Can't Stop My Music!

This morning the training group took off on what our trainer considered a "brisk" jog in the neighborhood surrounding our training facility. As I was running alongside my trainer, I had a hunch that there would be an added twist to today's workout.

About 3/4 mile into the run, my trainer cut through an abandoned lot, jumped down a muddy embankment, trotted around the fringes of a homeless basecamp and began running on the train tracks. I must say it was a first for many, including myself.

Did you know all of those railroad planks have a million rocks packed in between? I certainly did not, and this fact required lots of adjustment during our mile run up the tracks. Keeping pace while avoiding ankle turning rocks and wooden planks is not for the faint of heart.

Fortunately, everyone was saved by a train creeping up the tracks on our return route. Our trainer wove his way back to the streets and into the gym.

Once inside, he made the announcement, "No music for one month. You must learn to motivate yourselves on your own. Can't take the music with you to tryouts!"

The room was silent, of course. No music and no talkback equals silence.

Silence for everyone else, but not for me. I always have music--its' just playing in my head.

How else would I make it through these strenuous training sessions? Amazing Grace, Beyonce, Young Jeezy, This Little Light of Mine, Madonna...I have my karoake machine on high, and my inner voice is always on point.

Well, I hope the other guys can make the transition. It can be a long row to hoe when you have nothing to divert you from the pain of a 30 second resistence cord drill.

As for me, I am ready to go. Put in Shawty Lo cause you can't stop my music!

Certified F. Chaser

Today, my trainer added a few new pieces of training equipment to our track/field workout. I am always curious when he introduces new apparatus to us (which is often) because you just never know how he is going to use it.

Therefore, you can imagine the look on my face when he ushered me to the field with a set of yellow frisbees. He sent one out into the field and told me to chase it. The frisbee caught air and went immediately into several different directions. The drill had several goals. One of these was to keep developing my change of direction response time.

I love fun drills, and the frisbees definitely hit the mark. I hope I get the opportunity to chase them more often John (hint, hint)..

Don’t Be Fooled: It’s The Monster Plantation

“That’s what you get for trying to be first! Tell her Wise.” I was squatting and panting to catch my breath when I heard this comment yelled over the music in the gym today.

I had just finished a nine set, hurdle suicide drill, and struggled to maintain form, speed and track of the hurdles that I had cleared. The result was a slight straddling of the next to last hurdle so I could recall if I needed to stop and go back or if I needed to clear the last hurdle to do the final stretch run.

Amidst the yells of encouragement and scolding from the session leader, I was not expecting to hear what I interpreted to be a you-need-to-stay-in-your-place-(girl) declaration to all of the guys in the session.

The taunting comment added salt to the wound of what I would consider one of my most “confusing” performances. My brain rang the alarm, and all reinforcements came rushing in. “Silence is the best response.” “Leave the gym immediately.” “Dude’s issue with you beating guys on the drills is his problem not yours.” “Apollo Creed AE wouldn’t ever say that.”

All the truth of those statements didn’t immediately stop the stinging. But what did put me back on track was a recollection of stories.

1. The City: Whitney pulled a killer Diane Von Furstenburg outfit for the Jessica Alba cover. Her co-worker Olivia was against the ensemble. However, when it ended up on the cover, Olivia took all of the credit.
2. Story of Dr. Vivien Thomas: He was a pioneer for cardiac surgery, and he was not acknowledged for his discovery until many years later.
3. Slumdog Millionaire: Salim told Jamal to forget about Latika, but time and time again he kept searching.
4. The Alchemist: Santiago was beaten up at the pyramids and told by the robber how stupid he was for treasure hunting.

Although Whitney has not received her just acknowledgement and I am not quite to my goal, the stories of Dr. Vivien Thomas, Jamal and Santiago prove that no one can keep you from your destiny if you stay focused.

It reminds me of a ride at Six Flags called the Monster Plantation. When the ride starts out you enter the house and all these creatures are having fun, and they want you to join along. As your path continues, the lights dim and Billy Bob tells you to turn around. However, the boat continues, the house lights go out and you have to face the monster.

Does the monster eat you? No. You go straight through the mouth and on to an even better party at the end of the ride.

Our journeys are just like that. We are going to come across monsters who choose not to recognize our talents or go out of their way to belittle our attempts to be the best. All we have to do is just keep going, keep looking at the goal and know that we will make it to the big party at the end. Whatever to those Monsters!