Let me tell you about the latest incarnation of Benj, in the hopes that you can glean something valuable from it. Let’s call it Benj 9.0, for simplicity’s sake. Benj 9.0 has a basic annual schedule now. Today through the first Sunday in November is racing season. The first Sunday in November through today is eating season. God, I love good food.
On November 5, 2017, I ran the NYC Marathon. On November 4, 2018, I will run it again. Between now and then, I will run at least 3 other races in yet to be named places. Today, I started training. In the past 7 months, I’ve basically just eaten. And I’ve loved every second of it. But it’s time to get serious, and I want to share a few things with you.
Today is an arbitrary day to start training. There is literally no importance to it, except I just picked it. I woke up this morning, ran a hot shower to loosen my joints up, put on some shoes and shorts, and headed to the track. I then proceeded to run a whopping 2 laps around the track. Can you believe that? Wild man, I know. Then I grabbed 5 pound dumbbells and worked out my arms, followed by a 10 minute core workout. I am literally starting over from scratch. Out of necessity and out of choice.
My body can’t take constantly being in marathon shape, so I listen to it. My hunger for life and for literal good food is a choice I make. So I eat and I savor and I don’t care for a good part of the year. But then I crave a stern test that requires discipline, patience, and self awareness, and that’s where today comes in.
I share this with you because I know how difficult it can be to want to do something (an activity, a passion, a challenge) and not know where to start. We tend to build up in our head some excuse that prevents us from taking the plunge that ends up being just that, an excuse.
Over the past year, I wrote down 6 activities that I have interest in doing. They are: write, design, golf, invest, coach, teach. I am well on my way writing. Just started designing. Haven’t tackled the other 4 yet, but they are on the horizon. You know how I started writing? I freaking wrote something. You know how I started designing? I freaking designed something. “Being too busy or life getting in the way” is a lousy excuse to not do the things that you really want to do with your life. Real talk.
If having the country club membership or competing with your neighbor or being comfortable is important to you, go nuts. I’m not a hater. But if there are all these wonderful things that you personally want to do with your life that you are not doing, let me give you some advice. Walk your proverbial ass down to the proverbial track. Start with 2 laps. And see where it takes you. I had to learn this. Man, I had to learn this. But you know what? I ran 2 laps today. In a few months, I’ll be able to run 104 freaking laps. And along the way, I’m going to savor the journey once again. (And probably a few pizzas and burgers as long as y’all don’t tell.)
Have a great week.-Benj
Follow me on Instagram @anythingbutkhakis.
Follow me on Facebook @anythingbutkhakis.
If you would like to get my weekly blog
automatically in your email, subscribe on my website http://www.anythingbutkhakis.com.
anything but khakis 