Training --- Aunt Louise : Motivation for Training (The Sayings of Derek)

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Motivation for Training (The Sayings of Derek)

I've just added a "gadget" (the column to the right of the regular posts) to this blog with some of my favorite sayings of Derek Soanka, who has been my trainer since January 2013.

I met him when I attended my third cycling class ever, at the 24-Hour Fitness club at Tech Center in Vancouver.

I had committed to ride with my sisters Neva and Laura the following June, and I was nowhere near ready. I'd gone to a couple of cycling classes and one body pump class at the gym, and I knew only one thing about preparing for that bike ride: I had no idea how to do it.

Derek was subbing for the regular teacher that day. He began the class by saying, "I know you're used to [that teacher's name], and she has no standards and no discipline. But that’s okay, because with me you’re going to get both."

By the end of that class, I knew he was the person who could help me prepare get ready for the Huntsman 140. I gathered up my courage to talk to him. I said, "I'm going to ride a bike 140 miles in the Utah desert in June, and I need help." He said, "I think I can help you with that." He took my phone number and called me later, and we set up my first training appointment.

He got me to make a commitment: cycling class at 5:30 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, plus training sessions with him. Ever since then, twice a week whenever I can, and once a week at the very least least, I've been trusting him with my training.

He takes the training seriously, even though he makes it fun (and he has a great sense of humor**). That's part of the motivation, after all. Another motivation is getting results: I've gone from not making it through even a one-minute "out-of-saddle" segment of a cycling class to being able to keep up most of the time, through most of the classes. And when I slow down, when I don't try my hardest, there's no excuse, is there.

I'll keep adding more sayings as I think of them. Do they motivate you? They work for me!

**Here's something he said in a recent cycling class, as the song "Heaven" by Bryan Adams was playing: "I just love this song. It’s almost like heaven. And if you close your eyes and hold your breath long enough, you’ll be in heaven, too. And, don't worry, I know CPR."

1 comment:

LFPFebruary 14, 2014 at 8:54 AM
Love it!
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The Sayings of Derek

Here are just a few of the funny, unique, sometimes maddening, but always motivational sayings of Derek, the trainer who has helped me for more than a year now, from his early-morning spin class, boot camp class, and small group training:

---Your feelings do not matter. Your feelings do not produce success. So focus on what does produce success. Suck it up and drive on. Hammer it out.

---This is nothing but a challenge. This is a test, and I don't think you can do it. But prove me wrong.

---Now we're starting a 19-minute hill. Is that extreme? Yes, it is. Because I'm an extreme person. My philosophy is that if something is only worth doing in moderation, it's not worth doing at all.

---See if you can keep up with me. Trust me. I will smoke you.

---Come on! Come on! Don't waste your time!

---Tempo! Tempo! Tempo!

---There are two groups of people in this class: those who are not trying for a specific fitness goal, and that's fine---and those who have a goal, and they THINK they're working hard for it, but they're not.

---I'm trying to motivate people, and tell them how they can do better, but sometimes I wonder, why don't they get it --- when I'm looking right at them?

---You got up and came here at 5:30 in the morning, and you're not trying your hardest? Then what are you doing here? You're wasting your time.

---Quit your crying and start trying.

---You didn't get less than three hours of sleep because your newborn baby was crying. Nah, that's not your excuse. That's my excuse. You don't have an excuse.

---I'm not telling you to grab a drink. You're adults. You know when you're thirsty, and I shouldn't have to tell you to get a drink.

---I'm working harder than you, and this isn't even my workout.

---Don’t let me be more committed to your fitness goals than you are. That’s pathetic. But here’s a hint: Try to keep up with me. If you’re not sure what to do, watch me. Follow me.

---You need to get rid of that wishbone and replace it with some backbone.

---This is all performance based.

---This is all about effort. You get out what you put in.

---What? Your legs hurt? My legs hurt, and my lower back hurts. The only difference between you and me is I don’t care. I push past the pain.

---You may be saying, Oh, I’m not in shape. But it’s not physical, it’s mental. It’s all mental. Yeah, I’m in your head now.

---Why are you going so slow? This ain’t a walk in the park.

---Trust me. I’m gonna work you hard. I’m just here to help you.

---The only difference between you and me is time and effort.

---You can’t achieve victory without a struggle. You have to really own it. What price are you willing to pay, what pain are you willing to accept, to achieve victory?

---Keep the hammer on. Press it down.