She Strengthens

The Power of Patience: A Fitness Journey

When it comes to fitness, we often push ourselves to the limit, driven by a desire to achieve our goals quickly. But what happens when our bodies can’t keep up with our minds? I’ve always been someone who trains hard, driven by a high-intensity, no-pain-no-gain mentality. However, this approach has its limitations, and I’ve learned the hard way that patience and rest are just as important as intensity and effort.

The Dangers of Impatience

Growing up, I had coaches who instilled in me a strong work ethic, but also a sense of urgency. I’ve always believed that if I wasn’t pushing myself to the limit, I wasn’t doing enough. This mentality has served me well in some ways, but it’s also led to burnout and injury. I’ve let my inner critic run wild, driving me to take on too much, too soon. The result? A string of failed attempts and setbacks.

A New Approach

One summer, I decided to take a different approach. I started distance running, not because I was good at it, but because I wasn’t. It was a challenge, and I was drawn to it. I didn’t read up on the best techniques or train with a coach; I just started running. And you know what? It worked. I got better, stronger, and faster. But as I continued to push myself, I realized that I was neglecting other aspects of my fitness. I was slow, lacked quickness, and couldn’t explode or attack. It was time to reset and focus on building speed.

A Fateful Sunday

On a sweltering Sunday in July, I woke up determined to make a change. I bolted out the door, fueled by peanut butter and water, and headed to the West Side Highway running path. My goal was to get faster, and I was willing to do whatever it took. I designed a new challenge on the spot: a series of dead sprints, goal to goal, 20 times. Between sets, I’d walk back, do some pushups, and try to look cool. But I skipped the stretching, thinking it was boring.

The Price of Ambition

As I sprinted and walked, I felt like a warrior on the battlefield. But by the 14th sprint, I was fully primal, yelling loudly, until I felt a pop. My hamstring had called it quits, and I face-planted, knowing it was bad. I was alone, stranded, and dehydrated, thinking of hamburgers. But then I heard a voice… Time to reset.

The Lesson Learned

In that moment, I realized that my body had been trying to tell me something all along. I’d been ignoring the signs, pushing through the pain, and neglecting my own needs. It was time to listen, to slow down, and to focus on patience and rest. I learned that fitness isn’t just about pushing ourselves to the limit; it’s about listening to our bodies and honoring their limitations. And sometimes, that means taking a step back and starting again.