My legs were sore and stiff when I woke up this morning, but I felt strong enough after eating some breakfast to push myself out for a run.  I ran for an hour yesterday and an hour today.  I've gotten in some nice hill work too.  Go figure that I'm actually in a part of Florida that has hills...sweet!

I had a strong run today, but my legs and calves were very tight after finishing my run this morning.  I was hoping that I could get multiple runs in while I am in such nice weather, but I still felt tight a couple hours after my run.

I've been doing a lot of studying for my personal trainer certification since I got down to Florida.  I've been studying it enough that I'm able to apply the material I'm studying to my own training.

I have always been relatively tight due to my disability and the fact that I constantly train and work out as an athlete.  When you work out, you get this burning sensation in your muscles because lactic acid builds up.  Your body thrives off of oxygen, so the longer you work out, lactic acid builds up as you use the oxygen in your body.

One benefit I have been reading about is how stretching improves your body's ability to transport the lactic acid throughout your body so that it does not accumulate in your muscles.  As long as lactic acid stays in your muscles, you will feel more fatigued and exerting yourself is made all the more difficult.

I know stretching hurts, but the nagging pain you feel alleciates away after 15-20 seconds into your stretch.  If you hold the stretch for an additional 15-25 seconds, that pain actually feels like a comfortable release.

I actually repeated my stretches three times across the day and my legs feel as good as new.  I guess stretching really does help transport the lactic acid throughout your body.  It makes sense.  My muscles felt fatigjued because the acid had congealed in the muscles I was using most during my runs.  Today I was able to break it up and my muscles could literally breathe again since stretching helps circulate oxygen through my body.

Who knew getting my certification would actually help improve my training efficiency?  I guess that's the best way of reinforcing the knowledge and proving that it is syncing in when you can apply it to your own situation.  I feel rested and barely sore at all.  Tomorrow should be a good run.  I'll make sure to let you know...but for now, stretch stretch stretch.  I promise, the more you do it in a day the better you will feel afterwards, across the day and definitely tomorrow =)

Now that the website is up, I am really going to start promoting my book and defending my title at Boston in hopes of getting news coverage and financial interest in supporting Determination.

If you haven't already joined my group on Facebook, please join Greg Wagner--a source of Inspiration.  After you join, please invite all of your friends to the group.  Hopefully word of mouth can spread this and help garner significant attention once I start my press blitzes when I get home from Florida!

Speaking of Florida, 60 degree weather today and I ran for an hour.  It's supposed to be nice all week.  If I can run for an hour each day that I'm here, I will be in great shape to continue training...even though I will be returning to the tundra up north.  But hey, maybe it'll be melted to 2 1/2 feet by the time I get home.  I can run in that =)

I know that a number of people have been checking the blog, but the blog is now linked to my website.  Yes...the website is up!!!  I have to give a huge thank you to Christopher Smith, my webpage designer for pulling this thing together.  Chris - I am getting great feedback from people...let's just get those finishing touches on it!  =)

My flight is at 3 and I'm meeting my aunt and uncle sometime after 5:30.  They are even bringing me food from Pei Wei.  I guess everyone in my family knows that you can always win over my heart through my stomach...I can taste the Don Don Noodles now!!!

Hopefully I will be able to post while I am in Florida.  I hope everyone has a great week and thank you for all your support and assistance as I have slowly built this program out.  I can't wait to launch it this year!  Have fun browsing the site and PLEASE look at the Forum section on the page under the "Current Projects" link.  I would love for everyone to start posting in there, as well as commenting on these blog posts, to help me build contacts and make Determination as well-rounded of a career as it can possibly be.

Again, thank all of you so much for your love and support.  There's no way I would be where I am today without you.

Love,
Greg

So...in case I can't post as much as I would like while I am in Florida, let me leave you with one of my favorite ab routines to do.  (In fact, I am doing multiple sets of them as I'm writing out this post.)

Lay flat on your back.  Start with your legs extended completely and raise your feet and legs 6 inches off the ground.  Keep your legs together and bring them up to your chest and back down to full extension without touching the ground.  Do sets of 25, but aim for 50.  (If you believe you can do it, you will! =) )

If you are a bit more advanced, or want an extra challenge, start in that same position with your legs extended, 6 inches off the ground.  Keep your legs straight and lift them to a vertical position with a slow, controlled movement. The slower the better...Enjoy the burn! (It lets you know that you are alive, haha!)  Maintain your speed, do not cheat and try for 25.

For an extra kick, keep your feet extended 6 inches off the ground and hold.  Aim for 2 minutes and be proud if you make it one minute.  For those who can hold it for 2 minutes, aim high!  Pick a time you will fall short of...it gives you a bar to progressively work towards!

Finally, if you want even more fun...legs are straight and vertical in the air, extend your arms at your side so that your hands reach past your butt (gluteus maximus according to my study material...).  While in that position, lightly pulse from your abs so that your hands move slightly forward (no more than 6 inches of movement is needed.)  Repeat that action 25 times, lower your legs to a 45 degree angle and have at it for another 25 reps.  Then for kicks at the end, hold your legs off the ground at that 6 inch level we were holding at in the previous exercise.

Happy crunching and let nothing but soreness and fat burning be in your immidiate future!  Oh yeah, drink plenty of water as you do these lifts...proper hydration HELPS your muscles grow!!!

So...have I mentioned how much I hate winter this year?  I can deal with snow, but 4 feet of it is a bit much.  And the thing with snow is that I live in Maryland, meaning we don't get snow...we get snow that turns to ice, melts a bit and then refreezes into slicker ice.  That's saying that the weather doesn't just decide to save itself some trouble and just send ice plummeting everywhere.

Biking is going really well.  I'm still using a towel to pad my bean of a butt (Wow, 5 years ago, I never would have imagined I would call my butt small...Go figure).  I biked for an hour averaging just around 23 mph on the stationary bike I use.  Honestly, nothing feels better than being absolutely soaked in sweat and then find yourself still dripping as you get off the bike.  As great as it may feel, though, I can't wait to get back to running!

The wintery mix engulfing Maryland makes running a bit tricky-- speedskating anyone?  So if I plan on still running in my New Balance sneakers, there is only one alternative...fly to Florida!  Yes, I am going just outside Orando to get a solid week of running in.  How I love having family that lives in warm places!  I also haven't seen my aunt and uncle for at least a year, so it is a perfect reason to visit!

My posts may be a bit infrequent over the next week.  I'm planning on getting an hour run in in the morning, another in the evening, and my entire time in between is being spent studying the endless material in front of me for this personal trainer certification exam.  

I've come this far with my dream.  How cool would it be to start getting these certifications and eventually training people with disabilities to help them achieve what I have attained?  Now that this website is done, I get to start working towards speaking and inspiring people with my words and lessons I have learned across my life.  I just can't wait to be able to inspire others AND be certified to teach them what I taught myself.

This has been a long journey to see my dream this far.  Training has been tough given the weather, but that is no reason to give in.  For the first time in a long while I am having to study endless amounts of material that I am completely unfamiliar with.  Just because it is hard is no reason to give up.  They're hard for a reason and I can't wait to succeed at this and feel another sense of accomplishment as Determination is one step closer to its full potential.

I'll try to write from Florida, but I'll make up for it if I can't.  After all, I'm going there to run.  Running and studying have to come first.  Girls are a close second though.

Stay strong everybody...and keep reaching for your dreams.  Always remember, things seem impossible because you doubt your ability to achieve your vision.  If you dream it, it's possible.  Remove all doubt and strive.  Besides, worst case scenario you are right where you started, but you will always be better off.  All of us are better off when we fully pursue reaching for our dreams.

Embrace what drives you.  If that journey takes you to say Florida, enjoy the ride and find joy in where it takes you.  That's how you live...and I plan on living it fully!