Goal Achieved: 1200# Total and Sub 1:30 Half Marathon In The Same Week!

On June 14th, I totaled 1200:

Bench: 290#

Back Squat: 400#

Deadlift: 510#

A week later, I ran a 1:26:19 Half Marathon:

That week was the culmination of a goal set 6 months ago, with the previous 8 weeks being the most focused, goal oriented training I have ever done.

It was stressful, hard, and exausting.

But man, was it satisfying when it was all over.

I barely squeaked by on the total, but I smoked the Half Marathon.

Those last couple miles, when I knew I had sub 1:30 in the bag, I was just switching between feelings of happiness and accomplishment and thoughts of "please don't roll your ankle, please don't pop a hammy, please don't cramp up."

And yet, even before I finished the race, I was already thinking about what I wanted to try to accomplish next.

Because that's where the real fun is.

In the journey. 

In the training, the long hours alone in the gym and on the road or the trails.

That's where I find the most happiness.

In the struggle to better myself, to achive goals I once thought impossible.

The joy isn't in the winning or the achieving.

That part is awesome, don't get me wrong.

But the chase is what it's all about.

The worry that this time you might have bitten off a little more than you can chew.

The self doubt.

The wondering "I don't get paid for this, why the hell am I doing this to myself?"

And I don't really have a good answer.

I don't really know why I push myself so hard.

I think its simply because I love it.

The same way some people love video games, or golf, or their work, I love working out. 

So I'll keep doing it and setting new goals as long as it's fun and makes me happy.