Sergeant Tony's Blog

Winston did NOT look like what he said he was.

He looked like a cross between Michael Clarke Duncan (the actor from “The Green Mile”) and L L Cool J.

I met Winston in a sporting goods store where we were both looking for warmer gloves. The ones I was wearing weren’t getting the job done and his looked too small and even less effective than mine.

I struck up a conversation with him and that’s how we became friends. That’s also when he told me what he was.

Winston was a member of the Jamacian Bobsled Team.

Both of us were in Norway for the 1994 Winter Olympics. He was there to compete and I was there as a translator for the Japanese Olympic Planning Commitee. (That’s a story for another day! And a dandy story it is too!)

Over lunch Winston and I talked about the Olympic spirit. The world had descended on Lillehammer, Norway and the little town was completely electric! I’d never seen anything quite like it. In the restaurant where we were eating you could overhear excited talk in a dozen different languages.

By 1994 the Jamacian Bobsled Team had become famous because of the movie “Cool Runnings,” a mostly true accounting of how the team came together. So Winston and his bobsled team were minor celebrities in a sport where no one really knew the names of even the world record holders. Not surprising, our lunch got intermittently interrupted by autograph seekers. (Just to be clear, they wanted Winston’s autograph, not mine!)

Winston seemed to be amused by all of the attention and told me so. “They want my autograph and my team will probably finish dead last!” he said with a chuckle.

“Winston, if you already know this, that you’re going to finish near the bottom, why do you work so hard and sacrifice so much just to come here and finish last?” I asked him.

What followed was one of the finest lectures I’ve ever heard. Winston waxed eloquent on the purity of sport, the desire to excel, and the honor of representing one’s country. As a Jamaican, he explained, there were few opportunities to represent his country. As Americans we almost take it for granted the many varied ways we can represent our country on foreign soil. For Winston and the other members of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, it was a delight and a deep honor to wear the flag of their country and to compete in a sport that is unnatural for Jamaica.

Then he said something I’ve never forgotten.

“Tony, you see … only a very very small percentage of the athletes who compete in the Olympics will win a medal. Many countries have never had a medalist, ever. Yet they still come. So in a way, we are all losers. But because we compete, because we work hard, because we do our best, and because we get the honor of representing our country, we are all winners!”

And every one of us who’ve ever lined up at the START LINE, knows — no matter what place we finish the race — the exhilaration of crossing the finish line!

Remember your first 5K? Your first 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, triathlon? Remember how you felt when you crossed the finish line, arms raised in triumph and joy!? Remember?

My non-athlete friends and family don’t understand. Many times they’ve asked me about a race that I did and wanted to know if I won it. And when I explained that I didn’t, that I didn’t even come close … they looked at me as if to say, “then what’s the point?”

The point?

Just what Winston said. “we work hard, we do our best … ”

We challenge ourselves and live with a sense of adventure and triumph … no matter what place we finish! The Finish Line! An experience that our couch riding friends will never know.

And in that sense, dear friends, if we line up … we are ALL winners!!

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Sgt. Tony’s “Combat the Fat ” Weight Loss Challenge 2010

This is a brand new challenge that most of you can enter! The challenge begins March 12!
Details are on the blog! http://usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/

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SCHEDULE CHANGES – BOGA ANNOUNCEMENT – LOCATION CHANGE FOR 0645 & 0830!

The 0530 class will meet every Thursday inside the gym (the one we always use). We’ll do the “Boga Workout.” If you’re new to that workout, it’s a combination of Boot Camp and Yoga! You’ll need your dumbbells and mat.

The Tues/Thurs evening classes are on hiatus. We’ll crank them back up soon … in April. Stay tuned!

Also, because of circumstances beyond my control, beginning this Friday, February 19, the 0645 and 0830 classes will meet inside until the end of March.

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LOSE THE WEIGHT — The Body You Want in July Begins With a Strategy Today!

Take Shape For Life — weight loss program!

Take Shape For Life is an awesome plan!
The program calls for you to daily eat 5 Medifast replacement meals and one “lean and green” meal that you prepare or have at a restaurant.

* It’s simple
* It’s scientific (Johns Hopkins endorsed)
* It takes the guess work out of the process
* It’s goof proof
* It’s very affordable!
* IT WORKS!
* It’s delivered right to your front door!
* You’re not hungry!
* You learn the habits of long term weight loss. No yo-yo’ing!
* And best of all, you get ME as your coach!

Last week we had our first get together of “Sgt. Tony’s Take Shape For Life Battalion” and it was awesome! Everyone has lost weight! It was like being at a revival meeting hearing everyone “testify!”

You can go directly to the Take Shape For Life website (below) and poke around there. Plenty of detailed information. You can also sign up there as well.

Go to: www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com .

If you’ve got questions, let me know.

I’m really excited about this! The success that those who are on the program have had has been awesome!

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SNOW DAYS!!

In the event of snow and/or ice, we will follow Memphis City Schools. If MCS shuts down, we will stand down.

If the snow comes while MCS is on a holiday break, check the blog on the USMC Fitness Boot Camp website where I’ll post my decision at 0500 of that day.

Also, if MCS shuts down in the morning and we stand down, but the streets clear and are fine by the afternoon, I’ll post my decision regarding the evening class on the blog by 1600 (4 PM).

If MCS hasn’t made a decision by 0500, I will decide and post that decision on Facebook and on the blog page of the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP website.

Q: “Tony, what if the Memphis City Schools have a delay in their start (like starting 2 hours late) what will we do?”
A: “We will meet as usual! We will be rockin’ and rollin’!”

I will also post the announcement to the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP group on Facebook.

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FACEBOOK

Find me on Facebook and make me your friend! (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629618416)
I’ll make you mine! Then join the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP Group! I can communicate snow day decisions through that group too!

While you’re on Facebook, you might see an ad for USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP pop up. Do not click on it! Facebook charges me for every time someone clicks on it. That’s an ad for prospective Boot Campers! You knuckleheads already know how awesome it is!

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BOOT CAMP SWEATSHIRTS

The black and gray zippered hoodie have arrived! Embroidered BOOT CAMP sweatshirts are the way to show your coolness! Sizes are available in S to XXL!

Get yours ASAP! $35 each or two for $65!

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FLEET FEET IS HIRING!

If you’ve thought that Fleet Feet Sports would be a great place to work, now’s your chance – great pay, excellent benefits, fun co-workers, and the best customers in the world! Drop by the store for more info.

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Be bold, my friends! Keep your eyes on the life you want.

Don’t settle!

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow

USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Mailing address: 4888 Southern Ave., Memphis, TN 38117
Cell Phone: 901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

http://www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com/esuite/home/combatchallenge/