that wild animal who taste blood and suddenly becomes ravenous with an insatiable appetite.   Develop the true hunger, the hunger for more.

Here is what is on the Appetizer Menu to Health:
-Walking
-Riding a Bike
-Hiking
-Exercising at Gym
-Playing a sport
-Dancing
-Shopping
-Moving
*all items are FREE, FUN, AND AVAILABLE FOR SHARING

After your Appetizer allow your awakened hunger to choose the main course and desert.  The rest of the Menu to Health is easy. 

Enjoy your meal.  And enjoy the next!