I’d like to welcome you all to the very first B Athletic Multisport blog. This may be an odd article to start with, but for beginners to fitness, and or endurance training and racing, I believe this takes a fun look at some of the fear that comes with trying something new and working with a coach.
This was written by one of my former clients in Los Angeles in the early ’90’s. He was taking a poetry class at a local college, and to my surprise our training was his inspiration for this great little poem. If my memory serves me correct, he received an “A”. I preface this poem by letting you know that he really did enjoy the training and was very upset when it was time to say goodbye.
This goes out to all of you who fear getting started. You are not alone.
Weight Lifter’s Lament
I stand by the door, Jeff waits by the bar.
My feet want to run, my head says to stay.
Jeff beckons me o’re, I trog to the bench.
As I slide under, enter the trench.
My palms touch metal, cold-smooth-steel bites back.
I beg to jump, but it laughs at me.
Moving by inches, it sneers and it growls.
Jeff yells,”Get angry!” The bar hears him first.
Its eyes on my throat, murder on its mind.
I let out a scream, and push it beyond.
My muscles on fire, my skin popping sweat,
“You got me up here, but I’ll fall,” it threats.
My grip starts to slip, my arms to buckle.
A battleship’s weight, heading for my skull.
I say to myself,”Must I such expire?”
It suddenly stops, suspended in air.
Jeff lifts it away, with too little care.
“I’ll get you next time,” it says with chagrin.
I sigh with relief, so glad to be free.
“Ten more reps for you,” says Jeff gleefully.
“Where are you going?” He shouted as I run.
I’ll try a diet, it sounds much more fun.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
Coach Jeff
