I’m not one to complain about things very often. At least, not out loud. But I’d like to register a complaint here and now about you. Please know that I am not complaining about you personally but rather something that you do regularly.
Here it is… “I’m not fast enough, strong enough, young enough, etc… to do that.” I’m here to tell you that a) Yes you are and b) Nobody cares. I’ll address point B a little bit later, but first, point A.
Coaches sometimes have different tools or motivators for their athletes. For example, if someone from my team forgets something at practice, such as a water bottle, training shoes or a backpack, to reclaim the item they must do push-ups in front of their teammates. This fosters some sense of responsibility, some team bonding and for the overly forgetful, a vivid reminder to ‘take ownership’. And I mean, who forgets training shoes anyway?
So getting to point A, the word ‘can’t’ is not permitted at any practice. ‘Can’t’ is a limiter that says, ‘I’m not worth the effort of being the best I can be’. Coaches often hear athletes say they can’t do something that has been assigned to the group. It might be a core strength motion, or a sprint to the tree and back, or even a yoga posture. ‘Coach, I can’t do a push-up’. ‘Well stop forgetting your training shoes at practice.’
I have often said that no one will ever be asked to try something (try, not necessarily accomplish) that I have not already tried. The ‘I can’t’ approach to training leads to ‘I can’t’ in other aspects of life. It’s a terrible habit and one you need to look at closely. Shearer axiom #1 ‘If it matters to you, you will try’.
It’s not the inability to DO a push-up that is my complaint, mind you, but rather the unwillingness to TRY. The annual Penn Relays Track Carnival held each year in Philly brings together track and field athletes from middle school to collegians to professional/Olympic athletes to 70, 80 and even 100 year olds. You read that right. You owe it to yourself to You Tube Penn Relays 100 year old runners. You’ll see. Think you ‘can’t’ do it?
Owing to physical limitations and such, you ARE fast enough, strong enough, young enough, etc… to try. You are! You may not be able to run a full 5k right now, but if it matters to you, you will put in the work necessary and try.
Now, to point B. And this is pretty simple. We get so caught up in what we think others think of us that we forget that others are caught up in what we think of them. And be honest with yourself, do you really judge someone for trying to run a mile or hold a 60-second plank? I didn’t think so.
As my son and I drove into our neighborhood recently, we noticed a new runner out new running. And he was over-dressed for 89 degrees, shuffling badly, and started to walk - for about 15 seconds before he started to shuffle again. One guess what my only thought was. Correct… go get it!
So my personal plea to you is this. Stop thinking you can’t and start trying. You are so worth the effort. Also, stop worrying about what others think of your current inability to sprint to that tree and back. I guarantee you those who matter are applauding your effort and those who aren’t applauding your effort don’t really matter.
I hope to see you on the roads, tracks and trails.
