Back and Biceps Day
I wasn’t really feeling it today, but like the good soldier that I am, I put on biking shoes, slung the backpack over one shoulder and powered over to the gym (which is my personal play on words because I work out at the Powerhouse Gym. I know it’s not very amusing, but I need a laugh of some kind!) At any rate, I made it over to the gym and started my workout. Today was back and bi day, so I started off, like I usually do, with straight-legged deadlifts. I achieved a personal best today, but couldn’t take pleasure in my achievement because the guy next to me was lifting nearly double what I was. Now I know this isn’t a competition (except that it is), but I couldn’t help feeling just a wee bit inadequate. Still, I resisted the temptation to throw some more weight on the bar in an attempt to match my erstwhile companion. (My back is, even now, offering prayers of thanks.) I kept with my routine, reminding myself that I have a goal and a plan, and that there are people who will be ahead of me and people who will be behind me. I told myself that this is my path. I’m not following the path of the guy next to me; or the woman across the gym; or the gentleman on the pull-up bars. I’m following a path that I’ve set out for myself, and while the journey has been slower than I like, it has been steady, with significant progress and many milestones achieved.
Tomorrow, I am doing a forty mile bike ride (just for fun). The day after that, I’ll be back on the weights. It’ll be chest and triceps day, and I’ll be following the path I’ve laid out for myself. If I pass one of you on the journey, I’ll be certain to say hello and to wish you a good day, but don’t ask to to tarry long with you. I’ve a goal to achieve and only a limited amount of time in which to achieve it. The road is long, with many a winding turn, but I know where it leads.
October 25, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hey PenteKing - I feel the exact same way you do when I see some of my fellow gym goers lifting much heavier than I do…..a little bit defeated. Even though I know I lift as heavy as I presently can (especially with my favorite exercise — deadlifts), it makes me envious to see another woman lifting heavier. On the other hand, I try to look at her lifting as something I should shoot for. Sounds like you enjoy living a healthy life. I would love to have to time to get in a 40-mile bike ride. You should be proud of yourself for doing that instead of sitting on the couch watching TV. Keep up the great work!!