Mainly, to be one of the cool kids. :)
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But it mostly started as a natural outgrowth of my marathoning. I began running them in 1998 thinking I was in shape; but, my best time was something like a 4:45.
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Then I challenged a friend of mine to a marathon, his first and my 4th. He had been lifting for quite some time, so I thought I had the leg up, "No way someone carrying that mass can hang for the long-haul." He beat me that year... by an hour.
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After running that marathon, again coming in around 4:30 to 4:45, my buddy turned me into a meathead and I found the forces of running and lifting a strange combination in my body - I loved it.
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In 2002, after lifting for a year and putting on 15 lbs of lean mass (while training for a 5th marathon), I smashed my personal record all to hell - 3:24... more than an hour off my best time! That day, I cried like a baby when I crossed the finish line and they placed the medal around my neck. I didn't care, it was all mine, and those that saw me sob stood in awe. I was in the top 5% of all marathon runners that day; yet, oddly, did not look like your typical marathoner.
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I've been hooked on lifting every since then. But after doing my 7th marathon in 2006, I have refocused on lifting after learning new methods and ways from a natural pro bodybuilder friend of mine.
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Along the way, I've enjoyed the personal victories and learned from the defeats. But in the final analysis, the memories of friends you shared the experience with is all that matters. Afterall, when you shove off this mortal life, you won't take this shell with you.
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Why I Love It:
Two reasons: Both the personal challenge and the people you meet. Seems to give us all a great outlook on life!
How I Stay Motivated:
"... your body, which you have from God, is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, for you were bought with a price." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
BB Accomplishments:
This much mass even after 7 marathons.
Forum Signature:
We all will have mountains in our path, every day of our lives. In the end, it's not about how you climbed them, but whether you kept going.
Very interesting "how I got started" I scanned before, but read this time through... it made me smile. I was a marathoner/sprinter, dancer and cyclist, but love the distance. I read your story and just sat back and smiled, good memories and yes the combo is a little different on the body. I've given in to the urge and added sprinting back into my routine, just need to the wather to clear to hit the track (outside only here). Keep up the good work, you look awesome.
Yeah, chasing them does burn calories. They just turned 4, and bought two power wheels cars for their birthday (one for the girls and one for the boys). I have to run harder to catch them when they are driving those!
i saw in your profile you were big time into marathon's. that's impressive. i haven't graduated to that kind of running. but it definitely seems like a challenge. can i ask why did you quit?
