The Joy Of Fitness
It is five o’clock in the morning, sleep particles still in my eyes, and no time for breakfast we have a five-thirty call time. The sun did not welcome us to the track, only blinding headlights and coaches yelling, attempting to hype us up. This was the start of preseason 2006.
After freshman year, Cleveland State decided to part ways with the entire men’s basketball coaching staff. After which, they brought in the head coach from Rutgers. Conditioning at five-thirty in the morning was their welcoming present with five minutes and thirty seconds mile time for the cherry on top.
Every morning, my roommates that were also teammates and I rolled out of bed with just enough time to make the call time. While some days, we had preconditioning before the conditioning. Some people love running even more than lifting weights usually, people tend to go for one or the other. In those days, I was learning the art of weight training and the importance of combining cardio training. Enjoy the process that only came with age.
Since I’ve been on both sides of the spectrum with fitness training, even with skill development. In my youth, you could not beat me to stay consistent. That didn’t last long around twelve or thirteen I was in sports most of the year. By fourteen, I had a personal trainer but didn’t even know it because he was my high school coach. A few coaches before Coach P helped fuel the flames that burnt wildly inside me. Coach P took the time to harness my desires. I could tell you that the results were immediate (for the development of the skillsets), but that was not the case.
The principles were, set in stone, I then understood that I could get as skillful as I wanted. That level of commitment is necessary for success in life, and also in fitness, it is no different. “Winning isn’t everything, winning is the only thing” reinforced Lombardi, to achieve we must suffer. Suffer tracking our food choices, suffer five am call times to run endless laps, suffer temporary pain for long-term gains, the list is inexhaustible. What are you willing to change or go through to get what you claim you want to get?
Did you ask? What is joyous about that? Suffering, pain, and delayed gratification don’t sound joyous, and for most, it’s not. Oh, but you, you’re uncommon, seeking, digging, doing whatever it is you know to do to reach your promised land, then maintain it and allow it to flourish abundantly. Eventually grants you the ability to help another from the overflow. That is joyous, fitness like a plant must be attended to daily and treated with patience, then the harvest will come.
Sow and reap, thus why I don’t take on every potential client. I can’t help the pop-a-pill instant shot a million-pound lost-in-a-day type. However, if you have the will and understand that this is a process. We can change the mindset, but you have to bring the drive. I’ll be honored to be your resource, to get you off, and running along your fitness journey. I guarantee we will find the results you’re after in due time.
Live life free and stay fit!
J’Nathan Bullock CSCS