How long would it take you to ride an exercise bike for 185 hours?
No, this is not a riddle or IQ test. I mean it quite literally.
If you rode a respectable 30 minutes, 4 days per week you’d finish in just under 2 years—93 weeks to be exact and Tom Seabourne would nip you by a mere 92 weeks.
If that sounds like some sort of record to you, you’d be right. It is. Upon completion of this marathon 8 day non-stop ride Tom will be the holder of the Guinness World Record for riding a stationary bike. 
And his only source of fuel for the entire “race to nowhere?” The very same nutrition shake meal I start every day with, Full Strength. I’ll bet you didn’t know Full Strength was performance fuel for ultra-endurance athletes too. (more on why so many are now using Full Strength to follow.)
Tom Who?
Tom Seabourne, Ph.D. may be the greatest athlete you’ve never heard of before.
A sports psychologist, specialist in exercise science, two-time All-American, member of the United States Taekwondo Team, and International AAU Taekwondo Champion. He’s been an ESPN PKA full-contact karate winner, tennis player at Penn State, and tennis pro. And just to help keep this impressive set of achievements in context, Tom will be making this WR attempt from well within his 6th decade of life!
He’s also the author of eight books on health, fitness and performance including one of my favorites and oft referenced Mind-Body Fitness. For those of you who are interested in the benefits of meditation, have begun to embrace the integrated body-mind practice, F.I.T., from Strength for Life, this book is an perfect guide to deeper exploration into what by all reasonable accounts is the future of fitness.
Why This World Record?
It’s what Tom does. Currently the holder of 4 ultra-distance cycling world records and a top ten finisher in the prestigious Race Across America (RAAM), Tom challenges himself to expand his limits and inspire others to embrace fitness, not as an event but a lifestyle.
Tom is committed to making an impact in fitness as a professor and role model. He fully understands—from the duel perspectives of researcher and athlete—that your fitness is quite literally a matter of life or death.
And Tom is committed to pushing his own limits—to challenging himself and inspiring others. As Tom says it, “There is nothing more exciting than challenging yourself with a goal that seems just out of reach… Riding a bike is fun, but pedaling for 185 hours is crazy!”
Tom is also committed to supporting the college, helping to raise funds for 15 new high-tech spin bikes for the training center.
What Tom does can’t be accomplished with anything less than full commitment.
What Are You Committed To?
As December arrives, what are you committed to? You might find yourself searching for an answer—for you may not be preparing for a big race or have any clearly defined fitness goals or anything at all clearly calling for your best.
Even so, rest assured you are still committed—we’re all committed to some thing although we may not know it. We may be committed to not changing, committed to avoiding exercise, committed to “just getting by.”
You see, commitment comes in two forms, the noble “hero” stuff we love to talk about and the stuff we not only don’t want to talk about but usually don’t even admit to ourselves. And the damn thing is in the absence of a clear, compelling, true north commitment—one that is drawing forth our inner strength, the other commitments, those that keep us down and in a “spin cycle” are in control and driving our lives.
It’s really this simple: Either you’re consciously committed to having, doing or being more or your committed to being stuck, to the high-effort, low reward path, repeating yesterday over and over.
Your compelling commitments don’t have to be astronomical in proportion. You might be committed to enjoying the holidays in a way that rejuvenates and warms your heart rather than stressing you out. You may be committed to staying energized and strong in this most challenging month—and not starting the year in a deep deficit physically.
It’s really all about being clear on your commitments and declaring them.
What are you committed to?
Please do share below. This is your chance. It’s good for the soul to get clear on our commitments and make them known.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
This holiday season, I am committed to making time for myself. I am committed to putting my mental, emotional, and physical strength first. I will continue my Strength for Life excercises throughout the season, regardless of where I may be, i.e. at the inlaws! I will ride(?) 72 miles on the elliptical between now and the New Year 2009!
December 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Right on this really helps me to stay motivated when I learn about people like Tom.
Thanks for all you do,
Tim Trumbo
December 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
What am I committed to? Earning money doing what I love: cycling, running, yoga and writing about it. Haven’t figured out the HOW yet!
December 4th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Getting really clear on my top goals including fitness, getting a plan and moving forward.
December 5th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Inspiring, I really need to start on the Elliptical Rider. My wife and I have a 4 month old baby boy and I’m 46 yrs old and weigh 250 which is 25-30 lbs too much. I want to be ready to run after our son when he is ready to start walking….that should be in about 4-5 months. That gives me time but I need to get oof my tail.
Thanks for the email Shawn. Terry
December 8th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hi Shawn,
I Love hearing about Tom’s current and past achievements but what are your solutions for “indoor cardio”? What options do you offer besides
the tedious 30 mins on one of these machines you mentioned????
I highly respect your experience and expertise on fat-burning.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I’m committed to having a healthier mind, body and soul for my wife, my 2 year old daughter and my unborn child. My name is Will and I am also a 1 LT in the Oregon National Guard. My unit is scheduled to spend a year in Iraq and it’s going to be hot, it’s going to be dangerous and its gonna be hard in a lot of ways that I can’t even imagine yet. But by training hard, working out everyday and getting the proper nutrition I make the commitment TODAY to “Pay it Forward” for those I love to be around and watch them grow when I get back.
The products you have made over the years have always worked for me. Just ordered 4 boxes of “Full Strength”. After working out I tried it once and felt like a million bucks for hours! Its the best tasting, quality blend of protein and carbohydrates that I have ever had. Thanks for the motivation and thanks for the innovation on products that work.
LT. Coker
January 4th, 2009 at 9:17 am
New Year! New Challenges! New Start! I am 48 years old and this is the first time that I feel 48 years old! I have gained 25 pounds over the last 2 years. Time for a change NOW and FAST. I know the next few weeks will be challenging, but the more I push myself the more energy I will have and the better I will feel. I am ready to FEEL BETTER. Full Strength Shakes will denfinately be part of my daily routine. My first goal is physical fitness to feel better and have more energy. My second goal is eating healthy—with a weight loss GOAL of losing 17 pounds in 17 weeks. I think that is realistic. Any tips would be appreciated. I have a very small frame so 25 pounds on me looks like 50+ on someone else. I am 5′ 2″ and weigh 135 lbs. But my fat index………is……way up there!!!!!!!!!!!! Any sugggestions on getting rid of this extra belly fat and rolls that I have on my back?
Thanks Shawn
PS any tips for getting started?
April 20th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I am committed to my family. I am the matriarch of the family and they depend on me for many things. I am the glue in my family. Do I find that a burden or too stressful. No I do not. I am honored. But I know that to be good and there for my family is to be good to myself and take care of myself with my diet, exercise, thoughts and just the way I conduct life.
Shawn I like your holistic approach to life. Strength is a lot more than benching a lot of pounds. Keep telling it.
April 21st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Rochelle,
Brilliant! Thank you for your thoughtful, caring contribution. I hope all visitors will take a moment to read it.
Yes, as a man think, as we believe so we are and so life arises.
I agree diet and exercise are addressed often yet most people don’t yet have a lifestyle that embraces them. They know of them, and can do them now and then but few have them as an integral part of a Lifestyle. Of course, they are only part of the picture.
Once again, thanks… Shawn