If you’re not early, you’re late.
Show up at 5 a.m. and Paul Lacoste will tell you to go home. From 5 a.m. until 6 a.m., you’re his. You turn yourself over to his training program and his coaches. He sets up the exercise. You do them. You go home tired.
Today was my second day of training and I’m sore. In fact, you could poke me in the chest and I’d fold like a cheap tent. My ancient muscles have tiny rips in them and now are healing — which, of course, is how you get stronger. My line, Line 2, started in the weight room. My partner John is a great athlete and pushes me (probably more than I push him). We did our two sets of ten, working on arms and shoulders. There was no easing up today. There is no easy day.
Outside, we kept moving. The whole idea of the training is to keep your heart rate elevated for the whole hour. For four stations, my legs kept me on the move. (And my arms as I bear-crawled through 20-yards worth of cones) We ended with a 200-yard sprint and a 40-yard backwards walk. Then a cool-down stretch.
I’m going to approach the next 12-weeks this way: I will make the most of every exercise. I will push myself as hard as I possibly can. And I will help and encourage my teammates when I see they need it.
Sure, you can show up, go through the motions and walk off the field with a little in the tank. But if you throw yourself into each exercise, you will see huge results.
Show up. Bust your butt. Reap the rewards.
What a great metaphor for life.