OK, so let me clear the delusions you may have that Scottsdale personal trainers are good at every single sport and physical activity. It simply is not the case! As a Scottsdale personal trainer, I am constantly feeling the expectation to be a rock star at everything and anything physical. It’s like expecting an English teacher to always use perfect grammar when speaking, or write the perfect novel. OR thinking that an IT guy can fix any tech problem out there. Why doesn’t a good model get every gig they audition for? Most people have niches and pockets of what they excel in within their industry. My expertise is building programs for people’s individual muscle gain, or weight loss goals. Not only teaching it, but mastering it for myself. Indeed I can help a runner with their stride, but that doesn’t make me a great runner… I can increase someones vertical jump, but that doesn’t make me a pro at basketball… I can make a dancer more flexible, but not do the middle splits for myself. I have the head knowledge for sports specific training but that certainly does not mean I can play and excel at all sports.

Clearly, I am getting something off my chest. Haha.

When telling people that I will be racing the PF Changs half marathon they seem unimpressed that I am not doing the full, because afterall, I am a Scottsdale personal trainer. Or they just assume it will be a cake walk for me. It kinda makes me chuckle and yet I am agitated. As a personal trainer, I am allowed to work up to something and to get good/better at it. Training for my first half marathon has been so exciting and fun for me. I have honestly enjoyed all the pain and sweat, because I have watched my body adapt to the demands Ive placed upon it. I have felt an increase of endurance, strength and speed. And though people may “expect” me to run it at certain pace or get a certain time, I am going to run it for myself. Pushing towards my personal goal and doing what I expect out of myself…not as a Scottsdale personal trainer, but as a HUMAN BEING!

I hesitated sharing this frustration, but I thought it was a good message to get out. People will always have unfair and unrealistic expectations of you and you have to find out who you are and what you are capable of despite the outside pressures affecting or discouraging you. People may not congratulate you or be proud of you, but it will serve as the litmus test of why you do things. So push on doing what YOU want, whether you are a master at it or not…don’t be scared of failure or worry about other people’s opinions or their recognition. Broaden who you are and step out with transparency and bravery into whatever it is that YOU expect yourself to be and become it!