I’m on my way out of my office today at the University where I work as a faculty member. I’m in my 21st year as a professor. I’m not a spring chicken anymore, but I wake up early, hit the gym hard, work on conditioning, watch what I eat, and I don’t miss workouts. Anyway, the college students are putting on a Pull Up Competition. $5 to enter. Why the hell not? I’m 30 years older than these college kids but let’s try it. A couple even had taken Organic Chemistry with me last year. I asked if professors could enter. They seemed excited by the prospect and said “sure”.
The event started. Nothing splashy, just a crowd around an outdoor gym with some music playing, a girl acting as judge and MC, and some others watching. I was impressed with them, figuring many would only get 10 or so. The first few hit in the mid 20’s of pull ups. Everyone was at 15+.
Chin ups were not allowed and the reps had to be legit. Then after about 6-7 kids had their turn, a dude hit 30 to take the lead. My high in the past was maybe 24; I can’t remember for sure ever getting more than this. I climbed up, asked them to change the music selection, and cranked out 31. Of course, the kids were impressed that someone their dad’s age could do that. Thought for sure I had it won the event (a pair of JBL speakers) until, maybe 5 kids later, some unassuming smaller dude cranked out 32. He just kept going.
Anyways, I ended up in second place. But, as I biked home, I was thinking: This is why I get up early and am covered in sweat while others are still asleep. This is why I pack my own lunch rather than hitting a local restaurant with colleagues. This is why I put in mobility work while watching evening shows instead of eating ice cream on the couch. (Okay, maybe getting second place in a meaningless pull up competition isn’t really THE reason, but it serves as a great reminder and motivator).
Anyone else have an example that really drives home WHY you stick with training? Why you make the choice each day to train hard while nearly everyone else chooses drive-throughs and comfy chairs?
I probably stick with it because i got no father figure when i was a kid and got exposed to violent movies back then. As much as i can self-analyse myself, i think that the first thing i found cool, was seeing BA Baracus throwing people around. At that time i was in kindergarten. From then i only liked action movies and action figures. So fighting and being big is just implemented in my personality so deep i almost cant understand men who dont do that but lately i have become better at understanding that people have different opinions on what is important. I think those movies kinda made me shallow as i really have no interests in life outside just making myself better in some ways. I have no interest in travel, money, socialization etc.
I remember this one time some 6 years back i had this fight where i didnt tap for a really well executed armbar and ended up with my elbow hyperextended and broken. The first tought i had the second i heared the tearing sound was “i wonder what exercises i will be able to do the next months”.
Because if I don’t, I revert to old habits and my mental health goes off a cliff. This could be something as simple as being aware of how much alcohol messes with my progress, so knowing that I have the gym means not getting drunk watching the match, or not casually having 3 or 4 beers because >insert any excuse<.
It’s also my escapism. My Dad has the double-whammy of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, my Mum is still grieving her Mum and is really struggling with my Dad, my digestive health is piss poor, my brother is in deep depression, my sister just had a quite serious invasive operation, and any other number of things that might effect me at any given time. I make no inclination that my problems are worse than anyone else’s - we all have very complex lives.
The iron helps me deal with my shit. Without it, I can start to wallow. Whatever is happening around me there is always somewhere I can still move forward.
The iron never lies. You can go outside and listen to all kinds of talk. Get told that you’re a God, get told that you’re a total bastard. The iron kicks you the real deal… Friends may come and go but 200 pounds is always 200 pounds. - Henry Rollins
That’s my problem too. I even wonder how I can drink alcohol in the evening, sleep for 6 hours and the next day in the evening after work go to exercise. And to have energy.
I don’t get drunk, you might not even know that I’ve been drinking, but it’s daily and a lot more. A month ago I stopped drinking alcohol /it’s not a problem for me, I just like to drink in the evening/ and after only a few days my blood pressure dropped a lot. I am basically hypertensive on medication. I was even wondering if I should reduce the medication because my blood pressure was around 100/60. And in general, when I take medicine, I keep it around 130/80. For more than 4 months I have not smoked normal cigarettes and have been using Vape, but just today I decided to remove it as well. And to overcome this stress, maybe I should exercise every day. It may not be optimal for a man my age, but at least in the beginning I have something to fight for and know that it is waiting for me at the end of the day.
I’ll try.
I love profs who work out regularly. It give me hope as a aspiring academic.
Have you ever experienced any work related benefits from fitness?
For me, knowledge of fitness and nutrition got me respect in the lab (some of my profs study Behavioural change) and I was able to connect with a couple of profs bc we all lifted.
This is so true. Trying to hang with weekend drinking buddies and simultaneously take training seriously is not compatible. I recently took an extended break from that and there’s no denying the impact it has.
Nice work on improving yourself. These vices can be tough to kick, and I’ve found if I decide I want all the benefits of my training then it’s easier to say “no” to indulgences that prevent that.
From reading a lot, one falls into some dramas and reflections. A Guru tells you that the old man should train with barbells 2-3 times a week. Yes, but I, for example, have been training 4-5 times a week, I don’t lead a healthy lifestyle (I drink alcohol and sleep little, eat junk food, I have some diseases), but I still have the energy to train like that. True, I may not lift heavy by accepted strength standards, but I have a hard time. Often my total exceeds 12,000 lbs and sometimes 20,000 but I am ok. Which means if I improve my recovery maybe it won’t be a problem to train in a way that my body is ok with. I think I’m 20-25, I feel that way and why limit myself. My body will show how much and what is good. I’m going to do a 4-5 day bodybuilding split, time will tell.
Awesome effort on the pull ups! makes all the hard work worth while to be able to compete no matter the physical situation.
I won an adults throwing competition at my neices athletics event the other weekend beating the throwing coaches. I yeeted it hard. My wife called me a show off but what am i gonna do, not throw it far on purpose???
the doping accusations started the second it left my hand.
the doping accusations started the second it left my hand.