Mecklenburg’s

Promoting      Recovery and   Opportunity through Mentoring,      Insight,        Support and       Education

In William’s Words

“My Second Wind”

By William Morris

            I had a friend who was very athletic; he loved martial arts.  He saw my interest in martial arts and willingness to learn, and he began to train me.  Every morning we would get up at 5:00am and carry equipment and a punching bag to the park, about a half mile away.  We would get to the park just as the sun began to rise with a very bright light, making shadows of the trees. 

            We would run, strength train, shadow box, and spar.  There was a little “island” of grass in the parking lot and a large open area where I lived out my fantasies of being the greatest kung-fu fighter ever.  This particular “island” in the middle of the parking lot was about ¼ of a mile around.  To participate in the daily workout, I would have to run or jog around the “island” 12 times, a total of three miles.  Determined to learn the kicks and stances, there was no way I was not going through with this 3 mile run.   However, about half a mile into my first run, I started to realize that I didn’t have that same resolve for running.  In fact, I am now telling myself what a bad idea all of this running was, and how I never liked martial arts that much anyway.  Paul Jones, the guy who was training me, ran along side of me that first day and every day thereafter.  When he saw the “I’m about to give up” look I had, he informed me that I had a “second wind.”  Now, I didn’t know what that was at the time and since I was feeling like I was about to pass out, I needed to know quickly!

            Paul told me that if I were to take a deep breath, slow my breathing, and continue past my present discomfort, then the shortness of breath, and my pain, which I was really feeling by now, would go away.  What he said sounded crazy at the time, but there were no other options.  I struggled on for a few moments, and as I continued, sure enough, I soon found a rhythm and stride that allowed me to complete the run. I can still run three miles today.