colintimberlake.comTell her it wasn’t you…

TODAY’S TRAINING INSPIRATION:
SAMIR BANNOUT

For inspiration today, we turn to Samir Bannout, former competitive professional bodybuilder who has made some notable contributions to the sport. The human body is what it is, so it can be difficult to make a notable and groundbreaking contribution to the field, but Bannout did manage to do so in some regards.

While the sport at its pinnacle is characterized by symmetry and proportion, some bodybuilders do become known for setting a standard in one particular area, causing those that follow to attempt to emulate that level of development.

Tom Platz was known for quadricep development. Arnold was the master of proportion and sculpture. In Bannout’s case, his lower back definition was largely what led to the coining of the term “Christmas Tree” to describe the muscles of the middle-lower back.

To this day, all professional bodybuilders now pay great attention to development of the “Christmas Tree.”

But Bannout’s most notable contribution does not lie in that particular innovation. A glimpse at Bannout’s career suggests that he stands as the definition of persistance and self-improvement in pursuit of one’s goals. His placements in the Mr. Olympia competition, year after year, on the way to his eventual victory as the world’s premier bodybuilder in 1983, attest to this fact:

1980: Mr. Olympia – 15th
1981: Mr. Olympia – 9th
1982: Mr. Olympia – 4th
1983: Mr. Olympia – 1st

Rare is the athlete that will push himself continually for years to accelarate at such a pace and become the best in the world, even if only one time.

Race Day is now fast approaching. It is time that I complete a 5K at something other than a brisk jog and make sure that I have not lost my training gains from my earlier running before the back began to give out. Come hell or high water, I will maintain a decent pace and get this train back on the tracks. After all, it’s just pain.

TODAY’S PERFORMANCE

5K Run Time: 20:11

iPod songs during training (shuffle):
1. Huey Lewis and the News – The Power of Love
2. Information Society – Walking Away
3. INXS – Good + Bad Times
4. Jelleestone – Money
5. John Parr – Restless Heart
6. John Mellencamp – What if I Came Knocking
7. WWF – Real American

TRAINING NOTE

All right, that’s more like it. I did the first 1.13 miles at 10 mph, the next mile at 9.5 mph, and the final mile at 9.0 mph. It hurt quite a bit for the back, but it had to be done. In each case, I slowed down a half-mile-an-hour when it felt like I was nearing my limit of discomfort at the current pace. When I was done the 3.13 miles, though, I still felt like I had something left. I don’t think a personal best on race day is out of the question. I’ll do a few more 5K runs over the next few days and then try to give the back as much rest as it can get before I throw down on the big day.

HOLD UP…ROUND 2

5K Run Time: 21:58

iPod songs during training (shuffle):
1. Kenny Loggins – Danger Zone
2. Kenny Loggins – I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)
3. Kelly Clarkson – Miss Independent
4. Khaled – We Taking Over
5. The Killers – Somebody Told Me
6. Kim Wilde – Say You Really Want Me
7. Kim Wilde – Another Step