The Past Athleticism and Future Ambitions

Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about the past experiences which led you to the current reality you now exist in? Lately, I have been doing just that - thinking about the good-0l-days of racing my road bike at the elite level.

During those days I also owned a popular training business I called Spangler Training Systems. I linked it up with a local chiropractor and had an office within his building. The town I lived in was only roughly 60,000 people in size - Flagstaff Arizona. Flagstaff was a hard town to make a living in. It was cut-throat, being the only substantial entity in town was the university, Northern Arizona University, Gore Tech and the medical center. The people were quite liberal for a small town due to the massive amount of university employees and nearly 20,000 students who called Flag their home. The experience was unique because I was heavily involved in the cycling crowd as well as the wellness movement.

I think back to the days that I could leg press 1,000 pounds and sprint at 1,500 watts for 45 seconds and it seems like a dream. What was driving me to train and compete? Why was it so important to me? I honestly don't know. I can say that those days were about personal discovery versus proving I was the best. There was definitely an ego boost when I won a sprint or tore the peleton apart from strong pull but my intentions were to be a professional and my life consisted of doing all I could to achieve this goal.

I learned early on that others who were trying to just get fit could benefit from training similar to how I trained, at a minor scale, of course. I applied the training fundamentals I used to develop endurance and shed body fat to the general public. They were very happy with losing body fat versus weight and my reputation spread like wildfire.

Every Wednesday night during the summer the cyclists would get together for a local criterium race at a nearby park and race laps for about 30 minutes then do a long base-pace ride afterwards. I would show up after working with clients all day and sit in the pack drafting until the race was nearing the end and I would make a dramatic move attacking from the group and winning the race! It was a great feeling having such power and strength beyond what my fellow cyclists had. I would ride back to town, change and begin working with my evening clients.

When my time in Flagstaff ended I learned a valuable lesson and that lesson was to get a professional level degree so that when I return to continue my legacy I will be there until retirement and beyond. You see, my education level during the time I owned the training business was quite pathetic. No bachelors, no formal hands-on training to speak of. The DC that screwed things up for me is still in business today in the mid-west. He had his education and a huge cash flow to allow his existence to continue. I want that back.

I began this journey in 2005. It is now nearing 2010! By 2011 I will be ready to transition back to the world I once dominated as an athlete but with a program unheard of in Flagstaff. I will be there to stay and build a lucrative, long lasting training and wellness business.

When Sadie and I were in transition out of Flagstaff, I told her we'd be moving back in the future. There is a lot to still get done before this can happen but when looking back at what all has transpired between now and 2005 when it all began, the next year and a half will likely fly by and within a year I will be winning the sprints again and helping elite athletes find their own personal greatness!

Keep dreaming