San Diego 269

The van parked in front of the gym after doing a short stretching and sauna session.

There are a few places that come to mind when I think of places that have a strong influence on me now. I’ll start by saying this is gonna sound super gym bro of me but it’s an honest thought that I had. I drove down from Encinitas to see my family it’s not a far drive maybe less than an hour conditions are right I’m not in training mode right now because I got sick and came down with a pretty nasty flu so I’ve been kind of sleeping for the past two days, and occasionally hitting the sauns. every time I go into LA Fitness, this specific location, a wave of nostalgia comes over I remember going with my dad and mom to get me a gym pass and I remember the routine that I brought with me every day to that gym and the foundation it built for the years to come. Later on in my life, it became less about the aesthetic of weight lifting and more about the health and physical benefits it would bring me for my entire life. Getting my first gym pass and watching my dad drive every day to the gym gave me motivation and a drive to do the same. It was the true catalyst for what I love doing today.

I didn’t grow up the most athletic kid and not the biggest kid in size so I never was able to compete in certain sports, unlike other kids. I was also fairly distracted with the wrong things growing up that I never allowed myself the chance to compete and as I got older my interests slowly veered away from fitness but sooner than later I found myself coming back. After living in Los Angeles for about two years I was weak, out of shape, and unhealthy. I came back to San Diego and found myself back to square 1 i dived deep into the world of fitness and became obsessed with health. The realization that as an adult I was able to control and manipulate the way my life is operated not only from the outside but the inside as well I took full advantage of that. I strived to be the best version of myself physically and mentally not only for me but for anyone in my future. Its single-handedly became the most important aspect of my life to this date. I love every second of any physical activity and I love the mental hole it puts you in. I love it when I'm climbing and now training for an ironman I love it when I'm swimming, running, and cycling. Probably the largest motivator for wanting to stay so healthy and fit all of my life is there might come a day when i have a wife and children. I don't think anything is going to get in the way of me being able to play outside, compete, and coach the activities my children decide to pursue granted if they do. I think it's the only real and meaningful reason a man should stay fi, it shouldn't be for a six-pack or woman it should be for his children and the ability to run with them and make them feel as if their youthfulness can last a lifetime.