Thursday, May 01, 2008

The Countdown Begins

Should I list the days, hours, or minutes until the Broad Street Run? It's less than 3 days, about 61 hours, and roughly 3,660 minutes. An interesting breakdown. Regardless, for someone who's training is all about strength gains, and short yet effective workouts, this has been somewhat of a challenging experience for me. Trust me, I've thought about throwing in the towel on this one, but then I figure what for? I made a bet and now I have to live up to my end of the deal, run...10 miles.

Two weeks ago I was sick and the most exercise I got was during the demos of workouts. Now that I'm about 95% healthy I'm itching to get in one of those off the wall workouts, that in my eyes I'm famous for, but I'm stuck running and keeping the workouts low key, at least for 3 more days (or 61 hours or 3660 minutes). I admit I even attempted some negotiations of a 2 mile fireman's carry over this 10 mile run down Broad Street, Susan was even going to be the one who was being carried, she still chose the running!

I can't quite tell if the people I see every day have faith in me or pity for me. I'm used to the faith, at least when it comes to challenges of strength. But in the end they must be the same. Well not physically of course, Turkish Get Ups with a 36kg kettlebell is completely different than a 10 mile race, but mentally they have to share similarities. Mentally I have to know that I can stand up with that amount of weight overhead, just as mentally I know I have to be able to make it the 10 miles down Broad Street. The difference being, the Turkish Get Up takes at most 3 to 5 mintues, and the race, well I'm hoping the race is over in under two hours.

And what's it all for? It's a strange little world we live in. I made this bet to challenge a client who clearly had the capabilities of doing 5 pull ups, she has a lot more in her too, just as everyone else I work with, but it takes a different type of motivation for each person you work with, sometimes it's hard to find sometimes it's easy. I put myself on the line for this one. I hope she keeps them up, just as I'm sure she hopes that I keep running. I wonder if either one will continue?

4 comments:

Shane Ryan said...

Pam,
You will crush the run, don't sweat it.

What the mind can conceive, the body can achieve.

Napolean Hill

Pamela MacElree said...

Thanks Shane, love the quote as well.

After the run, I'm back to the swings, I haven't forgotten about them.

Susannah said...

I can't imagine anyone taking pity on you. The faith you have for your clients is no different than the faith we all have in you.

And as the late Claude Bristol once remarked, "It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance, sweeps away all obstacles."

Pamela MacElree said...

True Susannah very true. Race is tomorrow! If you're up for it I think we might do breakfast afterwards anyway, but it'll be out by the gym.