Often I joke about needing professional help of one kind or another. Recently I decided to seek out some in the form of a running program. So in typical Malflic fashion I started training in my own fucked up way. Kept a log of it and submitted that with my forms for the training sessions. I’m not sure what I expected. I was an elite athlete as a younger man in a hand full of sports. I’ve pushed my own body to some very sick extremes in both endurance and strength at different points of life. Now though I’m a middle aged corporate guy with graying hair who uses exercise as a means to manage my own sanity since I enjoy it more and it’s far less expensive than the real therapy I probably need. Not to mention I don’t want (or am terrified of) anyone poking around in the minefield that is my thoughts.
It started pleasantly enough. A few moments later though it was not a discussion of stride mechanics, shoe types or hydration rather it was a through inquisition of my training and recent races. “You’re not running hard” she insinuated. She was right I was building distance and not pace for the past 12 weeks. “When was the last time you did any real speed work?” she asked very directly. I had no clue, maybe a year and then it was only 3 or 4 times so I could start skating hard. When was the last time you actually ran a race series for time not for fun? Never I told her which was in part a lie. I’d run races for time but rarely a complete series because I often had the kids along on the shorter distance. As she started into the program and it’s philosophies she asked if I had any questions. Other than if I should have a safe word and expect visits from Pukey the Clown came to mind but both of which I kept to myself. Instead my question was simple. If I went through the testing they would then tell me how fast and how far to run every day for the next three months. Correct? “Yes” she stated and I was fine with that, it is what I was paying for. Usually I’m a control freak but on this topic I want it all laid out for me. I’ll follow it to the letter and drive like hell or let death finally win along the way should the bitch goddess of cardio vascular salvation decide to betray me.
Then my new coach started talking about my expected race times…that’s when I regretted not asking about a safe word. Oh well if it works and I hit the pace in question it will all be worth it. It’s just kind of weird that I went from having hulking violent male coaches and instructors push me beyond my physical limits for years and traded them all in for a petite woman in tights who wants me to shave 15 minutes off my time which sounds far more challenging than anything anyone has ever asked me to do before. The good news is its all underway and the pieces are falling into place so next up the back cracker (which until now I’ve had in the same category as a shrink), orthopedist (who knows me and knows I’m off kilter), PT assessment (flexibility, what flexibility?…I’ve never met a yoga instructor who I couldn’t make cry) and finally the dietician who as long as she doesn’t fuck with my coffee we’ll get along fine.
