My week at Tough Love Central Station (Part Four)

The third place getters prize

As I was heading out yesterday after training with Cherie, I tried to tee up a session with Mikey for today. But he couldn’t squeeze me in. Must be a good sign he’s an AMAZING trainer if he has clients 5am-1pm with no break. Impressive! He probably could have done something in the afternoon but I couldn’t. My was flight departing at 3pm (yep, all good things come to an end). “I could write you up a cardio circuit on the white board.” “Yeah, okay. Is that my consolation prize? The wooden spoon prize?” (wooden spoon refers to the AFL team who finishes on the bottom of the ladder at the end of the season). “Let’s say it’s the third place getters prize.” After asking when is good time to come in, he said either 8am or after 10am. I decided I’d go in at 8am, as 10am may be getting a bit late to pack up and get myself to the airport.

Thursday 5 Feb

I rocked up at Harper's (for the fourth consecutive day) at about 8:15am and walked towards the bathroom to dump my gear. I walked out, saw Mikey near the boxing bags and said “you’ve done your homework I see.” There it was, in red, “Jules” and my cardio program for the morning. When Mikey had a minute he explained the ‘rules.’ I was to do 1000m on the rower, then four rounds of this cardio circuit on the whiteboard. I was to time myself each time and write my time up on the board (he even had space for me to write it). I had anticipated that I was going to be doing this alone. So, when Mikey said to Lochy (the new trainee at Harper’s, who 'qualifed on Friday' and had only just moved from country Victoria) “can you take Jules through it” I was like 'cool, I do have a trainer today.' Lochy had literally started at Harper’s the same day I did – on Monday. Mikey had, on Monday, introduced us to each other “this is Jules – our new client extraordinaire, and this is Lochy, our new trainer extraordinaire.” Thanks Mikey. That puts just a teeny weeny bit of pressure on us both to ‘perform’ to live up to that title. I’m up for the challenge. I’m sure Lochy is too. Go us!

Ninety percent

I did the 1000m on the rower in 5:03. Now it was time for Round 1 of the circuit. It was pretty straight forward – do this, that, some of these, then that. I heard him say ‘at 90%’ – referring to perceived level of exertion. So, he wanted Jules to go hard. “At what heart rate?” “Don’t worry about that – just go as hard as you can."

I completed the first round in 5:35. Mikey must have been keeping an eye out, “did you decide to do the back stairs again?” “No" I piped up "Lochy stuffed up.” I was meant to finish off each round with another five shuttle runs but Lochy sent me down the back stairs again! Mikey rubbed out the second set of shuttle runs and wrote in ‘back stairs’on the white board. He saw my time and said “your goal is to do a sub 5-minute round.” This was Tough Love Central Station. Easy Street Station was on another train line. There is no easy way to creating-your-best-body. It’s not going to be always fun, either, but you do what you need to do to create the outcomes you seek in your world.

My time for ‘Round 2’ was 5:06. I almost did a sub-5 minutes. I noted that I struggled more at the end, doing the back stairs. Geez, Harper, did you strategically have your gym on Level 1 so there were real stairs to kill clients? ;) I cracked the 5 minute barrier on Round 3, and did a second sub-5 min round to finish up with. I was happy that I had achieved the goal that Mikey had set for me.

Here is Jules - I 'almost' made her chuck on the carpet

I had a little chat with Mikey after.”I answered your question. I emailed it to Craig and Johnny to forward to you.” [The subject was titled ‘Lessons from the Team at Harper’s 2-5 Feb 2009’]. “Good – I haven’t seen it yet. Is it an essay?” “No, it’s in point form.” I bet he was relieved to hear that! On the bottom of the email I had said “Mikey – you better teach me something before I head home! I’ll add it to the list.” I plucked out something to ‘take away’ from chatting with Johnny, Rona, and Cherie and nearly two dozen things from Craig. And, even though Mikey didn’t exactly train me this morning, he did teach me something. It was something I needed to hear too. I needed to get uncomfortable with my training. Three times a week. The reason why today nearly killed me was that I hadn’t pushed myself at that intensity in a long time. I haven't mentioned yet that I ‘almost’ threw up after that last round? Yep, it's true. I nearly did. I hid in the bathroom for a few minutes ‘just in case.’ Too much info? Sorry! I felt really nauseous. The long slow stuff I’ve been doing [on the bike, in the pool and with my run/walk sessions[ is ‘easy’ and ‘comfortable’ for me. While, yes, it has specific aerobic endurance adaptation benefits, I also need to get uncomfortable. It’s how I will get fitter and stronger, mentally as well as physiologically.

It's about YOU

“Can I do that myself? I don’t need a trainer to push me, do I?” I posed to Mikey. “Of course you can. This is about YOU.” So, thanks Lochy for not running down the back stairs with me, for not doing the shuttle runs and the push ups with me. But I did appreciate the verbal encouragement. Thanks for that. I might not have been so lucky with Mikey who actually said he would have sat on the [white equipment] box at the back of the room while I nearly killed myself. Mikey, you truly are a mini-and-younger-version-of-Craig. Harper had told me on Tuesday that I need to be self-motivated, and not become dependent on any one person indefinitely.

Thanks Team Harper

Well guys, that is it. My time at the Harperdome was up. For now. I’ll return in about 6 weeks (mid March) to take up residence somewhere in the vicinity of Bayside Melbourne and to commence my Graduate Paramedic position with Ambulance Victoria. I fly home to Brisbane this afternoon to Get My Shit Together for my move to Melbourne.

To Craig, Mikey, Johnny, Rona, Cherie, Adam and Lochy: Thanks so much for having me and for the warm welcome. The Harperdome has (literally) been my second home for four days. See you all again soon. You’ve collectively taught me a lot. Thanks. If I choose not to apply any of it and continue living a ‘mediocre’ life then that is my issue. This is about me. My choices. My behaviours. My thinking. Likewise, if I choose to apply all of this stuff and live an AMAZING life, then while that still is about me and something I have created for myself, you guys have been a part of my journey and deserve recognition for that. Where is the ‘I’ in Team? There ain't one.

( ) to all of the Team.

When I got home in Brisbane I wrote another email to Craig and Johnny: ‘Highlights from my week @ Harper’s 2-5 Feb 2009’ in the subject thingy. Learning the hard lessons of life ain’t always going to be fun, but I’m all for having fun along the way. And, I’m also all for helping anyone else along the way too.