Is Exercise a Waste of Time?
I have heard people from time-to-time say things like, "Workout, eat healthy, and die anyway." Or they might ask, "Don't you think that working out is a waste of time you could better utilize?" I have thought long and hard about these kind of naysayers. I've drawn my own conclusion that I decided to share.
Last year I exercised for 155.5 hours. This year I anticipate beating that number. So ... Was that time that I could have used for something else? The answer isn't a simple yes or no. You see, by working out (properly) you do things to your [...]
How I Stay Fit
I will be 46 years old next month. And, I manage to stay in the best shape of my life. If you're wondering how I do that, read on...

I often get told how fortunate I am for my good genetics. That my [...]
The Cowboy-up Workout
Today I am back in motivational mode. We are going to learn what Cowboy-up means to me.

No, I do not wear cowboy boots and a six-shooter during my workouts. These are merely props to demonstrate my euphemism. Besides, they look cool next to the iron.
I must start this blog article with a [...]
Chiseled Abs
It seems that the whole world argues about whether big muscular men are attractive. Some believe that a sinuous (almost skinny) body of a runner looks best. While others look at the swimmer's build and wish to replicate it for themselves. And, yet another group looks at the massive bodybuilder physique and find that appealing. Regardless of which body type you dig on, there is one thing we can all agree [...]
P90X Redux
Many moons ago (actually two years ago) I bought and started the P90X® training routine. It was crazy tough and time consuming ... I only made it [...]
Mountains of Misery 2012
I have a mighty tale of intrigue, adventure, and excruciating pain. A few months ago my good buddy, Keith, sent me an email calmly asking if I'd like to join him on a century. For the uninitiated, a "century" is a 100-mile long bicycle ride. As you can imagine, 100-mile on a bike is a long and painful trek. This particular ride (aptly named: the Mountains of Misery) was beyond [...]
Fit4LifeTraining
You've probably seen me touting Fit4LifeTraining lately (especially if you follow me on twitter @vripley). The hashtag #Fit4LifeTraining says it all. It encompasses so much in a compact package of words. As most of you know, I will be in an upcoming issue of Competitor magazine (I think May). There is a reason for that. Besides the fact that I've befriended professional athlete and one of my triathlete mentor/inspirations, Pip Taylor (she authored my article). And, [...]
Secret to Getting Fit
That's right folks ... You've always known that there was a secret to getting and staying fit and healthy. Today I am going to reveal this coveted secret and leak to you the hidden key to fitness success with health that no one else will share with you. Ready? Get your pen and paper handy ... Here it comes ... Eat fewer calories and workout.
What the bleep?? you might be screaming right now. But the funny thing is, that is honestly all there is to it! Sure you can [...]
Bicycle Ride on a Little Ole Hill
I have wanted to do the 54-mile Mount Weather loop ever since I heard it existed. It is dubbed as one of the toughest hill climbs in my area. It’s also one of the most [...]
Ninety-Eight More to Go!
A year ago I set a stiff goal for myself ... I decided to complete 100 triathlons in my lifetime. Well, I just came back from number two.
This was [...]
Century Ride Around the Potomac River
This was a fantastic adventure (as usual) ... It actually starts a few weeks ago. You see, Pete normally maps out our rides. And he sent me the desired route a few weeks ago. One part of the route stood out as odd to me. I thought it might be a gravel road. So I drove out to the spot and checked. It turns out the road is dirt and [...]
My First 5K!
As usual in my life, I did this backward ... What do I mean by that? Well, I've already run a marathon, done a triathlon, ridden a century on my bicycle and done other obscure endurance events ... Even making three attempts at [...]






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