Let the countdown begin...4 months until the event

Guys,

TEAM UPDATE
We officially have a United Mudders team for the November 8th event.  I sent an email to those of you who I think are registered or thinking about it.  Join the team at your earliest convenience so it's easier to coordinate on event day.  Denny, please forward along to Felix.  Also, give me his email so I can add him to the forum.

TRAINING
I have been getting more and more consistent with my training regimen.  There's no perfect week, but most week's I've been hitting the gym 2-3 times a week.  This week I'm aiming for 3-4 times.  I am waiting until August to implement long distance running into my workouts.  My focus right now is on muscular conditioning first since my knees still need a little more time.  I've also been working through a little bit of ankle pain from the injury two years ago.  I have, however, been doing smaller runs of 2-3 miles.

I'm also eating better.  My goal is to be 20lbs lighter from here to November, and working out alone will not cut it.  I am trying to put fuel into my body that will contribute to the goal of being much leaner by event day.

I share my efforts because I want to demonstrate to you guys the need to start training immediately because...drum roll please...we don't have that much time!  Four months.  That's it and that's not a long time at all.

Do not procrastinate on your training.  If running is your downfall then start running now please!  For the sake of the team, consider that many of us are dropping $100-$150 on this event, plus expenses to travel to up north, food, gas, new gear as needed, etc.  If we are spending this much money then let's not half-ass our performance.  Injuries aside, there's no reason for any of us to slack and hold the entire team back.

I'm all about no man left behind, but there it's no secret that the last event would have been alot smoother if everyone was better conditioned.  I am not picking on anyone.  Shit, even though I cancelled last minute, I was significantly out of shape myself.  I would have held everyone back big time had I made it.  I was busy with work and decided to slack on my training, didn't run...it was bad.  So I am putting as much pressure on myself as I am on any of you guys.

Let's set aside the excuses and let's train and train hard.  Know your boundaries and don't risk injury, but get your ass in gear.

When is NOW the best time to start training?  What are you really waiting for?  Starting today will WITHOUT A DOUBT make you that much more confident and fit for the event.  Stop being lazy and making excuses for yourself.  "Oh, I got home and then I just decided not to do anything."  WHY?  Why did you decide that?  Why instead don't you decide to do the thing that is more challenging and more rewarding.

Plan your workouts.  If you plan your workouts, stick to your plan.  That's it.  Easy as that.  Don't simply give up on the idea of a run because it's late.  Suck it up, you're a big boy, and get our there and pound the pavement.  Get 'er done!  You don't wake up in the morning thinking "oh, I really don't want to go to work" and then sit on the sofa all day long.  Quite the opposite, right?  You go to work because that's what must be done.  So go get your fitness in.

"There is nothing that will hold me back from sticking to my training schedule."
"If I miss a workout I will make it up because missing a workout is unacceptable."

Think positively and with determination.  Run.  Lift.  Get your shit together boyzzzz.

TEAM WORKOUT
I want to sponsor the team workout sometime in July.  Denny, I know you mentioned this upcoming July 4th weekend.  We can definitely do something smaller if you want on Saturday morning.  We should still schedule another team workout later in the month, even if it's not in Miami.

Let's also get into the habit of designing the workout at least 3 weeks before we meet for the team training.  In this way, we know the challenge that awaits and you can start preparing for it.

Thanks for reading my rant for the day.  Time to get to work.

-pompita