Time is going by and each day before the next show is precious. Each day is another day to train hard and to excel, to push your body to the next level of strength and appearance. The workouts are so intense that finishing becomes a singular goal. Fatigue, sweat, pain are the hallmarks of my march to the Nationals in Pittsburgh 20-23 July 2016. Of necessity, these elements will manifest themselves everytime I step into the gym to train. Nothing can get in my way!
I have trained long and hard to be in a position to “deserve” to be on stage next to some of this country’s great amature bodybuilders. The evidence of the journey have added mightily to my physique from even a year ago. I’m bigger, more dense, leaner, more cut and much stronger. These changes have been noticed by many of my friends, relatives, and colleagues and they regularly tell me how good I look. These unsolicited compliments are ever so welcome and they make me feel more confident and good about my chances to do well in July. In fact, it’s pretty “heady” stuff.
The reality and the challenge is that I do not depend on the opinions of others to validate my improvement or whether I am ready to jump up on stage to compete against several worthy athletes. Being “good” is only a starting point and cannot be trusted. It’s just a descriptor of our present status and by itself, will not be enough to win. The real wisdom is knowing that there is always a demand to be “better” because this same demand is also part of the mindset of all of my fellow competitors. The essence of the contest is for each competitor to be “better” than anybody else who steps onto the stage with us. This idea of being “better” must totally occupy my mind and drive me forward each and every day. There is no room for a half-hearted attitude or effort. Paul “Bear” Bryant, Hall of Fame Football Coach for the University of Alabama once said, “Winning?! Hell, everybody wants to win. But, winning belongs to him who “PREPARES” to win.” Thus, I go about the business of “PREPARING” to win—-each and every meal, supplentation regimen, workout, cardio session, and the rest I an required to get each night.
As always, there are only two people I need to make happy in this quest. First, my wife. She is the backbone of all that I do. She cooks all the right food for me to eat. She does endless hours of cardio right beside me in the living room on our eliptical machines. She whispers in my ear that she believes in me, even when I don’t believe in me. She pushes me harder to be better during training by talking to me and telling me to do more when I want to quit. She, by her very nature and commitment to us is the torch that ignites a brand new me to emerge on this journey.
Secondly, my Coach Justin Dees. He continues to believe that I am improving and that I can be pretty good. He sets the tone for the win and monitoring my every improvement and gain. He can be critical as only a Coach can be. He asks alot of me and depends on me to do the work that is required to excel and so I keep at it. Justin is the Maestro and I play to nobody else. My appearance, my performance, my winning is under constant surveillance by the best Coach I have ever had. Lord willing, I will not disappoint either my wife or Justin. I cannot do any better than this. Winning will take care of itself.
I am “GOOD” but I must be better than I have every been before. This is my quest and I dare not shrink from the challenge. I will be at my absolute best as I step onto the “stage of Contest” in Pittsburgh.
This is “OUR TIME.” Thank you for coming along on this march to be “BETTER”, I doubt that you will regret the trek.
Until next time.
Douglas E. Graham, Lt Col, USAF, (ret.), MHSM
Six Pack and Senior 