My Trainings

The more I train, the more I realize that I'm weak.If the words seem familiar, it's probably because it is from "The more I learn, the more I realized I don't know". Or this reminds me a verse from one of the UB-40 song, which I'm sure is not Red Wine. It's another of their hit, which goes like "The more I learn, the more I know more than before." D-uh!

Nevertheless, the first sentence just rings in my mind during gym training this morning. Today is Sunday. Every Sunday, swim training is mainly land training which consists of first, warm up by probably running around the Bukit Jalil National Aquatic Centre say, 6 times. I'd give it an approximate of 200m/round. Then followed by 3 times, 30m of duck walk, frog jump and leap frog. Never fails to kill every dying hope in my thighs. I can be assured the pain would linger way into Monday's lunch. Then comes the abs core training/conditioning. To be honest I don't know the difference but it just sounds good. Basically, this is where you'd exercise your core muscles, which is your abs. Again, sometimes I swear I could hear my abs crying for help. It was during that moment this morning that I realize, crap, I'm turning 27 this year soon, I can't do a proper sit-up, chin-ups and even do that well in the pool. Honestly, I thought land workouts are the ones that I could outdo the kids. Kids? Yeah, my classmates are made up of kids, but more on that later. For abs, we'll do bridge, side bridge on each side and leg bridge, also for each leg. After that, we'll do this workout called "Superman", whereby you lay flat on your stomach and raise your legs and arms for an amount of time decided by the coaches. We do them 3 times in a circuit manner. Just now, the coaches opt for a longer bridge and bypass the others except "Superman." I think I almost cried. Metaphorically speaking.

Then comes the gym for those considered grown-up enough. Hohoho, compared to the rest, I'm way past grown-up. Even during gym, I couldn't maintain myself to carry-out some of the workouts. This again got me thinking, maybe I should start some gym training for myself. I am clearly lacking power and endurance in my muscle, even for my swimming sessions. Fine, I'm bigger than the kids but I guess the power and endurance ratio of their muscle to their body-weight is better than mine.

I started joining this class last late October. One of goals of all time is to see myself having a 6-pecs, and indirectly points towards losing some (lots) weight. Fuelled by ultimate boredom on weekends back then, which mainly consists of waking up late and watching TV all throughout the weekend, I always thought I should go swimming. Somehow I did get the idea if there's competitive training class, I should join. Firstly, because I love sports and have always respected the discipline and dedication of sports person around the world. Secondly, a class would probably motivate me coming back to the class rather than coming and doing workouts on my own week-in week-out and soon enough I'd trailed off into the abyss.Thus I start researching for Olympic-sized swimming pool in KL. In fact I started this research since mid- last year. That time, I hadn't got the idea of doing swimming classes, just looking for a place to do my workouts. I'd figured I can swim, it's sure to waste it by not doing or practicing it. I had in mind to build up my capability of doing a 100 laps again as I could do when I was 14. The only one that I found out to be at least swimmable is Bukit Jalil. Man, that's far! Thus my research continues on and off for around half a year onwards. It was only on that fateful weekend before the last weekend on October that the final straw was dropped on my mental health. I know I am lazy but I'm just not the type that lie around all day. I need to do something, something fun and challenging and if its help me achieve some of my goals, that would just be smashing.I remembered on that fateful Saturday I told myself that I'd just checkout Bukit Jalil to gauge just how freaking far is it. Funnily, despite that, I still didn't do it. Lazy and just doesn't make sense. To be honest, I've long told myself to just checkout that damn place. Who knows I might even find some classes offered there despite the fact all my research online has brought me nothing so far. So I sat around lazing that Saturday and by nightfall, it drove me crazy. I finally did get my ass of to Bukit Jalil the next morning.

Surprise, surprise, it is far and to my utter disbelief, there are classes offered. A few in fact. They were just simple banners outside the Aquatic Centre. I took the details down and I was so excited at the prospect that I went to a cybercafe that evening to checkout their website, instead of just waiting for the next day to use the internet connection in the office.Long story short, I start attending the classes. I still remember I had cramps during my first few classes. These days, I just use that excuse to give myself more rest in between sprints. You have no idea how crazy the classes are. Fine the kids can do it better than me but I just can't handle it. Nevertheless, I promise myself to be honest and complete everything given to me even if it means I'll be last one out of the pool.When I first contacted the Coaches, they warned me that the classes are filled with kids and if I don't mind, sure they don't mind having me around. I told them that as long as the kids, coaches and the parents don't mind, I'm in. I was really set for a proper workout after such a long time. Even then, I knew and understood these kids and coaches are at least semi-pro, yes, they're going to beat my ass off in training, but all that's important is the workout. I am ready to be humbled. (I have no idea that they were that good. I was expected to be beaten up just nicely but they really beat me up good doing the laps in the pool. Still, my humility got me far until today) Even the distance doesn't matter anymore. What would I need all those time at home for anyway? I'm not doing anything! I might as well waste it, if it is a waste of time, hanging around kids and working out.

So far, I'd have to say, it hasn't been an ounce of time wasted on all the classes. I also thought out that these are kids. It's probably not necessary but I thought if I were one of the parents, I wouldn't feel comfortable if a grown-up man gets too close with their kids. Thus I sort of made an agreement with myself that'll I'll stay out as much as possible of the social circle.Last time, when I used to attend swimming classes during my primary and early secondary school years, they were only once a week and for an hour. The classes this time around are 6 times a week, 2 hour a session. I was given the option to come 3 times a week which I thought was and is a better idea. I'm not planning to be a semi-pro swimmer at this age, just melt away enough fats so that I could see my 6-pecs.Alas now I have something to wake up to every Saturday and Sunday morning, and after work on Monday. They are all very tiring but I always feel satisfied after the class, even if I don't think I performed to my maximum that day. The muscle ache and the coldness of the water seems to be worth it. Of course, during earlier days, it was always demotivating to have to wake up and take a long journey and then torture yourself for two hours in humiliation as parents watch this grownup guy being beaten by their sons and daughters. But I always feel good about myself after the class despite the tiredness. Of course, there were just some classes I just had to miss due to laziness. But after some time, you'd realize my day would just be better and worth it when I go training and the results also speak for themselves. I do feel good about myself and now I'm thinking on how I can upgrade my trainings, and now trying to start up my gym sessions back again.

I want to be better. In the end, I just want to be a better person.It does helps me in other aspects of my life/game. My badminton improves tremendously. I seem to enjoy running around the court and become more alert of the shuttlecocks whereabout.In conclusion, my workout timetable would look like:

Monday: Swim
Tuesday: Badminton
Wednesday: Gym
Thursday Badminton
Friday: Gym
Saturday: Swim
Sunday: Gym/Swim

Too much? Overdoing it? To be honest, I'm still bored on most of the time on the weekends. I think I should have at least one more badminton session and maybe add in a futsal game. Now to control my food/nutrition intake.