Time To Procrastinate

I've tentatively decided to prepare for the Lake Padden Mt. Duatholon. Its a run, mt. bike, run course (2.6 m., 4 m., 2.6 m.). So, as early preparation i went for a jog last night. The pre-spring sun was lingering a little longer than normal and the afternoon felt like we are in the transition of winter to spring. I took in approximately three miles and today i feel like i attempted a 7k mountain race or a 1/2 marathon or something ungodly and painful. I am shocked at how out of shape i feel. My near complete lack of fitness is something that bothers me greatly.

A couple of months ago i realized that my 30th birthday was looming at the end of March and i didn't want to be turning 30 without being on a straight and narrow path towards fitness. I never really got started there. I had best intentions but only so much time in a day and what little time there is seems to fade away.

My life isn't devoid of physical activity. My work as a carpenter is inherently physical and i try to get out on my mt. bike at least once a week. Also, i play indoor soccer. But it isn't enough. Far from it, i want the feeling that on any given day i could step outside and conquer the world--metaphorically speaking--and right now i feel that I'd be lucky to conquer my neighborhood or the local coffee shop. It takes a recognition of my pathetic fitness level to want to change it.

I want to be more fit but i despise the road to fitness. The other day i was flipping through a photo album of my study abroad experience (La Trobe University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) and i was dumbfounded at the difference in guy in those pictures and the guy looking at them. I had been running close to every day at that point in my life and looked it and felt it. Now i look like what i am, a hard workin', beer swillin', carpenter-father-husband who's just to f'ing tired at the end of the day to remotely fathom putting on a pair of running shoes and vanishing for three miles or so. It is even hard to get on my mt. bike and that is a sport that truly revitalizes and refreshes my outlook and mentality. Anything that requires a certain level of fitness right now is daunting and frustrating and i loose the motivation to pursue it rather quickly.

But I'm ready to change that. Yesterday i jogged three miles. Tomorrow I'll either get on my bike or jog again. This coming weekend I'll play indoor soccer. The challenge for me isn't so much exercising it is being patient with myself as i build up strength and stamina to go the distance. Something to train for is best--the padden mt. duatholon. But it isn't until October... I've got a lot of time to procrastinate.