The Truth
When you spend three decades doing essentially the same movements over and over, training hard and heavy, weighing over 250 pounds (just a random number I tossed out), and training around and through injuries, you will pay a price. A very quick guess would indicate that over the past 35 years, I have performed over 7,500 training sessions. Out of these 7,500 sessions, I have performed, on average, way more than one million loaded repetitions. While I'm not 100% sure, I do not think our joints were made for this. I also feel that how hard you push yourself is a big factor.
HOWEVER - MANY - MANY - MANY lifters do get away with it, and this is where I feel that your family history and bone structure come into play. But the thing is, there are MANY factors that all come into play—there is no way you can point to just one and say, "that's it." When I am asked why this happened, the only real answer is: a lot of reasons.
This brings up the next BIG question that has been part of all these conversations and emails...
Was it worth it? and...
Why do we keep doing it?
I think this is very personal for everyone, but I would be lying if I said I hadn't asked myself this questions many times over the past few months.
Years ago, I used to joke with others lifters about how it didn't matter how I would feel when I was 40 or 50 years old, and if I pushed hard enough, I hoped that all of my joints would need to be replaced.
Whatever it takes!
This was an awesome philosophy back then. Now that I am living this, I'm not quit sure how I feel about it. I sure as hell am not as excited about it as I once was, but I would also be lying if I said I didn't realize that there would be a price to pay
Was it worth it?
I have always thought of the song The Dance from Garth Brooks when I'm asked that question.
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
The Ride
I may have suspected, I may have underestimated, but I am glad I didn't really know at the time because as I get older, I see that there are not many things that really end well. EVERYTHING burns out, fades away, and dies.
Recently I was asked, "If you have ONE piece of advice to offer aspiring lifters what would it be?" My first replay was "Get Out", we laughed and then I really thought about the question. Sheena was in the gym at the time and I found myself looking to her for help on how to answer this. The look on her face didn't provide any clue to and she looked just as interested in my answer as the two guys who asked.
In my mind, I thought of "The Dance" and then knew how to answer. I asked each one of them what their objectives were as the answer depends greatly on if they want to compete or not and if they want to lift with the best of the best or simply just try to be their best.
Their Dance is not mine, yours or anyone ease's, it's theirs and it's a "Hell of a Ride" to take.
Lift Hard! Get Tight! Push Hard! and give everything you got because when you do this, you will find incredible things you never could have imagined. Extraordinary things—memories and character that will carry you through your entire life!
It can all be (and one day will be) taken away from you, but extraordinary memories last a lifetime.
Be Extraordinary!
I have no regrets and will find a way to keep training hard and doing what I love to do (modifications are part of life). I feel extremely lucky that I found something I love so much and I'm willing to pay the price—and I KNOW exactly what that price is.
I will end this with a message I received from Coach X - Buddy Morris after my hip was replaced.
Welcome to the world of "fucked up beyond all reason" (fubar). It just goes to show how hard we have pushed our bodies, and I wouldn't do it any different, if given the opportunity. You can either be laid to rest peacefully or slide into the grave screaming "wow what a fucking ride. " I choose to ride!!!!! You're the best.
- Buddy
Over time our ability changes, but as long as the passion stays the same, we will always find a way to be extraordinary.