Boundary Lines…

For the first time in 23 years of life I found myself awake at 5am for the sake of training. Those who know me would tell you I’m not the most punctual of people, and when it comes to early morning workouts I’d rather eat glass than get up before sunrise. In fact, I can recall at one point threatening someone’s life when they tried to get me out of bed early for a race. However, with work, friends, and other commitments, I’m quickly realizing that there are only so many hours in the day for training.

As part of my sponsorship contract with the SBR Multisports Ambassador team, I have agreed to lead members of their triathlon club team through workouts. Currently this means a 6am run in Central Park. Let me be the first to tell you that Central Park at 6am in late January is an extremely strange place. It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s filled with some of the strangest faces you can find. Running groups, Teams of cyclists, dog runners, are non-existent. What are left are a few faces who seem to smile as you pass. Maybe they understood that I was a first time visitor. A “newby” to their hardened routine.

The trip back home was a tired one. I couldn’t wait to get home and take a shower. Eat something more substantial then 3 cookies and some water. But like most mornings, the first thing to catch my eye was the Internet. In my inbox there was an email from my coach. Upon his return from racing at Cyclocross Masters in Belgium he sent out a letter to his athletes entitled “The Difference…”

This is a part of the letter:

Monday we met with a friend, Michal, at his house south of Brussels for a 2.5 hour (fairly) easy ride (as easy as you can in 40 mile/hr wind and rain). We returned home to his lovely mother with tea and crepes waiting.

After we clean up, she is speaking with us in broken English, we are telling her of our last 2 days of back to back, tough Belgium cross races. She proceeds to ask WHY we did not train 4 hours today, like the Belgians? “maybe ze Americans, you not train enough”?

This is really their mentality over there. Tough, weathered, hard men out for 4+ hours in howling wind and pouring rain day in day out….

So if you think the weather sucks a bit, add a layer of clothes, put on your fenders…and GO TRAIN.

*******

After reading this I can tell you I have a new appreciation for all those poor souls who I saw in the park yesterday morning. Maybe we forget what the training is all about. Every cold ride, every bad day, it makes us stronger. I for one am really looking forward to next Tuesday’s 6am run.

So if you’re feeling like seeing a different view of the park. One without the 9-5 crowds and chaos. I’ll see you at 203 West 58^th St. at 6am. It should be a good run.