Sergeant Tony's Blog

“HEY KIDS, TIME TO COME IN!!”

Those were things I heard in my neighborhood as a boy when it got dark outside.

My mother, and all of the other mothers in the neighborhood, would have to drag us in the house. Although we could stay out longer if we were catching “lightening bugs” in jars.

You too?

Moms and dads don’t say those things much anymore. Kids don’t play outside very often. Actually, kids don’t play much anymore at all.

Sad, isn’t it?

This isn’t a commentary on the state of crime and danger in our times. It’s not a commentary on how sad it is that our children can’t play outside. It’s a commentary on how sad it is that our children don’t play at all.

There are no PE classes in schools.

There are hardly any children playing.

This generation of children, your children and mine, are at risk. According to the Mayo Clinic, childhood obesity in American kids in the ages 6 to 12 years of age in the US has TRIPPLED in the past 20 years!

TRIPPLED!!!

You don’t need the Mayo Clinic to know this. Just take a look around. Take a close look at the kids in our own community.

Obesity is a national security issue as fewer and fewer young men and women, age 17 to 24, can even meet the physical standard to join the military. According to a recent Navy report, only 25% of applicants for Naval service meet the minimum physical standard!!!

That means that for every 100 applicants who walk into a military service recruiter’s office, only 25 of them meet even the MINIMUM requirement for service in the NAVY! The percentages are even lower for service in the Army and Marine Corps!

With more than 75% of the young men and women physically disqualified for military service, what are we as a nation going to do?

Moreover, childhood obesity means that kids will develop the same health issues that overweight adults are experiencing, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

And the list goes on.

Our own Corporal Scot Bearup is involved in a children’s running program here in Memphis. The program gets kids involved in running at a very early age with the hopes of making fitness a lifestyle for these youngsters. A valiant step toward turning the tide on childhood obesity.

What can you do, you ask?

1. Talk to the administration of your child’s school, or school board, and get them to include PE classes.

2. Encourage your kids to eat right and exercise.

3. Be a good role model for them.

4. Donate money to Team for Kids.

Huh?

Next month I will be running the New York City Marathon to raise money for Team for Kids. (http://www.teamforkids.org/)

Team for Kids funds running-based fitness and character-building programs that are now in more than 150 schools and community centers across the country. Program sites are in New York, Arizona, California, Florida, Tennessee, and Washington, DC with plans to further expand nationally.

I’ve pledged to raise money for this charity.

I’ve pledged to raise $2,500.

YES, that’s right … TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED dollars!!!

Actually, I am responsible for raising $2,500!

More to the point, Team for Kids has my credit card number and will process that amount unless you help!

So … HELP!!!!

May I ask, beg, plead, implore, solicit, and beseech you to make a donation to TFK?!! This will help get American kids running and keep ME out of debt!

Click on the link below and be generous! It’s simple, safe, and EASY! You’ll be asked for my registration number and last name. My number is 95426 and my last name is, Bond, James Bond!

OK, how ’bout “Ludlow”?

Click here!

http://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/2007/donations.htm

Registration #: 95426
Last name: Ludlow

If you’d just like to donate some cash or write a check, I’ll be glad to accept either. Checks can be made out to me. Just write in the memo “TFK.”

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

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BOOT CAMP SECHEDULE FOR THE 07/08 SCHOOL YEAR
There are three classes to choose from, Monday through Friday: 0530, 0830, and 5:45 PM. (The Friday evening class always meets at 5:30)

The 0530 class has a weight day workout and a cardio workout EVERY morning! The choice is yours!
The 0830 and 5:45 PM classes have a weight day workout on M/W/F and a cardio workout on TuThu.

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ONE HOUR OF CARDIO HOMEWORK: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

I’m concerned that many of you do NOT get your one hour of cardio on the weekends. So, here’s my FREE OFFER! That’s right, FREE OFFER!!!!

You can join us on Saturday mornings for the half marathon training. You can run with us for an hour and enjoy the fellowship and fun of running with a group.

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HALF MARATHON TRAINING
We’ll be training this coming Saturday at 8 AM at Shelby Farms. It’s not too late to start!

We’ll train up until one week from the St. Jude’s Half Marathon on December 1. We train at a “5 minute ‘on,’ 1 minute ‘off’” routine. Meaning that we jog for 5 minutes at an 11minute 30 second per mile pace, and then walk for 1 minute. Then we repeat that for the total length of time for our run. This coming Saturday we’ll be going for 2 hours total. Trust me, at that pace, it’s really doable.

The cost for the training is $75 for everyone!

Beginners are welcome! You can come this Saturday and give it a trial run for free.

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FRIDAY EVENING CLASS
The Friday evening class always meets at 5:30! The class meets Monday through Thursday at 5:45.

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“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”
~ Beverly Sills

NOW, CLICK ON THAT TFK LINK AND MAKE A DONATION!
http://www.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/mar-programs/nyrrf/team/2007/donations.htm

To your continued health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Cove
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com