There’s no such thing as a free lunch

There’s always someone looking for an easier way. It doesn’t matter what field it’s in, shortcutting is happening. We hear stories of age group athletes taking performance enhancing drugs, what in the hell for? To be recognised by a handful of people as “the winner” of some minor category in a sport most of the population don’t even notice. Last year my sixteen year old  son was asking me about the benefits of taking creatine. His mates at school were all talking about it. They were playing rugby or rowing for the school. I believe there are highschool football players on steroids.

It was difficult to not get into “lecturing him”. At that age it’s not easy to have a “blokes” type conversation. I told him, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I pointed out to him. He’s naturally quite muscular compared to his mates. He got that way from the seven years he trained at gymnastics. That was seven years of six to fourteen hours training every week. His mates are wanting to build themselves up to be stronger and look better.

No matter what you might take to get some benefit, there’s very likely to be a side effect. The guys who have a cortisone injection into their knee or hip so they can play in the big game. What will be happening inside that knee or hip joint while you can’t feel the pain?

When we see people taking painkillers in those adds on TV. “For when strong pain strikes”. Chances are, a good night’s sleep or a big drink of water could cure that “strong pain”. The patient is not suffering from a deficiency of Advil. The patient is more likely suffering from a deficiency  of sleep or fluid. The pain may be gone but the problem still exists.

I recently heard of someone who was considering taking Human Growth Hormone, and was asking about the benefits. I asked what sport he was competing in? No sport, he just trains at the gym. He wanted to lose a bit of body fat and build his muscles up, not to compete, just to look good. I believe one of the worst side effects of HGH is the cost. I have to ask, why not just do the work? Live a clean life, eat a good diet, and train hard. How many guys working out down at the local gym are on steroids, just to look good.

I believe the benefits of applying yourself, doing as good a job as possible, far outweigh the benefits of shortcutting. It appears that satisfaction is under rated these days. I’m sure people have been shortcutting forever, but it seems to becoming  a far greater problem. Taking the time to do a job well has huge benefits.

When we race an Ironman race. It’s not just a one day event. It’s the culmination of four or five months work. Patiently putting all the pieces together. So on this one day we’ll be able to use our body to the limits. What we feel when we put that plan into action, is satisfaction. Knowing that we’ve put it all together and completed the job.

For me it’s the most satisfying experience I can have. I guess that’s what keeps bringing me back.