May 15th 2009 marked my one year anniversary of committing to (near-) daily exercise. In my quest for finding the work-exercise- motherhood (and "spousehood") balance and having just bought my first road bike a few months ago (October 2008), I decided to hire a tri coach on May 1st. However, dear friends, have compassion for the tri coach as she will have to deal with this Greek chick's cultural background. Allow me to speak for me and my fellow Greeks: we love challenges... but as soon as we feel we are being herded onto a linear track, we get (and often act upon) an urge to make a zig-zag to the finish line, for no apparent reason whatsoever. I realized this urge when years ago--high school-- I got a D in English b/c I butted heads with the teacher who required an outline submitted 2 weeks prior to submission of any paper. I did not comply-- I would submit them together. (My rationale: not everybody thinks in outlines! Some writers can put thoughts on paper and then organize.) Needless to say, my friends who followed the rules got in to Nat'l Honor Society that year and I did not. However thank God even mediocre public high schools such as mine sometimes have a few truly dedicated teachers who have no interest in imposing a process. Phew! --After that, blew away AP English! Also, thank God, the greatest college on the planet, Vassar, recognized this kind of MO (and it helped to have some great grades after that stalemate) and accepted me. So, sure following the straight and narrow path is the most direct, efficient way, indeed, but not the only way to reach the finish line. Consider the alternative a "scenic route". Perhaps that is why triathlon is so popular--the training doesn't feel "linear". Perhaps that is also why trail running and off-road cycling are so appealing-- no two steps (or pedal strokes) are alike. And perhaps that is why I love my own specialty, Ob/Gyn, as it affords "scenery", albeit within a narrow path--labor (and even surgery) is so interesting because the patient's unique physiology and personality plays a role in making every single event extraordinary.
Now I have a lovely plan set up with a terrific coach. Note to coach: I'll do my best to follow it to a T, but ummmmm... a pseudopod just might sprout to test the waters outside the plan... oh yes, risk for injury, etc (why else would someone voluntarily veer off course-- to be safe?-- um, nooo!). Yes, sure I want to go for Alcatraz and a half-ironman in 2010, but given my track record for having to follow rules to get there ... "You can take the Greek out of Greece..."
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Yea, Greeks and imposed structure don't mesh very well: I am intrigued by the idea of a structured program just like I yearn for a morning routine, but the minute I have one, I rebel against it (even if it's self-imposed).
Apparently, it does work though so I may be trying it myself.
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