It started out as two best friends kicking around ideas for an extreme challenge.
Rudy Schlosser said his friend, Bryan Colson, was searching the Internet and hit upon an "ultra-endurance" challenge -- a month of triathlon exercises. For 30 days, Schlosser, a lay campus minister for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at Georgia State University, biked, ran and swam his way across metro Atlanta. He started the challenge April 22 and ended May 21 at Piedmont Park.
Schlosser, 47, kept his friends and family informed of his progress through regular Facebook updates.
"I wanted something that was really, really challenging and didn't seem like everyone else had done," he said. "As a campus minister, one thing I do is pray, and I would pray every day while I was doing this triathlon."
He said the death of a close friend also inspired him to do the challenge. "I just thought about that and how I didn't want to have any regrets in life."
Schlosser talked about his endurance challenge and how it changed him physically and mentally.
Q: So, 30 minutes a day in the gym aren't enough for you?
A: Well, a lot of my friends know that I love exercising. One friend in particular, named Bryan Colson, was doing research on the Internet about possible athletic achievements, and he thought this triathlon challenge was something that no one had ever done. He said, "I think you could do it." We went back and forth about whether or not I could. And, finally, I thought, I'm going to go for it and train for this challenge.
Q: Did you lose weight?
A: I actually did. I lost about 3 pounds from April 22 to May 22. I was burning off at least 6,300 calories [a day]. I was consuming at least that amount.
Q: What did you eat?
A: Georgia State has a great nutritional program, and I actually visited a nutritionist before, during and after. She highly recommended peanut butter on organic whole-wheat bread for energy. Every morning, I had three to four peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before I began cycling to Georgia State from Jonesboro, which is a 25-mile ride. Then, as soon as I got there, I'd eat again, usually a combination of chicken or fish and vegetables. Fortunately, I kept food at Georgia State and would eat two or three more peanut butter sandwiches. At night, I would usually have spaghetti.
Q: How did you prepare? What was your training routine before starting the 30 in 30?
A: I started preparing in February. I cycled to work at Georgia State and cycled home from Georgia State to Jonesboro. During my lunch break, I would do running or swimming. I would run between five and six miles per day and swim about 30 minutes. ... Going into this, I knew I didn't want to over-fatigue my muscles and burn them out before I started.
Q: Will you do a 30 in 30 challenge again?
A: (Laughs) After finishing, the answer is no. I will have some time to think about whether I'd do something like this again. In addition to being very hungry, I would also be very sore. I thought, "Why am I doing this?" But I had so many people praying for me and supporting me and encouraging me.
Q: Have you inspired others to do this?
A: Based on what people have texted or called me, I have inspired others to exercise though not necessarily this [extreme] and inspired others to pray more. Those are two positive things that have come out of this exercise.
Q: How do you feel -- mentally and physically?
A: Physically, I'm definitely taking a few days off. My body is drained from all of this. But mentally, I feel great. I've gotten a better prayer life. So many people say thanks for doing this, you inspired me to exercise more.
Q: What's your advice if someone wants to do an extreme challenge?
A: No. 1, see a doctor; No. 2, have nutritional guidelines. Definitely know what to eat and how to eat. No. 3, tell your friends because a lot of times when you do challenges, it gets overwhelming. If you have people encouraging you, you stay positive.
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