SeaShell Training Blog

Famous person at my gym

January 16th, 2008 at 9:03 am (Run)

Over the last year I’ve been inspired by a person at my gym. I first noticed him early last year, around the same time I started training for Ironman… He was a big guy in a baggy t-shirt.   I noticed him because he was there every morning, working harder than most. Every. Day.  

Once the summer hit I was training outside and didn’t get to the gym much. After my race, I started to hit the gym again…. and was positively amazed by my work-ethic gym-mate. He was transformed. He was…thin, fit, and healthy!  The ONLY way I recognized him was by his very handsome and distinctive eyes.   Everything else was different.   In the early months, I was inspired by this person’s commitment to sweat ~ but clearly he was doing more to take control of his body and his health than I ever knew. From afar, I was even MORE inspired by him. I found myself sharing about his weight-loss and fitness accomplishments to my husband and friends ~ and hadn’t ever even talked to the guy. In my house, he became known as the ‘Amazing Guy at My Gym’…….

Fast forward to yesterday. I finally learned his name. Amazing Guy at My Gym is actually Peter Engvall. There he was…..on Oprah. Bob Greene (and Oprah) were launching a new year of ‘Your Best Life’ programs… and Peter was there to demonstrate that with will, with fitness information, with a loving support system (his family!), and with lots and lots of sweat, it IS possible to transform ourselves and our lives.   A year ago, he saw a similar episode of Oprah and was inspired to take the program on.  In the last year Peter-Amazing-Guy has  lost 140lbs.   When I saw him on TV, I jumped up & yelled: THAT’S the AMAZING GUY AT OUR GYM!!!!!!!!!!  The ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of him playing with his kids made me want to cry. 

So, Peter, if you’re reading this ~ THANK YOU. Thank you for your spirit. Even if you didn’t know it, it was contagious! Thank you for inspiring me to get up every morning. Thank you for squashing my excuses and my urge to stay at home. Thank you for sharing your story and your success. Thank you for your commitment to yourself and your family ~ and, thank you for BEING amazing. I am honored to have learned from you and sweat beside you.  Please know how much of of a difference you have made. 

Peter’s not famous because he meant to be.   He’s not even famous because he was on Oprah.  He’s famous because he made a difference for me (and now for millions of others!) - and may not even know it.   I hope to have an opportunity to tell him in person.  

It’s a great reminder that ~ You never know when you’re making a memory.

~S

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 01/16/2008
• Time: 09:03:28
• Total Time: 00:30:00.00
• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Average Pace: 8:34.29/mile