Thing’s don’t always go as expected.

So yesterday I went to help out at an Ultra I was originally supposed to run (before tearing both my soleus). I went to take photo’s and cheer on my fellow runners and friends.
By the end of the race I helped perform CPR on a man that didn’t make it. The race went well for most people the winner shattereed his previous course record by 10 minutes. A little while late a four time finisher came across the line asked for water and collapsed. Cpr had already been started when I arrived. I took over chest compressions while other’s were on the phone with EMS. As I started to get tired another runner took over we worked on him till the EMT’s got there. I figured he was gone but held out hope. They defifibed him multiple times and nothing. The ambulance took him away (none of us knowing his fate) and we tried to continue the race day as normal as possible. I did not know this gentleman but what happened yesterday will stick with me probably the rest of my life.
You really do have to live each day as it’s your last. This man died 3 minutes after I took his photo and he seemed so happy and healthy. You just never know.

…Changes

I have a lot of STUFF… with another birthday looming I don’t really want much more stuff. I  want experiences, I want to run Lake2Ocean, I want to take a day trip to Savannah with my wife. I wanna go photograph Coheed and Cambria again. Stuff doesn’t have the appeal it once did. Don’t get me wrong there are things I will need to aid me on the adventures I want to take but that isn’t the same as buying yet another action figure I’ll never open.

Making the jump

So I have only been running for 3 years and my furthest race has been a half marathon. That being said my determination is larger than my brain..
I have a half in November
Then a 50K in December
I also got invited to attempt a 100k in January
I’m going to do them all,will I succeed I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that I will get out there and bust my ass if I have to tap out I will. Yeah I’m writing this on the one year anniversary of getting a heart stent. So yeah never let anyone tell you not to try something
worst case scenario, you fail, learn from it and try again.

 

Trail running

Trail running is my love. It brings challenges and focus that are very different from road running. I did a swampstomp Sunday. Here is a pick of me running through “interesting” conditions.

In today’s news

I will be quitting my job as a trainer. The company I worked for (Around the clock fitness) has ripped me off of literally thousands of dollars. My complaints have fallen on deaf ears. I hate to leave my clients, they work so hard towards their goals but I cannot work at a place that puts zero focus on honesty. I learned a lot there in a small time about what I don;t want to be like and how not to treat people. and with that said  I’m out.

NCSF certified Personal Trainer

Passed the test officially.

Tomorrow is the day

I take my personal trainer certification test. I have studied I have worked in the field. I know what I need to accomplish yet I still have doubt even after acing multiple practice exams. This isn’t something new to me self doubt is a constant…wish me luck.

People=Shit

Why are people so disingenuous and full of hate? People are so judgmental about hot button issues such as transgender bathroom usage and whether or not people should or shouldn’t identify as(fill in the blank). Why be so hateful about someone else]s life? I don’t sit back on a moral high horse and judge people…not really my thing but I see SO much intolerance it makes me sick.People I know who claim not to be racist or homophobic will let remarks come out and defend it with “we Christian’s are attacked constantly”. By whom? I am not a religious person. I’m a straight white male pushing forty married with a daughter from an ex wife. Some will say I live a life of “privilege” and while white privilege is a very real issue. I certainly wasn’t born nor am I now wealthy. Why be so bitter about how Caitlyn Jenner chooses to live her life?It’s hers let her be happy. I’m bombarded daily on FB by people I used to know who used to be very different in their thought processes. It makes me sad to see other humans slandered because they dob’t fit your definition of “normal”. I want my daughter to have the best life possible. My wish is that whomever she chooses to love treats her well.

Help me eliminate Alzheimers

I have lost both of my grandmothers to this horrible disease. I am running a half marathon in their honor. I’m accepting donations all go to an alzheimers charity. Any help from the running community will be greatly appreciated.
https://runsignup.com/Race/27306/Donate/y9NHzMfjOx9v2HtB
Please reblog this, share it donate whatever you can do.
Thank you
Bob Ripperdan

3:46 am on a Saturday

I’m getting ready to to train my first client of the day, I started thinking about all the slogans I see on clothing at the gym. like “Just do it” or “Sweat is fat dying” or whatever campaign is popular this month. What I wanna see is real clothing. Something like “I’m here because I love cheeseburgers” or “I’m here because society says I should be”or “I pretend to be confident” A lot of people I see are not in it for the health aspect it is solely the physical… I wish it weren’t that way. Now don’t get me wrong I love certain phrases as a former fat guy  “redefining my impossible” is one I live by. I also like funny shit like “I ran this half marathon because I love cheese” which I do and I have.