Monday, March 16, 2009Picture the most determined fighter you can think of. Hear his alarm clock going off at 4 in the morning, scrambling out of bed and into his shorts and running shoes. Feel the cold and wet of the morning as he goes out the front door into the cold night air. See him break into a run and start down the street. He goes a few miles, then veers into a park for some pullups on the jungle gym, and some situps and squats on the tennis court. He runs to a good hill and does sprints up and down several times.

His workout is unorthodox, strange, but focused. Hard work, smart work, road work; It takes a little of each to get to the success we desire.

Road work is what I call the dirty focus of training. The behind the scenes preparation for the big show. Road work is the foundation under your confidence to achieve what you desire.

Road work helps you develop the confidence to overcome fear, build skill, and blueprint success. There are no shortcuts, you have to do the road work.

Breaking down a skill or need into its parts and training each one individually comprises this philosophy. Injecting passion, determination, and effort are up to you. Building endurance, conditioning your mind, and inoculation of emotional response are the goals of road work.

One example I use is tactical get ups. A tactical get up is where you have been knocked to the ground, and while you defend yourself, you “get up”. I put my body on the floor in various positions, then train getting up. I do this on the living room floor, in the back yard, in my hotel room, against furniture, you name it.

My road work serves two purposes. First, it conditions my legs and core just through the act of getting up, dropping back to the floor and getting back up again. Second, I gain not only strength and endurance through the repetition, but I gain focus and confidence in protecting myself in the process. I build a mental picture of successfully defending myself while getting up. Visualizations help me build a picture of success.

While it would look quite insane to see someone doing this at the Gym, or out in the parking lot, this type of focused training is what I am referring to. It is the difference between those who just survive, and those who excel.

The get-up exercise can also be a great way to visualize other recoveries to setbacks in life. How many times have you been drilled in the face by some news, a job change, or some other life event? Happens all the time. When you hit the floor, how do you plan to get back up? Build a model of training for the realities and possibilities in your life. Do what is necessary beforehand to maximize the possibilities of success.

Consider areas where road work can improve your life:
•Work presentations
•Sales negotiations
•Disagreements in relationships
•Breakups
•Unemployment / Job Change
•Fitness
•Schoolwork

Would doing “road work”, so to speak, help you prepare for the challenges in your life? Would it make you more productive or resilient in your daily efforts?

How about getting on the internet and locating some books related to a job or desire you wish to fulfill in your life. What about getting out and joining a toastmasters club and polishing your public speaking skills? Perhaps you could start downloading some ebooks and seminars to learn skills for a change in employment?

I use this philosophy for physical training also. In recovering from a few surgeries I have found that breaking down some more primal movements has improved my strengths and abilities for activities like surfing, teaching self defense, and kayaking with my kids.

There is no end to the possibilities if you are well prepared for challenges. What are yours? Break down some of your personal roadwork in the comments for others to learn and share.