This morning began quite early. After an excruciatingly long day with a scant amount of sleep the evening previous, I slipped down down into a deep slumber by the time 2000 hours rolled around. It was a good day's work with formidable advances. I was convinced my body and mind was well deserving of the rest.

After engaging in a dirt bike crash a few years back, which grenaded a Nikon D2X upon impact into my hip, it has proven quite difficult to work my way back into shape for the two- to five-mile runs I once performed on a regular basis. Even during that period of time, the calisthenics were difficult to maintain, as the hip was having nothing to do with it. It's amazing how a shin-high Yucca tree can be such a game changer. My entire back down to my upper leg was black and blue for months.

Then, there after that crash, once I did pick up the pace on a weekly workout regiment, I was gleefully riding a Kawasaki KX110 one day with a few family members. And just when I was having the time of my life riding without goggles, I was roosted by my brother-in-law. An otherwise hilarious joke, which remained a hilarious joke, I was sent down tumbling into a ditch, where I assessed the damaged and quickly determined that I had at least broken a toe and sprained an ankle, the same ankle that kept me from a European club soccer tournament when I was younger and in the game. There were no apologies and quite simply no hard feelings. It's a man's world and the barbecue commenced right on time for yet another glorious occasion.

I've got inspiration. I used to run the mountains of the Angeles National Forest as well as the San Bernardino National Forest and Los Padres National Forest on a regular basis. I took my five-year-old kid on a hike the other day and was nearly wiped out. I was carrying a 25-pound pack loaded with camera gear, 9mm pistol, ammo, water and munchies. Add to that, I had a 1.5-year-old kid perched upon my shoulders. The second boy is a chunky-looking monster who exudes a formidable amount of strength for his age. He's nowhere near the brown guy I am but is an otherwise split image of myself and other son. He sports reddish-brown hair and is notably burly. Anyhow, we were navigating virgin terrain through the northern slope of an Angeles National Forest creek bed, located up around 5,500 elevation.

As my five-year-old navigated, identifying tracks and foliage features, I maintained a diligent pace. While I was obviously at a disadvantage due to the loads and constant dipping under trees because of the behemoth upon my shoulders, I once again realized I best get back in shape before one of these guys decides to take me on and take me out. As kind, loving and considerate as they are, they are equally assertive as well as ambitious.

So, for little more than two weeks, I have managed to muster the intestinal fortitude required to maintain an actual workout regiment. It is nothing near what I once did during the days of my 10-mile runs through wilderness terrain. And it's still not to the point where I could manage to keep up with my wife in her morning five-milers. But it's a beginning that has attained admirable momentum.

During my days behind the wheel of Off-Road.com, I ballooned up my body from copious amounts of hard times behind the computer screen, backing that up by fiercly engaging the night life of the off-road lifestyle. It was high-throttle action with a few thousand friends. The ordeal spanned the distance from Crandon, Wisconsin to the tip of Baja California.

So, now that I have mustered up the enthusiasm to get back into shape, the climax of my body mass index is once again retracting from the upper echelon of bovine embellishment. I can now stand next to a few off-road racing buddies and not feel like I just engulfed three In-N-Out Double Doubles, a fry and vanilla shake. Of course, major reference here ought to be directed to Mikey Childress and David Pearson, who are desert racing dirt bike behemoths that are amazingly fast and have long toyed with the notion of racing the Baja 1000 together. I often wonder how the Precision Concepts Suspension of the Factory Honda CRF450X felt after transitioning from the 220-plus pound Childress to 140-pound partner Steve Hengeveld. But that is yet another tech story. And before any of you sensative guys goe and get twisted out of shape, these weights are approximations based upon distant memory of former discussions with each of the aforementioned individuals.

Anyhow, it will still take me some time to get back on par with a few desert off-road racers whom I encounter regularly, namely Joe Hauler (Joe Desrosiers), Chuck Dempsey, Dave Manriquez (Winners Edge 1), Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman and Chris Blais (when I am allowed to speak to him). Thus far, I am merely breaking into a workout regiment and attempting to do so in an intensity that does not call upon a heart attack.

So, as promised to several family members and a few friends, I am posting what my regular workouts consist of. The plan is to incorporate some running into the equation sometime around mid-October or the first of November. This will likely be integrated into the Wednesday routine.

During my workouts, I maintain a moderate pace and provide for no rest period whatsoever. Though, I do provide rest to muscle groups during workout sessions by alternating muscle group exersizes. Furthermore, I alternate workouts types throughout the week for the very same purpose and prize the cardiovascular of calisthenics over weight training, as I seek to improve stamina. Endurance is a major factor in both mental and physical performance.

My workout is loosely based upon Army physical fitness (PT) workouts that I have enjoyed. If you're looking for more adept advice, I would recommend two friends. For one, Dave Manriquez (Winners Edge 1) is a former champion body builder who produces a highly-touted series of performance health supplements. He's a health and fitness freak who rides dirt bikes and is notably fast in the desert. Rick "Super Hunky" Sieman, who is the founder of Dirt Bike Magazine and legendary figure in the industry, is a longtime friend and former body builder of some acclaim. He may be older than the mold in my riding boots but still maintains a fit physique via a hearty workout regiment.

CALISTHENIC WORKOUTS - Monday / Wednesday / Friday

• 60 - Side straddle hop is a four-count exercise.
• 20 - Arm flies
• 20 - Squats
• 20 - Sit-ups modified
• 20 - Arm front strokes
• 20 - Forward lunges
• 20 - Arm rear strokes
• 20 - Windmills
• 20 - Rear lunges
• 20 - Death punches
• 20 - Prone roll (non 4-count)
• 20 - Push ups (some experimentation)
• 20 - Flutter kicks
• 20 - Up Downs (will incorporate more consistently next week)
• 20 - Defensive attack measures
• 20 - Mountain climbers (will incorporate more consistently next week)

UPPER BODY WEIGHT WORKOUTS - Tuesday / Thursday

• 4-5 Sets / 10 Repetitions - Bench press
  (45 pounds / 135 pounds / 185 pounds / 205 pounds / 225 pounds)
• 4 Sets / 10 Repetitions - Shoulder press
  (45 pounds / 95 pounds / 115 pounds / 135 pounds)
• 2 Sets / 10 Repetitions - Dumbell Curls
  (35 pounds / 45 pounds)
• 2 Sets / 10 Repetitions - Dumbell Wrist Twist / Curls
  (35 pounds / 45 pounds)
• 2 Sets / 10 Repetitions - Dumbell Butterflies
  (35 pounds / 45 pounds) Straight arm as far back as can stretch
• 1 Set / 10 Repetitions - Bend Down / Pick-Up / Raise Over Shoulder
  (35 pounds)

MORNING WORKOUT NOTES

This morning during my workout, I was interrupted by Doctor Bob Yen, who is a robotics scientist with a background in live off-road race coverage. We discussed the industry as well as the business of social media until my phone died. And for those who are feeling the need to waste even more time while at work, consider reading the following links that I have amassed during my morning writing this blog post.

• Army Infantry Inprocessing At Fort Benning Georgia During 30th AG Operation Cluster _uck - CLICK LINK HERE - This is a great read worthy of a few laughs, especially if you are a former Army Infantry soldier but worth the humor even if you are not.
• Physical Fitness Training Variables - CLICK LINK HERE - This appears to be an excerpt from the Army Phyiscal Fitness Field Manual.
• Army Study Guide - CLICK LINK HERE - This is an excellent resource for information on the Army.