As best as I can recall the story….. I was walking at the YMCA on the indoor track and trying to run a little bit around the track at the parts where no one can see me, well more like struggle around, and I spot this young guy maybe 24 years old hanging out by the doorway. He looked like he had been working out hard. I glance over and he is pouring sweat with muscles that have muscles. I doubt there is an ounce of fat on him anywhere. I make the turn spot him again, and smile, and keep going. I round the corner,and all of a sudden I feel someone tap me on the shoulder. I pop out my headphones.
“Hi, miss. My name is Nathan.” (Okay two points for calling me miss!)
“Hi, my name is Chris, I am really sorry, am I walking in the wrong lane? I thought the arrow was going this way. ”
Nathan: No, not at all. I just have been watching you. You seem to be here a lot of the times when I am here. I saw you working with the weights and I told my workout buddy that I give you a lot of credit. You seem to be trying really hard. You trying to get back in shape? I see you have a trainer sometimes. I saw you earlier on the chest press machine constantly cranking it up ten pounds each time. That’s great.
Me: wow! Thank you so much, yes I am trying really hard. I never was in shape at all! But yes, I am trying to make some changes. I know I could never lift or press what you do! I am just trying to work at it, get better, you know?
Nathan: I think you are doing great at it. Just keep pushing, and it will get better. Anyway, I see you trying to run here, and I see you are struggling some. I see you walk a while and then run. I hope you don’t mind that I noticed that you seem to favor your right leg when you run and I wondered if you have had problems with your left. I was just thinking that is going to hurt after awhile. You are off balance. You always land better with your right leg than the left. Even when you walk you do that.
Me: I had no idea I was doing that. You see, I had back surgery a number of years ago and I do tend to favor that side because it had hurt less. The trainer always tells me use both legs and I am trying to be conscious of that. I am working with a chiropractor because I am a little off, plus my balance is not the best. And I lost a hundred pounds……(told him my story.) and well, I just want to try new things, like running a little. I don’t think I could run a marathon, but I want to try to get better at this. I want to things I missed out on.
Nathan: That’s amazing! You wouldn’t catch my parents in here let alone doing what you are. I am studying fitness and I was watching you the other day when I was running. I thought maybe you had an injury. You know I think you could run better if you got that straightened out and you just kept at it. How about we try together for a little? I can show you what I see you doing and then we can run here together a little. I mean I feel bad for you, you are trying so hard and if you were my mom I hope someone would help her. (Okay more points for being a nice guy and caring about your mom)
Me: ummmmm…. Nathan? You are what, like six foot three? I am not even five foot. My running is going to be like a little step for you. I don’t want to hold you up. I will be huffing and puffing and you won’t even be brisk walking. I can’t even do the whole track yet once. I am pretty new to this. You are really tall…. You take one leap and it will take me six to catch up.
Nathan laughing: You are kind of short compared to me but I don’t care, I don’t mind. I would be happy to help you a little. I see you want it bad, and it gets discouraging when you can’t do things. I know how it is. In high school, I didn’t make a couple of teams because of skills I didn’t have, and I felt bad. I got really frustrated. You ever played sports?
Me: ummmm nooooooo… Ha ha, in high school, I could barely walk and chew gum. I am not very physical, never was. Guess I am trying to make up for it now. I am a late bloomer. Ha ha!
Nathan: Wow good for you! Why not start in your forties, right? It’s never too late. (you think I am in my forties? I love this kid!)
Well it turns out Nathan was on to something! I was favoring one leg and all of a sudden things were even with both feet doing equal amounts of work. He showed me how to use my arms equally and to be conscious of how my feet land because it turned out one was not doing the same work. All of a sudden, my distance was better. Not great, but better. My endurance picked up a little and it was better… It was all better… Not great but better!
Nathan: Just remember to keep your left foot doing the same work. Looks like you got it now! Hey there’s my friend! Eric, this is the lady we see in the weights all the time, this is Chris. Chris was just telling me……Well I am sure I will see you here, Chris! Just keep at it, seems like you have the drive for it. You are trying and that’s the main thing in this. It was nice working with you. Who knows right? Maybe I will make your blog.
I hugged him… All six foot three of him with his muscles on muscles… He thanked me and wished me well….. His parents should be proud…. Hope you found my blog, Nathan. You made more than the blog, you made my day!