Commitment

We are a group of ordinary folks who exercise every day. This has been going on for 8 years. We have met over 2,000 days.

Those of us who have adopted this workout as our discipline have achieved a level of overall health, fitness and vitality recognized by the folks who know us best as exceptional.

Together We Run

AMERICAN TEAMWORK 

When folks compliment us on how good we look, how fast we run or some race we won, it is tempting for a second to take credit for ourselves. After all, we did the work.

A closer examination will show that we had a ton of help.

Boot Camp works like that. We support each other in and outside of the workout. The bond that ties us together lifts us all. Sometimes, one of us get lifted higher than the others and we can all rejoice in their accomplishment.

The running community is buzzing about this story. I have never seen Americans use team tactics in a major race. I know Galen and Mo worked together in London in 2012 but this concerted effort was brilliant.

Pride

John Shannon finished his second Boston Marathon yesterday. While many folks are now able to raise large sums of money to gain entry into The Boston Marathon, John did it the old fashion way. John qualified.

The Boston Marathon raised $24,000,000 yesterday for various charities. The running boom is alive and well. Folks beat down doors and ask for donations. If they meet their target, the BAA lets them in. These folks are also Boston Marathon Finishers. They earned their medal.

John claims he qualified as a result of superior fitness he gained by attending Boot Camp every day. Boot Camp plus supplemental training did the trick.

We all have something to gain from daily exercise. We can all set & reach personal goals with every stride and every repetition of exercise. Showing up and participating is the key. Setting goals and achieving them brings a feeling of gratitude and accomplishment. Walking tall, grateful and accomplished seems like a nice way to go through life.

Meb

Meb came to America as a child. He struggled to fit in but quickly found out he could win races. He was a HS and college track star in Cali and became an Olympian. Last year at the ATC banquet, he talked about the ups and downs in his life and about how faith and discipline have allowed him to continue to be competitive. He also told us he could win Boston. He being 38 years old, we politely smiled and wished him luck. In private conversations, we shared his Olympic experience and ask us about our running!?

Another funny note about the evening. The ATC old guard announced a door prize late in the evening to "Chip Owens." That allowed me to get a shirt, a water bottle and my favorite - a hug - from this years winner of the Boston Marathon. He also wrote a personal note and signed his book to John & Evan Owens.

Princess Boot Camp

Princess Boot Camp - Today we visited our old friend Mike Ryder at his house. He just had his knee operation and wont be going anywhere for a few days. We stopped by to say hello and wish he and Robin well.

Then we made our way to the Duck Pond. As we arrived, Christ the King preschool children were cut loose onto the island surrounded by the duck pond for an Easter Egg hunt. It was quite a joy to hear their excited little voices as they ran around with their baskets in their hands.

As we departed, we saw the ducklings following Mama around the pond.

Oh, and we hammered 3 miles over a hilly route and cranked out 800 repetitions of various core exercises; all in an hour. While every workout is different, some are just better than others.

Pack Attack

Over the last eight years of Boot Camp, it has been customary to run timed miles. We do these on the track, The Muscogee Mile, on Peachtree and now our new favorite, Andrews. We line up at the back driveway of St Phillips and run to W Paces Ferry. It is exactly a mile. Then we run back.

Our warm up is a slow climb up Peachtree from PTree Battle with a few stops behind the truck for upper body exercise. We also exercise between timed miles for active recovery.

When we have a larger crowd together in a pack, the workout seems easier. The energy and activity around us switches our focus away from US and toward the beautiful smiling faces around us. This is important because our minds (ego) never compliment us (our true self) during the workout. Our minds rarely say "I am so proud of you today! You look great in this workout." No, our minds say " you are going to die in this workout. Either slow down or stop!"

Staying in the pack relaxes the mind (ego) and allow our bodies to operate without the distraction of a continuous flow of negative thought. Show up, get in and don't think.

Kathleen Hot Dog	16
Claire Bear	15
Jill	15
Lisa	15
MiMi	15
Jenny	14
Wendy	14
Amy Glamour	13
Arnaud	13
Harriott	13
Reba	13
Dave B	12
Alan	11
Cindy	11
Lacie	11
Mary B	11
Susie Mac	11
Irene	10
Kathleen Cup Cake	10
Love	10
Barb	9
Kathleen	9
Mary D.	9
JenJen	8
Jimmy F	8
Kwithee	8
Molly Twinky	8
Caroline	7
Chris S.	7
Jill Princess	7
John G.	7
Laurie	5
Mary Blythe	5
Pietre	5
Roxanna	5
Wendy Conrad	5
Charles	4
John S	4
Kun	4
Toni	4
Brian S.	2
Dave D	1
Paige	1

Running

The second running boom is in full bloom. One week from today, the Boston Marathon will be run for the 118th time.

The British Open is 154
Kentuckey Derby is 139
Modern Olympics is 118
World Series is 110
World Cup is 84
The Masters is 81
The Super Bowl is 47
The Peachtree Road Race is 46
Wimbledon is 46

We all love these events BUT ONLY the Peachtree Road Race is open to the "citizen athlete." The others are reserved for the elite. The Boston Marathon can be reached by a citizen athlete willing to do the work. It aint easy but it is accessible. John Shannon is our marathoner who will be among them next Monday.

All eyes will be on the runners in Boston next Monday. We hope a few are inspired to join us for a run soon.

Hammering

Getting after it! Dropping the hammer! Grabbing your "gumption"! Putting the pedal to the medal. Frekin Redlining! Going for it.

No matter how you say it, every now and then you have to DO IT. Racing is one way of doing it. In our workout, there is an opportunity at least once a week if not every day to really push it.

In order to reach the next level, we have to go to a scary place and stay there for a minute. We have to abandon our inhibitions and accept the consequences of our actions. We have to be willing to pay the price of admission to get into the VIP section of the club. Folks can sneak in every now an again, but we know they don't belong if they haven't paid.

What is the worst that is going to happen? We have been in killer workouts where we felt like we were going to die. Sometimes we will puke. Occasionally we black out.

Every time we push ourselves, we get personal knowledge. We get to see what kind of engine is under the hood.

What did you choose today?

Track stars, athletes and fitness enthusiast have 3 possible choices per day.

rest - After long periods of training and competing, rest can help future performance. Typically abused

work out - 90% of our lives are spent here. This is were we live. Adapting to a workout lifestyle keeps us at our best. It brings purpose and balance to our days.

compete/recreation/perform - Road Racing, Running, Tennis, Golf, Skiing, swimming, triathlon, soccer, the options are endless. Folks in peak fitness can till and re-sod their entire yard on a Saturday.

Claire Bear	12
Jenny	12
Kathleen Hot Dog	12
Lisa	12
Amy Glamour	11
Arnaud	11
Jill	11
MiMi	11
Dave B	10
Reba	10
Wendy	10
Alan	9
Harriott	9
Lacie	9
Susie Mac	9
Cindy	8
Irene	8
Jimmy F	8
Love	8
Mary B	8
Barb	7
Kathleen	7
Molly Twinky	7
Caroline	6
Chris S.	6
Kathleen Cup Cake	6
Kwithee	6
Mary D.	6
JenJen	5
Jill Princess	5
Mary Blythe	5
Wendy Conrad	5
John G.	4
Kun	4
Roxanna	4
Charles	3
John S	3
Pietre	3
Toni	3
Brian S.	2
Dave D	1

40 Years

This week 40 years ago

Boston Marathon 1974, GBTC & Boston Billy

We trace our roots back to Coach Squires. He affectionately refers to me as "tattoo Joe". Coach Squires a.k.a. "The Wack" with his infamous hair piece a.k.a. "Willamina" is one of Americas greatest influences in road racing. At one time, his athletes ruled the world of road racing. He gives everyone a nickname, speaks in sentence fragments and can barely hold his attention for the life of a mayfly. He is loved throughout the running community and his influence stretches from Track Town USA in Oregon to Peachtree Road Boot Camp.

Sprang

The foot traffic around town is picking up. People are getting spring fever. Folks are looking for an exercise program. After a cold winter, the idea of going outside for fitness seem appealing. Make sure to tell your friends when and where you work out every day. Almost all of us were referred to boot camp by someone who was already here.

Amy Glamour	9
Claire Bear	9
Jill	8
Kathleen Hot Dog	8
Lisa	8
MiMi	8
Wendy	8
Alan	7
Arnaud	7
Dave B	7
Irene	7
Jenny	7
Lacie	7
Susie Mac	7
Barb	6
Jimmy F	6
Mary B	6
Reba	6
Caroline	5
Chris S.	5
Harriott	5
Kwithee	5
Love	5
Mary D.	5
Molly	5
Wendy Conrad	5
Cindy	4
Jill Princess	4
Kathleen	4
Kun	4
Mary Blythe	4
JenJen	3
Kathleen Cup Cake	3
John G.	2
Roxanna	2
Dave D	1

keep moving

Start them Young

Sometimes its tough. We don't want to get off the couch. We don't want to get out of bed. We don't want to put on our shoes. We don't want to walk out the door. We don't feel like working out. We don't want to see anyone. We are tired, sore and irritable. The stupid workout hangs over our head like a damn book report due at the end of the day. A day off cant hurt. It rest! Yea, everyone needs to take some time off to recover. 

Its okay to think and feel this way, just don't miss the workout!

Amy Glamour	7
Clair Bear	7
Jill	7
Wendy	7
Irene	6
Kathleen Hot Dog	6
Lisa	6
MiMi	6
Alan	5
Arnaud	5
Chris S.	5
Dave B	5
Jenny	5
Jimmy F	5
Lacie	5
Reba	5
Susie Mac	5
Barb	4
Caroline	4
Harriott	4
Kwithee	4
Love	4
Mary B	4
Mary Blythe	4
Mary D.	4
Cindy	3
Jill Princess	3
Kun	3
Molly	3
Wendy Conrad	3
JenJen	2
Kathleen	2
Kathleen Cup Cake	2
Roxanna	2
Dave D	1
John G.	1
Thomas Worthy	1