A New Friend
Yep, sure enough, I have found that I have a new friend. He’s with me during and after every great workout. He sticks around for a while, and when I don’t think he’s around, I find him. I can always count on him to show up. His name? Pain.
First, some clarification. Pain is defined as physical suffering or distress, as in an injury, illness, etc (per dictionary.com). There are different types of pain. One, that everyone knows so well, is the kind that comes from an injury. This is a very bad kind of pain, one that we need to be very careful of. Another type of pain is soreness. Try doing some heavy squats for the first time in ages, wait a day or two, and try telling me you’re not suffering…I dare ya. However, soreness (aka DOMS), is a good thing. It means you’ve pushed yourself hard, and your body is trying to adapt.
The real trick is knowing the difference. Honestly, I’d love to tell you how to tell. However, it’s more of an instinct with me I guess. Either that, or I just don’t know the difference and I’ve been lucky. Either way, I can’t tell you. What I can tell you is that pain is a new friend. It has to be, for me at least. Why? Frankly, I want more than just normal workouts will give me. I want to be huge and ripped. That just ain’t going to happen the way things normally work for me in the gym. I had to hurt.
Injury is bad, we can all agree. However, I can’t help but think that my lack of gains as a young man weren’t because of bad genetics (though that probably didn’t help), but because I just didn’t know how to really train. I’m not sure I do now even…though I’m ready to push more and more into that realm of pain to find out.
As I’ve said before, if it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing.
August 9, 2007 at 5:37 am
You long for him to return when he is absent for a short time too. You actually miss him. Its an addiction.
When I was taking a boot camp class and the new people would start, it was a highlight of my day to tell them your really not going to like having to use the restroom tomorrow but in a week or two you will miss that feeling. Its sad because some never made it to that point. I guess having to pee was just to painful to stick with the program.
August 9, 2007 at 5:47 am
You’re wrong. Pain is not a man, she’s a woman. And pretty soon, she’ll become your mistress.
And she’s probably pretty pissed at being mistaken for a man - You’re gonna suffer tomorrow!
August 9, 2007 at 6:08 am
Revenge of a women is a wrath that most men fear. (evil laugh)
August 9, 2007 at 6:38 am
Of course pain’s gonna kick my ass tomorrow.
Tonight is squats
August 9, 2007 at 7:28 am
Hey Tom,
Would your new mistress’ name be Annie, by any chance?
August 9, 2007 at 7:31 am
Do not make me have to hunt you down and hurt you severly Michael.
I’ll do it too
August 9, 2007 at 7:32 am
Are you going to bring Annie with you?
August 9, 2007 at 8:06 am
Is having a workout partner a threesome then? if so I need a partner!!!!
Sorry got excited for a second there.
August 9, 2007 at 9:43 am
LMBO!!!!!!!
August 9, 2007 at 9:45 am
Man it’s too freakin’ hot down here for anyone to want to come hunt anything LOL
1… 0… freakin’ 5 !!!!!
August 9, 2007 at 1:33 pm
We’re being hit by a cold wave….a crisp 104 right now
August 9, 2007 at 4:10 pm
OMG WTF LOL Im gone for a little bit and this is what goes on here LOLOL
Pain is a woman, a mistress and Bill says a 3some ROFL —geeez guys —
40 lashes with a wet noodle for BILL
>^..^