I don’t know if I am one of many, or one of just a few, but this time of year has become for me a time for resolutions. Usually reserved for first day in January, this is when my mind drifts towards those goals I hope to accomplish. That’s why I found myself frantically trying to squeeze a work out in between the time we were dismissed from the all school faculty breakfast and the time we were scheduled to begin the first athletic council meeting. I ran upstairs to the aerobics room, after taking a ridiculously quick and far too cold shower, beads of sweat quickly returning, shining brightly on my brow, towel in hand, courtesy of our trainer, Sean DelFavero. “I was so excited about this meeting I just burst into a sweat,” I quipped, settling into my seat a few minutes late.
The culprit - Coach Stucky refers to it as the Death Machine. At my current weight for thirty minutes on level eight, the interval workout translates to roughly 700 calories, quite a substantial return on investment. The resolution - shed some pounds I earned from late night runs to Zaxby’s following nearly every golf practice and match last spring. I simply do not have the fortitude to order grilled chicken if fried is available. I’m sure to be chastised by my players if I do, plus the number one is clearly the best choice. That’s why it’s number one.
Before the Death Machine and I began our daily duel I knocked on Stucky’s window. He knew exactly what I wanted and put on some tunes. The music he selected was the soundtrack from Rocky IV, produced when I was only eleven years old, ironically, the age of my students. Survivor’s Burning Heart and Eye of the Tiger, Robert Tepper’s No Easy Way Out, and my personal favorite, Hearts on Fire by John Cafferty. Though I’ve never heard of you, Vince DiCola, composer of the instrumental Training Montage, I owe you a deep well of gratitude. You’ve been responsible for at least one or two extra reps for every set I’ve ever knocked out while your song was playing.
These songs took me back, all the way back to early mornings in my basement when I was in high school. Unlike the experience of our student athletes in the weight room here I had no idea what I was doing, but whatever I was doing I did with all my heart. How can you not with that music playing!
The equipment I had in my basement was nothing like the Death Machine. And there were never any trainers. There wasn’t even a workout plan. No spotter. No friends. No accountability, except my mother upstairs cooking me a big breakfast. But there was always music, that music, the very same music. I started remembering all the dreams I had back then. Grand dreams. Noble dreams. Preposterous dreams, like playing in the NBA. Some have actually come true - their names are Katie, Ellie, Julia and Rachel. Many more have not. And that’s okay. Because that morning the Death Machine coupled with the Rocky IV soundtrack gave me life. It’s strange sometimes the context where meaning and purpose decide to show up and say hello.
Linc...great stuff. Brings back great memories. I too had the a rickety weight bench, pictures of Bird and Magic on the wall, and music of Rocky and Drago's training going on in my basement. Surprised I didn't hurt myself permanently down there! Unfortunately, I all too rarely check this site...it was great to see your stuff on this drive through. Greet your fam for me...
Grace, Jim Black
Posted by: Jim Black | August 29, 2009 at 06:12 PM