Matt Queen
"Take care of the greatest tool you will ever own – your body."
I have been competing in triathalons, running and cycling events for over 15 years and that amazes me! I never considered myself an "athlete." I was gifted at excercising my brain, not my body. Back in grade school, I played baseball to get the cool hat! In high school I sat on the bench for four years. In college I watched my mind expand along with my waistline. By the end of my freshman year I weighed close to 200 pounds. I was stressed out, worn out, tired out and out of shape. About that time, I met a great friend who changed my perspective, which changed my life. He introduced me to triathalons, and I found a passion for fitness that I didn't know I had.
Since my friend helped awaken that passion, I have been blessed to experience some of the best memories of my life... the blue of a Colorado sky; the lines of water as they trail behind a canoe; the feel of crossing a finish line you though would never come. Fitness continues to introduce me to amazing people and to develop relationships in my life that I hold most dear.
I realize that I am not a "gifted" athlete. My wife teases me that I can quit my job when I win my first race. But winning for me is not in comparison with others; it is with myself. Fitness is both the student and the teacher of discipline, motivation and determination.
Fitness should not be a short-term goal. It is a long-term commitment based on consistency and time – but it does have short term benefits. It improves every aspect of your life... your mind; your body; your spirit. The more fit you are, the better you are able to handle stress, life changes and the unexpected. It is an unending journey. There is always more to learn, a next level, untested limits and untapped potential.