The Weight of Transition: From Stage to Road
I think it was the great Ronnie Coleman who said:
"Everybody wanna be a Hybrid Athlete but don't nobody want to transition from bodybuilding to marathon training while on a reverse diet."
Just like that—my first chapter in bodybuilding has come to a close. The unexpected success was a gift, and now, as I rest and prepare for a return to the stage in 2025, there’s another goal on the horizon: the marathon I committed to running in October.
The transition has been more difficult than I imagined. Just a week after stepping off the stage at the Toronto National Pro Qualifier, I laced up my running shoes for what I thought would be an easy 5K. But I couldn’t finish it. For context, I’m no stranger to running; I’ve crossed the finish line of a full marathon and several half-marathons in recent years.
The sudden struggle was unnerving. The day after Toronto, I gained roughly 10 pounds—my body, still recovering from the rigors of peak week, seemed unprepared for the added weight. My shins, sore and tender, led me to the Stairmaster, seeking a low-impact refuge.
Yet, there’s beauty in the process and a lesson in the pain. Focusing on active recovery and stretching, I returned to the road this week, pain-free and determined. Marathon training has officially begun. I’m ready to test out my true capability and versatility as a hybrid athlete.
This fall, my journey continues:
The Canada Army Run (Half-Marathon): September 22nd, 2024
Toronto Waterfront Marathon (Full Marathon): October 20th, 2024
“If you seek tranquillity, do less.” Or (more accurately) do what’s essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations: 4, 24.