Hello, my friends. I hope everyone out there is safe and healthy. The world is going crazy right now. A man, George Floyd, had his life tragically taken through the acts of a person who is supposed to serve and protect.
It happened in my city. It was broadcast to the world by witnesses who wanted to help but were held back.
The event was agonizing to watch.
I cannot express my anger, or outrage, or hurt.
Reality
This event highlights a tragic reality in our society. It’s one that disproportionately affects the lives of certain groups of people.
For every event like this we see, how many times does it happen that we do not see?
Since then…
Since that tragic event, Minneapolis has seen several nights of unrest and destruction. The National Gaurd was mobilized and an 8:00PM-6:00AM curfew has been in place for the last few nights.
Unrest, protests, and acts of chaos have spread to other cities across the country.
Yesterday a tanker truck almost hit a huge group of peaceful protesters on the I-35 bridge. I do not know that driver’s intent but it seems like the event could have been much worse. According to reports of that event, injuries were minimal.
Last night was a mostly peaceful night in the Twin Cities area for the first night in many.
Local Businesses
My local Speedway (Convenience store) was robbed Friday night. The manager said it was one of the craziest weekends of his life. When I asked if they took much or damaged things, he replied, “No. They knew what they wanted, got in and out.”
Many local small businesses in Minneapolis, St Paul, and the surrounding areas were looted, vandalized, and some even lay in ashes after burning to the ground.
Change
The recent events should tell us all that change needs to happen in the institutions of our society that are supposed to protect all people.
I do not condone acts of chaos. I don’t think those acts will bring the change we need. I don’t think the people who want real change are engaging in acts of chaos.
Courage
I pray that we as people of Minnesota, and the people of our country have the courage, strength, and tenacity to overcome these events and move forward. I pray that we finally find a way to make it so no one dies the way George Floyd died, ever again. I pray for leaders to step up who have the courage to fight for real change where it is needed.
How Many Roads?
As Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and Joan Baez all sang, “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?”.
On To The Post … Counting Miles
In September of 2019, I started counting the miles I walked every week.
I set the goal to walk 1,000 miles.
At the time, it seemed like an impossible goal. I didn’t know how long it would take. I didn’t really care, or set a time frame to do it in. Instead, I just said I am going to try to walk 7,000 steps a day, four days or more every week. #7kstepsaday
7-K Steps A Day
The small goal of getting 7-k-steps-a-day was something easy to do. It moved the focus from “Oh man, how am I ever going to walk 1,000 miles?”, to “hey, 7,000 steps a day is easy to do”.
Often times I walked more than that and on more than four days a week. Walking soon just became part of the daily routine.
LPSAGs
This is an example of a goal-setting process I have applied to my life that helps me get things done. I call it “Lipsags”. LPSAGs.
- L-ittle
- P-uny
- S-pecifically
- A-ligned
- Goals
Use LPSAGs to get your BHAGs.
Big goals can seem unachievable when you just look to the finish line. It’s hard to imagine getting there when you look at all the work it will take.
I say, Set those big goals, but then don’t focus on the big goal. Check back with that big goal every few months, but don’t obsess over it.
Instead, focus on the daily work that will get you to the end. LPSAGs.
LPSAGs are small, daily (or frequent), achievable goals. These smalls goals align with the ultimate big goal. They allow one to focus on doing tasks that will lead to that end goal.
When done consistently LPSAGs will help achieve any goal that can be achieved.
The 1,000 Mile BHAG
My personal BHAG to walk 1,000 miles seemed daunting.
Instead of focusing on the big goal, I said to myself,
“just one step at a time”
“7-k-steps-a-day four days a week or more”
and “keep walking, you’ll get there, one step at a time”.
A famous quote says “The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step”.
Why Do I Walk
Disc Golf, my favorite past time, involves quite a bit of walking. Step goals and playing disc golf just have a happy correlation in my life!
You will not see me riding a cart while disc golfing. Ever. No matter how long the course.
I also am walking more right now because it doesn’t hurt my knee. I messed up my knee right before this whole “Rona” thing went down. I have not been able to bike consistently since then; road or stationary bike. I can run, and do some (HIIT Disc Golf). However, sometimes running hurts a bit. Walking doesn’t hurt my knee at all.
And I walk because… “Solvitur Ambulando”. Walking helps calm my mind. Often times I listen to audiobooks on Audible and walk around. It might be my favorite way to learn! 🙂
Shoes
To Walk 1,000 miles, a man needs some decent shoes. My New Balance 510 All Terrain trail running shoes have been my go-to hiking and disc golf shoes for about two years. I also walked and Disc Golfed all winter. When boots were required my Keens did an awesome job.
Even after walking 1,000 miles (split between these two) both the NBs and the Keens are comfortable, have a great grip in all-terrains, and provide support for my feet to walk every day.
What are your favorite pair of hiking, walking, or disc golfing shoes?
Next Workout Goal
I am not sure of my next “workout BHAG” yet.
Anyone have a good challenge??
The Workout This Week
Steps continue. As I mentioned the step count hit the 1,000 mile mark. Last post the count was at 997.98 miles. I hit the 1,000 mile count the next day! I think I am going to hit the reset button and start counting from zero again.
Warm-up
As always, do a dynamic warm-up before begining a workout. I do this one from FightTips. This is my warm-up for a workout, for disc golf, and is part of my morning routine.
Mon, Wed, Fri
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will be doing three rounds of FIIT Shadowboxing Tabatas. Flow Intensity Interval Training!
Weighted gloves – I will be using my 1.5lb Title gloves.
Interval timer set to 8 x 20X10. Work at an 8 out of 10 for 20 seconds. Freestyle shadowboxing, with some “basement style” kung fu mixed in. Do defensive moves and boxer shuffle for the 10 seconds at about a 5 out 10 intensity.
Repeat that Tabata Interval three times for the workout set.
Tuesday and Thursday
On Tuesday and Thursday I am getting into the Phil Daru dumbbell workout video I have been doing. Here it is:
Do Some Yoga-Stuff Too!
I am also going to try to get in a DDPY sweating and swearing workout on Wednesday.
Yoga With Adriene on Saturday. I am doing the 2020 30 days of yoga series. I am skipping the day 12 video and going to the day 13 video.
Thanks For Reading!
There you have it my friends. This has been the I have walked 1,000 miles workout. Thank you to everyone for reading! Thank you to the awesome content providers.
Be happy and healthy my friends. I think every hero and heroine out there today needs to stop and really ask themselves the question from the opening line of Blowin’ in the Wind.
How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?