 "As I'm about to run the Boston Marathon I think about my preparation...a little over three years ago I got back to spending some time in the gym with average results. My motivation to get back into the gym was having reached 199 lbs! At 39 and 5'10" I realized how overweight and out of shape I had gotten, and I decided I was not going to reach 200 lbs. Like most things, in exercise or diet the very short term results were great - I quickly lost about 10 lbs just by sitting on an exercise bike and peddling away. I added some weights and other cardo and dropped another 5 lbs or so --- and then was at the wall. I felt better, but was not improving in my overall fitness level and muscle/fat content. It seemed no matter how long I spent in the gym, the results began to be nominal. My wife asked me repeatedly to try boot camp. I laughed. Having been in the military I joked with her about how I could teach it. Finally, after over a year, she got me to go to a session at BeanTown BootCamp. And as the saying goes, the rest was history!
I quickly found out the difference between the gym and boot camp. I quickly found out the difference between going it alone in the gym and being in a group fitness regime. At BeanTown BootCamp I was pushed out side of my comfort zone. I was getting significant cardio and resistance work outs in three to four times a week. I began to push through the barrier I found at the gym in reducing my weight and building endurance and muscle. Over a short period of time I've reached what I believe to be the best shape of my life...I'm at a great weight of about 167 lbs for my 5'10" height and see definition throughout. As to the group fitness, I found myself (like most everyone) pushing my limits as others pushed theirs. I found myself with a drive to do more and be faster as others did the same. I found myself coached and encouraged (and getting a good daily beat down) by John Wayman. I also found inspiration! It is simple in that those that stuck it out, listened, and pushed themselves were successful in reaching their fitness goals, and I saw that in them. There are some amazing success stories amoungst the veterans! I got hooked and was asked to run with some of them. Having only previously run a 5k I did it with hesitation. I quickly found myself increasing the miles as a result of my work in boot camp and the inspiration of those running.
Seven months after "helping out" one of the runners by running in the latter part of her long runs I ran my first marathon (and pretty much my first race above a 5k) in Lowell (Baystate Marathon). I finished in under four hours. My second marathon will be the Boston Marathon. I am hoping for an improved time, but more importantly I'm glad I'll be there! I'll be there because my wife talked me into doing boot camp...because boot camp is the best overall work out I've ever participated in...because success cultivates success and the "veterans" at BeanTown BootCamp have seen success and they have a knack for pulling along the "newbies"...because I got inspiration in my "helping out" in the running. I'll be there because John Wayman runs a no frills, back to the basics, cross-training beat down six days of the week (he actually takes a break on Sunday) - at BeanTown BootCamp! If you want to improve your fitness and health just show up. If you're not hooked and don't see remarked improvements you'll need to look in the mirror and know you're not really up to the task..."
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