In 2013 I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that chewed a hole in my cerebellum, atrophied various muscles, impaired my vision, balance, coordination and consequently stole my confidence and my ability to run. I have dedicated the summer of 2018 to regaining my strength, coordination, balance, and relearning how to run. I am participating in a 5k run on September 23rd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is my training journal.

This is my attempt to grow physically and mentally strong again.

Write on. Fight on.  

The previous training sessions can be found here, under “Fight on- Summer Training Log”

Time:

6:25 am- 7:30 am

Conditions:

Indoor

Training Maxim:

No hurry. No pause.

Training Performed:

• Chest press 3 reps x 10 ea.- 100 lbs
• Shoulder press 3 reps x 10 ea.-70 lbs
• Inverted row 3 reps x 10- 70 lbs
• 60 Kettle Bell swings- 15 lbs
• Leg Press 3 reps x  10 each leg- 50 lbs right, 40 lbs left
• Leg extension 3 reps x 10 50 lbs
• Balance exercises on a Bosu Ball including: step-ups, stand upright on the ball with my eyes closed, squats on the ball

Accomplishment:

Today I rotated between the Kettle Bell swings and balance exercises on the Bosu Ball. The Kettle Bell swings tired my legs which made the Bosu Ball exercises more demanding.

Quote I’m Thinking About Today:

Reflection:

Growing up, I remember my father saying how much he hated the phrase, “I can’t.” Mostly, because my brothers and I said it all the time.

I can’t do the dishes.

I can’t make my bed.

I can’t do my homework. 

My father would say if he had a dollar for all the times he heard someone say “I can’t” he’d be a rich man by now.

“I can’t” is a habit. A habit about as productive as biting your nails or picking your nose.

If the first step in stopping any habit is identifying when you’re engaged in the habit, take note the next time you say, “I can’t”.

Write down what you can’t do. Make a list of all the reasons why you can’t do it. Then another list of reasons why you can do it. Throw away the list of  “I can’ts”. Pin the list of “I can’s” on the refrigerator. Start doing the thing you can’t do and send my father a dollar.

Excerpt From The Previous Training Session- July 15: Before you quit today…

How about a sentence you probably don’t hear enough: Someone, somewhere needs you.

It’s impossible to go through life without forging one positive relationship. And though today may feel like your crawling through a mile long shitfield and it’s cold and it’s raining and you lost your shoes and a pack of hungry wolves stand wide-eyed at the edge of the field– don’t give up.

Because someone, somewhere is watching, reading, and listening and they need you.