The Gauntlet

In 1977 Clint Eastwood starred in “The Gauntlet”.  This was a story where he played a cop sent to transport a prostitute for trial on minor charges.  As it turns out, she was actually going to testify against a leading mobster and he was chosen specifically by a corrupt Police Chief because he was a mediocre cop and deemed “expendable”.   Time after time, their transport vehicles get riddled with a ridiculous number of bullets as the Chief has listed them as "armed and dangerous".  They are on the run from the mob as well as the cops.  Together they face challenge after challenge after challenge...

I bring this up as June is presenting itself to be my gauntlet.  As earlier mentioned, I’ve challenged myself to complete two physical “events” per month.  These can be anything that would be above and beyond a normal workout.  I have run races, participated in indoor triathlons, and track meets.  The idea being that having a target event on the immediate horizon will keep me focused on working out.

From January through April, I managed to find and schedule events pretty easily.  I actually averaged three “events” per month.  May proved to be more challenging as family events ate up most of the weekends and scheduling two events became difficult.  I ended up “creating” two events.  On May 17^th, I completed a 2 mile swim at the local YMCA.  I’ve swam that far before, but not in a long time.   Last night I completed a “CrossFit Challenge”.   This consisted of 10 rounds of 6 exercises.  It took me 86 minutes and the best term I have found to describe what I went through is “brutal”.   Through years of football, rugby and triathlons, I have never had a workout that kicked my ass as badly as this one did.   That which does not kill me….   Fortunately, through both the swim and CrossFit Challenge, I have amazing friends that came out and did them with me.  I am blessed.

So here I sit looking at the month of June that I’ve scheduled.  I have signed up for four events.   There are two other events that I may also do.  The first is an “Aqua Bike” race this Saturday.  I will swim 400 yards and then go for an 11.25 mile bike ride.  It is actually the first two legs of a sprint distance triathlon.  I simply do not have a 5K in me at this point.  On the 8^th, I am going to Olivet College to throw shot put and discus at the USAT&F Michigan Outdoor Masters Championships.  There is a 2K Open Water Swim on the 19^th.  On June 22^nd I throw shot put and discus again at the State of Michigan Games.  The next day I will swim the 50, 100, and 500 Freestyle as part of the State Games.  The month rounds out with a Sprint Triathlon on the 29^th.  I may look to try to find a biker and a runner to do it as a “Team”. 

It is a lot.  As I type my body aches from the 50 burpees, 100 pushups, 150 sit ups, 250 air squats, and 500 jump ropes from yesterday.  The thought of doing six events amidst business travel, end of year school events, a soccer potluck, Cub Scout activity, and who knows what else has me a bit intimidated. 

During my CrossFit Challenge, my coach Zach Parsons, kept pushing me to get through the next set of exercises…to keep chipping away at it.  As I look to June, I’ve decided to keep that focus on the next event.  Chip away that one.  Then keep moving.  Always keep moving.

The turtle went over the mountain…

Back when I decided to begin this journey, my goal was to become a runner again.  I’ve taken on many challenges from simply “working out again” to completing two sprint triathlons.  I’ve swam, biked, and ran.  I’ve swung kettle bells and done burpees til my arms fell off.  I’ve participated in CrossFit Challenges, Open Water Swims of more than a mile, thrown shot put and discus, and even one very comical attempt at the long jump.

As I sat down and looked at 2013, I decided that I wanted to have a goal of participating in two “target events” per month.  Whether it is a 5K, an Indoor tri, or a cross country hike I needed a steady focus on something other than another workout to keep me going.  I realized I needed to have that “next mountain” on my horizon or I might get complacent.

January started well.  There was a fun run of 2.2 miles on New Year’s Day.  Scratch off one.  My second event was going to be an indoor triathlon in Muskegon at the YMCA as part of a series I was participating in.  A “Box Only”, or members only, event was posted at the CrossFit gym I work out in and I decided to give that a try as well. There was an additional triathlon I could do the day after the CrossFit event but my coach, Zach, talked me out of doing both.  I’m glad because the fatigue factor after the CrossFit event was far greater than I had imagined.  Still, I completed three events in the first month.   I was already ahead of the game.

In February, I completed two more indoor triathlons as well as a five mile hike of the Appledorn Trail with a bunch of Cub Scouts.   Herding Cub Scouts for five miles is more of a workout than you can imagine!

March consisted of a 5K race, an indoor tri, and my first indoor track meet.

April had two more triathlons and I have 5K race this friday at Sammy's school to close out the month. 

May could be tricky as scheduling conflicts have left me only one target event (5K)  I am interested in.  I may be able to sneak in another Appledorn Hike or, if needed, "create" my own event.  I’m thinking of an indoor tri of longer segments or riding the Kal-Haven Trail from Kalamazoo to South Haven.  Either way, I will find two “events”.

It sounds physically hard.  Actually, scheduling is the hardest part.  Much harder than some of the events!  Between the boys soccer, tennis, bowling, baseball, golf club, scouts, Little Rembrandts, and who knows what else, my travel for work, Kimm’s travel for work, run camp for her half marathon, and events she’d like to do, things get busy quickly.

Reaslistically, I need to focus more on simply running.  CrossFit has provided me greater overall strength as my swimming and biking have shown.  I just need to run better.  Dropping a few pounds would help too!

I looked ahead to June.  June 1^st is a Saturday this year allowing the month to have five Saturdays.  Finding two events for this month should be easy.  June 1st has an event called the Double Time.  A friend I met through racing, Jim Mischler, runs this race.  It is early in the outdoor season so I could do this one and still find others to do later.  The location looks nice and I am goint to just do the Aqua Bike, (like a sprint distance tri without the run).  June is also when the State Games of Michigan take place.  Between Track and Field and Swimming that’s two meets in two days…but I did this last year.  No problem.   The last weekend of the month has another sprint distance triathlon that Jim’s group organizes.  This is held out at Gull Lake…very pretty.  Another “must do”.  Continuing on, I see that the Michigan USA Track and Field Outdoor Masters Championships are going to be held in June.  At first I think that there is no way I could fit it in with the other events.  Wait…June 8^th?  That is open!  Okay…it would also allow me more practice before the State Games.  Finally, I see Jim send out a posting for a 2K open Water swim.  This is actually going to be held on the Wednesday before the State games.  I did one last year at the same time…I just did not have a second track meet and two races bookending in the month. 

Part of me looks at this as nuts.  It is a lot of events.  Another part of me looks at this and says “Why not?”   It’s not like I’m going to a bunch of pub crawls.  I’m not spending time in strip clubs.  I’m doing something that promotes a healthier lifestyle and helps me draw inspiration to be a better person.

It will be a “gauntlet” of activity for the month.  The mountains will come at me fast and furious in June.  No rest for the weary! 

I’m going to feel great...once I get through it all.

…and then I will look ahead to my next mountain.