Flipping the Switch – If Kobe and the Lakers Can’t Do it Anymore, Why Do I Think I Can?

Well, after an amazing 8+ months of 2011, which included so many major life milestones, I find myself one month away from the 2011 Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River and two months away from the 2011 San Antonio Rock and Roll Marathon, and I’m asking myself – can I do like Kobe and the Lakers and just flip the switch? Other than a few events at the beginning of the year, I haven’t done any organized runs or rides, plus I have done little or no training. There was always something else to do – a choir concert, a graduation, an Eagle Court of Honor, moving to our new place, a trip to the West Coast to see V, traveling overseas for work, etc. – that was something other than getting up early to drive an hour to a ride start, or to lace up the sneakers at the crack of dawn to get a run in. And, I always had the excuse this summer (along with everyone else in San Antonio) that is was just too damn hot to do anything. Well, after more than a decade of making these events a high priority in my life, I feel like such a slacker now. So, the question is – can I get it together in the next 4 and 8 weeks, get my game on, and flip the switch. It’s debatable whether Kobe can do it anymore, and to be quite honest, I’m not Kobe. And, if the Black Mamba can’t do it anymore, can I?

Well, my goals are much more modest than winning the NBA Championship. As always, I want to challenge myself by participating in these events, and I need to force myself to endure the discipline and sacrifice of training to be successful. I also want to enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow amateur athletes, and the wonder that is the great outdoors of Texas. Finally, I want to reap the benefits of lower body fat and the higher energy levels and mental alertness that come from whipping this middle-aged body back into shape.

This, friends, is something I can do. I rode the bike 35 miles on Saturday, and then ran 4 miles on Sunday. This was after hitting the gym at the office every day last week. And it felt good – I can’t wait until tomorrow when I can get back into the gym. I’m way behind where I’m normally at this time, but hey, there’s nothing I can do about that now – it’s time to flip my admittedly humble switch.

See you on the road – again!

The Mamba prepares to flip the switch in the fourth quarter of yet another game where the opponent doesn't even see it coming