Camerasutra

It has been 2 years since Jess and I first sat together at Longmont’s Bingo Alley in a panicked blur of having accidentally purchased too many bingo cards.  Instead of calmly getting to know one another over decaf tea and a biscuit, we were busy scanning a total of 36 individual bingo games as the numbers seemed to fly past us.

Two years later and still going strong, we decided to spend the evening in the calm confines of a small Japanese restaurant dining on raw fish and short-grained rice.  There was once again a mishap in communication…this time instead of ordering too many bingo cards I inadvertently requested that they deep fry the most expensive sushi roll on the menu.  Somewhere between myself and the sushi chef, my request to “not” add the tempura fried garnish to the top turned into please treat this delicacy like a Southern-friend turkey leg.

Afterwards we headed over to 4580 for a few drinks.  With nobody else at the bar, the bar tender was able to devote his full attention to our inebration.  3 margarhitas, a mojito and a choco-tini later, I decided it might be a good idea to hang up my drinking hat for the night.  This probably would have been a good move 2 margarhitas, a mojito and a choco-tini earler….

Murphy’s Law suggests that you will always blow out your knee playing indoor soccer the Thursday before an epic mountain bike ride.  Well Murph….you win again.

I’ve been planning on mountain biking from Kenosha Pass to Breckenridge with some neighbor friends for weeks now.  It is one of the epic Colorado mountain bike rides.  It is made even more epic if you can time it at the peak of the Aspens turning.  Considering my injury, I had opted not to ride, but Jess and I were still going to head up and camp.  As we’re pulling out of the driveway on Friday, Jess suggested that perhaps I should throw my bike on the car just in case I feel up to it.

It had been a long time since I had been out under the stars next to a campfire.  I was quickly reminded that it is truly one of life’s most simple pleasures.  Tonight was also the first night that Jess and I were to sleep on the bed that Ronnie helped me build for the element.  As we were laying out the foam mattress, putting down the sheets, and piling on the giant down comforter, we were very excited about the night of extreme  comfort.  All I can say is we took away some lessons learned.  First, we definitely need more padding.  Halfway through the night it felt as if I’d been sideswiped by a city bus.  Second, there is definitely some sort of icebox effect that happens inside that car on a cold night.  We absolutely froze.  Perhaps the next voyage in the SS Icebox will be a bit more comfortable.

My knee was incredibly sore all night.  Every time I would switch over to my other sore shoulder, my knee would remind me of its condition.  I was resolved to definitely not bike the next day….until I was faced with the prospect of biking the next day.  Waking up and seeing the Aspens was just too much.  I couldn’t miss this ride.  So, I suited up, packed my Camelback, and joined the others on the ride.

The ride was two things 1) incredibly gorgeous 2) incredibly difficult.  I’m sure it was a combination of factors, but I have never had a more difficult bike ride.  The entire 12 mile climb to the summit was a series of roots and rocks that you had to accelerate over.  Somehow Bryan and Adam found the strength to move up past us, but the other four of us were doggin’ it the whole way to the top.  It was about the most perfect day you could ask for in terms of Aspens though.  They were at their peak of color, the sky was clear, and there was a light, constant breeze that had the leaves falling like snow flakes.  It was perfect.

After several hours of climbing, we finally pulled above treeline.  While this was certainly reason for celebration, there was still quite a ways to go.  Somehow seeing the summit made the climb that much more difficult.  I eventually swallowed my pride and resorted to walking my bike.  It was much easier and about three times faster than I was able to bike.  Pulling over the crest of the summit was glorious.  Gravity was now doing the work that my legs seemed unable to perform.

We found Adam and Bryan about a mile from the summit hanging out amongst some trees.  We stopped to enjoy some lunch and see if we could find a way to Breckenridge that did not involve anymore climbing.  Thankfully there is an old Colorado Trail and a new Colorado Trail.  The old one drops down and climbs up over another ridge, but the old one drops down into the valley and leads you to Breckenridge along a downward slope the entire way.  I’m fairly certain that this was the only way that any of us were going to be able to make it into town.

After an incredible 9 mile singletrack downhill, we finally hit the dirt road that would pull us all the way to the car.  While the climb was the hardest one I’ve done, the downhill always makes it worth it.  By the end I had all but forgotten the pain and suffering endured just an hour earlier.  Upon making it back to the car (that Jess and Kristen had shuttled to Breckenridge for us…thanks girls!), we loaded up the bikes and headed into town for a well-deserved beer.  The town’s Ocktoberfest was in full swing, so we were made to force our way through about a mile of very drunk, very festive people.  Everyone had their commemorative steins, glazed eyes and a bratwurst.  This town is sure to smell of beer farts tomorrow.  I’m not sure the Aspens will be able to hang on through that.

Beer always tastes better after a hard ride.  This time was no exception.  We each consumed more than our fair share of appetizers, beer and burgers.  After the feast, we packed our sore, tired butts back into the Honda Pilot and took the long drive back to Kenosha Pass.  As we were all yearning for the comfort of our own beds, we all packed up our gear in the dark and drove back to Boulder.  My body thanked me after a shower as each completely exhausted muscle in my body fell into the warm recesses of my own mattress.

Is it too late to blog about my Labor Day weekend? I hope not. So…yeah…Jess and I had a pretty low key weekend here in Boulder. It was the start of our P90X routine, so we stayed close to the DVD player and protein drinks most of the weekend, but finally got out for a hike on Monday with Greg and Kristen. We rarely get up to Rocky Mountain National Park due to the fact that they don’t allow dogs on trails. Today we left them at home and enjoyed a gorgeous hike to Loch Lake. The aspens were just starting to turn. The air was crisp with the cool smell of autumn decay. If I could bottle it and sell it, I would.

I was kicking myself once we got up to the high lakes for not packing my fly rod. There were fish everywhere!

After the hike we stopped at Moraine Park for a picnic lunch on the way out and watched a herd of Elk mowing the grass along the banks of the winding Big Thompson River. Short of having a fly rod, it was about perfect.

Until now I have not understood the value of Twitter. Honestly, I could give a mule’s turd if you’re standing in line at the grocery store or excited for the weekend. And yes….I realize the irony of saying something like this on my own personal blog.

A old friend of a friend emailed me a link to the first useful Twitter feed I’ve seen.  Its called “Shit That My Dad Says”.  It is published by a 28 year old male that lives with his 73 year old father.  He just writes down what his father says and puts it out there for us to enjoy.

Some of my favorites so far:

“I just did an hour on the gym machine. I’m sweaty and I have to shit. Where’s my fannypack, this workout is over.”
– 10:36am, August 31st

“I didn’t live to be 73 years old so I could eat kale. Don’t fix me your breakfast and pretend you’re fixing mine.”
– 11:24am, August 3rd

So…enjoy….Shit My Dad Says.

*** PLEASE NOTE: This site is fairly vulgar…you’ll either love it or hate it. ***

Zack Phillips (aka SoccerHead) just sent out a link to a great RollerSoccer video that contains several highlights from this year’s RollerSoccer World Club Championships. Somehow my gorgeous goal against Holland failed to make it in there, but you can just imagine the glory.

When I tell people I play RollerSoccer, the first question is always, “But….how do you kick the ball?”. I think this video answers that question much better than I ever could.

The fountain of youth seems to lose water pressure with every year.  I remember being in the best shape of my life around the age of 26.  I was playing soccer 3 to 4 hours each day,  I was lifting weights several times a week, and then on weekends I would drive to Lorton, VA or Shenandoah National Park and do a 10 mile trail run and be ready for more.

Fast forward seven years….

I wouldn’t say that I’m necessarily out of shape, but I’m nowhere near where I would like to be.  Whereas I used to play soccer several hours a day and want more, now I have to calculate each sprint to be sure I have enough in the tank for the next one.  I sometimes play against young, fast guys and think that used to be me.   I really hate not being able to keep up anymore.

So…I’m doing something about it.  Have you heard of P90X?  I first saw the infomericial and thought, “that workout looks seriously intense”.  They have incredible before/after photos of ordinary people who have committed to the 90 day program and are completely ripped on the tail end of it.  This is not your typical piece of hide-under-the-bed exercise equipment that is marketed by people who got in shape another way and were then paid to schlop around on this piece of equipment for the commercial.  These were the actual people who had done the actual program.

The New P90X Infomercial – Part #1

My desire to get back in shape has led me to purchase a good bit of home fitness equipment.  I have the all-in-one dumbells, the weighted medicine ball, the swiss ball, the pull up bar, the resistance bands, the yoga mat….I even have the TRX military training system.  Most of this equipment is currently just weighing down the carpet in my office.  Every few weeks I’ll do some pushups, situps and a few curls, but there is nothing resembling a routine to my working out.

So, I ordered the P90X.  It is a 90 day fitness program and nutrition plan that you do at home with the a few dumbells, a pull up bar and a yoga mat.  We got the DVDs, workout guide and nutrition program in the mail on Wednesday.  Since it arrived I have moved my desk into the farthest reaches of the office to make room for some serious exercising for the next 90 days.  Jess and I are heading to my buddy’s gym tomorrow for our fit test.  We basically take a bunch of measurements and perform several fitness tests for our “before” results.  We also have to take several photos of ourselves to compare over the course of the program.  Then at 30, 60 and 90 days, we take the same photos and fitness tests to see how we’re progressing.  This Saturday we do the first day of our 90 day program.  I can’t wait!

There is also a whole online support community for the Beach Body products.  There are online discussion boards, workout buddies, coaches, and my favorite…the Million Dollar Body Game.  There is a sweepstakes that you get entered into for logging your workout online.  Each week they give away iPods, DVD players, and somebody wins $1000 each week.  In addition, they have the success story contest.  This is an award that they choose for people who are doing the program and seeing tremendous results.  These winners are entered into the $10,000 quarterly contest and the annual contest with $25,000, $50,000 and $250,000 grand prizes.  It is amazing that they reward people like this for transforming their lives.  I’m actually a bit addicted to the videos of people who’ve won.  The $10,000 prize winners are quite incredible.  Here are a few:

Kristy McLean – lost 90 pounds

Dale Bramall – lost 100 pounds

Thomas Mygrant – lost 110 pounds

Ashley Mygrant – lost 40 pounds

If you need more success stories, check them out here.  The thing I love about these stories is that they are ordinary people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages that all decided to commit to one of the programs and it has absolutely transformed them.  The P90X program is definitely not for everyone, but the good news is that there are alot of other amazing programs sold by Beach Body.  If you’re just getting started with fitness, perhaps you try the 10-minute trainer program and graduate up to the Slim in 6 program.  I challenge everyone reading this who want so feel younger, healthier, stronger and have more energy to commit to one of these programs for just one month and see what happens.