Time for a ride

Well I didn’t realize it, but I have had some early adopters of my blog waiting for an update.  Recently I found out that my passion to get off the couch and “Get Recreation” back into my life recently got the attention of a website called HeathAndFitnessTalk.com.  One of the managers of the site reached out to me and said that he liked my approach and was interested in me writing some articles on his site.  I am still entertaining the idea but I’m wondering if there are enough people who are interested in how we are going to “Get Recreation.”  What do you think should I stick with a blog or should I see what kind of success I have writing with a known company?

Beyond what I have told you, let me recap what I have done to get out and exercise.  I have lately been taking baby steps and getting my body used to some more regular exercise.  Instead of driving to local places I have been doing some walking and riding.  Albeit hot and relatively uncomfortable at times, my two year old son and I have been walking to Church on Sundays and been working in the yard after work.  The other day we were heading to meet a photographer to take some pictures of our new born and I opted to leave early and ride my Tommaso Imola road bike to our destination while my wife transported the family in our Subaru. 

Let me tell you a little about my Tommaso. Last year I decided that I wanted to buy a road bike as an additional method of exercise. After doing a lot of research I was informed to buy something inexpensive yet reliable to simply evaluate whether or not it was something I wanted to invest in. I took the advice and landed on Giantnerd.com and found my bike for less than $500. I knew this bike wasn’t going to be as nice as by brother’s Giant road bike or my sister’s Cervelo, but I wasn’t in the position to drop four figures on a new toy. After I had the bike professionally tuned and I put a few miles on the bike I learned that it was worth what I paid for.

I agree that Tommaso, “ensures that the rider gets the lightest, strongest and best performing and best fitting frame for the dollar.” For only $470.00 the 24 speed, 58 cm aluminum frame with carbon forks is light and comfortable.  In the past the only experience I’ve had riding has been on an old mountain bike which weighs significantly more.  As I mounted my medal pony I was able to champion the long distances, navigate the city streets and manage the hills. The slick narrow Kenda road tire kept their air pressure as I cruised by people sitting on their front porch. As with anyone getting introduced to the sport I had to get used to the acquired posture of the forward angled ergo handlebars and a skinny elevated seat.   I still have a long way to go to keep up with my peers who commute to work via their bike but I am glad that I am at least Getting Recreation.

Let's “Get Recreation” back into our lives.

I’m starting this blog as a personal promoter for me and my readers to Get Recreation back into our lives.  I feel impressed to stop living my life vicariously through the media and start to enjoy the environment that surrounds me.  Let me articulate what is driving this movement in me and see if I can cultivate that same sense of urgency in you, so we can all start living a more fulfilling life.  If I can implant a craving to more useful activities with our time, I will feel like I am making a small difference in the world. 

Now I assume I am not the only person out there who finds themselves spending their evenings thumbing through their DVR to find their favorite shows.  I am unquestionably guilty of this behavior. I personally love shows about survival, expeditions, journeys and adventure.  Some of these shows include: Man vs. Wild, Survivor Man and Dual Survival.  While mesmerized at the astonishing places they go and the exciting things they do, I can’t help but say to myself, “I wish I could do that.”  I am envois of these guys because they have the opportunity of a life time to see the world like nobody else. 

While I sit on the couch and waste my time watching other people fulfill their dreams, I wonder what it would take for me to make my dreams come true.  So far I have been hiding behind the excuses of limited time and money.  Well, the excuses need to stop and I need to start personally enjoying the things that I relish other people do.  I need get off my couch and Get Recreation in my life.  I’ve realized the reason I don’t have time to do what I want to do is because I am wasting time in my living room.  I once learned that time is a resource that we all have the same amount of, some of us just don’t know how effectively allocate our time.  I am going to make the personal commitment to make better use of my time and do what I have always wanted to do.  As for the excuse of not having money, I can’t hide behind it any longer either.   I am simply going to start with enjoying the beautiful area around me doing activities that don’t cost a lot of money.

Creating this blog is going to force me to document a show that I will star in.  I realize that I am not going to take a week off this month and go hike the Tetons or float down the Colorado River.  I am going to start with something realistic and local, and I hope you will do the same too.  Remember time and money are no longer an excuse, but they are still a factor we need to consider.  Let’s start by getting on a pair of hiking shoes, jumping on a bike, floating down a local river, or camping in the canyon a few miles from home.  Let’s just start by doing something. 

In order to be accountability to myself and others I would hope that my readers expect me to post new stories about how I regularly Get Recreation back into my life.  Some of these stories won’t be as captivating as a 30 minute episode of your favorite show, but I hope that these posts get us to cross paths as we all get off our couch.