Kudzu Christ

This is an image I captured today while walking a dog. It is located near Boylan Bridge Brewpub in downtown Raleigh. It looks to me like the statue of Christ that overlooks Rio de Janeiro. What do you think?

Dirt Surfing

The term Dirt Surfing has been used many times to refer to mountain biking and the like. Today was the first time I felt like I was surfing on my bike. I typically go with the motto the more aggression, brute force and guts the better. Today I was finally rewarded by smoothness. I have snow skied, water skied and snowboarded over the years and biking seems to have something in common with these. The way you set up for a turn, the way you carve the water or snow makes for a more graceful effort. Less energy is used too. The feel of different kinds of dirt under the tires reminds me of different snow surfaces. Each has its challenges. Maybe as I get older I see the beauty in the smooth effort, not just the max effort. Enjoy the video.

Eliminate the variables

It seems I am most successful with my diet and exercise when I eliminate variables. If I run the same route, have the same strength program and eat similar meals, I run faster, get stronger and lose weight. A lot of people tend to get bored with things that are the same, week after week. If you want some changes, run another mile, lift another set or add some spice to your food. One of the reasons these types of behavior are successful, is that they can be repeated. You know what to expect. Instead of trying to dredge up some motivation for a new exercise routine at the end of a busy day, you already know what to expect. You just have to start, the rest flows. I know these ideas sound like work. They ARE. Exercise is work, it is a means to a healthier you. It may not sell any magazines or new books but, these ideas can be replicated over and over. You just have to take the first step, the next one will follow.

24 hour Montain Bike Relay

Burn 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race from Robert Crews on Vimeo.

This is the next adventure on the way. A 24 hr team Mountain Bike Relay. The team will be composed of 3-5 riders. The more the better. It should be as my friend Michele stated: "a 24 hour tailgate party". Enjoy the video.

Goals: Don't limit yourself

Goals. We spend our life crafting and achieving goals. We set the goal to make a school sports team or be in the school band. We challenge ourselves with that first term paper or essay. We create a spiritual life and community. We set a goal of education. We meet someone, get married, buy a house, maybe have a family. We start over when our goal does not work out. Setting goals and challenging ourselves is part of being fully human. This goes for athletic or physical goals too. Anything worth doing pushes us, awakens us and leads us to be the best version of our self that we can be. Personal physical goals can be as simple as losing 5 pounds, walking to the end of the street or as difficult as running a marathon. The hard is what makes it worth doing. If it was easy, the challenge would not be worth our best effort.

Get out there and enjoy the challenge, it is a road worth taking.

Watch for fun!

One of the top regional ultrarunners named Bradley Mongold is being interviewed by another good runner named Eric Grossman. Watch the parts where they are outside!