The dregs of 2009, part 1: An open letter to David Goggins

I’m currently mired in grant-writing. To keep a bit of blog momentum going, I’m going to post a couple of entries that I never got around to finishing last year. Here’s the first one….

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Dear David,

You say the following on your website:

I’m nobody special. Let’s be perfectly clear… I don’t like to run. I don’t like to swim. I don’t like to bike. I do this to raise money for the children of soldiers killed in combat…. Like I said, I don’t like running. I don’t like biking. I don’t like swimming. I do it to raise money. But, now that I’m in this sport I want to see how far I can push myself. What makes me tick is that pain you feel when you do these ultramarathons. I can take a lot of pain.

I’ll try to be perfectly clear too. You’re a really tough guy, and you’re raising money for an unimpeachable cause. Good for you. As far as I know, you’re telling the truth when you say that you don’t like to run but are doing it for the cause. Again, good for you. I just want to point out that you’re a hero not only to the families of these fallen soldiers but also to the many millions of people who are battling obesity. You used to carry 290 pounds on your 6’2″ body; now you’re a muscular 190.

So where am I going with this? Well, you know as well as I that regular exercise is an important part of conquering obesity. Since we want people to exercise more, is there some way you can continue the fundraising without making physical activity sound so miserable?

People occasionally tell me that they “know” they should run more but just don’t enjoy it. I always reply that they should find a sport that they like — something that doesn’t feel like a chore — and do that instead. Perhaps you could offer a similar message — one noting that healthy activities can also be fun?

I know, I know: you’ve got your script and I’ve got mine, and the fact that I like mine better doesn’t mean that it’s right for you. It was just an idea. I hope you’re not upset, because you look like you could kill me with your bare hands without even breaking a sweat. Hey, no hard feelings, right?

Sincerely,
Greg Crowther