Going Solo or Secret Training?

There have been occasions when my training buddies accused me of secret training. What is secret training exactly? Does it mean training in isolation? Does it mean training more intensely?

Why are some bothered by your secret training? They may pass remarks like ‘You have been training hard!’ and ‘Somebody has been training secretly!’ What is the intention behind these statements? Do they disapprove of your actions? Do they feel threatened by you? That you may exceed them in performance one day? Or, are they concerned about possible compulsive obsessive behavior on your part? I have learnt that people may balk at how long endurance-athletes train.

I am amazed by friends’ shocked reactions (on social media tools) when they read announcements of my training. Or, they may infer that you have been training hard, because they bumped into you, or saw you pass them by on hurried heels. The chances of being noticed in public are high enough if you travel on regular routes used by many others. It is not like you are sunbathing on a remote part of a deserted island. If you announce your race results or training activities on Facebook or Twitter, it is not private anymore.

So, when did you last train on the quiet? How did it make you feel? How secret did you maintain your exercise regime?

Secrets have their allure. Being confidential is a skill worth developing. It means knowing when to keep confidences. It is about keeping mum. It is also about keeping quiet at the right moments. So, do you partake in secret training?

Photo-credit: Page of article on emusclemag.com