The Punisher: Episode I

Main Entry: pun·ish·ment
Pronunciation: 'p&-nish-m&nt
Function: noun
1 : the act of punishing
2 a : suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution b : a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3 : severe, rough, or disastrous treatment

I started training for next year's marathons six weeks ago. I have been lifting weights, running like a mad man, and trying my best to swim as much as I can, and to stretch daily. It started as highly motivated self improvement project, but slowly mutated into an obsession.

To be honest, I don't really know what my goals from training are, but I know that if I wanted to put muscles on, I wouldn't be running all that running. And if I wanted to run faster, I wouldn't bother with all that strength training. And if I just wanted to be healthy, I would just take stairs at work every now and then and I will be fine.

In those six weeks, I've seen a lot of improvement on my physical abilities. As I can do twenty pull ups straight and I can run 3 miles in about 18 minutes, or sprint a mile in sub 5 minutes. I tried to climb a rope for the first time, and it wasn't so easy, but I did it. I tried open water swimming, it wasn't easy, but I finished. I've lost an inch of my waist, and I've put an inch on my arms.

All of that sounds like I am in good shape and I am feeling great. Right?

WRONG!

I am not going to lie here, I feel like shit! My upper body is in constant pain, and my legs are always on recovery mode unless I am running. The only time that I am feeling good or no pain, is the time I spend going through the punishment of training. I have become my own punisher.

I hate to be a quitter, and if I go "emo" and quit training because I don't know my goals are, I will be nothing but another quitter. So you know what, I am going to crazy with it. I am going to set a goal of being the best possible shape I can ever be. I am going to transform my self into a Frank Castle. I will* put on nine extra kilograms by December, will* drop my body fat, will* swim a mile, will* bench 225lbs 10 times and I will* run a Marathon in sub 3 hours.

Fuck it! See ya in another six weeks!