I Used To Be An Athlete

By: Rich Klindworth | WSPA-TV
Published: June 28, 2009

I used to be an athlete. I was one of those kids who was ALWAYS playing sports. If my brother and I weren’t playing on one of our sports teams (baseball, basketball, soccer) we were playing pickup games of football or baseball in our yard or the neighbors. For us, this was fun, we didn’t know we were keeping in great shape.

My love for sports grew in high school and college where I played baseball. Once I hit high school, I had to start training for my sport. I started lifting weights and running. Training wasn’t fun, but it kept me busy and I had a very strong desire to do it.

I graduated college in 2001 and unfortunately stopped playing baseball when I moved to Oklahoma in 2003. I’ve kept in shape, running a marathon in 2005, but in the past couple of years I’ve gotten lazy and have enjoyed cappuccinos, pizzas, wings, and cheese burgers.

Two weeks ago I started a “boot camp” workout. Clyde Norris, of Clyde’s Main Street Fitness, tortures us. It’s good for us, but some of the exercises could classify as torture. Non-stop push-ups and crunches and chin-ups and dips had me sweating more than I had done since training in college. He has us running sprints and then for distance. I’m doing exercises and drills I haven’t done in almost 10 years!

Which brings me to my point: I used to be an athlete. For the past two weeks I have been taking ibuprofen like it’s food. My body has been sore and achy. At the end of the day I need to use my arms to move my legs into my bed. I’m only 30 years old!!!

BUT, it is worth it! Now that the soreness is going away, I’m feeling better than I have in years. I feel stronger, younger, my muscles are tighter than they’ve been in years, and I’m starting to see abs again.

I guess the moral to this story is don’t stop being an athlete or if you have, jump back in and get involved. For me, running and lifting got mundane. With this boot camp you’re part of a team and there are some competitions… it keeps you accountable and keeps you motivated, something I lacked.

Now that I’m back in the saddle and becoming an athlete once again, I can drink my Starbucks’ Venti Extra Hot White Mochas without guilt!