76 Days to Ultraman

August 2, 2025 – 76 Days to Ultraman Mexico

First beach day of the summer. About time. I hope next summer I get to the beach earlier and more often—and without drinking or smoking. Both of those are within my control, and I want them gone.

Still, today was great. Beers and sandwiches on the sand, Scarborough beach with Zach and Renee. Hot sun, slight breeze, calm water, tide rolling in at an angle. Twice we went in. The second time the day had grown hotter and the water felt sharp and refreshing. I floated on my back, let myself drift.

I practiced kicking with my stroke. My current problem: when I kick, I burn out fast. All my focus drains into my legs, and my arms lose their rhythm. If I can slow it down—make the kick stronger but more automatic—I can integrate it without breaking form. Which means more kick drills. The dreaded apparatus. (Only I’ll ever laugh at that joke. And probably only I’ll ever read it again, if I even take the time to look back.)

Later, stretching, the same truth hit me again: the core is the solution. My lower body cramps because the muscles are overworked, and they’re overworked because the core isn’t holding up its share. Strengthen the center and everything else balances. Less strain in my back, less tension in my jaw, smoother movement all around.

During my twenty minutes, I let my body lead. I ended up doing cross-body crunches. Afterwards, when I stretched—holding one leg flat while pulling the other to my chest—something shifted. On the left side, a clunky pop in the inner hip, like it clicked into place. A release. Activating the core unlocked more range of motion, not just in my hips but in how I walked after. For the first time in a while I felt fluid, even.

I’ve said it countless times: if I just worked on my core, it would change my whole life. Training, racing, daily movement. And naturally, I’ve put it off. Because that’s what I do—I procrastinate on the most impactful things.

A podcast I listened to on procrastination framed it well: procrastination is an emotional problem, not a logistical one. You can’t schedule your way out of it.

So what is at the core of my avoidance? What am I actually doing when I delay the actions that matter most? That’s the real question. I’ll have to keep watching myself closely to find out.