My Fitness Journal Returns

By Keith Boykin, in sports
Saturday, July 1 2006, 11:33AM

It's been more than a month since I've written in my fitness journal, and there's a reason for that. I haven't been following my fitness plan. I fell off track in late May when I got busy with work and travel, and I haven't caught up since. As you know, I have been tracking my progress on this fitness journal as a countdown to my planned participation as a wrestler in the Gay Games in Chicago this month. I almost backed out of the competition when I learned I had missed the registration deadline a few weeks ago. Then I got an email that the deadline had been extended, and I signed up the same day.

To be honest, I haven't done a lot to stay fit the past few weeks. I've been to the gym once or twice a week and I've been to wrestling practice every now and again, but I haven't been doing anything consistently. So today I'm turning over a new leaf, again. Today I'm re-committing myself to my workout plan.

Registering for the Gay Games

I paid my $260 registration fee on June 20 and filled out the registration form online. I still weigh about 180 pounds, but I had to sign up for a specific weight class in kilograms. I chose 82 kilograms, which fortunately is about 180 pounds.

I also had to sign up for my age bracket. Because I'm 40 years old, I have to compete in the Masters group, which is for 36-49 year-olds. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Competitively, I would like to wrestle against the younger guys, but strategically I might have a better chance with the older guys. But many of the 36- to 49-year-olds I've met in recent years are in great shape. The next group up is for those who are 50 and older.

Then there's the ego thing. If I lose a match, I would rather lose to a hot shot 22-year-old recent college wrestler than to a 49-year-old who hasn't wrestled competitively in decades. It feels better to lose to somebody who everyone acknowledges is good. But I also know that I'm getting older, even though my body feels almost as young as it did when I was 30. Well, they say 40 is the new 30.

My Updated Fitness Plan

I started this fitness journal on April 17, when I decided that I would compete in the Gay Games. I had three months to get in shape to compete. I hadn't competed in an organized athletic event since I ran track in college back in the late 1980s. And I hadn't competed in wrestling since high school in the 80s.

I thought I was still in decent shape but I knew I would have work to do. I tired easily when I wrestled. After three to five minutes on the mat, I would wear myself out. I knew I needed to work on my cardio and my endurance if I hoped to compete. And I also knew that I needed to continue going to practice to work on my wrestling skills and technique.

That was then. This is now. The reality is I have exactly two weeks until the Games begin in Chicago on July 15, and I plan to work out every day until I compete. My plan is to run, lift and wrestle for exercise. I'll track my progress on the site once again as I go along.

I also plan to monitor my diet. I haven't gotten too far off track with my diet. I still eat fairly healthy meals, as I have most of my life. Even when I eat food that is bad for me, I usually eat in moderation. But the next few weeks I'm going to focus on increasing my protein intake.

Finally, I'm going to get more rest. Because I'm self employed, I often stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning and get up around 9. But I know I feel better and operate more efficiently when I get closer to 8 hours of sleep each night. I know it's going to be hard, but I'm going to try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night for the next two weeks.

After Chicago

Wrestling is my favorite sport, so I'm looking forward to getting back into it. By the way, that's me in the blue shorts in the photo above. The picture was taken from a submission wrestling match with a friend in New York a few years ago.

Depending on how I do in Chicago and whether I enjoy the competition, I may sign up for another competition here in New York. I recently heard about the Northeast U.S. Beach Wrestling Championship, which takes place at one of the beaches in Long Island, New York. I haven't decided if I'm going to participate because it takes place the same day as Fire Island Black Out, the annual black gay party in Fire Island, New York.

Fortunately, the two events are not that far away by car, so I may try to do both, depending on how I feel. Either way, I'm encouraged. I have a goal and a deadline for Chicago, and an opportunity to continue the competitive spirit here in New York. It should be a busy summer. Now I'm off to the gym.

Other Wrestling Links on Keithboykin.com

• Wrestling Stories (Jun. 12, 2002)
• The City That Never Sleeps (Aug. 15, 2002)
• Shirtless Men and Wrestling (Sep. 24, 2002)
• Fight Club (Oct. 29, 2002)
• Surf, Sun and Beach Wrestling (Aug. 16, 2005)
• The Ultimate Fighter (Sep. 19, 2005)
• Tuesday Night Fights (Sep. 20, 2005)
• I Never Liked Those Singlets Anyway (Nov. 18, 2005)
• Mud Slingers (Dec. 20, 2005)
• Time To Get Back In Shape (Apr. 17, 2006)
• Daily Fitness Journal (Apr. 18, 2006)

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