Kev's Blog!
Monday, June 8, 2009 at 09:33PM A couple of weeks ago we had a few friends around for drinks and you know how it goes, at some point towards the end of the evening, the brain detaches its-self from reality, the mouth goes into overdrive and the next thing I know it I've agreed to ride in the LA River Ride......just 25 miles....oh yes, both ways!
So the next day, after Lisa had taken great delight in reminding me of my commitment, I try to convince myself that this shouldn't be too hard, after all, if its a ride along a river, the route should, be flat, right?..Well, not quiet.
Anyway, for the next two weeks I motivate myself to begin a strict diet and training regime. Unfortunately, before I could start it, the day came to actually do the ride...(Sunday), and the truth is, I had not even managed to sit on my bike. Well, at least I had found it, result!
My good friend, Brad, who had had the bright idea to do this ride, drove us to the start venue. Now, I'm sure he wont mind me telling you that despite the fact that he is somewhat older than I am, he is considerably fitter and he, along with another friend, again, older than me, subsequently completed the longer 70 mile route, amazing!
The reason I wanted to blog for the first time now is not just because I wanted to tell you all that despite my best efforts.......I did actually completed 50 miles (unbelievable, I know....but thank you anyway) but because at about 30 miles I was starting to fade badly and began to search for some motivation to keep me going and not fail miserably.
I thought, you know what, I'm going to keep going and after, I'm going to ask Lisa if I can blog in the hope that my experience, my achievement, in some way motivates at least one of you to due something similar, and it worked, hurrah, because I finished and she agreed.
There were a couple of thousand people at the start of the event, everyone of them different in some way. Some had expensive looking bike's and some clearly were found in the local skip. There were all ages, male, female and because this is LA ,somewhere in between.
Some looked fit, some not so.....all colors, all sizes, all ages, whatever, it didn't matter did it? No, of course not, the only thing that mattered was that they had all been motivated to turn up and try.....nothing more, nothing less.
And that's the point I wanted to share with you. If you have something you would like to achieve, but you dont actually start because you've convinced yourself (or someone else has) that you'll fail for some reason, then how will you ever know what you may have actually accomplished.
In different circumstances, I might not have agreed to riding....... too busy....too unfit......yes, too old...blah blah and every other excuse not to, but I did say 'yes' and I did do it and achieve what I had set out to do.....hurrah again.
So, hands up all of you who can relate to this in some way.......I thought so, pretty much everyone. Hands up again, all of you who have something you want to try but just cant seem to find the motivation to start....Oh, yes, come on, I can see you through Lisa's crystal ball, ok, good, acceptance is a positive first step.
Now, all you have to do is make a start and to try and motivate you further, I am offering a bribe, sorry, a once in a lifetime incentive, consisting of the t-shirt given to me on the completion of the ride. It is un-used and will become a priceless collectors item once I get my lovely wife to sign it!
In two weeks time you will have an opportunity to let us all know what your goals were, and how you are/have achieved them, it can be anything, as long as its legal. It would also be nice to hear the positive effects the experience has had on you. I will be back to let you know how to submit your story to us soon and I think it would be good idea to include some of your stories on the site so they can act as an inspiration to others.
Its that simple and all you have to do is start. Small steps quickly lead to great distances.
Thank you for your continued support of Lisa, normal service will be resumed tomorrow.
Kev
Reader Comments (62)
Hello Kev
Thanks for telling us your story - it has certainly hit home!!!
I have been promising work colleagues that I would cycle the 6 miles (each way) to work. Living in Germany I have no excuse, as there cycle paths are plentiful. Being a Brit in Germany though means that I am not particularly used to cycling anywhere and am so unfit that I don't think I will make the first mile. If I do make it all the way, will I be in a fit state to do a full day's work?.... excuse after excuse!!!
Well I will try!! Next week (after the Bank Holiday weekend here) I think I will give it a go - If I don't try I will never know!
Best wishes and keep up all your good work with Lisa and Charlie.
Sarah
x
So great to finally hear from you, Kev! Thanks for sharing your story. You posted such a great blog. And you accomplished what you set out to do. Good for you. Yes, I can relate to all the excuses in the world. You just have to set your mind to it. No need to thank us for supporting Lisa! We love her so much, and she does great things to people's lives. Post more often if you can, we love hearing from you. How about some pics if you and Charlie? He is so darn cute! Have a Blessed Day, and thanks again for sharing!! Natalie/freespirit
Oh Kevin, thanks so much for blogging!
Your story has me both laughing and in tears with the depth of feeling it evokes. What an inspiration and a clever way to it! I am filled with ideas...and thoughts of HOPE which is a the most vital of all feelings!!
I think of the joy of the get together with friends and how one thing turns into an idea and here you are, having accomplished something you did not even have on your radar as possible. :-) Congratulations for going for it and for fighting to reach your goal!!!
I will be thinking of something to begin tomorrow....to make happen! In my dreams I will find a plan to do something to push me to the limit and remind me how far our efforts can take us!!
Thank you Kev...this was a marvelous idea and my love to your sweet wife! hehehe Love you Lisa!!
xoxo
Goodnight!
Heike
Way to go Kev,
Those drunken commitments can be a little bit of a worry when you are reminded when you are a little less drunk...... like the next morning with a nasty hang over. Mine caused me to jump out of a plane sky diving. I did it and dont regret it one little bit, I even managed to raise money for our local childrens hospital here in Perth Western Australia by sky diving.
I thank my friends for sucking me in to things when they know my brain is not in gear!!!!
Take care xxxxx
Teresa
Hi Kev,
Great blog!!
That just proves that you can do anything that you put your mind to.
Maybe this will motivate me to get back into the gym...
My goal will be to do the Woman's triathlon this year, 13km bike ride, 6km's run and 300meter swim - it's not until December but I will do it. Promise!!
(since it's winter here in NZ it's not that many events on at the moment..)
Looking forward to you blogging again!!!
Caroline
What an awesome blog Kev!
I, along with everyone else I'm guessing, can relate to wanting to do certain things but never being able to finish or motivate ourselves to get started.
Need that kick in the bum!... Alright, you have motivated me to get through that bucket of ice cream!! =P
just kidding... there actually really are some things that I need to make happen. We'll see how I go... but really, thank you for wanting to take the time out to blog to us all!!
I am sure there will be quite a number of goals being reached due to your words of encouragement and motivation here. =)
and thank You for continuing to be such an amazing support for Lisa so she could continue to do what she does for everyone... especially since she's always putting herself out there and going above and beyond her call of duty 110%... I'm guessing it wears down on her sometimes.
Anyhow, hope to hear from you again soon!
Take care and Lots of Love to you and the fam!
Vy =)
See, that's why you and Lisa make such a great team... you're just as kind hearted and beautiful (dare I say) in spirit as she . Good on you for not only starting your venture but finishing it as well. We all need a little push sometimes to remain motivated so we can reach our dreams and goals. There's no tragedy in not reaching your dream or goal, there is tragedy in not having a dream or goal.
Very sweet of you to write too, maybe you could start your own permanent blog, I'm sure you'd have a lot of followers :)
Good for you Kevin!
I am terribly afraid of heights, but I sucked up my courage and went up in a hot air balloon! (It was also a race!) I hung on for dear life and could barely move, but it really wasn't too bad! It was weird though, when ice came dropping down on our heads (I guess we were up pretty high!) The landing was bumpy and dragging (hmmm, sounds like my butt!) : - ) Then, instead of the balloon captain pouring the champagne over our heads to "baptize" us on the occasion of our first ride in a balloon, we decided to drink it! (Frankly, I could have used a bit of the bubbly BEFORE the trip!!)
Now that I am older, I guess I'll get a "bucket list" going and aspire to "big" things like
two trips to Trader Joe's in one week, or daring to venture into Walmart, right after the dinner hour! Boggles the mind! Phew!
Way to go!
Cheryl
You're an honorary chick - welcome to The Club, cluck cluck! xx
Aww Lol Kev !!!!...yes smiling alll the way through your blog...you are so right and you know us so well !!! haha
Good on you for what you have achieved and it just takes that 'step over the threshold' and some encouragement to do something you never thought you could !!!
What a wonderful idea you have and I am sure it will motivate many of us !!! To realise our dreams or 'stretch' ourselves that little bit further...
Thankyou for blogging Kev, glad you did !!!
Love to you all and hugz
Sharon
Yeah for Kev and his motivational blog! Well done sweetheart (on the blog but more importantly the ride!), incredible. Now you know why I very rarely drink, I dread to think what I'd end up doing...on the other hand maybe I should drink more to make me do all the things I wouldn't normally? So have you motivated me to do something big or hit the bottle? I'll leave it up to you to decide! :)
thanks for the words, Kev! I've always thought you should have a blog of your own so we could get a man's perspective on things. I sometimes need a good kick in the pants to keep me going and call me macho, but it sounds better coming from a man sometimes.
thanks again!
Hello Kev,
Great blog. I look forward to your next blog.
If you put your mind to it you can do anything just like you did with the bike ride. Good on you for doing it.
I'm putting my mind to it that I'll pass the course that i'm doing and of course try to make one of my dreams come true.
Kevin I enjoyed your blog very much. I am pursuing something actually that has been a dream for a very long time. It's challenging and some days I just want to walk away, however, I'm also enjoying the "attempt" to finally go for it. Yes some will pooh pooh it and some will get it it doesn't matter much to me anymore what anyone thinks. It's my dream, the opportunity arrived at a very much needed point in my life and I'm doing it. I might not succeed but then again I just might! But I'm not explaining here, I'm waiting for that t-shirt :). Thanks for sharing.
Ohhh Kev, that was priceless..lol..of course, not as priceless as your shirt is going to be some day!!
You are so right, I'm the worst one for not doing something because I don't think I can...bit of a procrastinator.
I also know what it's like to be 'out fitnessed' by someone older, I'm 43 and I go to the gym with a 60+ yr old and she runs rings around me, embarrassing, but true!
Ok you're on...now to think of what to finally try, on my long, long list of 'things to do'!
Congrats on your ride!
Lisa
x
Hi Kev,
Well done on the bike ride.
Thank you for your blog, Very true i am a big believer on you can do what you put your mind to it and the power of positive throughts as it has helped me get to were we are
today.
Please dont be a stranger to the blogs as it would be wonderful to hear from the two men behind the wonderful women (LISA).
Have a great day and look forward to seen you all baqck in Australia.
Big hugs
Leeanne
Wow!! Great idea :) I already have stories to share - hopefully they will inspire to.
Way to go!! :)
Good for you Kev, a great milestone on riding so far on your bike.
My biggest milestone will be my first drive back to Perth since hubby passed. I hope to see your lovely wife at the Burswood in September if my daughter in law can obtain tickets.
Cheers and love to all
Michele with one el
haha, Good one Kev..seriously, that was a great blog..
Congrats to you firstly..Great idea also..You have now inspired many, i can see it now.? .Thanks for helping people believe in themselves..Many people will be truly smiling when they read your words...Love Stace XXX
Hi Kev,
How nice of you to write today on this blog it was so enjoyable to read what you have said and CONGRATULATIONS on finishing the race and getting the motivation to get on that bike and ride for your life....
I can totally relate to how hard it is to get motivated, after having 2 lovely children I had gained a mountain of weight that made me very upset every day looking in the mirror. I had tried hard to loose the weight but never had the proper motivation at all from myself. Some people might say oh just another person that lost weight but this was the hardest thing I have ever put myself through in my life & after just over 1 year I had reached my goal and lost 28kg.
I think you have come up with a great proposal for people to to get motivated and try to reach a goal that they set themselves. I look forward to reading everyones end results.
We all need a little motivating :)
Thanks Kev for the motivation kick start!!!!
You make such a lovely family :)
Lara Haidary
Hi Kevin! So nice to hear from you :-) We all love keeping up-to-date with Lisa but it's also really nice to get an insight into family life around her too...she is obviously having a positive effect on you!
Firstly, congratulations on what you achieved; that really takes some doing and I bet there were a few times when you really thought 'what am I doing?!!!!'. I will really take some inspiration from your blog and I myself have been putting off quite a few things in my life that I would really love to do. I always think, "hmmm...there's always tomorrow....I'll just do this first....maybe one day" and the list goes on!!!
It only takes one small step, a decision made and bob's your uncle!!!!
I have read Lisa's book, watch all her shows and think that you are such a lovely family. I really believe in keeping positive and pursuing what you believe in and it is so refreshing to be able to communicate and keep in touch this way (and with Lisa on Facebook). It gives us all aspirations and inspirations and to make this lifetime the best we can possibly make it.
Love to you all
Marie :-) xxx (a fellow Brummie!)
Hi Kevin!
Congrats on finishing the ride! Nice one! Valiant effort! Hey, great blog. You sound like such a motivational speaker. Interesting getting to hear your personality too. You are right, you don't know until you try. You gotta get out there and just do it. I'm sure you are grateful that you were asked now :) I myself love cycling. I average 116 km's a week. It is the best cardio exercise I think. I recommend it thoroughly. Anyway, I really enjoyed your blog. Would you be a motivational speaker by any chance ;) Great stuff!! Hey, I bet your proud of Lisa. She is an absolute Gem that shines so brightly for all to see. And has a wonderful gift and uses it so graciously. Well, maybe we will hear from you again on this site. Until then, take care. All the best to you and Lisa and Charlie. Big hugs. Marcel :)
Congrats, Kevin. Plugging on (and leaving your "comfort zone" to start the ride in the first place) was a fantastic achievement.
Your blog came at a good time for me, and is added motivation to complete a project that I've pushed aside in recent months.
Great blog Kev and congrats on achieving your goal! Your right and I will certainly be taking heed of what you've shared with us. Thankyou. :) Take care your such a fantabulous family! we are all proud to be part of the extended one!
Lisa xxx
Woohoo! You did it. You completed the ride. Way to go, Kev. And you blogged! A couple of good firsts going there, Kev. I'll have to think on what I want to accomplish...but I so appreciate your sharing with us and I cannot believe you completed 50 miles.....wow.
Did Lisa mention to you that I need a car? She said you are the "soft touch" in the family....LOL.....
thanks, Kev. I'll think on this one. And thank you for sharing Lisa with us. She is priceless.....
peace...deb t/illinois