Why get fit?


When I was younger I was a very active kid. I was skinny as a rail and could eat pretty much what ever I wanted. When I got to college I gave up playing competitive ice hockey and started to neglect my physical health (neglect is probably not the right word, may abuse is better).  As I got into the workforce and had children of my own this trend continued.

The first real wake-up call to me was watching my father lose his battle at the end of his life. When you are little Dad is Superman! He was the strongest person you knew and the fastest, and the bravest. My Dad used to take us to the batting cage on the weekends and he would get into the fast pitch machine (90mph) and hit 7 left handed and 7 right handed (he was a very good baseball player when he was younger). It was like a show to watch him, he never seemed to miss a pitch. To see my father struggle to live and be bed ridden in his mid 50's was a hard pill to swallow. I couldn't process that he was still so young but was living like a cripple. I knew that if I continued to live my life the way I was that my own children would be standing in my shoes and thinking the same thing.

The second wake up call for me was when Kim's grandmother (who can be brutally honest at times) challenged me to change my life and make netter choices. I was compelled to take her up on this challenge and jumped in with both feet.

The first weeks of getting in shape are hard. Even today when I take a few months off in the out season and then start training again I feel horrible the first few weeks. I learned how to pace my self and gradually build up to my goals. As the weeks went by I started to feel very different about my life style. I started to see my self as a healthy person. I wanted to make better choices and I wanted to push my self harder.

When my body is in good shape my life is very different. I am happier, calmer, and feel like I walk taller. Even though I am tired at night I have a lot more energy all day. The benefits are really to numerous to list here. I wish that I could put the feeling in a bottle and sell it to people.

I was an active kid and got obese fast, what will happen to the kids today who spend the majority if there time in the house in front of a TV? These kids are doomed. This is why I love the mission of the Chase Kowalski Foundation so much. The programs that they are putting in the community are taking kids off the couch and challenging them to get strong and be fit. When you teach a child to love being active and they get bit by the fitness bug you are really changing the course of there life.

One of the things that really jumped out at me when I first learned about Chase was how much he reminded me of my son Noah. Just like Chase Noah took on the challenge of the kids triathlon at 6 years old and meet it head on. Just look at this video:
http://youtu.be/UdEnuryqCGo

that is one confident kid. Noah was the youngest kids in the race, he was the last one out of the pool, but he never gave up and he never slowed down. He was so proud of himself for what he did. I have never seen a kid build self esteem and self worth like that in front of a video game.

Recently Noah and Josh came home form schools with applications to enter the Race 4 Chase Kids Triathlon program. This is a free program to help get kids out of the house in the summer. The program is designed to teach kids swim, bike, run but also show them how to be healthy and get fit.

I am proud to be working to raise money to support programs like this. Chase and his family are taking tragedy and changing the world for a lot of people in a lot of communities. What an awesome legacy!

I want to thank everyone who has helped me raise over $700 in the first week. I am truly moved by your generosity. I am continuing to work hard and push my self to get thinner, and faster every day. Your support is pushing me out the door on VERY COLD mornings to do this. I am very grateful for all of you!

Please visit my first giving site if you would like to make a donation to help programs like Race 4 Chase and make positive change in the lives of kids!!!!!!

https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/DavidPrudhomme/race4chase