Rising Up to the Challenge of Our Rival

Know this song?  I’m guessing you do, regardless of whether or not you’ve seen Rocky.  This is a song that only recently started applying to me.  At least, in my opinion.  For so many years as a non-athlete, I assumed the song was meant for other people.  People who worked hard and did amazing things.  Now, I’ve qualified myself as one of those people, and I’m enjoying the song more than ever. 

Daughter and Me at her most recent gym class.

            “Eye of the Tiger” has been turning up everywhere lately.  Sure you hear it at any random race with a DJ.  I was surprised, though, when it was played at my daughter’s gymnastics graduation last week. 

When I thought about it, it made sense.  It fit into my definition of the song.  My daughter is certainly amazing.  She has more confidence at age 2 than I have at 32.  So yes, she deserves the song.  She’s earned it.

Receiving a medal from her teacher.

            “Tiger” turned up again at my weightlifting class.  I go to Body Pump class at the YMCA and every couple of months, there is a new release, which means new music.  The highlight of the latest release is “Eye of the Tiger” for the biceps track.  It rules!  That track alone makes the class worth going to, aside from my bulging muscles, of course. 

            As I’ve been hearing this song time and time again, I started thinking about the lyrics.  The line that’s been sticking in my head?  “Rising up to the challenge of our rival.”  Who is my rival?  I wasn’t sure until last week . . . when I successfully completed a week’s worth of workouts.  Let me clarify:  When I successfully completed a week’s worth of my pre-hiatus workout routine.  (By pre-hiatus, I mean before December 17^th, when I left for a 2 week hiatus in Kenosha.)  The old maintenance (not race-training) routine was this:

Monday: Run 6-8 miles

Tuesday:  weightlifting

Wednesday: Run 6-8 miles

Thursday: weightlifting

Friday: rest

Saturday: Run 10-17 miles

Sunday: Rest or recovery run/walk

            I did this last week for the first time in ages (early December).  3 runs, 2 weightlifting classes, and a nice long walk.  I was stoked!  My old status quo is my new reason to celebrate.      

 

I decided I am my own rival.  I am the one constantly trying to one-up myself.  I am the one I have to convince to go running in the cold.  I am the one that skips workouts when I’m too tired.  I am the one who can’t run quite as fast as I could two months ago.  I am the one who can't keep up with my pace group anymore.  I am the one who wants to be a good role model.  I am the one who doesn't want to buy bigger sized running pants.  These things are the fuel that keeps me going, rising up to the challenge of my rival. 

Eye of the Tiger

Bender

          The day before Whistlestop Marathon, my scale read 134.4.  That’s on the lower end for me.  I tend to fluctuate between 133 and 138, but thanks to running, it usually stays within that range without any effort.  I’ve also gotten very good at dropping weight before a race.  All I need is a short term goal. 

          I don’t have that goal now.  In fact, I’ve been on a bender for the last 4 weeks.  The scale is hanging around 143 and I’m not proud.  How did it get there?  Two weeks in Kenosha talking about cancer.  Being overwhelmed when I returned back home to Minneapolis.  The dark, dreary Minnesota winter.  These are some of the reasons. 

          I need to get back in shape.  Usually, I can get myself behind my health when I have something that provokes me.  Either an upcoming race or seeing an unflattering photo of myself.  I’ve been waiting for this kind of slap in the face since I got back to Minnesota, but it hasn’t happened yet.  Granted, I haven’t taken my picture in a while.  My choices have not been good lately.  Usually, I’m all about ordering healthy at restaurants, for example.  Yesterday, I ordered a BLT with sweet potato fries for lunch and then had a reuben and regular fries for dinner.  Last year, I went months without eating a single fry. 

          Winter might be doing me in.  I even skipped a run last week because it was “too cold.”  I never do that.  (I made it up the next morning at the gym.) 

          Today was a good day, though.  I didn’t work out today.  I wanted to, but I didn’t plan for it.  Regardless, it was a good day because it was sunny.  All day long.  That happens maybe 4 times in the 6 months of winter.  I got a lot done today, and that feels good.  Productivity (and sunshine) to me is what spinach is to Popeye.  Today I had super strength.  I’m hoping it will start a snowball effect.  And I hope telling you about my bender will be just enough provocation to get me back on the right track.