Need to Get Your Butt in Gear? Me too!

Okay, so here is the deal folks. My beloved Boston Bruins are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (AGAIN). This evening we start the second round against our foes the Montreal Canadians. There are only a few things that I love in this world as much as I being outside camping, hiking, kayaking and chatting with like-minded souls around a campfire. Those things include playoff hockey (Boston Bruins), baseball (Boston Red Sox) and Sundays watching the New England Patriots. Yes I am "that" guy. If you have seen the movie Fever Pitch, you will understand. Yeah that's me. 

Above the TV, in my man cave garage (pic to the left) I have a 16 foot by 4 foot replica of the Green Monstah (Monster) from Fenway park. I told you. I'm that guy. 

So, you asking yourself its hockey, whats the big deal? Well yeah see, I got selected and happily accepted to be on a crew of 13 other awesome adventurers to tackle the Seven Devils mountain range in northern Idaho and raft 40 miles of the deepest canyon in North America in exactly 3 months 30 days and some change (you can view the countdown on this page). So, the challenge now is how do I seriously get myself physically ready to achieve what I want to achieve in such a sort time frame? 

Good question. 

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Part of the agreement I made with my wife about going on this trip was that I would allow myself the time to get physically ready, mentally ready and emotionally ready to get every ounce out of this adventure that I can. I think we all do this, we get busy, with work, kids, life, running from one thing to the next and then we cram in the good stuff and barely get a percentage of the fun and enjoyment we should from the experience. I have to admit that I have found myself in this spot more then once and it can be very discouraging. 

Within the past few weeks I have read or seen many articles about sitting at a desk in a chair and how it is killing us. Just today I saw an article about how working in an office sitting is the new smoking. As if I needed another sign! I already have lower back issues and I know what I need to do to strengthen it. Honestly, other then the pain... which I am now used to, I really haven't had a great reason to try and correct the issue. Now I do. Hell Hike and Raft. 

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Okay, so still with me? I sit all day in my home office, already have back issues, need to stay true to my agreement with the wife about my physical, mental and emotional preparedness. Oh yeah! And the first game of the Bruins second round playoffs starts in a couple hours. Whats the big deal right? 

I hate exercise. 

I have always been a weekend warrior who could do what I wanted or needed to on the weekend. And now. Sadly old age, sitting and the tiniest bit of beer has caught up to me. However, I have just watched my wife transform herself in a matter of 16 months. She lost a 100lbs, just finished her first half marathon and is stronger and more determined then I have ever seen her. She is a total inspiration to me and others. She is committed to giving me the same support I have given her over the past year. And, I love her for it. She made a plan and stuck to it. And for a month or so I have to be honest, I have done not much to move forward in the necessary categories. Well today, I made my plan. A good first step. And this weekend I plan on starting it. As I implement the plan and hopefully get stronger, leaner and more flexible (for my backs sack) I will be keeping all abreast of my progress both good and bad. 

hiking_plan.pdf
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Curious what I am going to be doing to get there? You can view my hiking plan above. Happy to take suggestions or comments in the comments box. If I change things I will edit and re-upload the document. 

Wish me luck! and... GO BRUINS!

Keep Hiking Forward.

Scott