Yes, it’s been a few years since any kind of update to this site. Frankly, it’s hard to believe it’s been so long. A bit of a physical self-destruct after doing way too much in the fall and winter of 2022-23 led me astray. But, I’m back, Baby!
Well, as far as my health and fitness, it never really fell off a cliff but it sure took a leisurely drive down the mountain. After foolishly attempting to do a 50km trail race followed by a 5km, 10km and full marathon weekend just a month later, my left knee started to fight back. Add in a season of hockey followed by a too quick start with running again in the spring of 2023 and my knee won the fight.
In fact, I could hardly walk and nearly missed the start of the hockey season later that year. Of course, running was out. Although, slowly I regained by mobility but also gained back a portion of the massive amount of weight I had lost.
Fast Forward to 2025
The status quo would describe my physical activity leading into 2025. I was more active than most 56 year olds but not nearly at the level of 2-3 years before. Then came three months of what I have to assume was some form of Pneumonia that would come and go like I was living some version of “Groundhog’s Day”. The last two rounds came with a pulled muscle in my ribs (possibly a broken bone) from the violent coughing.
During what turned out to be the final round, there was a night where I wrote out any passwords to sources of money that my wife might not have known about so she could access it if I didn’t wake up in the morning. I truly thought the end was near. If I did make it, this time I would work toward the level of health and fitness I had a few years before. This time, I would make my system more foolproof and would not fall back into bad habits again.
I Survived and Here I Am
Yes, I did recover. Yes, on a daily basis, I am working toward an indestructible level of health and fitness. I am no longer a one trick pony. My fitness regime is well rounded. Before, it was all about running. Now, it’s overall fitness. Running, walking, biking, daily strength training, stretching, breathwork. The emphasis is on strength training, especially for my core and lower half because – let’s face it – that’s where the debilitating injuries happen with us folks over 50.
As for as writing, I will be reporting here at this site with personal updates, along with active travel articles (hiking trails, etc) and heath and fitness challenges and experiments. Yes, I will sprinkle in some hard researched health and fitness articles, as well.
Facebook Page (In Pursuit Of)
I have started a new Facebook page for more frequent updates called In Pursuit Of. Here, I will post daily activities, often through Garmin and Strava screen prints, as well as video clips from the day’s adventures.
Why “In Pursuit Of”? Other than the fact that it’s catchy, I feel that in everything we do, we’re in pursuit of something. What that something is sometimes obvious and sometimes not so much. Regardless, it’s a look at where I’m at.