Old Man Fitness: The athlete's balance of confidence and humility

by Alex Hollings · November 19, 2017

In a number of ways, your fitness journey is a selfish one. While we all recite the list of external reasons to work out, like living a long and healthy life for our families, you can’t deny a certain degree of narcissism is at play as you sweat and toil to reach a new and improved version of yourself. That egotism isn’t a bad thing; it can serve as the motivation you need to get you up and moving in the morning, or give you that last bit of momentum required to get the bar back up onto the rack instead of dropping it on your pretty face. Ego can drive the change that genuinely does offer those external benefits, but it’s important to remember not to relinquish the driver’s seat to your sense of pride, otherwise you may end up doing more harm than good.

When I first started training as a fighter, I walked into the empty hanger that the Commanding General of 29 Palms had seen fit to bestow upon the Marine Corps’ first ever mixed martial arts team. I strode with a sense of confidence I’d gained through balling up my fellow Marines in informal tournaments for a few years, and before that from being one of the tougher kids in my group of friends growing up. I knew I could fight, and although I was confident that the guys that had been training for longer might have the advantage in skill, in my mind, none of them had my secret weapon: a complete disregard for my own safety. I figured that lack of self-preservation had earned me all sorts of tough guy accolades thus far, so If I couldn’t out-fight them, I sure as hell could out-tough them.

Those of you who have spent time learning to fight (whether for competition or war) might already recognize the mistake in mindset I carried with me into that hanger. I was supposed to be going in there to learn, not to fight, but in my mind I didn’t really see the difference.

About Alex Hollings

Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects ranging from fitness to foreign policy, all presented through the lens of his experiences as a U.S. Marine, athlete and scholar. A football player, rugby player and fighter, Hollings has spent the better part of his adult life competing in some of the most physically demanding sports on the planet. Hollings possesses a master's degree in communications from Southern New Hampshire University, as well as a bachelor's degree in Corporate and Organizational Communications from Framingham State University.

Also from Alex Hollings

BECAUSE, FACTS DON'T TAKE SIDES

Your Subscription Supports Honest News Efforts

TRY 4 WEEKS FOR $1.99

Join our community. To comment on this article please join/login. Here's a sample of the comments on this post.

Tessa Shmessa
Wow, Kate! I so hope that your back heals fast & well and you can get back to running. You must be a very patient person. Good for you for remembering that sometimes we have to go back to the basics. First things first! I'm not sure if non-load bearing is appropriate for this - I hope not, I can't imagine that. I will ask the podiatrist but she seems pretty set. Now that I hear about your experience, I'm grateful to be able to do some of the things I enjoy. Longer distance trail runs are still really appealing and I'll keep studying.. I mean, I get the basic training part where you build up your mileage, actually run on the trails and look out for rocks and tree roots, etc, and I've done some training on the trails here, but I want to learn the really technical things like, what's the best method for long downhills? What about sustained uphills? What's the best and most efficient form? Any special breathing methods on rugged terrain? How should I fuel? What's the best gel? Best gear to carry? You have to pack lighter than you would for a day hike but more than for a shorter run. I'm not interested in the Javelina Jundred or anything (but enjoyed watching footage of this year's race) but am more interested in organized trail runs than in road races. They're boring, and it's hard to stay engaged on asphalt. There are some local groups I've got my eye on for when my foot heals. It would be a good way to learn the technical aspects and to make buddies for trail runs :) Good luck in your healing! Cheers, Tessa
Alex Hollings
Hahaha you have my eternal gratitude just for spending some time talking 80s movies with me in general! I haven't seen it, but just added it to my que now! Thanks!!
Kate C
Icarus. On Netflix. Watch it before it disappears.
Kate C
Oh wow you’ve been on the same sucky ride! I didn’t mention this in my earlier post, but the same year I got the stress fracture, I also got Lyme Disease. I’ve had to work really, really hard on more ways than one to come back at all. My tibia is pain free now so technically I can run and do some decent mileage again, but I find if I do that my back flares easily. I’ve just in the past couple of weeks realized I need to remember the first lesson I learned and quit running entirely while the back heals and then return slowly. The trick for me with the stress fracture was going non-weight bearing. It didn’t heal until they put me down completely. Then when I started running again I came back really really ridiculously slow. As in only a mile a day for several months, then very gradually working my way up from there by half miles until I could do 8 or 9 pain free. It was a really long process - about two years total - but really effective. I know nothing about neuromas, but I wonder if a non weightbearing period followed by a VERY long, slow build up would heal it for good. Good luck! Stay tough.
Kate C
Alex - I think it’s safe to say we’re over analyzing 80’s movies here, and while I deeply respect your opinion on this subject, I must maintain my stance on Johnny and Cobra Kai. Haha. I didn’t hate him because he was the superior fighter, I hated him because he and his goons beat up Daniel on Halloween (Halloween, right?). I can’t get excited about any athlete who wins by playing dirty on or off the field. And so funny you mentioned Karate Kid to begin with. After our kid gave the warning shot at the soccer tournament, I literally said, “Sweep the leg!” Every parent around me knew the reference. Side note, have you seen the Russian doping documentary on Netflix? Must watch. Can’t remember what it was called, but the pic of Putin on the cover caught my eye. What started out as one thing turned into something much bigger. It was fascinating.