A few years ago when you Googled my name, this site would show up on the first page of search results, often battling for position with Dr. David Kingsbury from Johns Hopkins University and with a bankruptcy attorney in Apple Valley, Minnesota. When Hugh Jackman decided to become Wolverine, however, the online David Kingsbury universe changed forever. London-based David Kingsbury (above) is Mr. Jackman’s personal trainer and he developed the Wolverine Workout that has bumped all the other David Kingsburys of the world down the Google results hierarchy.
I’ve owned the davidkingsbury.com domain for a long time, but never really used it (there was a re-direct set to 7minutemiles.com for years). On a lark, I decided to email the UK DK to see if he would be interested in swapping the domain for a customized training program. I believe his initial reply was “that would be brilliant!” So now Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence and I all have something in common…
He sent me a detailed questionnaire to fill out and asked me to send some “before” photos (which I’m too embarrassed to post right now). I told him about my running goals for the year and my current commuting schedule and he produced multiple training and nutrition documents that I still need to study and research. I was initially planning to start the new training routine before my 50K trail race this spring, but priorities shifted and I won’t realistically be able to start until a few other things fall into place.
I’m very excited about starting this new program and finally paying attention to my upper body and core. After years of running and biking, leg strength has never really been a major issue. The past few years have been depressing on the weight front, though, with most of that accumulating in a growing beer belly (even though I don’t drink beer). My arms have never been very strong, so toning those and shedding some inches around the middle would be extremely welcome (not to mention a likely boost for my golf game). I’d also like to improve my flexibility, which was getting bad even before I pulled a muscle in my back last weekend lifting boxes.
My run log so far this year doesn’t look great, but right now I’m less concerned with mileage totals and more interested in cross-training for variety (and to prevent boredom). I’m really looking forward to the Lebanon Hills mountain bike trails to reopen for the season and my first race of the year is coming up soon (Get in Gear 10K on April 25th). I probably won’t be fully prepared for the Superior 50K on May 16th, but it felt great to run last weekend at Lebanon (even if was just 6.8 miles).
If things go the way I want, I’ll complete those races with decent times, start the new training plan and look for a fall marathon to run fast (Des Moines?). Throw in the State Fair Milk Run 5K that MK and I just signed up for and 2015 should be a great fitness recovery year.
