Getting There: A Personal Fitness Challenge

Every ten years...

By Ken DeLaat

It all started when discussing an upcoming N3 series with our editor Alexis Mercer about local options for getting fit, becoming healthier, all that stuff folks think about when embarking on a new year.
The idea is to explore the local options toward attaining those lofty goals including asking various folks we know to try out any venues that express an interest in doing a story.
“I’ve been going to Tamarac about 2-3 times a week for awhile now,” came out of my mouth. “We can begin  with a piece on my next visit, probably tomorrow, and start getting ideas about other local places.”
It sounded reasonable and we agreed on the plan.
Today as I type this it is nearly two weeks later and that trip to the gym I was certain would be occurring the following day finally came to fruition .
And thus, this became more of a story of how difficult it can be to get to your health driven destination. Particularly when your enthusiasm for working out isn’t always at peak levels.

I don’t know what happened the first day but I am aware that while I really actually truly, on most days, enjoy the gym when I get there, my priorities can be easily skewed in any number of directions to keep me from actually arriving. The next day was filled with obligations and then came the weekend a time when physical activity focused on carrying dozens of totes up and down stairs as N3 World Headquarters completed the process of de-Christmasing.
The next week appeared to be busy but I knew there would be some time on a Tuesday and with a little forethought I took my gym bag out of the car for the night to prevent a locker room outbreak of goosebumps from changing into frigid gear.
The next day after completing a few tasks I prepped for the trip. I brought the camera for a couple of shots of the place to go with the story, packed up the laptop for a meeting to be had afterwards and set out for Fremont.

On arrival I opened my back door and at that moment realized the folly of my removing the bag from the car. It was still by the door and I mean the one I walk out of and past to leave the house.
I pondered the sporting goods store next door where I could get some clothing but didn’t have shoes and having lousy feet usually means you need to be picky about shoes.
I’ve known Chad from Fremont Shoe Shop and Repair a long time. A couple years ago I asked him about replacing the shoes I was working out in, These  are the same shoes I was still workin out in when I stopped there to see if I could nab a quick pair then head back for a half workout perhaps. In fact they were the same pair I bought the first time I joined Tamarac soon after they opened or about a decade ago. While there I also asked advice about  one of the shoes I’d been wearing the past few months that developed and later enhanced a very audible and significantly annoying squeak.
Three or four pair were  tried on, walked about in, and tried on again several times until finally I had my shoes.
But no time for a workout.

The following day was again too busy to consider the trip but Thursday loomed as a possibility. It turned out to be the day I was in heavy correspondence via email with a shoe company about a 6 month old  perpetually squeaky shoe (resolved and received new pair, thanks for the advice Chad) as well as a billing matter with a retail outfit (resolved and received an apology), each punctuated by some obligatory writing assignments and soon the day disappeared.
The next day was Friday. I clean my house on Fridays but I figured to maybe manage to shoot over later in the morning but it became one of those days when everything seemed more important than getting there.
The weekend came and to be honest I don’t go to the gym on weekends. Never really have so I didn’t.
Monday? Well yesterday was ripe for a trip but by now I have developed a plethora of excuses as to why not to go with the only real reason being the temperatures outside. Besides there were birds to feed.
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Now it is Tuesday and the way to ensure my visit was to make a date with LSC Lil to pick her up from work  and take her to lunch. It forced my hand a bit.
The workout? Splendid. The hot tub and a little swim? Revitalizing. The steam bath? Epic.  
Lunch combined good company, easy conversation and  a ravenous appetite.
Now I can do the opening story of our health initiative series and even better I feel back on the track when it comes to working out. I might even go tomorrow.
Well, except I have a meeting in the morning and that’s when I like to go and I could go in the afternoon but I told myself I’d start on reorganizing my office and besides the weather looks to be a little dicey and…..

​Look for our Local Fitness series beginning next week and contact us if you have a suggestion at [email protected]