The Zone
The zone. Not the diet fad made popular years ago. Those who engage in war on the battlefield of iron know what I’m talking about. Its that deep, dark place inside that you go to where nothing else seems to exist except for you and the iron.
When I enter the gym I make it a point to always "go there." There’s a slow build up during pre-workout rituals and during warm-ups. Once its time to start my first set…its on. Those who conquer this mental mastery will describe it many ways. For me its a feeling of no pain, no discomfort, nothing else exists but me, the world around seems so much smaller, my eyes become fixed and focused, and every part of every rep is tight. If I keep my eyes closed during the movement, the impact of the zone is amplified.
Its an awesome place to be, but I know I won’t stay there forever. Its nice to visit internal levels of intensity that many rarely experience, but I know that in the end of each workout, I will return to my normal state. I suggest every one try getting into their zone prior to and during each workout or training session. Getting there is different for each person. I train alone and refrain from talking to anyone or allowing myself to be deterred or distracted by anything. I’m at the gym to train; not socialize, check emails, check text messages, watch tv, or think about my day. I’m there with a purpose…for 60 focused minutes its all about destroying myself so that I can spend the next 23 hours of the day rebuilding.
More on the zone to come…
