My Motivation for the Week: Killing the Fat Man
CrossFit Curious
I Ran The Color Run 2012
Una Pizza Napoletana: Best Pizza on the Planet?
Silvana picked me up yesterday after work so we could go out to dinner with some of her good friends she wanted me to meet. Since I met her she has always raved about this pizza joint she loves called Una Pizza Napoletana. The pizza is amazing, the staff is great and the owners are a true delight to meet. According to her its the best pizza on the planet due to Una Pizza Napoletana’s notoriety online, in the papers and the true mastering of authentic Neapolitan Pizza that Anthony Mangieri has spent decades perfecting. After picking up her two awesome Italian friends we headed over to Una Pizza Napoletana.
The menu had five pizzas (except for Saturday when they serve a specialty pizza with farm fresh eggs), a nice condensed wine list offering wines from Campania (we enjoyed the delicious Lambrusco sparkling wine) and some Neapolitan coffee with a chunk of artisanal Neapolitan chocolate for dessert. Silvana being the rock star she is ordered 2 pizzas but they served us 4 instead and it was all comped thanks to the endless generosity of the owners and staff. My review of the pizza is that it’s AWESOME! I grew up vegan so I’m not a fan of meat on a pizza so I was in heaven. The sea salt, mozzarella, sauce and their chewy crust was exceptional. If you are accustomed to NY/Chitown style oily and crispier crust with pepperoni you will be disappointed here. This is the real deal, real Neapolitan pizza the way that it’s intended to be made and served.
I have to say it’s a little pretentious in a very San Francisco way which is not snooty but interested, only Anthony will make your pizza. Only three pizzas can be in the oven at a time. The oven is a beautifully hand crafted wood burning oven from Italy. Ingredients are imported from Italy. No substitutions on any pizza. They will not cut your pizza. There are no other food items available to order along with your pizza. But like I said it all makes its a fun and an interesting place.
Go check it out this weekend, I promise you won’t regret it.
Best Parts of Being a Father
It goes without saying that I love my son, but only in the last year have I really started enjoying his company. It sounds bad but it’s not. Before, it was me watching and entertaining him 24/7, But lately I think its him entertaining me more then I him. Here are some moments I enjoy the most.
Boy Time
When Ethan and I get into our bubble it’s unbelievably fun. It’s a licence for a 30 year old man to be silly and uninhibited. And sense the age of four we have so much more in common. One of the happiest days for me since he was born was his migration from Elmo (not a fan) to superheros. The conversation we have are the funniest.
I’m a Superhero
As a father I have someone who truly looks at me like a superhero, I can kick anyone’s ass and practically do anything. Example, I’ll never forgot this as long as I live. I was recorded a movie review podcast and during the break my son came and sat on my lap so I playfully put the headphones on him and my co-hosts started asking him questions, one of the questions was “who is your favorite superhero”? and without pausing he said “my daddy”. My heart melted and assured me that no one will ever believe in me as much as he does.
Learning Experiences
My favorite part of being a father is watching my son grow and learn. I love being a witness to all his new lessons and discoveries. It is super scary sometimes to realize how big a part I play in the choices he makes and how he turns out as a man. But I’ve learned to love the pressure because as long as I try my best to do right by him I know he will be proud of me.
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My Motivation for the Week: Killing The Fat Man
In the spirit of all the CrossFit talk lately, I thought I’d share a webseries that takes you on a 10 episode (so far) journey with an average 39 year husband and father to a better health and fitness lifestyle. During my research on CrossFit these were the only videos I could find that portrays the journey and not total fitness gods working out. The star is a lovable guy with a very disinterested family but I promise you it’s inspiring. Plus, it gives you a inside look into an average persons starting out and succeeding at CrossFit.
Hope you enjoyed the series, hopefully episode 11 will be out soon.
CrossFit Curious
Over the last couple months I’ve been trying to get back into running and working out but found it to be boring, so last month I started searching for a new workout that would kick my ass plus get me back to that fitness addict type of mind. Then I came across CrossFit on Carrots n Cake, a blog I read often. Here is what CrossFit is in 100 words:
“Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.”
~Greg Glassman
After a week of view and reading everything I could online I signed up for a consultation at my local CrossFit gym. I learned two things from my consultation that wasn’t discuss by the trainer, I am not in as good of shape as I thought and Crossiftters are super nice, I think every single person in the gym shock my hands and said hi.
All Crossfitters out there are going to laugh at this sample workout but those squats really killed me. Halfway through the push ups I have to go knees because I was dying…well that’s what it felt like.
It took me 8:11, thankfully I was told this wasn’t that horrible. CrossFit is something I defiantly want to get into, but before going in I was mesmerized by the results of CrossFit and wasn’t focused on the hard work to get those results. So if this is something you want to try out trust me look at the journey, because its not a easy path but well worth it I’m told. Make sure you check out Motivation of the Week for a closer look into CrossFit.
Photo: The beautiful Andrea Ager
The Color Run 2012 Weekend
So late Friday after work I rushed down to Candlestick Park to pick up my packet which included a t-shirt, a bag of powder to throw at the post race party, a headband, a race day wristband and of course the racing number.
After I picked up my swag we headed to the Millbrae Pancake House a cafe diner place my girlfriend loves so I could do some carbo-loading. Afterwards straight home to bed.
Woke up early had a bite to eat and headed back out to Candlestick park. There were two race times at 8am and 1am, and naturally I chose 1pm mainly because it was my first time and I really didnt want to be up at 5am on a saturday morning.
It was packed…..so many awesome friendly happy people. I have to admit I was taking the run a little to seriously which means there wasn’t a smile on my face because I was focusing on what I was about to do even though I knew the race wasn’t timed and is considered a “fun run”, but it being my first time I wanted to focus and run a good race. But after an hour of everyone around me dancing and knocking around beach balls I loosened up a bit and the smile slowly came back.
My supporters.
At 1:10pm they raised the flag and me being in the first wave was out the gate in less then 20 seconds.
The run was pretty straight forward, other then the fact that every half mile you get blasted with a powder, it was pretty awesome! Each stop was a different color so when you get to the finish line you’re multi colored from head to toe.
I finished the run in about 25mins which is pretty good for a 6’3′ 225lbs guy running a 5K.
At the finish line there where the supporters and staff handing out bars and water, I found the girls and headed inside the open area color party.
After taking my After picture we headed over to a stage with a DJ getting the party started, we couldn’t take late so I got the idea to throw my bag of powder on the girls so they would fill included in the rainbow.
Even Cobie got colored!
All in all I had blast, the only thing I was missing was Arielle running next to me and a crew of friends that I should have had come. 2013 I will be out with everyone in force and it’s going to be a legendary Color Run to remember.
What a Sip of Soda Does to Your Body
I was never a big soda drinking when I was a kid but as an adult I’ve been know to love my root beer. I have always known that soda is more damaging then beer and this chart help proves it. I am from now on cutting soda out of me and my sons diets…..So let it be written so let it be done! (a Yul Brynner reference)
ULTIMATE URBAN PLAYGROUND: SAN FRANCISCO
Such a sick video……I’ve always wanted to jump the hill at the top of Divisadero St in San Francisco.
Corte Madera Fourth of July Parade and Celebration
So I was invited by a very good friend whose family owns a couple bike shops to march or rather ride in our local parade. So I called me parents who are the cyclist in the family to bring the bikes down so we can ride.
My dad and I being biker boys
My mother got to ride in a car like she was running for President.
Yup! that’s my ass.
We had a blast, and I plan on doing it again next year….what can I say I love to be seen.
My Motivation for this Week
This video really puts things into perspective for me. I watch these videos at the beginning of the week while stretching at 5am before I head out on my run. Trust me! watch them to this before you go running, or biking, or lifting…I guarantee it will help release that inner beast inside you, it’ll have you working out like Usain Bolt or Sam Whittingham or even Annie Thor.
This video featuring Giavanni Ruffin (running back for East Carolina).
The speaker names is Eric Thomas (the Hip-Hop Preacher), he’s a renown speaker, educator, author, activist and minister, Eric Thomas is rising to National prominence by delivering high energy messages that encourage people to live up to their full potential by breaking the cycles of crime, hopelessness and despair that many face daily. Known for his engagingly personal approach, his messages are both dynamic and inspiring. Formerly a high school dropout, he obtained his Masters degree in 2005 and is presently pursuing his PhD in Education Administration at Michigan State University. While consulting at Michigan State, he developed The Advantage Program, an undergraduate retention program targeting academically high-risk students of color. Eric’s representation of the merits of higher education, coupled with his knowledge of the pains of life, inspires people of all walks to break bad habits and reach for new levels of personal achievement.
Here are the full videos from his motivational and powerful Secrets to Success speech that he delivered to Michigan State University.
Eric Thoman is one of the most powerful speakers I have ever heard!
