6am

Much as I’ll relish in the moment of walking away from my truck in an otherwise empty gym parking lot, and occasionally take a photo of such a landscape, it should be noted that I park in the back, and there is a whole other parking lot that’s roughly 2/3 full of cars.

6am is the opening time, and with the advent of my usual entrance being closed for maintenance, I rounded the corner en route to the main entrance at 5:59 as a small army of people emerged from their vehicles and funneled toward the entrance.

Personally, I find this to be an amazing sight. Lu an I frequently walk our faithful hound past the very same rec centre as one of our dog walking routes and often remark on the vibe. It’s truly fantastic to see such a great number of people simultaneously doing something good for themselves – something to enrich their own lives.

The 6am crowd is a collection of badass people. Maybe they don’t always look it, but badass is not measured by appearance so much as it’s measured by deeds. That’s not to say the evening crowd isn’t badass – a crew of people who can get up in the morning, conduct their business through the day with ample opportunity to talk themselves out of completing their self care regimen, and do it anyway – they impress me. These people are the real deal.

What you’re doing to improve your life is awesome.
Walk tall in that.
Of course you can do more.
I can do more… and I will.
What you’re not doing isn’t the point.
What you’re doing is important, and how you’re progressing.

Training this week has been wild. I missed a day, and then as a result went in for a double session – A 3 hour gym visit. When I left I felt both depleted and nourished at the same time and I want to live in that state as much as I can. I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next after this triathlon, because I’m going to need a new training program, and I can’t wait to find out what it is.