The Top 3 Things It REALLY TAKES To Get And Stay Fit

the Buttar Clan invades Leadville MTB 100 at the finish line.

I’m a 52 year old husband, father of 3 and multiple business owner and I am super fit. I don’t say that to brag but anyone who trains with me or near me can validate that (leave a comment about that below if you don’t mind). Fitness has been my life calling:

…from watching the Olympics at 9 years old “deciding” I was going to be a runner. I ran to the next town over and then ran back. I didn’t know that the town (Gerald, Mo) was 4 miles away from home (Rosebud, Mo)

…to swimming at St. Louis University (NCAA Division 1)

…to doing my first Mountain Bike Race called Leadville 100 MTB in Colorado last year (103 miles with 11,000 feet of climbing)

…to doing a 200 Mile Gravel Bike Race called Dirty Kanza 200 (200 miles with 13,000 feet of climbing)

Here is my most recent “run” - I don’t train every day but I’ve noticed that as I get older - days off cost me mobility. So I usually take days off when I travel.

• Day 1 - August 26 - Aikido - 1 hour 39 minutes - 68 TSS

• Day 2 - August 27 - Aikido - 1 hour 20 minutes - 51 TSS

• Day 3 - August 28 - Aikido - 1 hour 13 minutes - 57 TSS

• Day 4 - August 29 - Group Road Ride - 1 hour 19 minutes - 115 TSS

• Day 5 - August 30 - Solo Road Ride - 1 hour 10 minutes - 60 TSS

• Day 6 - August 31 - Aikido - 1 hour 31 minutes - 113 TSS

• Day 7 - September 1 - Solo Road Ride - 1 hour 30 minutes - 76 TSS

• Day 8 - September 2 - Aikido - 1 hour 59 minutes - 75 TSS

• Day 9 - September 3 - Aikido - 1 hour 23 minutes - 54 TSS

• Day 10 - September 4 - Aikido - 1 hour 52 minutes - 72 TSS

• Day 11 - September 5 - Group Road Ride - 1 hour 21 minutes - 110 TSS

• Day 12 - September 6 - Solo Road Ride - 1 hour 13 minutes - 63 TSS

• Day 13 - September 7 - Aikido - 1 hour 24 minutes - 51 TSS

• Day 14 - September 8 - Aikido - 1 hour 11 minutes - 36 TSS

• Day 15 - September 9 - Aikido - 1 hour 52 minutes - 74 TSS

• Day 16 - September 10 - Aikido - 1 hour 38 minutes - 57 TSS

• Day 17 - September 11 - Aikido - 1 hour 56 minutes - 91 TSS

• Day 18 - September 12 - Group Road Ride - 1 hour 26 minutes - 106 TSS

• Day 19 - September 13 - Orange Theory Fitness - 55 minutes - 62 TSS

• Day 20 - September 14 - Aikido - 1 hour 5 minutes - 34 TSS

• Day 21 - September 15 - Solo Road Ride -

• Day 21 - September 16 - Aikido -

• Day 22 - September 17 - Aikido -

• Day 23 - September 18 - Aikido -

TSS stands for Training Stress Score, I use it across all modalities of training. You can learn more about it here.

Dirty Kanza 2019 - 200 mile gravel bike race. This pic was taken at mile 180.

What does it take to get and stay fit? Here are my 3 observations.

1. Want it. Whatever IT is - just want it. My strategy is to go to my grave with a Black Belt in Aikido and a 1,000 Mile Belt Buckle (for finishing Leadville 10 times). The only way I can do that is to have a strong body that doesn’t have excessive muscle; which is why I go to Orange Theory Fitness.

2. Plan it. You have to put the time in to align yourself with authorities in the realm. For Aikido I teamed up with Aikido of Charlotte. For cycling I teamed up with my old friend David Sanborn of David’s World Cycle. If you really want it - save yourself the time and team up with the best. AND THEN LISTEN TO THEIR WISDOM!

3. Slight Edge the plan. Consistently execute the game plan on a daily basis. Take time off for sickness and recovery but otherwise lock it down and get it done.

While there is no guarantee that this formula will work for you; if you don’t have a plan try it for 30 days and see how it goes.

Tell me about your physical quests in the comments below, I want to hear about them and cheer you on!

Also, You can follow my joy ride at any of these hashtags:

• #zdoesaikido

• #zdoesotf

• #zdoesleadville

• #weaponizedmotion