My week at Tough Love Central Station (Part Two)

When I was planning my Melbourne trip I had asked Craig if it would be possible to meet for a face-to-face mentoring session. I suggested that, if we do, that I prepare a 5-10 minute talk for him as a way of me facing my fears of public speaking, of getting uncomfortable in a supportive setting (I didn't think Craig would be someone who bites) and overcoming my shyness. He pencilled me in for 4:30 at Harper's on Tuesday 3 Feb.

Being the procrastinator that I am, I didn't commence working on my talk until errrr the night before we were meeting. "Jules!" My 'issues' are like a chain locked to a fence with me tangled up in it all. My over-thinking, procrastinating and wanting to be perfect are all linked. Very closely.

The topic I chose to talk about isn't important. Not for anyone else other than me.

Tuesday 3 Feb

I was excited for what today held for me. It didn't take me long to realise I was quite sore. (Thanks Rona!) At least that is indicative that my muscles had been sufficiently challenged? I did a bit more 'last minute' work on my talk then headed out the door for a run/walk around Caulfield Park. For two hours (nearly). 1:45 it was. With preparations for my talk still not finished, I felt like I was procrastinating (again) by spending so much time running. I finally finished my talk at about midday'ish. I needed to be at Harper's by 2pm.

A 'lil bit of food education

At 2:00 PM I had a consultation with Adam – Craig's resident food bloke. I wanted some help with my diet – specifically relating to my training: what should I be eating during my long bike rides, should I be inhaling sugar-drinks during my sessions. That kind of thing. We discussed my history, my current eating habits, my likes, dislikes. Adam later emailed me some guidelines and some info about nutrition and hydration in sport. Thanks Adam.

I had some time to 'kill.' Over 1 ½ hours of it. Not sure where all that time went but I jumped on a tready for 10 minutes and then did 30 minutes on the spin bike. Then, I jumped in the shower.

The time was now 4:30 PM

Rule #1. Don't keep the big bloke waiting.

I walked out of the bathroom, looked up at the clock, and smack bang on the dot of 4:30 it was. 'Where did that 20 mins go?' I filled up my 1.25L Super Pump water bottle and then walked towards Johnny's office. I could see [Craig] Harper standing in the doorway, with army shorts on. 'Was I late or was he early?' I thought ;) A big grin was all over his face when he saw me. [What was with all of that?] We head into the lecture room. "Pull up a chair or two or three." Why would I need three, the over-thinker contemplated. I only have one butt, don't I? ;)

CH: "So what are we doing? Do you have anything for me? Do you have questions?"
Jules: "Yep. I have something for you."
CH: "Does it involve food?"
Jules: "No. It involves my computer"
CH: "Aww" (sounding a teeny weeny bit disappointed)
Jules: [after hunting around the room, looking for a mains power supply in the wall] "Do you have power?"
CH: "No. This bit was built after [the main gym floor]."
Jules: "We can do it without my laptop, but it wont have same effect."
CH: "Let's do it without."

I kicked and I squirmed. I wanted to do my presentation with the audiovisual (not that there was any audio, and not even a single image in my nine slide powerpoint show!). "It might run off battery for 10 mins" I said. It didn't even power up. I clearly couldn't have closed it down properly before I ran out the door this arvo. Oops.

We head over to Craig's office. Locked. And he had no key. So Johnny had to run down somewhere to get the key. "Thanks John" Craig beamed. Must admit all of this grinning was contagious. I kept giggling in between trying to answer a few questions he fired at me. "How are you? How's everything going? What's going on?"

Time to face my fear(s)

Jules: "I'm ready to roll now."
CH: "About time."
Jules: "Hi Craig" was my grandeur introduction
CH: "Hi Jules" was the response from my 'rent-a-crowd'!

And then, I launch into it. My talk. My presentation.

It went down well. I got some grins and a few giggles out of him throughout and a "that was good" when I came to the end.

"How did you think you went?" [I like this. Ask-me-what-I-think before you tell-me-what-you-thought] I said that I really thought I was going to be more nervous and scared than I was. "Well yes, I'm kinda scary." "Noooo, I didn't mean that you made me nervous, anxious and scared. This was about me." I said that it didn't feel too good reading word-for-word from my notes. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I have made more eye contact and just talked, instead of read my notes. As for my pissy anxious-scaredy cat voice? That needs to change.

His feedback? I got some really good stuff that I could take away and learn from. I got a 6/10 "considering everything" (read into that as you will, but I think it referred to my under-preparedness secondary to my procrastination and my well, lack of public speaking skills). To be honest I was expecting a 1/10. One mark for 'trying.' For not crying. For not shaking. For not walking out of the room. I sure stumbled on my own words. A lot.

This was a mentoring session?

Then the 'mentoring' started. One after the other, Craig reeled out a whole heap of stuff. About me. I was amazed by how 'well' he knew me.

After 30 years of being a trainer/exercise scientist and a 'life renovator' I guess you have heard it all (almost?). Same issues, different person, different environment. Each time he pointed something out to me, all I could do was nod and agree. He was right. With everything. "You don't wanna hear the truth, but you need to" rang in my ears.

I now had one of two choices. I could take away all this stuff and apply-it-and-change… OR… I could continue doing what I did yesterday and the day before and a decade ago.

CH: "So what have you learnt today?"

I reeled off about five key things from what he had said.

CH: "Yep. Good." And he added one that I left off.

My head was spinning. When I got home I flaked on the couch. I was mentally fatigued. In a good way. Thanks, Craig. Thanks tons ( )

Join me for part three where I have the pleasure of training with Mountain Girl – the lovely Cherie Horne, and a question from Mikey triggers more reflection on today's session with Craig.