It's Easter weekend, and winter seems far behind us. The cyclists are cycling, runners are running, baseball and soccer and swimming... outdoor activity has come back to life.
Yesterday I enjoyed my 8th running of Sauder's Easter Egg Run in Lititz, PA. We love our small town, and this local benefit run has been going on for almost 30 years, supporting the Lititz Fire Company. About 500 runners came out to tackle the 5 mile course. (My time was right on... about 15 seconds slower than last year...I'll take it.)
And my countdown for the NJ Spartan Ultra is winding down. Only 5 days to go, and I'll be on the trails, in the mud and over, under and through the obstacles. It's go time.I've been uniquely focused and seriously dedicated to preparing for this Ultra. It's my first 50k (and I don't think it will be my last.), and this one, in true Spartan Race form, is peppered with obstacles. Cargo nets, barbed wire crawls, mud pits, spear throws, all on the ski slopes of Mountain Creek Resort in northern NJ.
A month ago I did my 28 mile peak training run, then the Garden Spot Village half marathon on April 6th, and a bunch of demanding workout runs in between. I've pushed my physical limits like I've never done before in my life, and my mental limits as well. Along with the grueling physical exertion, I've been training my mind for resilience, grit, and the joy of the run... if I'm not fully alive on the race course, then something's wrong.
How about your 2019? Do you have that thing that is pulling you on? The challenge that you're a bit scared of, yet you find the training and planning exhilarating? If you don't have a goal that is begging to be conquered, then maybe you need some time to clear your thoughts, watch life go by for a while and see what stirs a passion in you. Then follow...
A big goal has the power to change our lives. If we take it seriously and live into a life-changing challenge, it will change our pantry, it will improve our weigh, our stamina, our everyday functional fitness - everything. The rising tide of wellness will raise all parts of our lives.
So look around today with new eyes. What piques your interest and stirs your heart? A hike on the Appalachian Trail? Training for a triathlon? Running a 9 minute mile? Cycling 50 miles? Something out there is bound to pull you on, and adventure is waiting patiently for your sweat, commitment and passion. It's go time.
By the Way
I'm in my clean zone as I prepare for the 4/27 Spartan Ultra. If you ever doubt the power of the pantry, just go for 10 days eating completely clean (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and sugar, and no dairy) and see how your body responds. My body has rewarded my clean eating... I'm totally ache and pain-free, even after the incredible amount of miles, squats, burpees, pull-ups, climbing, jumping. If all this health and physical wellness comes from a clean pantry, what else is possible from great choices?
