Inspiration. . .

     I met two people last week whom I found very inspirational, for very different reasons.  

     First, at work, I had a meeting with a prospective new client last week.  All I knew about him in advance of the meeting was that he is developing a vineyard and needs help drafting his lease.  He's Mexican American, probably 5'6" tall, and in his early 40s.  Eventually his back story came out:  His parents moved to the U.S. when he was a child.  He is the youngest of 12 children.  He grew up working in vineyards and for a famous Napa winery, as did his entire family.  He works for a vineyard management company, makes his own wine, took the winemaking courses at the local university, has started his own vineyard management company, and wants to obtain his own vineyards.  He sometimes works for his employer, finishes up, does his own winemaking, comes home, changes, has breakfast with his wife, and is right back at it.  He loves what he does, and is eager to build up a wine brand and acquire vineyards so that his children can take it over after him.  Basically, a guy with no advantages whatsoever, who, with no assistance, has worked diligently to improve himself so that his family can have a better life. 

     Second, I was lifting at my girlfriend's gym in Sacramento this weekend.  At the other squat rack, I saw a rare sight:  A guy doing full depth squats, followed by standing presses.  He looked to be maybe 18-22 years old, thin as a rail.  I struck up a conversation with him.  Like me, he'd only ever seen 4 or 5 others doing squats at the gym at all, let alone to proper depth.  He is doing the "Stronglifts" program.  I don't know much about that program, but if it encourages full depth squats, it seems like it must be a good start.  He said his weight exceeded 310 pounds when he started the program and he is finally getting close to finishing cutting weight; my guess is that he may weigh 170 pounds at most, at about 5'11".  I can only imagine how difficult his life must have been as an obese teen, but he has done something about it.  

     Saturday conditioning:

     Warm up by jogging 2 laps at local track. 5 sprints, 200 m each.

     Sunday strength:

      Back Squats:  3 @ 205#; 3 @ 215#; 5 @ 225#.  Last set was a max effort.

      Finisher:  100 burpees.