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Health & Fitness

TriJake: Beyond the Weight Room

Today I didn’t feel like running. I was sore from yesterday, and didn’t feel the burning desire to hit the trails as usual. I told myself I deserved a day off. I told myself that everyone deserves a day of off very once and a while. I told myself if I ran when I didn’t want to I would “burn out” and become resentful at the sport that has given me so much joy. I just got back from a 10.48 mile run through some of the prettiest scenery the Metro West area of Boston has to offer. I am light on my feet, feel accomplished, and I have fueled further believe that right action leads to right thinking. I defeated the demons inside me telling me what I deserve, what I will happen if I quit, and what will happen if I choose to take the path of least resistance. How did I do it? Well, I’ll tell ya.

Everyone faces similar dilemmas to what I mentioned above. Maybe it’s not running. Maybe it’s work, or writing, or thousands of hobbies and professions we throw ourselves into. Eventually we will hit a point where we want to take a break. I advocate breaks, and suggest having more than one hobby to keep it fresh. In fact, the only reason I took up triathlons is to offer myself two other disciplines to give m breaks between runs. I often talk about fitness as an arena for life. I often talk about how we can use the little listens of integrity, responsibility, and resilience we learn in our fitness arena in our everyday lives. So, when I cross back and forth between work and play, I am only illustrating how play can positively impact and grow productivity at work.

In the beginning of this article I said I didn’t want to run today, and I had a lot of really good reasons to back that up. I have also had days when I didn’t want to go to work either. (I had a lot of really good reasons for that too.) How then, on a day I wasn’t going to run did I run 10 miles? The answer is right action. I did something I do often when I don’t want to run. I put on some running gear and tell myself to go for a walk. I usually don’t make it to the end of our driveway before I start to jog. The next thing I know I’m 3 miles in and could go left for 10 miles or right for 6 miles. I feel the endorphins kicking in and I I remember the freedom the longer runs give me. I turn left. I proceed to kick it in to stride because I know I have limited time today, as I planned not to run at all. Suddenly motivated by time crunch and driven by passion I am pumping out sub 7 minute miles. I am a few minutes late for dinner, but feel like I just sprinted over Mount Everest. What an awesome feeling. This is a small story that represents a larger picture in life.

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I look at the action I took to get outside first. I dressed for the run, even though I said I was going for a walk. I set the bar low, “just go for a walk.” I said. I walked out the door without expectation or plan. I started to move forward and let nature take it’s course. Let’s use the same example for a day I don’t feel like going to work. I do the same thing. I dress for work. Granted that usual looks like sweatpants and a TriJake hoodie, but the shoes are cross trainers. (All Business) I step outside. That’s bigger than you my think. In fact I recommend going outside is the first thing you should do in the morning, because you have now crossed that barrier. Once outside, I start moving forward, with the only expectation to pop in the office and see if there are any bills or news for me. By the time I get to the office, I have already texted a few people and told them good morning, maybe post something on Facebook about taking right action, and I walk in to find myself reading e-mails, checking balance sheets, and scheduling fitness sessions. Suddenly I am being productive and figuratively am taking that left hand turn to a 10 mile run.

This is a testimony to how what we do in our free time teaches us, and effects our work lives. I believe fitness, no matter the discipline, is the perfect arena to learn these behaviors and develop faith that using action as your start point will get you further than thought. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity, don’t wait to have all the answers, don’t think your way to a state a paralysis. Take right action and get on the path. The path to freedom. I have found there is a way to enjoy life and make it worth while. I have found most people in the world are out to help, not hurt. I have found love, tolerance, and patients gets me all I need to be successful. I have found success to be nothing more than the freedom to walk where I want, and deliver a message of hope that you can experience freedom too. Say “yes” to TriJake, and say “yes” to life. At TriJake Fitness you will loss weight, improve performance, and become stronger. Stronger in the weight room and in life.

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Take the right action now. Call or e-mail: 617.756.6866 or jake@trijake.com

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