The Riddle of Steel
Conan the Barbarian is a captive of his hated enemy, Thulsa Doom (played exceptionally well in the movie by James Earl Jones wearing blue contacts). Thulsa’s thugs have just beaten the snot out of Conan, and this conversation occcurs:
Conan: The riddle… of steel….
Thulsa Doom: Yes! You know what it is, don’t you boy? Shall I tell you? It’s the least I can do. Steel isn’t strong, boy, flesh is stronger! Look around you. There, on the rocks; that beautiful girl. Come to me, my child…
the girl jumps to her death
Thulsa Doom: That is strength, boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it? Look at the strength in your body, the desire in your heart, I gave you this! Such a waste. Contemplate this on the tree of woe. Crucify him!
If this is the answer to the riddle of steel, I don’t want to know the answer to the riddle of titanium & carbon fiber!! Or the riddle of my laptop, I will be happy to use it and not be consumed by it!
After my earlier post The Wheel of Pain, I was seized with the idea to see the Conan movie again, I had not seen the violent/uncut version since I was 14. Trooper that she is, Jessica sat through the whole thing with me, and pronounced it the worst movie she had ever seen. I grant that it’s really an extreme sex&violence&swords&sorcery comic book more than a movie, but it does that job extremely well.
Besides, with all Arnolds grunting, Jones’ liquid weight of voice has all the more impact, he’s practically the only one in the whole film who has audible dialogue. Given that the dialogue is FAR WORSE than the most recent Star Wars movie, that’s not a bad thing.
So does “The Riddle of Steel” apply to speedskating? Absolutely! Your body & training on an organized/periodized plan matter FAR MORE than your equipment/steel. Equipment certainly has a place, and can let you get everything out of your body that it can give, but I have known many talented skaters who are scientists with their equipment and thoughtless Conan’s with their training. Not having a training plan that you follow/analyze/revise is a prescription to skating the same times year after year.
I skated my 500m PB of 37.41 in Calgary on a screwed-up rocker as round as a hockey skate (well, not quite, but it was 15 m in places, and completely uneven). Would I have gone faster if my rocker had been the smooth 25-27m it is now, yes. But faster by tenths, whole seconds of speed were created by knowing EXACTLY why I was doing each workout, each day. Equipment is fun, everyone agrees with that, dryland is not that much fun, neither is going to the weight room on a beautiful summer day, but if you have goals, learn the Riddle of Steel.
Filed under: Quotes
i left my speedskates at work the other day; when i went to work out i pouted for abt 10 sec’s, then i reminded myself of a personal revelation i came to a while back-that i can work out perfectly well in a 6×6 cubicle if i need to. my son was a pro stage actor [and dancer] at uni, and i remember that he had told me dancers are the most ingenious at fittng workouts in when they are on the road; they have to be ’self-contained, self-realized’, and smart-their ‘end product’ is critiqued by a large audience, and they must be near-perfect.
anyway, i did my workout on my street skates, and they reminded me how easy it is to get sloppy with one’s center of balance and stroke when using a 5-wheel. it turned into a good form tuneup session,also, therefore.
Andrew, to find quotes from the movie Conan The Barbarian first thing in the morning makes me feel I can face anything the day throws at me.
Thank you!
JD