25 Days Until Bataan...Legs Still A Little Shaky From This Weekend...

Legs felt a bit like Jell-O tonight.

On Wednesday nights since my Bataan training began, I have been going to a boat ramp in my neighborhood for the mid-week hill work. We have a boat ramp about a mile from our house, and it allows me to get about 200 yards of fairly steep "hill" work. On a typical Wednesday night I usually spend about 90 minutes going up and down the boat ramp. Boring? Yes, but the training is good. Any person that I've been able to contact that had success at the Bataan Memorial Death March has said to use the hills. I went to hit it tonight like always, but the old legs just weren't quite as frisky as they usually are. I think that since I rucked on Sunday this last week instead of on Saturday like I usually do, I simply didn't give my legs enough rest. Instead of going up and down the ramp for 90 minutes, it was cut down to one hour. No harm done, I just have to let the legs rest a bit. I'll take a rest day tomorrow, and then stretch real good on Friday in preparation for my 21 mile ruck that is planned for Saturday.

On a positive note, my legs have not had to carry around as much body weight as they use to. Thanks to the Advocare 24 Day Challenge that I've been doing, yours truly has eaten "clean" for 21 days in a row with no cheats. I've not even been tempted to hit the Blue Bell that I do love so much. It can wait. I'm down over 10 pounds now, and can honestly say that the Advocare plan works. I'm a believer.

Hope your week is going well. Be strong and stay in the "Arena". Keep fighting.

27 Days Until Bataan...20 Mile Training Ruck Run Completed...

On Sunday, I was able to keep my training on schedule for the Bataan Memorial Death March which I will compete in on March 25th. Jason Mosely and I met up at the course beginning and began the task of driving up to the end point where we dropped my truck off and then drove his back down to the beginning while stashing water and Gatorade along the way. The actual course ended up being only 19.8 miles, because we have simply run out of road. Our training rucks have gotten  so long that we have ended up on the outskirts of Blanco, Texas on a busy farm road. For safety reasons, I decided to cut it 2 tenths of a mile short to keep me from rucking on a busy road with no shoulder.
This was by far the most difficult ruck that I have done yet. The weather was a bit warm, and from the very beginning my pace was fast but I was sweating up a storm in the process. I was drinking 12oz of Gatorade and some water every 2 miles, and I made it up the steep part of our course (miles 10-14) as good as can be expected. From then on though, I began to play a cat and mouse game with some leg cramps.

Football player with leg cramps.

I'm sure most of you have seen a sporting event where an athlete has cramped up, and had to go out of the game. They're not going to kill you, but you will be slowed down until they subside. In a race, the clock continues to run. Cramping will ensure you a slower time. I never completely cramped up, but I did have to walk at times just to make sure that I didn't. The last 6 miles of my ruck were more of a mental game than anything else. Needless to say, a man has a lot of time to think when he's out on a 4 hour run, and not all of your thoughts will necessarily be positive when the adversity hits. I am learning, and will continue to learn to push all negative thoughts away. Pain, both physical and mental is not permanent. It will pass. It's a mind game, plain and simple. I ended up finishing the training with a walk, then fast run tempo. When the cramping sensation went away, I felt good and I ran very fast, or at least as fast as can be expected carrying a 35 pound ruck sack. Sooner or later though, my lower right quad or either hamstring would remind me that I am a 36 year old human after all, and I'd have to slow down to avoid the cramping. It was frustrating because I really didn't feel tired or out of breath. My legs simply wouldn't cooperate completely.

View from the top of the first "big" hill.

When I crossed the Blanco river, I knew there was only about 1/2 mile left so I went as fast as I possibly could and finished the 19.8 mile ruck in 3:56.46. Not bad considering the before mentioned adversity. It felt good to finish. Real good. I drove back to 18 mile mark where I met up with Jason, and we headed back to the start point where his truck was parked. He told me that he too dealt with some cramping issues, but he drove on and finished his training. I appreciate Jason hanging in there with me, because it was definitely one of those days where misery loves company. It was good to have him there to train with. We also stop at our water points along the way back, which are every 2 miles to collect our empty bottles. Jason hung his phone out the window at the top of the first "big" hill and took the picture on the right. The view from the top is something else, and this picture doesn't do it justice but you get the idea. A man doesn't get to look a views like that, or see deer, hawks, birds, wild turkeys, and many other creatures by sitting on his couch in front of the TV.
As the spring approaches, I hope that all of us are able to find the time to get outside and appreciate the gifts God has provided for us. Let's have a good week. Stay in the "Arena" of life, and keep fighting. When you are able to get outside, and you see a bird; remember what he said...
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

30 Days Until Bataan...The Thrill of Victory, and the Agony of Defeat...

"The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat." That phrase means something to those of us who are at least a little older, and remember watching ABC's Wide World of Sports on television. I do admit that I spent some time in front of the TV watching these sporting events. The sports they showed seemed to be particularly interesting, because they were not your run of the mill American sports like football, baseball, or basketball.

This is funny to an 8 year old kid.

 When you're an 8 year old kid, and you see some ol' boys sumo-wrestling on TV, it's funny. Little kids are easily entertained, and I was no different. For the younger readers of this blog that have no idea what I'm talking about, you can click HERE to see the introduction to one of the most well known sporting programs of the 1970's and 80's.


I read an article not too long ago by Dr. Kieth Ablow where he brought up the idea that many parents in our American society are harming their kids by shielding them from "the agony of defeat." The truth about life and sports is that some win and some lose. Some have the "thrill of victory" while others experience "the agony of defeat." That's just the way it is. However, if you look at the youth sports culture in our country today there are no losers. Everyone gets a trophy. No self esteems are damaged, and the dreaded "agony of defeat" is avoided. Kids today don't win some and lose some, they win 'em all. It also seems that there are enough "All Star" teams created to ensure that every kid gets on one. Gotta keep that self esteem in tact.

Problem is though, eventually the kid grows into a young adult and they (parents included in many cases) become painfully aware that they really aren't the undefeated champions of the world they thought they were. Reality sets in, and unfortunately the kid finds it easier not to enter the "Arena" at all than to risk losing. The fear of failure leads them to fall in with "those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." Let's encourage our kids get in the arena. Let 'em get their face marred with dust, sweat, and blood so they might know one day what the genuine thrill of victory feels like. That true thrill of victory must be earned and not given. Kids know that, and you can't fool them forever.

You read the article and decide for yourselves. Comments are welcome.
Memo To Parents: Stop Coddling Your Kids

33 Days Until Bataan...Veterans Day Speech...

Last Veterans Day, the Canyon Lake High School JROTC asked me to speak to our school about the importance of Veterans, and how we owe them our sincere thanks. I was honored to take an opportunity to speak about something very important to me. The Greatest Generation. If you take time to watch what I attempted to get across to the young people of our community, I think you will agree. We have much to be thankful for as Americans.

35 Days Until Bataan...18 Mile Ruck Knocked Out...Comal CrossFit Today...

Got some work done this weekend. On Saturday morning, Brandon, Heather, Mike, and myself met at Comal Crossfit and headed out to Edge Falls Road to train. We knew the weather was not going to be ideal, but at this point in time the training has to be done. After driving up the course and stashing fluid every two miles we left Brandon's truck at the finish line and jumped in with Heather to drive back down to the start point.

Top row from left: Jason, Clay, and Heather
Bottom row from left: Brandon, Tommy, Mike, and Levi

It's kind of a pain in the neck to have to do all this, but when the training rucks get this long the water points along the course are very necessary, and leaving a vehicle at the finish point means that we don't have to "out and back" the route and cover the same path twice.
As soon as we started the rain began to fall. Cold rain. Sometimes it was hard, and sometimes it was but a sprinkle. Either way it was cold. At this point in our training, the rucking (running) has become almost methodical. You just do it. In spite of the rain, cold, and the wind, Mike, Brandon, and myself finished the 18 mile training in 4 hours and 1 minute. Not bad. Heather finished in 5 hours and 14 minutes. I simply do not know another female that can do what Heather is doing. She is the real deal.
 Woke up this morning feeling pretty dang good. Only slightly sore. My buddy, Brannon Muska, from Crossfit Texas that got me doing this Advocare 24 Day Challenge told me it was going to make a difference. He was right. I feel pretty dang good. Finished the weekend off by going with my beautiful wife up to my "Box", Comal Crossfit. I was coaching the class for this evening so we got up there early enough for me to do the workout before the rest of the folks began to show. It was a good workout.

I sincerely appreciate those of you that have been reading this blog. It's kind of a fun deal for me to do in all honesty. I'm able to check the traffic it gets, and there have been some people from Guatemala, Mexico, Germany, and Israel view the blog. In a way it makes me feel kinda cool. Perhaps a bit cosmopolitan. Interesting. Like that guy on the right.
Have a good week folks. Let's all try to get in the "Arena of Life" and do some good. Help someone if you can, for like it says in the Good Book:
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

37 Days Until Bataan...18 Mile Training Ruck Tomorrow...I'm Jacked Up...

Saturday morning Heather, Brandon, Mike, and myself will tackle an 18 mile training ruck on the course outlined in red over on the left. We have attempted to find the most "hilly" terrain that is available in our neck of the woods. If you have ever been to the Kendalia area here in Texas, then you know that there are some hills there. In planning for the Bataan Training, I used Google Earth to find the most significant upward elevation changes in our part of the state. This route was about the best I could find. Everyone I talked to and read about that  had success at The Bataan Memorial Death March said to "use the hills". Here in my part of Texas we don't really have any mountains, so the Glorious Texas Hill Country will have to do. 


Our training team will meet at Comal Crossfit at 0700, drive to the route, cache some fluid, then get it on. Hopefully I can talk Heather in to taking a few pictures, and I will post them along with a report on Sunday.

Spring Break: South Padre Island, Texas

The Advocare 24 Day Challenge is going extremely well. I'm feeling good, losing weight, and losing inches. Heck if it keeps going this good, I may very well get all ripped up, and me and the ol' lady  might go down to South Padre for spring break.


On second thought, I love the "Arena of Life", but you couldn't pay my old butt enough to get in the middle of all that wildness. 

39 Days Until Bataan...Here's a story about a boy "In The Arena"...

It's Wednesday. If you are anything like me which I bet you are, we are already looking forward to this weekend. Maybe a little fatigue is setting in, and you want to simply turn on the TV and coast into the weekend. If you have read what I have attempted to make this blog about, then you know what the "Arena" means to me. We, as Americans, really need to turn of the TV and get to living. Life is not a spectator sport.

A buddy of mine I coach with sent me a link not too long ago about a kid named Cody McCasland. If you want to see an example of someone that is completely unafraid to jump right smack in the "Arena of Life", look at that photo on the left. If the week is grinding on for you, go to www.teamcody.com and take just a few minutes to read a little about the zest for life this boy has. You'll be glad you did, and if the week has you a bit run down perhaps this will motivate you just a little to get back in the Arena.

41 Days Until Bataan....7 pounds lost.

Day 5 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. Weighed in this morning at 193. Started the program at 201 pounds. Love it.

The training for the "Mission" is going to plan. Since I was out of town on Saturday, which is usually my long ruck day, I elected to do a Cross Fit WOD (workout of the day) with my wife at Comal Crossfit instead of trying to make it up on Sunday. Last Sunday I did about 19 miles (with a 35 pound ruck on), and feel very confident that I am on pace to be race ready come March 25th.


Some of my teammates did get out and beat the pavement this weekend. Mike and Jason did a 20 mile ruckless run in under 4 hours, and on Sunday, Clay did a 18 mile ruck in 4:54. Clay has really been working hard at his Bataan training and will kill the course come race day. He is also one funny SOB, and stopped along the route to pose with this llama.

In my last post I wrote about how art and even modern religion has painted this "picture" of who Jesus the man actually was. I sincerely do not understand how you can actually read the primary sources written about Jesus and picture him in your mind like this:

This looks like a woman. Read about what Jesus the man actually did. He did hard labor as a young man. He was out in the sun constantly. He walked everywhere. He got dirty. He got hungry. He got thirsty. He got physically tired. He was a human being just like you and I, and truth be told he hung around with some pretty rough ol' boys too. If you are a believer or not, these historical facts simply can't be argued. Jesus was a man.

It's really gotten under my skin for a long time now how religion and art has not only feminized Jesus the man, but made him "un-human". Do you really have anything in common with whoever that is supposed to be over on the left. I wouldn't follow that feminine looking guy across the street much less let him tell me that he is the way to true life.

I am a believer. I believe that Jesus was completely human and completely God. If you take either one away you lose him.

I read a book not too long ago called Beautiful Outlaw. Using the actual Scripture, it helped remove much of the fog that "religion" has covered Jesus in. I highly recommend this book.It will change the way you look at Jesus. I would especially recommend it to those who don't know Jesus because you have been turned off, not by something you read in the Bible, but by something you were told by a "religious" person.

I'll even send the first person that emails me their mailing address a brand new copy of the book completely free. Hit me up: levimontgomery1976@gmail.com

The following quote is from Beautiful Outlaw concerning whether or not Jesus had a sense of humor:

"Well, he created laughter. And think of the crowd he dined with. These rabble-rousers quickly earned Jesus a reputation as a drunkard and a glutton, and it wasn’t because they served water and crackers. This was a wild group, and surely such a crowd got rolling in laughter from time to time, if only from the joy they were experiencing being with Jesus. Now, surely the creator of these colorful characters didn’t sit there frowning, looking pious, Mr. Killjoy, Mr. I’m-Above-All-This."

43 Days Until Bataan...Who Is This???

Anyone know anything about who this is supposed to be in the above picture? This is a man that did hard labor for a living? A man that was constantly outdoors and walked everywhere he went? Are you kidding me?

I'll discuss this a little more tomorrow.


I'm still holding strong on the Advocare 24 day challenge. I have been at a football coaching clinic in College Station the last two days, and in spite having to eat at restaurants, I still ate only foods that are in the program. That was pretty big for me, but I had a plan and brought some healthy food with me. There never was a time where I was overly-hungry, because I had some good food to tide me over. It worked, and was actually pretty easy to do. 

Tomorrow my beautiful wife and I are going to take the boys to First Baptist Church Canyon Lake and hear Bro. Darrell preach the Word.

In the afternoon Leigh and I will go have our Valentine's date at Comal CrossFit. Our "Box" is going to participate in a fun little workout for couples. It will be a cheap date if nothing else.

I love my little Valentine.

44 Days Until Bataan..."The Battling Bastards of Bataan"

"We're the battling bastards of Bataan.
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam.
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artellery pieces,
And nobody gives a damn."

The Americans at Bataan did everything they could do before they were forced to surrender. The following link describes what these "Battling Bastards" went through even before they surrendered. It's worth your time to click  here and read just a little about these men.

If you run across a member of the "Greatest Generation" this weekend, especially a WWII Vet, please give them a simple thank you.


Day 2 of my Advocare 24 Day Challenge underway. Yesterday was good, but today I'll be going to College Station for a football clinic. That means I'll need to plan, and bring the proper foods with me. With proper planning, it can be done.

About to go hit a 10-1 Bench Press/200 meter run in the garage before the boys wake up.

Y'all have a good weekend!

45 Days Until Bataan: Don't want to look like this guy...

There are now only 45 days until the race. I do feel pretty good as to how the training is progressing, but for the home stretch, there are some things I need to clean up: My poor diet, and I need to train harder.


Current Body Weight: 201 pounds
***My plan is to get to 185 pounds by race day.

Thanks to one of my Bataan teammates, Jason Moseley for the above photo. He says this is what I looked like pre-CrossFit. And my lovely wife says if I don't get my diet and lack of exercise in check, I'll again look like this.

I came in contact with an old high school football buddy of mine, Brannon Muska. He owns a "Box" in Pflugerville called CrossFit Texas. I got to talking to him about Bataan and how I needed to drop some body weight. He is big into Advocare, and convinced me to give their line of supplements and program a shot. I started the "Advocare 24 Day Challenge" today. So far, so good, and will keep this blog posted as to how that is going.


In addition to performing well at Bataan, Tommy Williams, the owner of Comal CrossFit where I train and work at is really pushing that all members and coaches complete the CrossFit Games "Open" Workouts. You can register for these events online, and see where you stand compared to some of the most fit male and female athletes in the world. 

Mike Hoge, who trains and coaches at our gym actually made it to the Regional Competition last year. He's a horse. 

Live In The Arena.