When I was a kid, Rocky Balboa was my hero. My dad used to play the theme from Rocky on the way to swim meets and we’d watch Rocky movies the night before any big meets. Over the years, I’ve used that song and Eye of the Tiger to pump myself up before I had to swim. I need only hear the first few notes and my pulse quickens and I can feel a surge of adrenaline. During a race, when I felt my strength starting to wane, I’d use the images from the movie and sing the song in my head to overcome grueling fatigue. Being a swimmer, I never got to hear the song while I worked out in the pool, so I make sure it’s loaded onto my iPod when I work out at the gym. It’s much easier to finish a set or finish running if I’m listening to Rocky.
Today I was finishing up my last set of abs at the gym. I was laying on the floor when Rocky came on. I said out loud “Oh fine. A day late and a dollar short. I could have totally used Rocky when I was running.” Steve leans over and peers at me and says “Yeah that’s sort of like the theme song to Rocky coming on AFTER Apollo Creed kicked Rocky’s ass. It was totally too late to do any good. This workout has totally kicked your ass.”
