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I am coming to the sad realization that I have been, and continue to drag all of my training partners down.
I received a surprise visit the other day at my office from an old grad school buddy who was passing through town and looked me up in the phone book and dropped by. I hardly recognized the guy. He has lost probably 40 pounds of muscle since I last saw him almost 9 years ago. He was a former pro bull rider before PT school and has since given it up for ultra-running.
During school, he and I did a few triathlons along with another buddy of ours. We were all pretty competitive with each other, but fairly mediocre during actual races.
Since that time, he has run a couple of dozen marathons, 3 or 4 50 mile trail runs and last year did the Leadville 100 (running race, not cycling). He qualified for Boston the last 2 years and in 2007 actually ran for several miles with Lance Armstrong. (he claims he carried on a coversation with Lance - "Hey, you're the man, Lance." "Thanks".) His PR was last year at Philadelphia at 2:50!!!
Our other friend has done 2 full Ironmen Triathlons since grad school and does 3 or 4 halfs every year. he is also a sub 3:00 marathoner.
My current training partner is fully capable of running a 3:15 marathon, I'm sure, but sandbags to stay near me and is training for a 3:30.
Now that I think more about, its probably not so much that I drag them down, but rather inspire them in their fitness goals. I'm an inspiration. Move over Tony Little and Richard Simmons!
I received a surprise visit the other day at my office from an old grad school buddy who was passing through town and looked me up in the phone book and dropped by. I hardly recognized the guy. He has lost probably 40 pounds of muscle since I last saw him almost 9 years ago. He was a former pro bull rider before PT school and has since given it up for ultra-running.
During school, he and I did a few triathlons along with another buddy of ours. We were all pretty competitive with each other, but fairly mediocre during actual races.
Since that time, he has run a couple of dozen marathons, 3 or 4 50 mile trail runs and last year did the Leadville 100 (running race, not cycling). He qualified for Boston the last 2 years and in 2007 actually ran for several miles with Lance Armstrong. (he claims he carried on a coversation with Lance - "Hey, you're the man, Lance." "Thanks".) His PR was last year at Philadelphia at 2:50!!!
Our other friend has done 2 full Ironmen Triathlons since grad school and does 3 or 4 halfs every year. he is also a sub 3:00 marathoner.
My current training partner is fully capable of running a 3:15 marathon, I'm sure, but sandbags to stay near me and is training for a 3:30.
Now that I think more about, its probably not so much that I drag them down, but rather inspire them in their fitness goals. I'm an inspiration. Move over Tony Little and Richard Simmons!
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