Encouragement from YOU on Rest Day!

Today is my official "Rest Day"...once a week. Why is it I have this crazy urge to work out and get all pumped up on my rest day? Last week I missed my rest day because of that, so I had to make it up on another day. Strange! Didn't miss it today though...NO WAY! HA!

So, a young lady walked up to me today and said she read my posts here at http://www.questfortheusopen.blogspot.com/, and said she was inspired...said "I" was inspiring. WOW! That meant a lot. We talked for a couple of minutes about what I was doing, and I was energized just talking about it. So I thought that, being a rest day today, I would go back and look up some of the emails, messages, and notes people are sending in and just let them energize me some more. As I sat down to write this, another one popped up in my Facebook inbox.

Here are a few from the past couple of days I thought I would share with you...

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I was catching up on your blogs and this quote came to mind...

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”
-Walt Disney

That quote has just stuck with me since I heard it a couple months ago. Glad you guys are doing well. Keep up the good work. Peace and sword defending sit ups.

from Alabama

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Hope all things are well and your training is going swimmingly.

from Florida

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...I will continue to lift you up in prayer in your quest for the US Open!! (I'm enjoying the blog, by the way!)

from South Carolina

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Thanks everyone...for ALL your support! I am always thrilled to get your messages and comments...it reminds me that I am not in this alone. Encouragement is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and it certainly helps me each week.

I've hit yet another plateau in training I think. Another evaluation later on how to kick it up another notch. It feels good to know that I am overcoming little mountains each week...hopefully I will be ready when I reach the BIG ONE in July!

Back to my rest day...Chat with you later!

P.S. - The Kanji in the picture says "Martial Arts" in case you are interested.

Dreaming of Rest Day!

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau

Good thought after a difficult day...and looking ahead to rest day tomorrow. Rest day will find a relaxing walk to the lake, some breath work, a heavy dose of "mind" work, and some nice stretching.

Been quite a week so far. I suspect it gets no less exciting from here.

Exciting News...Oh, By The Way!

Well, I just got some exciting news. For now, you will have to trust me because I need to work out details before I make an official announcement. This Quest is about so much more than just me working out and competing at the U.S. Open. That is the core of the whole thing (and that is big enough by itself, believe me!), yes, but when you step out and go for something like this, it affects a lot of people. I have people walk up to me everyday or email me or even phone me and tell me they saw this blog and are supporting me. Furthermore I have had a few people tell me they are inspired and want to start working out again, or they are going to get involved in the martial arts. That is HUGE, people!

With that in mind, I always want to find ways to give back and to help others on their own Quest. In the meantime, I have some people who have stepped up to say they will help me as well. In the next few days (I hope) I am going to be able to make a couple of announcements that, at least to me, are very, very cool. Stay tuned.

By the way, I had someone say to me the other day that I must be doing this full-time and get paid for it and no wonder I can find all this time to train...blah, blah, blah! I wanted to introduce him to Mr. Roundhouse! (I didn't, don't worry!)

Let me say...I don't do this full-time (though I will certainly entertain that option in the future), and I don't get paid for doing all this. In fact, I am working full-time at another job, launching a small business in spare time (actually Holly focuses most on this now that I am pursuing the U.S. Open), am first and foremost a Husband and a Father of two sons (one of which is dual-enrolled in High School and College - and is my primary training partner, the other is a toddler - HA!), and am seeking further employment as my primary job is shutting down due to a national closing in the very near future. I have spent the past couple of years overcoming injury and a depression that I thought was going to wipe me out (which is why I stepped away from my professional line of work after nearly 20 years)! I still struggle with all of that sometimes. I struggle with this Quest. Sometimes "Quest" is short for "Questions" for me...but I push on!

Training sometimes is in the middle of the night, or before everybody else is up and around. I don't have a lot of equipment...jumprope, punching mits, a mountain bike, and a very old weight set, and an open space in the backyard. It's all pretty rustic. I kinda feel like Rocky when he went to live in that barn and workout in the wild. Most of the time it is pretty cool, to be honest. I feel like I am connected to a long line of warriors who didn't have all the modern "necessities" that we have today. Though, I will admit that stuff would probably help sometimes.

I'm like most of you in that I do the best I can with what I've got. I do feel immensely blessed because of who has stepped into my corner as a coach, Lauren Kearney (http://www.laurenkearney.com), and I feel a great deal of support from all my friends at http://www.kickgen.com, and of course, I have 24/7 support from my family.

The reality is I am like most of you in that I have stuff I have to do everyday, and I have struggles I have to face everyday... The only difference may be that I know I still have a Champion's Heart and Mind through it all, no matter what has happened, and no matter what will happen, and I can do this and I have decided to do this. I live with a lot of Grace that has been shown me, and I am thankful. I am thankful I can still step out and train and even attempt something like the U.S. Open.

So, there is a lot more to this than you might think. It is certainly multi-layered and not easy at all.

Soon, I will make some exciting announcements. For now, I am going to try and catch a 20-minute nap before work. The lat night training last night and the training today has worn me slap out. Just for the record...I absolutely despise being slapped in the face by low-hanging branches that I can't see when drivers blast their beams in my eyes while biking near the highway (on a sidewalk).

If you see me out biking in the middle of the night, please go drive somewhere else so I don't see spots for the next 2 miles, and I don't get mauled by tree branches that somehow are mysteriously not there in the daytime!

Ride on!

No Way Out Of This Tonight!

My day has been major crazy! I am just now at workout point of the day...almost midnight. Another "midnight run" so to speak.

I don't want to...but I must.

I will not post anything after the workout tonight (or tomorrow morning) as I will most definitely crash directly following...then go again in the a.m.

Here I go...(oh, and Holly told me I have an extra 3 miles on the bike tonight because I had a coffee tonight...sometimes I DESPISE accountability, but just like the midnight workouts, it is a MUST!)

Later! And I do mean LATE-er! (deep sigh and significant unwillingness to go through with this tonight...already dressed...so sigh!...here I go...my training partner is waiting...and I keep typing hoping somehow there is a way out...OK OK, I'm coming!)

Attacked With Swords During Training...

While training today, Nathaniel decided to increase the intensity of my workout. So, while I was doing situps, he proceeded to pound me with his foam swords...these are only a few of the pics as he was literally going all out on me. It was hilarious, but certainly does not make situps any easier. Michael was just sitting there laughing at me...thanks for the help training partner!

Oh, and Holly found this amazing recipe for Chimichanga's (sp?) that were healthy and she made it with the right portion of protein, carbs, and good fats...yum, yum! If you want the recipe, just email me or comment or something, I will be glad to send it to you.

Busy day tomorrow, so it's lights out for now. Hard to believe the U.S. Open is just around the corner...

Personal "Goals" Journal Entry...

As promised, here is a scan of a page in my personal "Goals" notebook. One thing I learned a long time ago, is that you have to write your goals down. Get them out, so to speak. One day I was listing some personal goals and I wrote down a goal to win the U.S. Open and the Disney tournament. Lofty by all accounts...but if it isn't out of reach, it might not be worth reaching for. The "B-HAG's" as we used to call them (Big Hairy Audacious Goals), have to be, well...BIG.

This entry was made a couple of years ago, way before I felt I would even be able to give a hint to the U.S. Open. As a matter of fact, someone had suggested back then to simply attend and enjoy the Opn as a spectator. Pfft. I don't talk to that person anymore...much.

So, you can see - this has been a dream/goal for a while (this entry is just when I wrote it down, it took me several years just to get it from my head to paper...I had been talking about the U.S. Open for a while before this). As for the other goals that are crossed out (for privacy, I gotta save something for another post :)...some have been accomplished, some are in the works...but of interest, 4 out of the entries on that page alone have to do with attaining high levels of training and recognition in the Martial Arts.

Here we go...

P.S. - Today's training was difficult, but good. It was a fast pace, and "heavy" on my body. I was mentally having a tough time aligning myself with training today. Ever have a day when everything seems to just be in the way...annoying? That was my morning. Then to make it worse, I was cut behind my ear and was bleeding like mad! Very frustrating, but engaged the training and came out the better for it...yoga later - woohoo!

Training from my perspective...

Here are a few photos taken from yesterday's training times. I took today off from workouts (still focused on nutrition and some stretching), because I forgot to take my one-day rest earlier this week and began to feel the effects this morning. Took the rest today...picking up again tomorrow and WILL NOT miss my rest day this coming week!

(1) I'm blurry because I'm so flippin' fast...or maybe it's because I'm dizzy...wait, I'm not taking the picture - maybe the photographer is dizzy. I don't know - but notice I am hitting the little black circle in the middle (actually at this point it was probably pure luck...or habit of training...because I was about to pass out from all these punches. What you don't see is that I am in a solid horse stance for these punches...100 at a time, over and over and over...you get the point!)

(2)My view from situp position in the backyard. Situps are my friend...at least, that's what I keep telling myself. I'll tell you for sure after the U.S. Open.

(3)The road ahead of me. Riding some new pavement during the bike ride section of the workout.

(4)O.k., remember that mit with the little black circle. Well, it went flying into the trees during my roundhouse kick portion. It hurt so much to keep kicking I just started getting mad to keep going and ended up with a flying mit a few times. Made me feel like big-tough-karate-man! HA!

(5)This pic is for my sis as she loves these bugs...this little critter flew up next to me the other day while jumproping, etc. and just stayed there through the whole workout...then took off. Kinda freaked me out a couple of times, gotta admit.

Tomorrow a.m. up and at 'em with some full-on workouts. Will work some more on katas/techniques tomorrow too. Plan is the have some yoga tomorrow evening. Don't laugh if you've never done yoga or think it's "girly"...yoga can kick anyone's butt...go ahead, I dare you!

I will also scan and post a small entry from my goals notebook from a couple of years ago. I carry it around everywhere with me inside my journal. After reviewing some things from the past...found it very interesting what I came across.

Busy...Pictures Coming

I didn't get to post anything last night, as I took some much needed time just to be with my family after a long day at work, then training hard. Pictures were taken during the workout yesterday, so I'll post those later today. The pics were an attempt to give you my perspective while working out. A couple are humorous...

By the way, I am going to attend the Gator Nationals next month. I hope to see you there, whether competing or spectating. Let me know...I would love to meet some of you in person. The Gator Nationals is a biggie just before the U.S. Open.

Oh...and the next post or two I will give you a peek into a personal diary of sorts that I pulled out last week. Interesting to see what I wrote in it...

P.S. - You can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/dougmcgannon if you use Twitter (and you should be!) or you can look over to the right of this page and see automatic updates from my tweets right here on this page. Also, if you get a chance check out http://www.Kickgen.com. Very cool place to hang out and I do some inspirational writing over there. You can also follow Kickgen.com News at http://www.Kickgennews.blogspot.com

Some Inspiration To Keep Going...

A few quotes before my evening workout...will update some more later...

"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it."
Alexander Graham Bell

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
Marie Curie

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit."
Napoleon Hill

"Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling."
Claude Pepper
(Ha! I thought I was going to fall off of mine the other WHILE pedaling!)

"When you get in a tight place and everything goes against you, until it seems as if you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time when the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe

I HAVE LOST IT! What Am I Doing!?!?!

What the...Am I MAD?!?!?! I really struggled to push through workouts today. I hurt everywhere, but I made it through. I worked out with Michael for a couple of hours today, then took a 1.5 mile walk to the lake and just meditated and listened to some calming music and some teaching from a favorite speaker.

I struggled a lot mentally as I realize more and more just how tall this mountain is. My competitors are world class and sharp! I haven't competed for i think over three years now, so I'm rusty there...plus I feel like a broken down car that someone has called the tow company to get off their property!

I will keep moving forward though...I have counted the cost, and I will meet this challenge. Rise or fall (or fall embarrassingly hard) I will meet it and succeed.

Thanks for being with me...Long day, good night, and we will punch and kick and scream our way through this struggle again tomorrow.

P.S. - There are some very cool things happening btw...I hope to be able to share some of it soon.

P.P.S. - Please pass this blog info on to your friends or family...I appreciate all the support I can get.

A Warrior Rises...A Father Becomes A Hero

Tonight I got alone and pushed. Pushed mentally, physically, spiritually. I know I will need to push more in the days ahead, but I went further than normal tonight. It's step one in raising the intensity of my training. And yes, this is much more than a physical pursuit of excellence. It is very much...as much...mental and spiritual as well.

Here's what I know...my opponents are digging deep. I must dig deeper. Not simply to try and match them...but to dig deeper inside me, for me, in spite of me. I don't see my opponents as enemies, but as those who would cause me to go farther than I ever have, and to overcome more than I ever have. They will make me better. Better will not be good enough, though. The Best will. That won't come from them. "Best" can only come from me.

A constant theme coursing through my mind tonight was that of a Warrior rising. Rising to meet the task set ahead of him...regardless of that task, it must be met. For now, my task is the preparation for and engagement of the U.S. Open. I must maintain a laser-focus on this task.

Holly, my wife, told me last night that my oldest son, Michael, is proud of me for doing this...that I was his hero, and he loved being here every step of the way for me and with me through all of this. Can I just say this...I want to make my son proud...and if he sees me as his hero, I have already won so many battles...on so many different levels. If a father and son can tread through blood, sweat, and tears (and there have been all of those already), and walk through both the fire of trial and the sweetness of triumph, and together rise to meet this challenge (in the society and world in which we live) - and I be called his hero by his own accord...is there anything else that can be said!?

Goodnight...I am going to spend some time with my son before bed.

Late Night Rounds...

Went a couple of rounds tonight with Michael doing some 3/4 speed/power sparring and self-defense along with some jump-roping and a walk-through of a kata I haven't done in a long time. Just had to get some extra energy burned off before bed. I wanted to go to bed earlier tonight, but knew I would just toss and turn if I did.


Lauren, my Coach, sent me some videos this morning of my potential competition. Yep...I'm definitely climbing a BIG mountain. Will be receiving some more instruction from her soon. In the meantime, studying, studying, and training, training.

I feel like I'm moving too slow right now (in terms of the intensity of my training), so I will evaluate that tomorrow again and see if I simply hit a plateau already. I think I will begin to disappear from the world around me a few times a week for my training times. I do really well to be alone sometimes and I can push myself and work through some visualization. Other times I need to be surrounded, but the distractions lately have been mounting.

Hydrating...and hitting the sack!

Distractions...

The distractions that can bombard you each day are staggering. I just want to screeeeaaaaam sometimes. It's worth the climb up the proverbial mountain though...definitely worth it! I am sure the Samurai of ancient had distractions too. Unfortunately I cannot draw my sword and scare them away or hop on my trusty steed and gallop off to the forest to hide for a while. Oh well, gotta deal!

This photo is a picture of the flyer for the Open that I have right above my computer...gotta keep the vision in front of me (oh, and I have started carrying my karate belt with me everywhere I go as a constant reminder of what I must do).

I do wish I had a horse like that guy in the picture has...

A Very Big Announcement...Introducing...

As I told you in my last post...I have some very exciting news. When I began this Quest for the U.S. Open, it was me and my immediate family looking at a very big and daunting challenge in front of us. It still is! The reality is this: you cannot do something like this by yourself. Even though I had my family behind me, I knew it was going to take much more to achieve champion-level results. That meant I needed people around me who could take me to where I needed to go physically, technically, mentally, and otherwise. One of the biggies is I needed a coach - a Martial Artist - who could say, "been there, done that, and brought back the goodies..." Know what I mean...?

Well, not too long ago I began writing inspirational content for an amazing online Martial Arts community - http://www.kickgen.com/ - and a good friend at http://www.kickgen.com/ introduced me to the person who has agreed to coach me on this journey.

I have the greatest honor and privilege of announcing that World Champion Martial Artist Lauren Kearney has graciously agreed to provide me with the necessary coaching to prepare me for the U.S. Open in July.

Lauren Kearney, to me, is a Champion of Champions in both Martial Arts and Life! I have watched her compete in the past, and she is the type of person you watch and say, "One day...one day...I would like to reach to that level!" She has been involved in Martial Arts for many years, holds numerous titles (including the U.S. Open), and is a member of the esteemed Team Paul Mitchell competition team. Lauren is the BEST ladies and gentlemen, and it is a GIFT to have an opportunity to learn from her during this time.

I would like to ask you to learn more about Lauren, her accomplishments and what she is up to these days by visiting her site http://www.laurenkearney.com/.

This puts an enormous amount of pressure on me (in a good way) to really go to the extremes in this Quest. Thanks Lauren for even considering this, and better yet for giving of your time and expertise to me and this Quest. And thanks to http://www.kickgen.com/ for introducing us and putting this part of this in motion.

It Just Keeps Getting Better!

Worked a bit tonight on some kata as a family (even Nathaniel jumped in and really surprised us with a horse stance and a Kiai - a shout). I had the opportunity to speak with someone who is willing to coach me through this experience. I am on my way out to UFC with Michael right now, but will share the good news about this person in my next post. I want to do this one right...this is very important and encouraging beyond words. When you are reaching for heights this high, you must have the very best to guide you. I believe this person is the very best...I am so pumped right now about this I could go out and do kata and bike riding and pushups all night long!!!

So, maybe I will after the fights...this is after all...THE U.S. OPEN!

Missed my 6a.m.

Missed my 6a.m. wake up call...and as such, the workout. Though my body is saying, "Thank you!" I know I can't miss too many of those. Not a lot of time here, and I have a long way to go. Thanks for the emails, comments, and phone calls by the way...they are helpful.

Going to watch the fights tonight, so I have a bit of time between work and then to get in a solid training session. Will let you know how it goes...

My Legs Are Hallucinating!

There is a burning in my leeeeeggggggsssss! It's all good, though. Good workout tonight. Michael assisted me and we worked a lot of legs tonight...strength training, kata, stances, kicks, and biking. Did some upper body too (picture of pushups by the pool), but more of that tomorrow. Of course, worked on my breathing...especially after shadow boxing and bag work - WHEN I COULDN'T BREATHE ANYMORE!

At one point I thought my bike was sliding all over the road, but when I looked down I realized it was that my legs were hallucinating (yes, legs can hallucinate, thank you!) and I simply couldn't feel them any longer. Thought the last turn was going to get me, but made it back and with enough energy to look at some techniques for one of the movements I am working on for the competition.

Someone asked me yesterday when I told them what I was working toward, "Well what are you doing that for?" I was kinda stunned to be honest, but understood that some things are out of sight for some people. But I thought through all my reasons to myself and I thought I would introduce a few of them to you.

First of all, I am doing this to honor my God. You won't find me to be outwardly religious, but I do have a deep faith and it is at the center of who I am, and who I am becoming. I want to honor the grace I have been shown in my life and with the health of my body.

Secondly, I am doing this for me. I believe your primary reason for doing anything worthwhile has to begin internally. If I can't do this for me, I shouldn't do it at all. I want the change, the challenge, and the strength of mind and body. (picture of me watching the sunset between workouts)

This is definitely for my family. They are everything to me (picture to the right of Holly, my beautiful wife...picture to the left below is of our sons, Michael, our oldest, and Nathaniel, our baby, and our two nephews Christopher and Nicolas, the one making funny ears). We have been to the mountaintop together (literally and figuratively) and we have walked the valleys together. I want them to see their Husband & Father with a WIN on the board again. This is a chance to live it out loud!

For my extended family. Many of them who have supported me and believed in me and stood by me come rain or shine. We are going to the top again, baby!!!

Friends, coworkers, and others I have had the privilege of sharing life with and who have encouraged me. I am on this journey with you as well! (picture to right is of Nathaniel a little older enjoying his favorite activities...Bathtime!!!)

Another individual challenged me to go for the "win" today. Someone else asked if that was too tall an order for my first year to the Open. I replied, "If you aren't there to win, why even sign up!?"

I have already won, by simply beginning. But this is far from over and a raised arm at the end of the night in July would be a nice "mountaintop" to stand on again. Regardless, I am thankful I am sitting to type this entry tonight as I don't think my legs have quite recovered yet. I would probably injure myself with my hallucinating legs.


Here we go...

U.S. Open Video Inspiration

Watching the U.S. Open Martial Arts Championships video that was given to me as a gift. Wow! These competitors are intense. Very inspiring! Needed some inspiration like this after a long day...

Detox days are over and now on to the next phase...stay tuned!

I'm Not Alone!

Just a quick thought of thankfulness...I'm not alone on this quest!

As with any worthwhile endeavor, my quest for excellence in competition at the U.S. Open - the Most Prestigious Martial Arts event in the world - is not a one-man operation.

I have a great team surrounding me, and that team is growing. From trainers, coaches, nutritionists, and other experts...I am surrounded by a community of excellence. Soon, I hope to be able to list everyone as a team / sponsor in order to recognize their efforts.

Most importantly, I want to thank my family who are beside me and behind me all the way (my son is actually one of my research assistants and training partners). I am pretty much nada without them.

And YOU!!! You who are reading now, and all those to join this community over the next few months and beyond, your encouragement means the world to me. Thanks so much!

Detox wrapping up tomorrow and launching next phase of training...this is gonna be fun!

Energized by the Weather and Visualization

It is bright and warm today...unlike yesterday which was overcast, and even very stormy at some points (hail, rain, high winds, tornadoes...i think that constitutes very stormy). What I find inspiring is that I am able to get really energized by the weather, no matter what it is outside...

When the winds were kicking yesterday, it was like I could feel it's power and just imagined I had that kind of power to push me through hard times in training. The rain was refreshing...the red skies at sunset after everything calmed were awe-inspiring. I sat outside for a while and just watched the slow change in the sky as the sun went down...Powerful!

Today I practiced a Kata outside in the full sun...it was empowering. I focused a lot more on my breath while slowly stepping through each movement. That may sound simple, but it is not! Anyone who seriously trains using Kata (forms) knows that they can be as intense as any other workout all to themselves. I relaxed a bit by the water doing some visualization exercises and stretching a bit later.

I didn't go all out as I am almost finished with detoxing nutritionally. Detox can physically weaken you for a bit, and I don't want to overdo it physically and crash during this time. Workouts will become more and more intense over the next few days as I build up to training as though I was training for a day-long Black Belt test! WooHoo!

Thanks for hanging with me here and through other sites. I appreciate your encouragement! Spread the word...

P.S. - the midnight bike ride last night with Michael was refreshing too...i love the stillness when biking at that time.

Early Training This A.M. - This is a "2-a-day" Day

Somewhat rough today...but doing good. Little sleep last night, and what sleep I did get was not quality. Our little guy was up quite a bit with some of his teeth coming in. Plus I was up earlier than usual this a.m. doing some "mind" and breath work and preparing for all that is to come during this training time.

It was nice, though, to be practicing slow kata while the sun was rising. Really get a sense of power and majesty in that.

Working a lot with nutrition right now...detoxing for the next few days, then continuing with some very focused nutrition for the remainder of the training. This is going to be a key factor in my preparation success. I'm glad I have a team of people around me to help plan all this and keep me strong. You can't do this kind of stuff alone!

It Has Begun!

Several years ago I learned of the U.S. Open - the World's Most Prestigious Martial Arts Championships. I decided then that I wanted to compete at that level. I had only recently started over in my martial arts training due to a couple of debilitating accidents and many years of trying to get "back on my feet". After competing in sports for my entire life...and being active and successful in so much, I was told I may never compete again and would probably have severe difficulty with daily activities such as walking, and simple physical mobility.

Therapy, medication, high levels of pain, weight gain, and an eventual drop into depression made it seem like my competetive edge and my ability to succeed in just about anything was a near impossibility. Sure, I was able to fake it for a while and make people believe I had it all together and could still perform at the highest level, but on the inside I was crumbling because I felt like I had lost the battle on the outside.

With the help and support of my family, I returned to Martial Arts as a way to stay moving (however slowly it was at the time) and an attempt to curb any further decline in my physical and emotional capacity. As a matter of fact, my wife and son began training with me, and it seemed like rising to the top again could happen.

The "top" I am speaking of is a mental state...emotional, spiritual, and even physical. Any medals won or trophies for the shelves would simply be icing on the proverbial cake.

I started doing some small competitions and found some success. Still struggling to gain some momentum, I decided it was time to look to "bigger" fields. I needed a high level motivation. I just didn't know what was "out there". Then a friend gave me a flyer for the U.S. Open Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, FL. I thought to myself, this is it...this is the next level I must reach to. I had competed in other sports professionally and at high levels before...I knew deep down what it would take from me to reach back up again.

It still wasn't easy though. I was still battling weight, physical pain, and depression.

My family and I decided it was time to make a strategic life change and put everything we had into living our lives to the extreme...to reaching the top once again. There were people telling us "no way!" and to just forget it. Some of these people should have been our biggest supporters, which made it painful to hear from them.

To say the least, some people are no longer a part of our lives in an influential way. We cut some ties, let some others fall off...and set our sights to where we needed to go.

At what seemed to be the bottom, we discovered we were pregnant with our second son (after 15 years - Michael is our first). It was almost as if God was saying to me, "You can do this! You can win again. I still trust you enough and believe in you enough that I am willing to entrust you with the greatest gift on earth...the gift of another child." My greatest joy in life...my greatest desire...has always been to be the best husband to Holly and the best father to Michael. Now to be entrusted with the gift of fatherhood once again...it was a defining moment that convinced me I could be strong again, I could succeed again, I could win again!

Still, it was a long road ahead. We "retired" from what we had been doing for nearly 20 years, did some traveling and took some time to ourselves in order to re-focus, heal, and set the course for the future ahead of us. (By the way, people still told us we couldn't do it. I had some telling me to just accept my injuries and limitations and hope that medication, therapies, and possibly surgery could help me cope. I had others just write me off as a "lost cause" and as someone who would no longer be at the top of his game. Pffft. See ya!)

So, here I am...looking at the U.S. Open again. I've taken some time to re-center, and have come a long way mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Now it is time to prepare physically. I met someone who is involved with the U.S. Open and they inspired me to take the leap and go for it this year. (I'm not even sure if they know they did...but they did!)

Over the course of the next couple of months, I will be going the distance to prepare for competing in the U.S. Open in Orlando, FL. I have not reached the levels of training in my Martial Arts that I would like to yet, and most of the people at this event will be way out of my league. But I am no longer content to sit on the sidelines and watch and hoping that one day I will be good enough. Good enough or not...I'm in, and I will give it everything I've got. Win or not...that is not my concern. My concern is to be the best I can be right now...today! To have even begun this Quest, I have already won! Everything else along the way will be daily victories, daily joys, and daily shouts of "YES! I can do this!"

This post is the public announcement of my quest, and my hope is that through this blog you will join me on this quest. I will keep this updated and share with you the good and the turbulent.

Perhaps there is something in your own life you need to reach for...be encouraged and know that you can do it. Go for it! Let's encourage each other along the way. If you are going to the U.S. Open this year...see ya' there!

Doug McGannon