IT HAS been some time since I wrote a 'stop-and-smell-the-roses' post. You know what I mean: one of those slice-of-life, count-your-blessings, doesn't-it-make-you-think? pieces that may not be about training at all. In fact, they're typically about anything other than training. Everything other than training. The stuff you do, outside of the gym, that helps you better appreciate life.
It was maybe three years ago that I built a greenhouse. I did so without the aid of a workbench or vice, which made it pretty tricky and occasionally unsafe. But I got it done without losing any digits and was more than a little proud of myself. Well, a few weeks ago I finally invested in a workbench and vice. I bolted the vice to the bench and bolted the bench to my garage wall. I've since set to work installing lattice along the backyard perimeter fence and building some portable planters to go at the base. These planters will soon be filled with soil and grape and passionfruit vines, which in years to come will grow across the lattice, providing privacy and delicious, natural goodies.
Maybe two years ago I planted a peach tree in my front yard. It was purchased from an orchard in the hills, not far from my home town, and is currently about ten feet tall. It sits beside a dwarf mandarin tree that, next year, may be mature enough to bear fruit. And after an extended period of analysis paralysis concerning lighting and nutrients, a crop of hydroponic tomatoes should also be in the offing in early twenty-twenty-three. For me, there is something both nutritionally and metaphysically nourishing about a sustainable fruit and vegetable garden. The local fauna love it too - so much so that I'm going to install a birdbath once the planters are done.
Two, maybe three months ago, I met a couple of youngsters who were new to the sport of Strongman and weren't afraid to train hard. When I say 'youngsters' I'm talking mid- to late-twenties. I'm pretty sure... Anyway, one of them has managed to stick with a semi-consistent events training schedule despite working twelve hour days. I've been putting him through his paces and will be increasing the intensity in the weeks leading up to his next competition, in mid-July. In fact, it's nearly game day.
About maybe a week ago, I was dropping my empty bottles and cans at the recycling depot. The fella at the window, who asked me if it was cash or scheme, pointed at my vehicle with more questions spilling from his mouth.
"You live around here, yes? I see this van around."
"Are the panels and rims custom or did you buy it this way?"
"What did you do to make it sound like this?"
"What for is the tank in the back?"
I spent the next several minutes discussing with this fella the many good reasons for tuning and water/methanol-injecting a turbo diesel engine. I gave him a business card and told him to get in touch if he was serious about giving his Nissan Patrol the same treatment, I could point him in the right direction.
A few days ago, I guy who works at my local asked me for a business card. His uncle, who I'm better acquainted with, had told him I was a coach. This fella showed me some pictures on his phone from afew years ago, when he was around forty kilograms lighter. He asked me if I could help him get back to that.
The thing is, I might have a conversation similar to this one every month or so, and more frequently in previous years. Apart from the bro-clusters that would occasionally coalesce when training at globo-gyms, and an inordinate number of daytime security guards, these conversations were had with people from all walks of life and a wide range of ages, shapes and sizes.
At the end of each of these conversations, I would hand the person I'm speaking with a business card and tell them to get in touch. If they wanted a program, I would tell them to first email me their current best 1RM numbers or link me to a template, blog or videos that will provide more information. If they were totally new to lifting, I would recommend an in-person training session where we can go through the basics and I can get some indication of their current strength and mobility.
After about a decade, I can count on one hand the number of times one of these people has actually called or emailed, and have fingers to spare. But I got a different impression from this guy. I hope he gets in touch. I am starting to warm to the idea of coaching again.
