I am exhausted.

It’s my brother’s fault.

My brother Gary turned 58 last Monday.

He is one of those kinds of guys that turn 58 but look like they are 38.

I hate those kinds of guys.

When I called him to wish him a happy birthday he says to me, “yeah…I’m back riding my bike and doing 100 push-ups a day.”

Excuse me? What was the part after “riding my bike” I thought to myself?

“Five sets of twenty,” he went on to explain.

One hundred push-ups a day?

I am not sure I could do one hundred of anything let alone push-ups.

But not to be outdone, the next morning I got up and said to myself, well if he can do it, I can do it.

But I couldn’t.

I did five.

And then an hour later I did seven.

The next day I was at it again. Though this time on my first attempt to get down on the floor my back gave out and I had to regroup for a few minutes.

Once stabilized, I did seven.

And then an hour later I did seven more.

Today, a week later, I am up to two sets of twelve, greatly assisted by my belly which tends to help me reach the bottom of the push-up faster.

I am not sure what my goal is with this.  To do one hundred a day?

Maybe.

 

It was a good weekend. Keeping with the theme of not to be outdone by my younger brother, Kim and I did a 20 mile ride on our bikes on Saturday.  And, I got five compliments on my new Yuengling cycling jersey that Hayley gave me for Christmas from other riders.

The Preakness was this weekend also.  After the debacle of the Kentucky Derby, the anticipation of the Preakness generated about as much excitement as a $2500 claiming race at Charles Town.  But I watched. And it was not without controversy either since a horse named Bodexpress, who probably had as good a shot as any of them, lost his jockey coming out of the starting gate.   It looked to me like the assistant starter forgot to let go of the horse when the gate opened.  Thankfully all were okay though I am sure all Bodexpress’ humans were greatly disappointed.  Bodexpress however looked like he had fun and finished the race like he thought he was supposed to.

Then On Sunday, to mix up the routine a little, Kim and I walked 10 miles on the bike trail.

The result of all of this activity is however…

I’m tired.

And my legs are reminding me that I am 62, about to be 63 in a month.

And I am realistic enough to know that I will probably never do one hundred push-ups a day.

In fact right now my primary goal is to get down on the floor and be able to get back up again.

I don’t want to set my sights too high.

And like Bodexpress, I may not be the winner but I will finish the race and have fun, like I think I am supposed to.

 

And besides, I have a cool bike jersey.

I’ll bet my brother doesn’t have one of those.