Keeping It Up...

Saturday began the second month of my training for the sprint Triathlon in October.   I am beginning to think that “sprint” is not really an appropriate name for this event in light of the apparent difficulty I am experiencing preparing for it.  

Saturday I ran/walked the two mile route again and this time ran 9 tents and walked the balance.  Sunday I rode 5 miles around the neighborhood and clearly I am feeling progress but still have a long way to go.

This week it is important that I keep on the routine and I am encouraged that my stamina and body parts are strengthening.  Phase III is amazingly refreshing after these outings in the heat.  Interestingly, that “drinkability” was a real concern for us in the development of our formula.  Clearly, folks want to feel re-hydrated and refreshed when drinking a beverage after exercise and Phase III, in spite of being real milk and loaded with protein, really feels great after the workouts.  Mother nature knew what she was doing when she gave us milk!! 

Thanks for checking in.

RGW

Back At It!

                                                                                                                                            06-21-2013

 

 

This week I took a few days to recover.  I was feeling too many back and knee pains so decided for the sake of the long term effort to rest a little.  Maybe I am getting a little smarter in my old age because it really worked and I feel much fitter because of it.

Perseverance seems to be the order of the day in my life right now and everywhere I turn I see examples of people succeeding through one theme alone… perseverance.

Please read through the Sunshine Kids web site (http://www.sunshinekids.org) and you will find inspiration from their cause and their success stories (be sure to read the Sunshine Kids Letters).  What an example these young cancer patients are for all of us!  Attitude is really all we have and they accept their challenges with such grace and confidence.  Now this is a lesson in life!!! 

 

For today's video, click HERE.

Thanks for checking in.  

 

RGW

One Day at a Time

                                                                                                                                             

New "Mile-Stone"                                                                                                        

 

In spite of the heat Saturday I went to the track and set out on my two mile walk/run.  Saturday marked the start of my 4^th week in this process.  I felt a little better this time so after 2 tenths walking I ran three segments of running two tenths and walking one tenth of a mile in between.  I then ran one tenth and walked one until I had run half the distance, one full mile, and walked the balance.  I am amazed at how long it is taking for me to build up to this but at least I am finally beginning to show some progress.

I did a small bike ride on Sunday, which was also encouraging in the quality of the ride, before enjoying a unique opportunity to have all three of my kids,  my wife, my daughter in-law and my two grand kids home for a cookout.  We had fun with Jack who is 3 and Caroline who is 5 years old, delivering and opening my father’s day cards for me.  I am blessed with a wonderful family who supports me and continues to believe in me even when I am not so sure myself!  The heartwarming messages of their notes and presence made me remember the important things in life!

We have an Attitude Drinks representative who tragically lost his 31 year old son suddenly and unexpectedly to illness this spring.  This was a brutal holiday for him and I felt desperately sorry about his loss and particularly grateful for the time I had with my family this Sunday. 

I am determined to remember to live today with encouragement,  kindness and compassion; one day at a time is all we know for sure!!  Maybe this fitness program will help me with that too!!

Thanks for checking in. 

 

RGW

Join the Team!

06-14-2013

Welcome back.  This weekend begins the 4^th week of my training with Phase III.  I must admit that my age and condition has brought up lots of kinks and aches in my legs but they come and go as I work through this process.  There is no doubt in my mind that my experience is the same as other athletes when they drink Phase III after working out, the drink helps my body recover and improve from my perspective. 

We are happy to report that in the last week we did hear from 6 new participants in our October sprint triathlon and I believe we will see many more as we continue to reach out and  build “Team Phase III”.  The funds will all go to the Sunshine Kids charity for children dealing with serious illness.  Thanks to all!

My training this week was challenging but I worked through some knee pain and had a big cramp in one of my legs but the routine continues and my body is recovering every time things pop up.  I am actually starting to enjoy the bike rides, one day maybe I can look forward to the running?  We will see.

I plan to mix the run and bike rides again this weekend with some of both on each day.  I will report back Monday on my success.  I am old, fat and radically out of shape but I really feel progress is being made.  Patience is a virtue!! 

You can view today's video HERE.

To read about the study, visit www.PhaseIIIRecovery.com and click on the Clinical Study icon!
Thanks for checking back... 

RGW

Team Phase III is Growing

We have had three contacts this week who want to race in the October Sprint with me.  With the support of the SeaView radio team we expect that number to ramp up fast in July.

One of the new competitors is my longest and dearest friend from Maine.  John (pictured in the middle) and I met in 2^nd grade in Bangor Maine and have been the closest of friends since then. We grew up in the Bangor Y together and have one of those unique “unconditional” relationships.  Yes, he is as old as I am but in better shape.  I cautioned him that the run might not be great for his artificial hip (he has had two so far from hockey injuries) but he discounted that concern saying his Doctor “ would encourage him to do it and when needed he will just replace it again!”; now that’s commitment!

We continue to piece together relays and please remember, if you want to enter one segment or another to compete, please let me know and we will mix and match the players.  We genuinely think this is going to be fun and are committed to bringing lots of new interest to this event this year.

I have some “ringers” in my own family so we can build some good teams if you want to play with us.  Thanks Mac (that’s my friend John) and all of you for following this campaign. 

RGW

Fourteen Weeks

Wow! The weather in South Florida has been brutal...

Ran 1/2 mile in a rain and lightning storm Friday after work. Lightning strikes and rain puddles everywhere; all I could think about was the gator warning sign.

Rode my bike Saturday 5 miles and just missed a storm.

Sunday it was clear and hot and breezy so I decided to ride to the park with the track, do the 2 miles and ride back home. The ride was 4.5 miles each way and I ran/walked at the track. The whole thing took about 1 hour and twenty miles. Phase III never tasted or felt so good to me as yesterday after that ride.

This reminds me that the sprint race may be relatively short but its going to be rough, and I'll probably be over 2 hours to finish the race. Glad I have 14 more weeks to prepare!

Thanks for checking in.

RGW

Source

Running Biking and Thinking!!

 05-07-13

Three weeks into this fitness “reset button” I actually feel progress.  Please listen to this week’s video and comment where you might have interest or ideas.  We are looking for constructive criticism and ideas for additional use occasions for “real-milk” protein drinks to augment our Phase III Recovery brand.  Clearly, Phase III addresses the exercise recovery category and we know there are other applications for this drink segment that you are thinking about.  Let us know your thoughts!

We have had numerous contacts regarding the Sunshine Kids Sprint triathlon in which I am participating this October.  In light of this interest, we are sponsoring some Phase III teams for the event and if you would like to be part of Team Phase III and compete in the whole race or just a relay segment (swim, bike or run), please comment below and let us know of your interest.  We would like to make a meaningful impact with participants in the race.  We plan to sample Phase III and create some buzz for a great cause around this event.

Thanks for checking in.  Off to run in the rain today!! 

Here is the website for the October 5^th Stuart Triathlon Sprint..  www.sunshinesprint.com

RGW 

Credit

                                                       Click HERE to view today's video!

Running and Lego Cars

                                                                                                                                                06-05-13

Monday was another day off for my training.  Having pushed hard on Saturday on the track and Sunday on the bike I felt too “creaky” to exercise Monday.  Yesterday I ventured back to the track and really felt much better.  This time, while I stayed with my two mile distance, I ran two segments in my walk/run format in 2 tenth increments and then walked 1 tenth between them.  I then returned to the 1 tenth run and 1 tenth walk until I completed a total of 8 tenths running and walked the balance of the 2 miles.  My breathing is becoming slightly better and I am beginning to feel some muscle strength in my core which has been sorely lacking.

Most importantly, I am reminded daily about the absolute need I have for exercise in my routine.  This is really not about physical fitness but more about mental attitude.  Endorphins, or what ever the chemical reactions from strenuous exercise, that occur are evident in my outlook on life.  I love the idea of regaining physical fitness and am excited to complete the sprint triathlon in October but truly, at a much different level, my mind responds to the exercise, and my body to Phase III!

Thinking about the important things in life, here is a newsflash; I spent an hour this morning helping my 3 year old grandson Jack build a police car from his new Lego set!  He is much better at this than I am but I serve well as a part finder when he drops the box of parts under the couch!  Jack got up early with my wife Martha and when I came into the kitchen this morning around 6:45 Jack was running to me, screaming “Bumpa I have a new car….”  I knew we needed to build something from the new kit and the car was clearly Jack’s priority.  He smiled from ear to ear as he completed the car and put the wheels on. I know my day has been meaningful because I enjoyed an hour with Jack and we built something important…for both of us!

Zoom Zoom…

Thanks for checking in.  RGW

Getting Hot

Singer Island

Getting Hot down here!!!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all training days for me this weekend. 

Saturday began the third week of my 18 week adventure and I had expected to increase the distance and intensity of my walk/run regimen after two weeks. Wrong…I rode my bike 5 miles Friday after work and struggled to get through the 2 mile routine on Saturday; I felt like I weighed 500 pounds on Saturday but managed to do the two miles while running 6 tenths. Sunday I rode my bike in the hottest day of the year so far and rode over the only hill in Palm Beach County, the Singer Island Bridge! I cranked my 24 speed down to gear number 1 and peddled my @#$%^%$# off to get over the top and then enjoyed the 30 mph ride coasting over the down side.  However, once over I realized I had to ride another 6 miles to go around the island and avoid the bridge or turn around and peddle back over the hill. Carefully weighing the challenge ahead, I turned around and rode back over the bridge and home to my cold Phase III Recovery waiting.

The trip was a new world record for me on my bike and I traveled a total of 7.25 miles in 41 minutes including two trips over the bridge!

I have decided that I am older and further out of shape than I thought so my plans to “kick up” the exercise program have been pushed back two weeks. I will stay the current course for two more weeks and then ramp things up. All good, just a little reality check!! 

By the way, I was struggling through the run Saturday and a man, about my age that had some kind of physical disorder on his right side, was grinding away about a 4 mile run while I was there. He held his arms in an awkward manner and had to run on the balls of his right foot seemingly compensating for some long term disability his leg had sustained. None the less, he was running in that heat far more smoothly and faster than I was. I complemented his running and he reminded me that this is all about the “energy and effort”. No pain no gain! He has the right idea and I will persevere...

Thanks for following along. 16 weeks to go!! 

RGW

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