So, I'm in love with the new Shinedown song "Second Chance". It's not too hard to figure out why. This whole year for me is all about those rare, elusive, fleeting snatches of divine mercy that we call second chances. The song has this really cool line in it that talks about running in place. And of course I'm all fixated on it b/c, well, I run.
Now, I've always ran. I ran in junior high. I ran track in high school (even have a regional medal to prove it). However, I've always hated it. I did it because my Mama ran in high school. So I figured I should run too. Like it was genetic or something. But, deep down, I hated it. Especially if it had to be done on a treadmill. I mean, C'mon! All those miles, all that sweat, and you didn't even Go anywhere! WTF? Seriously, I'd rather watch paint dry.
Treadmill running isn't the only thing I hate. You know what else I always hated? Spinning. I mean, seriously, you're on a bike that doesn't move. You don't go anywhere. You just sit there. Spinning (read: pedaling). In the dark. It just reeks of fun! Except it doesn't.
Anyway, this is the year that this Superchik Leogirl gets serious about her fitness. And, truth be told, running in a good, old - fashioned Floridian downpour is not (I repeat NOT) a good idea if you bought your IPod to listen to music and not because you wanted a really expensive paper weight (why aren't those things water proof anyway?). So running outdoors ain't always gonna happen.
Not to mention, with a workout schedule that feels a lot like a second job, being outdoors isn't always possible between mind numbing status meetings, power lunches, family obligations and volunteer activities. So what does this Superchik Leogirl do?
She starts taking Spinning classes and learns to make friends with the treadmill. And finds out that she just might have been wrong.
It's all a matter of perspective. It's about making every workout count. Whether I'm jogging a six mile loop through my neighborhood or spinning for 15 miles at the gym. It's all about the effort. Not the venue. What equipment I use doesn't matter. My mindset does.
There are totally times when my mind isn't in it. I'm worried about those 44 reports at work I haven't even glanced at. Or I'm thinking of my nephew's latest report card. Or I'm wondering if I should really travel abroad or just stay close to home, where everything is familiar and safe. The bottom line is that, when my mind isn't focused on my goal, I'm still just running in place (treadmill or not).
So. If an unfocused mind has this much power over my workout, what type of havoc does it wreak in other parts of my life?
As unbelievable as this sounds (cause it's simply unheard of for this Leogirl to procrastinate), I started to see that there are a TON of times that I'm just running in place, even though I think I'm moving forward. For example, I have this awful habit of making plans. And making an even better plan. Then tweaking my master plan. Revising the plan. Upgrading the plan. Finalizing the plan. And then waiting for the right time to implement the plan.
And somehow, through all this planning, I manage to accomplish a whole lotta. . . . . . . NOTHING.
(Not) Surprisingly, this state of arrested progress tends to permeate almost every aspect of my life. My diet. My fitness plan. My budget. My career. My love life. My hobbies. Even my relationships with my friends and family. I'm always planning to do (fill in the blank). But, somehow, despite all my best laid plans, there's an ocean of distance between the life I see in my head and the one I live everyday. Why the Hell is that?
I think it's because, deep down, I'm banking on a second chance. Deep down, I figure that time is infinite and I'll never run out. That I can just plan indefinitely and EVENTUALLY, I'll get to it. Just gimme a sec. I'll do it. . . . later. Next year. Next week . Tomorrow.
And here's where the rubber hits the road, kiddos. Tomorrow is today. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is IT. This is my one shot to make this life count. This day. This moment. Sure, there are times that God is merciful, and He gives me the chance to salvage something spectacular from my mistakes. But, it's pure foolishness to bank on these moments.
It's my job to make this life count. To make everyday, every second, every breath count. It's my job to focus and put my mind into every bite, every rep, every goal. Second chances are a privilege, not a right. So, it's my job to work hard and play hard. To enjoy the process as much as I enjoy the results. And to realize that standing in place has nothing to do with the equipment I have on hand as much as it has to do with how I use what I've got.
You know what? I've found out that I can burn over 500 calories in one 45 minute spin class. And a treadmill interval workout is nothing short of spiritual as I gasp for air (and maybe see the face of God) after a minute or two of running at 110% effort with about 2 seconds of recovery. I'm sure as Hell not standing in place then.
You see, the habit of running in place is like Novocaine to our ambitions. It makes us numb. Mindless. It's an effortless way of life fostered by the limitations of our drive and imagination. Aided by our fear of flying. And made triumphant by our fear of failure. It's self sabotage at it's laziest. Because, for all our huffing and puffing (read: "busyness" doing stuff we hate doing anyway!), running in place gets us nowhere.
The good thing - the silver lining - is that we have all the tools we need to start moving forward again. They rest squarely and completely within each and every one of us. Because we know better than anyone what we are capable of.
We KNOW if we're half-stepping on our morning run, giving a so-so effort towards reaching our career goals and making a mediocre effort to get ourselves out of debt. We know if we're truly focused or if we're just spinning our wheels. Just making due and getting by. Doing just enough. And we know we can do better.
So, whether you're an athlete or a CEO, a receptionist or a fry cook, a call center rep. or a stay at home mom, from the moment you're born, you're playing in the Majors. Everyday is another opportunity to be excellent. Another opportunity to be better than you've ever been.
You have to live like this is your only shot. You have to realize that running in place (read: complacency) is just another way to waste time. This life is your own personal Olympics. Your one shot to make history. There are no second chances. And this is not the time to lose focus and just stand still. This is YOUR moment. Who cares if all you have is a treadmill and a spin class?
Train hard anyway.
