I’m taking a break from my deeper blogs this month. At the heart level, my March is a continuation of February in terms of unearthing and reflecting. Check out that blog if you want to know what that looks like and the insights that have come from that. Instead, this month I’m going to talk about lifting, as March celebrates my one-year anniversary of transitioning from running to lifting. Last year, I was 25 pounds lighter and training to qualify for NCAA nationals in the 10k. This year, the label “gym rat” applies to me on all accounts.
Personality wise, it doesn’t seem like I’d be the guy who loves lifting: I’m pretty darn gentle and soft spoken. And most of my other hobbies are niche (coffee, philosophy, and computer science). So, what drew me to consuming creatine and protein shakes on the daily? At first, it was the hope to feel like a true all-around athlete for once in my life. Distance runners tend to have very different goal in mind when training that’s focused purely on aerobic output. Over the years of pursuing lowering race times, I lost a significant amount of strength, agility, and general athleticism. I picked up lifting and more general strength and conditioning as a way to balance myself back out. Now, I am significantly more athletic (well, just don’t watch me shoot a basketball and you’ll believe that statement) and am in the best overall shape of my life.
We had a round table this month about body image, and it left me investigating my motivations behind my current training and whether or not it was healthy or a form of idolatry. I mean yeah, there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes from feeling good about myself when I look in the mirror, and I’m sure there are times when I probably desire going to the gym more than sitting with the Lord. But on the whole, I don’t think it’s something I hold on to too tightly or do in vain. I try not to be the guy wearing bro tanks and checking myself out after finishing every set. I don’t have any interest in becoming this neckless, ball of muscle with -2% body fat. And I know my worth doesn’t come from the amount of muscle I pack on or what I can bench press.
So, if it’s not for looking jacked, what keeps me coming back? My college cross country coach keeps asking when I’m going to get back into running and race a marathon. To be frank, I don’t think that’ll happen any time soon. I absolutely love what I am doing right now. I love geeking out about form and learning different training techniques/philosophies. I love investigating the sports science of my workouts (cumulative fatigue, neural potentiation, and balancing cortisol and adrenal activity). I love going to the Y with the #GainzGang (strongest fellows’ class @alumni) and spotting for my friends. I love the feeling of hitting a new lift PR and the constant progression of improvement (thank you MCODE). I don’t think I’ve ever left the gym without feeling like I’ve accomplished something, which being able to say that a few times a week just feels great.
So here is to one year of a new activity I enjoy. May this next year of lifting hold continued PRs on the big lifts, healthy levels of confidence, and quality time with my friends.
For the love,
Austin