Imagine for a second that it's a cool morning anywhere in the country. You've just laced up your best running sneakers, set the iPod to shuffle and set for wristwatch for 30 minutes. The next half hour is a time for you and the elements to work together to strengthen your body. I try to get these 30 minutes three times as week as we head up and down the road on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series. Between banner hanging, press release writing and video shooting, there is plenty of opprtunity to get stressed burnt out. Running is a way for this PR dude to get away from it all.
A lot of people don't realize that I was rather chunky growing up and aquired my love of running from a good friend of mine, Andy Aronson. The summer between my Junior and Senior year of Highschool, Andy joined the Army ROTC and I began running with him. It was those insanely hot days in Holcomb, Kansas that transformed me and my way of thinking. Through running (and later weight lifting) I realzied that anything truely was possible with enough will power and determination. By the time I rolled into the halls of Garden City High School for my finaly year, I was 50 pounds lighter and smiled more than ever. I couldn't believe how much more energy I had and how I didn't ache as much anymore. Since that summer, running and working out 3-4 times a week has been a staple of my daily life. I can't remember a week since there where I haven't atleast got three miles in.
Being out on the road this year has been a bit of a challenge since we're always moving and the geasey fast food at 2 am doesn't help. However, I've been able to keep it in check through running and get rid of the stress in the process. Am I in the greatest shape I could be in? No. I know what that would take and it's no fun. I enjoy just being healthy. I enjoy being able to pick up things a go for a run or get in a good weights session. I've run 5K's in the past with decent times. One day, I would like to try a 10K of an Urban-a-thon (Think of running thru downtown Chicago at rush hour and dodging everything.)
You might be asking, what does all of this have to do with racing and traveling? I'm sharing this because it does make such a huge difference when it comes to coping with all of the traveling and working. What we do is difficult and sometimes the conditions make it even worse. I remember Williams Grove at the end of July and I-55 Raceway in August. Hot and humid conditions caused several people to faint and rush inside. Because of my health, I was able to stay outside and keep going. Think bout a race car driver. Stamina and endurance are key, espically during those long hot months. Many of the drivers engage in some type of exercise program to try to get a leg up on the competition.
Even though we all don't race or work 12-16 hours a day at the race track, a simple walk or so can benefit anyone. Healthy eating is also key but thats a subject for another blog (maybe when we talk about SuperDIRT week.) So the next time you need to make a quick trip to the store or what not, see if you can walk or ride a bike. And if you're out on the trail and see a dork with a Cameron University t-shirt on jogging along, wave me down and say "hi."
