Flying Solo
customImage
Gabe Jimerson from Richmond, Virginia doesn’t mind flying solo.
Consistency and repetition might be the two most important habits of a successful athlete. While not glamorous and often overlooked, the athlete who quietly chips away at improving skills and physical fitness with years of regular training and exercise ends up the fittest, strongest, and most skilled.
One consistent sight during the 2019-2020 school year was Gabriel Jimerson pulling his headphones over his ears and running laps around MSA’s 800-meter main entrance loop. Hot days, cold days, rainy days, sunny days—it didn’t matter. At 3:15 PM, Gabe was running alone at a steady pace past Old Main’s portico, Caton Hall’s bell tower, and the Head of School’s house. Lap after lap, day after day, month after month, Gabe ran nearly three miles and then completed a dynamic stretching routine. Each day, he got fitter, leaner, and stronger. Each day his peers would notice his efforts less and less because the consistency of his workouts became as regular as the ringing on the hour in the school’s iconic bell tower. Gabe’s workouts seemed like clockwork.
For Gabe, his daily routine is purposeful. As a student-athlete, Gabe has dreamed of playing college basketball for many years. His daily runs and workouts help him build the fitness that will allow him to achieve this goal.
“With team sports on hold across the globe due to the coronavirus, many athletes are struggling to find motivation to train without the thrill of competition and the camaraderie of teammates. For Gabe, his consistent personal routine has taught him that competition can be a solo pursuit—a lesson that is more relevant than ever right now. ”
We sat down with Gabe to learn more about his goals and motivations.
How long have you been doing your daily training routine and where did you get the idea?
At the beginning of the school year, I did strength and conditioning but our coach had us just doing conditioning or running every day after school. I would always tell myself If I was not forced to be out here doing this running, I wouldn't be doing it everyday. Once the season started, I decided to continue running everyday because I didn't want my cardio to diminish. While running everyday helps me stay in shape, it is more, at least for me, about having mental toughness. Everyday I go out and run and everyday it's hard. I believe the hardest part about running is actually not the running itself but rather the decision beforehand to go out there and do it to begin with. That is the hardest part is making myself go do it because I don't want to. It's hard. It's uncomfortable. It’s not always fun, but I still make myself do it. It builds mental toughness.
In addition to the physical conditioning, how does this solo training help you as a student-athlete?
Running day after day after day builds something in you that you can't get anywhere else. Doing things that are hard to do or that are tough over and over again helps teach you to push yourself past limits when no one is watching.
What are your goals in school and athletics?
The overarching goal for me has always been to play basketball in college. I have always been a student-athlete and put my studies first; however, I don't know what things would be like without basketball. I enjoy having the added stress of being a student-athlete.
Is time alone important when participating in a team sport like basketball?
I have always enjoyed working on my own. I feel when I'm alone that I can focus on what I'm doing without any distractions. I don’t have anyone to compare myself to or to compete against. I have always felt that I am my biggest competitor, and I compete my hardest against myself. I feel like I can be very efficient with what I do when I am alone.
What do your teammates think of your routine? Do they ever ask to join?
All of my teammates know I run everyday, and while some of them definitely think I am crazy for running so much, I know all of them understand why I do it. They know that I want to be the best version of myself, and that I am willing to do whatever it takes to be that person.
