I made it through the first 3-4 weeks, in survival mode. Several trips to the water fountain with the sole purpose of catching my breath. Acting like I was using the restroom to get a quick break. That was me, feeling hopeless at times, I got through it with encouragement from the HEW staff and my buddy Andrew.
Then one day our WoD (work out of the day) was a series of runs. The only thing that I noticed some improvement thus far was my running. I was able to run a little further and recover a little faster, so I knew I had a chance to do ok. We were challenged to run several pre-set distances with a few minutes of rest in between. The last distance was 1000 meters.... further than I had ever run since joining Hard Exercise Works. The 1000 meter path was 2 times around the building... Brutal... for me. I set out, feeling optimistic as usual, but that faded as exhaustion set in, especially near the end. On the final 1000 meter run, I struggled to make it around the building once, going around again was impossible. The trainers were out front, encouraging and cheering people to keep going. I was dead last, beat, and in survival mode. I had convinced myself that I would not make it, but did not want to stop in front of the trainers. I was the last one and thought to myself " I will stop running and walk the rest once I get out of sight and around to the side of the building".
Up to this point I worked out to survive, sure I would get a good work out here and there, but when I would get to that point where you have to push to get better, I would stop for water... or a break, basically I would give up.
As I slowly jogged passed the front door of the gym, I could hear Shady yell, "Come on Will don't stop, your almost there!!". He must of seen the fatigue in my face or realized, by how slow I was going, that I was about to stop. He was right. As I got to the corner, I heard someone running up behind me...It was him, Shady said "Lets do this Will, I'll jog with you, your not going to quit".
That got me going a little, but not for long, My mind said 'time to walk'. As I started to, I felt a jolt, Shady was pushing me forward. "Will keep going, you gotta push through if you want to get better...DON'T QUIT." So I kept going and managed to say "I hate you right now Shady" He said "I know but you'll thank me later." with a chuckle. I managed to get to the last 150metes and Shady said "Good job Will!! You're almost there, now dig deep find everything you got and SPRINT to the finish when to hit the corner!" it sounded nuts to me, but I mustered up all the strength I had and did just that. No more survival mode time to go beast mode, sprint or die trying..... When I got to the end I was exhausted but at the same time exhilarated. For the first time at the gym and maybe in life I had won against myself in a battle that was, in my mind, not winnable.... not even by a long shot.
That was the turning point.... I stopped going to the gym to survive workouts and started going to crush them.
Will-I.Am
@bscarbz
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