2016 AirBNB Brooklyn Half Marathon
It was the end of 2012, and unlike other recent college graduates, I had no clue who I was. I left a solid Job in Buffalo NY to move back home and do something? I lacked an identity, a purpose, and a plan. I couldn't find a f* to give about myself. With College in the rearview mirror, I had not the slightest idea of who I was, where I was going and how I would get there. I was a former Collegiate Athlete, who for the first time in their life, wasn’t an active athlete. Before I could afford an iPhone, before I knew of a Nike Running Club App, I would just leave the space I was crashing at and go for runs. I didn’t have a plan, I had no idea of my pace and no concept of how far I was going. I also didn’t know that this journey I had embarked on would be the start of something special and life changing. But first it had to hurt.
It was early in 2013. I was driving on the Belt Parkway heading home from my then Girlfriend’s house. I was tired from a day of work, then hours at the gym in preparation for the NFL’s Regional Combine. I switched lanes as I approached the Kings Plaza exit, and the car ended up halfway up a tree. I was listening to Club Paradise by Drake at the time of the accident. As my eyes opened and I began to move my fingers and toes, Drake rapped: But believe I remember it all. I heard voices yelling “Stay down, don’t move, are you okay”. I knew I wasn’t dead, so in my head I was fine. Someone must’ve seen the accident and was alert and kind enough to call the ambulance. Once they arrived, the first thing I did was call my then girlfriend and let her know what happened. Then I called my mother. Both were shocked, and concerned at what took place that evening. Neither of them came to see me in the hospital that night. I knew my mother wasn’t coming. She couldn’t, the cab fare wasn’t feasible. I thought my girlfriend would be there, I also thought she loved me. Thoughts become things, I guess. And in the back of that ambulance, as I listened to the EMTs tell me how fortunate I was to be alive, I had a number of thoughts running through my mind. The most pressing of these thoughts: I’m better than this.
The NFL Combine process came and went. I did well but, I just didn’t have what it took to be signed to an NFL roster. I moved on. Still running in the morning to help make sense of it all. I went back and forth in my thoughts. What would I do now? I ended up taking a job working in Digital Sales, and a Part-Time job as a Personal Trainer. If anything, I knew I could help my Mother out with bills, and workout for free on my down time. That still wasn’t enough for me though. You see, many people can live contently with their bills being paid and stomachs full. I’m not that kind of person. I felt miserable sitting at a desk all day. If this was going to be my life, then I wish I would’ve just died in that stupid car accident. Yes I was alive, but I was miserable and felt worthless. Nothing I was doing was good enough. I wasn’t making anyone better. I wasn’t doing all that I could to make the world a better place. Working a job because “that’s what real men do”. I found myself forcing myself to take pride in being a follower. I did things because I wanted the respect of others, but the only person who needs to respect me is the man in the mirror.
2013
Still heading out the house for occasional runs, I decided to Coach Football again at my former High School. I absolutely loved every second of it. When the season ended, I was approached by my now close friend and someone I love, Emilee, to coach Girls Basketball. I grabbed my whistle, clipboard, and the ounce of Basketball coaching experience I had, and attached myself to any and everything basketball related. I played Basketball in College, but I was on scholarship for Football. I grew up playing basketball, like most kids from Coney Island, but I had never coached Basketball, let alone girls Basketball. The challenge was enticing and apparent. I went back and forth in my thoughts about this decision. I ended up coaching that season.
Coaching Girls Basketball taught me patience. One day I will be father, and I believe I’ll be a great one. I’ll credit my success as a Dad to my years of coaching. Specifically coaching Girls Basketball. You see, I had been a Personal Trainer, and founded my company around the time I began coaching Girls Basketball. Before I began doing any of those things, I began running. My experience as a former Collegiate athlete, HS Football Coach, Personal Trainer, Girls Basketball Coach, and Group Fitness Instructor all created a rather strong resume for me. One that I didn’t take pride in, because I was too busy denying my purpose. Running helped me put things all together. Those runs to nowhere, back in 2012, turned things around for me. These days I am still coaching. I’m also the Head Trainer at NIKE/Jordan Brand, Fitness Model at Silver Models Management, Health Contributor at Askmen.com and Huffington Post. As well as the Founder of the GOODWRK training collective.
It’s not easy figuring things out. It’s not easy making sense of life’s circumstances, and making a name for myself. I don’t know where my 2017 will go, or how it will look. I just pray things continue to grow. Believe, I’ll remember it all.
