The end of the year is a popular time for people to assess the 365 days that have past and to look forward those that lie ahead. Although we could theoretically do this any time of the year, it just seems appropriate to look at the big picture as the curtains are opening to another year. Some people take the time to make New Year's resolutions, and others take the time to scoff at the people who do. Most resolutions float away like a balloon at a child's 3rd birthday party; dissipating into thin air somewhere around the beginning of February. Why does this happen? How can something that we care about changing become just another thought in dreamland?
It's not because most resolutions are too idealistic. Any change we want to see in ourselves is possible. The problem is that people are too focused on the outcome and not the little steps that they have to take to get there. Rome wasn't built in a day, and a lifestyle change is not likely to be built in a year. Sure, that "big picture" has to be there, because that is what you'll ultimately be painting. But just as you wouldn't throw a can of paint on a canvas, you have to plan out and execute the individual brush strokes. I find that the best way to do this is to work backwards. The hardest part is how to start solving a problem, (any physics student will tell you that) so it's comforting to start with what you know best: where you want to be. Think of all the things that must happen for your resolution to become a reality, and start with the easiest one to accomplish in the present. Then, you're on your way. Before you know it, you'll be looking at a long list of positives that you've introduced into your life. That's better than just looking at the big goal, if you ask me.
Resolutions fail because we tend to look at things through a superficial lens. Oftentimes, we look at certain aspects of our lives too objectively. We see something wrong, and so we attempt to fix it; we take little time in discovering what may have caused the problem in the first place. It's kind of like saying that a headache is a [insert pain medication name here] deficiency. People don't get headaches from not taking enough Advil...that's absurd. There was something that caused the headache in the first place, and ultimately remedying the cause is the best way to get rid of and prevent future maladies. Ask yourself why you want this change, and why you need this change. Take it a step further and ponder if the answer isn't the first one that comes to mind. One example of this is a musculoskeletal injury. Pain in one location is almost certainly caused by a weakness in another, less obvious location. A good metaphor for this (I read this in an article and therefore can't take credit for it's brilliance) is wrapping a thera-band around the back of your head and pulling tightly. You will feel the pain in the back of your neck, but that isn't the origin of the pain. The origin of the pain is the tension in the band, which is located distally from your head. Looking past the obvious is difficult, because it seems most logical. Take some time to delve into the reasons why you are making this resolution. It just might help you in making those little steps.
No resolution stands a chance when it's attacked alone. Even the most disciplined people in the world have someone to report to. It's disappointing to let yourself down, but it's even more disappointing to let someone else down. Whether it be a coach, a friend, a parent, or teacher...human nature has constructed this mentality that others matter more than ourselves. Surround yourself with people either with the same goal or who care about your goal. I've always said to surround yourself with people who model the behavior that you want to see in yourself, but it's even more important to have people who have a modulating role in your life. Fear of disappointment can be extremely powerful if it is handled in the right way.
The word resolution gets a lot of flack because it's usually associated with crowded gyms, sold out bags of spinach and boneless chicken breasts, and February blues. But it doesn't have to be that way. It's totally possible to stick to a New Year's resolution, even if they are a weird concept (I've always thought it strange that people think they have a clean slate and new lease on life because it's January 1st). The beginning of the year is as good as any other to make life improvements. In the meantime, I'll be grumbling through the new gym crowd.
For the record: I do have some resolutions this year, and none of them are fitness related. In short, my encompassing thought heading into 2013 is to make my "worlds" (school, friends, triathlon, personal training, work) work together better. I will live my life as a whole, rather than in sections. I will show people that I love them, rather than merely saying so. I will be healthier from the inside out, pouring into my passions without spreading myself too thin.
Happy New Year all! Make good choices!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Breaking the rules and busting concrete
In fitness, we often follow certain "rules" and go about things logically. We carry notebooks with detailed workouts scribbled on the pages. We have training plans that we follow as if it were our job to do what it says, every day. Fitness magazines proclaim to have the "rules" of weight loss, injury prevention, setting a PR; I could go on and on. Having a plan and supreme dedication is great for anyone trying to reach a goal...until it's not.
People often set out towards a goal with the idea that if they follow a certain dogma, they will be successful. I like to think of this as the "baking" approach to success: you put these specific and carefully measured ingredients in, mix them a bit, and you get a (delicious) masterpiece out. The problem is, life isn't constantly set at 350 degrees. Nor is it an oven that cooks evenly. Just because you put the ingredients in doesn't mean that you will get the expected outcome. I prefer to take a "cooking" sort of approach. You have a recipe, (i.e. your plan, workout, set of rules) but you don't necessarily have to follow it to the very last dash of salt. You can add more of something that you particularly like, and omit something that you don't.
In case my strange metaphor is too outlandish, what I mean is that it's okay for training to be a bit spontaneous. There are far too many factors that go into fitness for anybody to be too tied to a set routine. In fact, doing the same thing, week after week, is detrimental to progress. Even if the variables of the workouts are changing, if the skeleton of the workouts is the same, the same response (and possibly staleness) can be expected. The phrase "listen to your body" cannot be overused. If you feel great on an "easy" day, go for it. By the same token, if you feel like you just got peeled off of the asphalt from your last workout, don't do a planned interval session just because it was planned. Hard workouts are tough to skip mentally, because you know that they are the ones that ultimately make you stronger and faster. However, it's important to keep an eye on the grand scheme of things, and to be comfortable with the fact that it's okay to skip/change a workout. Aspirations can kick the common sense out of anyone. Trying to tell someone trying to qualify for Boston (or Kona, or whatever) that it's okay to skip a track workout is like talking to a brick wall, but it's so true.
Sure, one way to get injured is by not having a plan. But another way to get injured is to be too stressed out about training and following a plan. A problem that I (and I'm sure at least a few others) have is that I take a logical and concrete viewpoint with most of the issues I face. Although it's a positive some of the time, things can get a little boring. Training harder is rarely the answer; oftentimes we just need to take the challenge of training with more of a "freeness". I think we're all guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. Maybe we should give busting out of the concrete a try.
I'm not saying that you should return all of your training books, throw your multi-page training plan into the recycling bin, or that you should rip the calendar off of the wall. But what I am saying is to look at your training through an abstract lens every once and a while. Do a workout simply because you want to. Lift some weights instead of slaving away on a trainer or treadmill when a thunderstorm ruins the plan (um, unless you like those torture devices). Take an easy run somewhere beautiful and leave your watch at home. Have a plan, but follow it loosely. Be dedicated, but be smart. Break the rules and bust out of the concrete. I promise it feels pretty good.
People often set out towards a goal with the idea that if they follow a certain dogma, they will be successful. I like to think of this as the "baking" approach to success: you put these specific and carefully measured ingredients in, mix them a bit, and you get a (delicious) masterpiece out. The problem is, life isn't constantly set at 350 degrees. Nor is it an oven that cooks evenly. Just because you put the ingredients in doesn't mean that you will get the expected outcome. I prefer to take a "cooking" sort of approach. You have a recipe, (i.e. your plan, workout, set of rules) but you don't necessarily have to follow it to the very last dash of salt. You can add more of something that you particularly like, and omit something that you don't.
In case my strange metaphor is too outlandish, what I mean is that it's okay for training to be a bit spontaneous. There are far too many factors that go into fitness for anybody to be too tied to a set routine. In fact, doing the same thing, week after week, is detrimental to progress. Even if the variables of the workouts are changing, if the skeleton of the workouts is the same, the same response (and possibly staleness) can be expected. The phrase "listen to your body" cannot be overused. If you feel great on an "easy" day, go for it. By the same token, if you feel like you just got peeled off of the asphalt from your last workout, don't do a planned interval session just because it was planned. Hard workouts are tough to skip mentally, because you know that they are the ones that ultimately make you stronger and faster. However, it's important to keep an eye on the grand scheme of things, and to be comfortable with the fact that it's okay to skip/change a workout. Aspirations can kick the common sense out of anyone. Trying to tell someone trying to qualify for Boston (or Kona, or whatever) that it's okay to skip a track workout is like talking to a brick wall, but it's so true.
Sure, one way to get injured is by not having a plan. But another way to get injured is to be too stressed out about training and following a plan. A problem that I (and I'm sure at least a few others) have is that I take a logical and concrete viewpoint with most of the issues I face. Although it's a positive some of the time, things can get a little boring. Training harder is rarely the answer; oftentimes we just need to take the challenge of training with more of a "freeness". I think we're all guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. Maybe we should give busting out of the concrete a try.
I'm not saying that you should return all of your training books, throw your multi-page training plan into the recycling bin, or that you should rip the calendar off of the wall. But what I am saying is to look at your training through an abstract lens every once and a while. Do a workout simply because you want to. Lift some weights instead of slaving away on a trainer or treadmill when a thunderstorm ruins the plan (um, unless you like those torture devices). Take an easy run somewhere beautiful and leave your watch at home. Have a plan, but follow it loosely. Be dedicated, but be smart. Break the rules and bust out of the concrete. I promise it feels pretty good.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Crashing isn't always a bad thing
Allow me to preface this post with this: although everything I'm about to say is about metaphorical crashing, these ideas blossomed from an actual crash I had last weekend while riding my bike. One painful shower, 2 nasty cuts, a couple of bruises, and scattered road rash later, I realized that crashing isn't always a bad thing. Instead of being angry at the few scratches on my bike and my poor riding ability, I was instead grateful that I didn't break any bones and that everything that went wrong could be fixed. I realized that this is true when you metaphorically "crash"; such as doing poorly on an exam, making a mistake at work, or pushing a little too hard in a workout. All of these situations present an opportunity to learn, not an opportunity to be upset.
The key here is that you must learn from what you did wrong. History becomes the present if you don't take the time to assess why something happened and what can be done to avoid its recurrence. Oftentimes, we want to mentally push mistakes out of our lives by trying to forget them completely. But that doesn't help us moving forward. What helps us become better people and better athletes is taking the time to find out what works and what doesn't. It takes patience and courage to face your own shortcomings, but it's so worth it in the long run.
It has been said that we should live life with no regrets; that we shouldn't want to change a thing from the past. Although this is invariably true, it has always been a hard concept for me to grasp. Of course, I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't made all of the mistakes and had certain experiences. But sometimes I can't help but wonder how different life would be if this or that didn't happen...and that's not the right mentality to have. One of the biggest favors that we can do for ourselves is keep our perspective in the moment--because it's the only thing we can deal with right here and right now. Part of growing is accepting that you've messed up and not extrapolating to the future.
As I begin my Boston training, I've been determined not to make the same mistakes I made when training for Disney. Luckily, I have my training log (which I kept obsessively and plan to do so again) so that I can point to what may have sent me down injury row. It's almost comical how stupid I was in training for that race. There was a 2 month stretch where I stacked hard workout after hard workout on top of each other like a couple of Jenga blocks. My tower only half fell over, because I made it successfully through the race. But I've been picking up the pieces ever since, and I don't want that to happen again. I'm willing to work really hard over the next 4 months, but my goal is to be fit and healthy as I toe that line. I just want to enjoy the race without the possibility of injuring myself.
In the moment, crashing feels awful. After I realized that I didn't die and got my helmet dislodged from the asphalt, I just sat on the road, wondering how I managed to flip my bike on an innocent group ride. After a bit of grumbling and a couple miles of riding later, I understood how lucky I was that I didn't break any bones or get a concussion. My shifters on my bike were a little out of whack, but they could be easily fixed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that very few crashes are ever beyond repair.
Three of the things that I've learned this year from my crashes:
Take one day at a time, only give what you expect in return, and believe that things will work out.
The key here is that you must learn from what you did wrong. History becomes the present if you don't take the time to assess why something happened and what can be done to avoid its recurrence. Oftentimes, we want to mentally push mistakes out of our lives by trying to forget them completely. But that doesn't help us moving forward. What helps us become better people and better athletes is taking the time to find out what works and what doesn't. It takes patience and courage to face your own shortcomings, but it's so worth it in the long run.
It has been said that we should live life with no regrets; that we shouldn't want to change a thing from the past. Although this is invariably true, it has always been a hard concept for me to grasp. Of course, I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't made all of the mistakes and had certain experiences. But sometimes I can't help but wonder how different life would be if this or that didn't happen...and that's not the right mentality to have. One of the biggest favors that we can do for ourselves is keep our perspective in the moment--because it's the only thing we can deal with right here and right now. Part of growing is accepting that you've messed up and not extrapolating to the future.
As I begin my Boston training, I've been determined not to make the same mistakes I made when training for Disney. Luckily, I have my training log (which I kept obsessively and plan to do so again) so that I can point to what may have sent me down injury row. It's almost comical how stupid I was in training for that race. There was a 2 month stretch where I stacked hard workout after hard workout on top of each other like a couple of Jenga blocks. My tower only half fell over, because I made it successfully through the race. But I've been picking up the pieces ever since, and I don't want that to happen again. I'm willing to work really hard over the next 4 months, but my goal is to be fit and healthy as I toe that line. I just want to enjoy the race without the possibility of injuring myself.
In the moment, crashing feels awful. After I realized that I didn't die and got my helmet dislodged from the asphalt, I just sat on the road, wondering how I managed to flip my bike on an innocent group ride. After a bit of grumbling and a couple miles of riding later, I understood how lucky I was that I didn't break any bones or get a concussion. My shifters on my bike were a little out of whack, but they could be easily fixed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that very few crashes are ever beyond repair.
Three of the things that I've learned this year from my crashes:
Take one day at a time, only give what you expect in return, and believe that things will work out.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Love What you Do. Do What You Love.
There’s that universal non-runner reaction that you get when
you tell someone that you started off your day with a 6 mile run: “The only
reason I would run 6 miles is if a bear was chasing me.” Or, sometimes they are
less polite and simply ask, “What was chasing you?” From one vantage point, training for
endurance events is aimless or on the borderline of crazy. From another, it is
a saving grace, a sense of normalcy, a constant. Sometimes it’s less poetic,
and our reason for sweating for an hour or more is simply to make some room on
our dinner plate. No matter the reason (and we all have our own), training has
a special place in our lives.
Endurance
athletes are a unique group of people who share the same challenges of smashing
PR’s, avoiding injury, and carving time out of every day to train. Most of us
realize that although this lifestyle is built on the principle of staying
healthy and fit, there are aspects of it that are clearly unhealthy. Recently I
read about the “endurance athlete cycle”, which went something like this:
train, injury, rehab. At first, I was angered at this simplification of the
form of training that I love the most. But as I kept reading and pondering, I
realized that this describes my training life perfectly. Oops.
What are the
reasons for this cycle? The list is extensive, but it centers around Type A
personality, improper training technique, and (most surprising) overtraining.
My eyes began to resist reading any further. It hurts to agree with an article
bashing something that you love so deeply. Training high volumes is only
healthy for those who can handle it, i.e. professional and elite athletes.
These lucky people have the right combination of genes that allows them to
handle more than us mortals. For those of us who are less fortunate, trying to
train enough to crest our potential usually results in musculoskeletal injury.
There is an
important distinction between exercise and training. Exercise is purposeful
movement with the goal of improving health. Training is purposeful exercise
with the goal of improving performance. Honestly, most of us would be better
off with the former rather than the latter.
Most of us wear our training hours like a badge of honor, but past a
certain point, more is not better. I hate to expound upon the personality
argument, but people like us think more is better in all situations. We race
through grocery stores or to class. We’ll take any opportunity to make a
competition out of everyday life, and strive to be the best if it seems within
our realm. Training is sort of like following the directions on a medicine
bottle. Take too little at the wrong time, and a less than desirable effect
will follow. Take too much, and you’re in trouble. Unfortunately, people don’t
come with labels, but we all have a level of training that our bodies respond
the best to. How do you find that level, you ask? Well, as you may have
guessed, the only way to really know is to get dangerously close to that
threshold—which is like trying to walk a tight rope across the Great Divide. As
someone who has been down Overtraining Road more than a few times, I know that
you are aware when you get close to the edge. Doing something about it,
however, is a whole other story.
So, then, what is
the reason for the endurance athlete cycle? Although the answer is complicated
(as stated above), I can answer it in one, simple, word: Love.
Love for the
people that we sweat with. Love for that feeling you get when you cross a
finish line and receive a “you did it” hug. Love for the sight of the sun
rising over a morning run. Love for gossiping across the handlebars and
laughing at stupid jokes after riding for too long. Love for the camaraderie
that we share.
No matter the
reason, training is a light in all of our lives. It’s kind of like a faithful
dog, always sitting there with you as it’s only attention. All of the other
reasons aside, the most comforting thing about training is that it is always
there.
Friday, November 16, 2012
My Favorite Exercises, and Why
1. Squat
The squat is a two-joint beauty of an exercise. Nothing is better for strengthening the glutes, quads, and hamstrings all in one nice, fluid motion (at least it should be). I love the variations: front squat, back squat, wide stance, narrow stance...I could go on and on. My favorite thing about the squat, though is looking the knee-buckling bro's in the gym straight in the eye as I bend properly from the hips and get down past a 90 degree knee angle. And without the grunting. Okay, actually that is my second favorite thing. My absolute favorite (related) thing about the squat is how proper squat form can just make your hips...work. I don't really know a better word for it. Hip mobility is important for a wide range of activity; and one could argue that all lower extremity running injuries originate from a hip mobility/strength deficit. Squats are number one in my book.
2. Bench Press
Yes, I am aware that if I am not an offensive lineman who pushes people around in the sagittal plane all day, the bench press has no functional purpose. I suppose you could justify it if your looking for pectoral hypertrophy, but that's obviously not the reason, as I'm a girl triathlete who still desires to fit in my tri top. The reason I like the bench press is purely because there's some weird sense of satisfaction that comes along with lifting more than your body weight off of your chest. Try doing that with half the muscle, boys!
3. Renegade Row
I love rows to begin with. They are great for opening up the chest, scapular mobility, and strengthening the back and lats-two really important swimming muscles. I like all the variations: Seated, bent over, single arm or bilateral bench, standing on a bosu ball...but I LOVE the renegade row. Any chance you get to work a major muscle group plus the core, do it. This variation work on your chest and core isometrically, all the while teaching your moving arm to generate torque and power with only one contact on the ground. BOOM. Great exercise.
4. Pull ups
Nothing says "I am classy, old school, and hardcore" as knocking out set of pull ups in the gym. In a world of heavy weight cheaters, you stand alone as one who doesn't need a bench to show you've got muscles. These have many variations as well, and it's easy to manipulate if you want to hit one muscle group more than the other. It's the perfect thing to cure someone of their "too much chest exercise syndrome" (also called hyperpectoria) and is the best way to load the lats. I argue that it's best for triathletes because it better mimics the way one pulls their body over the water than a lat pulldown does.
5. The Plank
It may not look like much, but the plank is the gold star of core exercises. It's one of the few that expounds upon it's role in everyday life: keeping us upright and coordinated in movement. The role of the core is stabilization, with the exception of sports that involve rotation such as swimming, baseball, and tennis. However, to train the core for these sports you don't have train the rotation, you have to train to control the rotation. The plank, along with it's variations, should be a staple in most exercise routines. Plus, it can be used as a mental toughness tool when performed for longer than 5 minutes (not recommended, your back will sag in a way you thought not possible)
6. Bicep Curls
The squat is a two-joint beauty of an exercise. Nothing is better for strengthening the glutes, quads, and hamstrings all in one nice, fluid motion (at least it should be). I love the variations: front squat, back squat, wide stance, narrow stance...I could go on and on. My favorite thing about the squat, though is looking the knee-buckling bro's in the gym straight in the eye as I bend properly from the hips and get down past a 90 degree knee angle. And without the grunting. Okay, actually that is my second favorite thing. My absolute favorite (related) thing about the squat is how proper squat form can just make your hips...work. I don't really know a better word for it. Hip mobility is important for a wide range of activity; and one could argue that all lower extremity running injuries originate from a hip mobility/strength deficit. Squats are number one in my book.
2. Bench Press
Yes, I am aware that if I am not an offensive lineman who pushes people around in the sagittal plane all day, the bench press has no functional purpose. I suppose you could justify it if your looking for pectoral hypertrophy, but that's obviously not the reason, as I'm a girl triathlete who still desires to fit in my tri top. The reason I like the bench press is purely because there's some weird sense of satisfaction that comes along with lifting more than your body weight off of your chest. Try doing that with half the muscle, boys!
3. Renegade Row
I love rows to begin with. They are great for opening up the chest, scapular mobility, and strengthening the back and lats-two really important swimming muscles. I like all the variations: Seated, bent over, single arm or bilateral bench, standing on a bosu ball...but I LOVE the renegade row. Any chance you get to work a major muscle group plus the core, do it. This variation work on your chest and core isometrically, all the while teaching your moving arm to generate torque and power with only one contact on the ground. BOOM. Great exercise.
4. Pull ups
Nothing says "I am classy, old school, and hardcore" as knocking out set of pull ups in the gym. In a world of heavy weight cheaters, you stand alone as one who doesn't need a bench to show you've got muscles. These have many variations as well, and it's easy to manipulate if you want to hit one muscle group more than the other. It's the perfect thing to cure someone of their "too much chest exercise syndrome" (also called hyperpectoria) and is the best way to load the lats. I argue that it's best for triathletes because it better mimics the way one pulls their body over the water than a lat pulldown does.
5. The Plank
It may not look like much, but the plank is the gold star of core exercises. It's one of the few that expounds upon it's role in everyday life: keeping us upright and coordinated in movement. The role of the core is stabilization, with the exception of sports that involve rotation such as swimming, baseball, and tennis. However, to train the core for these sports you don't have train the rotation, you have to train to control the rotation. The plank, along with it's variations, should be a staple in most exercise routines. Plus, it can be used as a mental toughness tool when performed for longer than 5 minutes (not recommended, your back will sag in a way you thought not possible)
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Change
"Everyone has the capacity for change, but not everyone is willing to change."
Sometimes we are at a loss. We have these awesome, intricate, powerful, and frankly enigmatic brains in our heads, but yet most of the time we don't know how to use them. We oftentimes don't--or feel that we don't--have control over the only thing in this world in which we, in reality, have complete control. Our brains can integrate and respond so quickly to the environment because we fall into patterns of use based on past experiences and traits that are inherent to who we are. Another, more familiar word for these patterns is personality. All too often, people accept who they are as if they cannot change, or cannot grow. I'm not saying that everyone should psychoanalyze themselves, but I am saying that changing behavior is more possible than you think.
Neuroplasticity is the concept that new synaptic connections can be made in the brain when performing new tasks or experiencing new things. Put simply, this means that neurons that weren't previously talking to each other are now in full conversation. This allows us to perform new exercises, learn a new song, or understand a new concept in school. This can be applied even to the most ingrained behaviors, it just takes a little extra effort and a good support system.
The reason why people who want behavior change (for example, losing weight) have nutritionists, personal trainers, and training partners is not only because they need the advice and expertise, but also because they need to be surrounded by people who model the change that they want to see in themselves. Other people are our most powerful tool when it comes to change. For some reason, people are programmed to observe and learn from other people, perhaps sometimes because it is easier than deciphering a problem on our own. We all know this to be true. For example, when you are around one of those (rare) happy-go-lucky people, you start to feel that way too; even if you are in the midst of a terrible day. Attitude is contagious, and getting rid of a bad attitude isn't as simple as washing your hands.
Of course, the aforementioned example is just in the time frame a a single day or moment. But what about chronic change? What about life shapes us into who we are in the present? That's right, it's the sum of those single moments and single situations that make us react and grow. But the only way we grow in change is through an intrinsic drive; an open door, if you will. Open-mindedness can be tough, especially when dealing with something as special as yourself. The effort that it takes to hold that heavy door open is worth it when there is something that you want but don't have.
Nobody is perfect, and no one should want to be perfect. Imperfection is what makes the world go round and makes life fun. But if you want something of yours to change for the better, it is completely in your control. There is never a reason to believe that you aren't in the driver's seat of your life train. In the words of Dr. Seuss: "You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, and you can take them in any direction you choose."
Sometimes we are at a loss. We have these awesome, intricate, powerful, and frankly enigmatic brains in our heads, but yet most of the time we don't know how to use them. We oftentimes don't--or feel that we don't--have control over the only thing in this world in which we, in reality, have complete control. Our brains can integrate and respond so quickly to the environment because we fall into patterns of use based on past experiences and traits that are inherent to who we are. Another, more familiar word for these patterns is personality. All too often, people accept who they are as if they cannot change, or cannot grow. I'm not saying that everyone should psychoanalyze themselves, but I am saying that changing behavior is more possible than you think.
Neuroplasticity is the concept that new synaptic connections can be made in the brain when performing new tasks or experiencing new things. Put simply, this means that neurons that weren't previously talking to each other are now in full conversation. This allows us to perform new exercises, learn a new song, or understand a new concept in school. This can be applied even to the most ingrained behaviors, it just takes a little extra effort and a good support system.
The reason why people who want behavior change (for example, losing weight) have nutritionists, personal trainers, and training partners is not only because they need the advice and expertise, but also because they need to be surrounded by people who model the change that they want to see in themselves. Other people are our most powerful tool when it comes to change. For some reason, people are programmed to observe and learn from other people, perhaps sometimes because it is easier than deciphering a problem on our own. We all know this to be true. For example, when you are around one of those (rare) happy-go-lucky people, you start to feel that way too; even if you are in the midst of a terrible day. Attitude is contagious, and getting rid of a bad attitude isn't as simple as washing your hands.
Of course, the aforementioned example is just in the time frame a a single day or moment. But what about chronic change? What about life shapes us into who we are in the present? That's right, it's the sum of those single moments and single situations that make us react and grow. But the only way we grow in change is through an intrinsic drive; an open door, if you will. Open-mindedness can be tough, especially when dealing with something as special as yourself. The effort that it takes to hold that heavy door open is worth it when there is something that you want but don't have.
Nobody is perfect, and no one should want to be perfect. Imperfection is what makes the world go round and makes life fun. But if you want something of yours to change for the better, it is completely in your control. There is never a reason to believe that you aren't in the driver's seat of your life train. In the words of Dr. Seuss: "You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes, and you can take them in any direction you choose."
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Opportunities/Suncoast RR
As I receive e-mails about registration for the spring semester, I find myself absolutely terrified about the future. I have 2 more semesters and an internship left, and I'm wondering where the heck the past 2.5 years have gone. I'm coming to this bitter realization that college life must end and actual life must begin...and soon. I know that nothing is ever crystal clear, but the cloudiness ahead worries me. I'm not quite sure where I fit in this world.
All of this had me worried sick over the past couple of weeks, but I've taken some time also to stop and feel grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given while attending the University of Florida. I've had the chance to personal train atone of the best collegiate recreational facilities in the country. What had seemed like a dream when I asked about the personal training class during my first summer here in Gainesville is now a reality. I've learned so much from the great staff we have in the PT department and from training for 4 semesters now. Every time I walk into Southwest Recreational center with the letters "Personal Trainer" printed on the back of my shirt, I feel genuinely lucky to have been given the opportunity to train students and staff at UF.
This year I also acquired a new job as the president of the TriGators triathlon club. I'm so proud of being able to improve a club that has given so much to me in my first two years in college. I've learned so much from the extra responsibility; I would even argue that I've learned more about life from the club than I have from any other single experience. I have wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute of it, even the few bumps in the road that I've hit. It's an experience that I'm glad I took on; and I have to thank all of my teammates for allowing someone like me to try to keep things in order. (key word: try)
Also, just attending this university was a huge opportunity in itself. I just have so much to be thankful for.
So, on to the race this weekend. Let me preface this by saying that I raced this same course 1 min faster than last year. That's definitely encouraging, considering last year I was in pretty darn good shape as I was gearing up for my marathon. But unfortunately I have no idea where that time came from, as my chip from last year has probably washed up on the shores of Mexico by now. If I had to guess, it probably came from the bike leg.
The swim was a bit of rough start, with all 78 collegiant athletes (men and women) going off in one wave.Beach starts have never been a strength of mine. I was slow at charging into the water, and then bottomed out on my first attempt at a dolphin dive. I literally dove into the sand (whoops, a little too early), and I feel lucky that I didn't emerge from the water with a mouthful of sand. I found a lot of contact out to the first buoy, but after that I had a pretty smooth swim. I sighted well and stayed on line, which doesn't happen that often. I also think that my effort was higher than usual, given the way I was panting upon trudging to shore. My legs burned as I waved through the water, and I was thinking "Man, this is going to be a long bike ride". Figuratively, of course. The bike course was short 9.5 miles.
To my surprise, the bike actually went fairly well. I got a glimpse of the sun rising over the Sunshine Skyway, and a smile crept onto my face. I always stop myself a couple times a race just to enjoy the fact that I'm racing somewhere beautiful. Coming out of T2, I grabbed a cup of water and tossed it back too quick. I coughed and choked for a quarter mile or so, spitting up water and clearing the water from my lungs. People watching probably thought I was dying or something. I eventually got into a good rhythm on the run, despite my bum hip. Coming up to first aid station, I saw a flag for snowcones, so as the volunteers announced if they had water or Gatorade in their cups, I asked if I could have a snowcone instead. They seemed to get a good kick out of that. Most of the back half of the run was on sand, and it threw me off a little. I had a blank mind and good concentration for a while, but once I hit the loose footing, I had to focus to much about my footsteps and it annoyed me.
I had a strong finish, with a good sprint at the end to pass the 4th place girl. I was kind of dramatic upon crossing the finish lone and sat down for a while before allowing the volunteers to take the chip off of my ankle. One of the guys helped me up, and I realized that I was being pathetic. Sometimes it just seems so right at the moment....but I hate it when I do that. Overall, I'm happy with the race. feeling undertrained has lit a bit of a fire under my...well you know. The triathlon season may be coming to a close, but I feel ready to put some solid training in to get ready for a solid spring.
Most of all, I'm just thankful for being out there wearing the orange and blue.
All of this had me worried sick over the past couple of weeks, but I've taken some time also to stop and feel grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given while attending the University of Florida. I've had the chance to personal train at
This year I also acquired a new job as the president of the TriGators triathlon club. I'm so proud of being able to improve a club that has given so much to me in my first two years in college. I've learned so much from the extra responsibility; I would even argue that I've learned more about life from the club than I have from any other single experience. I have wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute of it, even the few bumps in the road that I've hit. It's an experience that I'm glad I took on; and I have to thank all of my teammates for allowing someone like me to try to keep things in order. (key word: try)
Also, just attending this university was a huge opportunity in itself. I just have so much to be thankful for.
So, on to the race this weekend. Let me preface this by saying that I raced this same course 1 min faster than last year. That's definitely encouraging, considering last year I was in pretty darn good shape as I was gearing up for my marathon. But unfortunately I have no idea where that time came from, as my chip from last year has probably washed up on the shores of Mexico by now. If I had to guess, it probably came from the bike leg.
The swim was a bit of rough start, with all 78 collegiant athletes (men and women) going off in one wave.Beach starts have never been a strength of mine. I was slow at charging into the water, and then bottomed out on my first attempt at a dolphin dive. I literally dove into the sand (whoops, a little too early), and I feel lucky that I didn't emerge from the water with a mouthful of sand. I found a lot of contact out to the first buoy, but after that I had a pretty smooth swim. I sighted well and stayed on line, which doesn't happen that often. I also think that my effort was higher than usual, given the way I was panting upon trudging to shore. My legs burned as I waved through the water, and I was thinking "Man, this is going to be a long bike ride". Figuratively, of course. The bike course was short 9.5 miles.
To my surprise, the bike actually went fairly well. I got a glimpse of the sun rising over the Sunshine Skyway, and a smile crept onto my face. I always stop myself a couple times a race just to enjoy the fact that I'm racing somewhere beautiful. Coming out of T2, I grabbed a cup of water and tossed it back too quick. I coughed and choked for a quarter mile or so, spitting up water and clearing the water from my lungs. People watching probably thought I was dying or something. I eventually got into a good rhythm on the run, despite my bum hip. Coming up to first aid station, I saw a flag for snowcones, so as the volunteers announced if they had water or Gatorade in their cups, I asked if I could have a snowcone instead. They seemed to get a good kick out of that. Most of the back half of the run was on sand, and it threw me off a little. I had a blank mind and good concentration for a while, but once I hit the loose footing, I had to focus to much about my footsteps and it annoyed me.
I had a strong finish, with a good sprint at the end to pass the 4th place girl. I was kind of dramatic upon crossing the finish lone and sat down for a while before allowing the volunteers to take the chip off of my ankle. One of the guys helped me up, and I realized that I was being pathetic. Sometimes it just seems so right at the moment....but I hate it when I do that. Overall, I'm happy with the race. feeling undertrained has lit a bit of a fire under my...well you know. The triathlon season may be coming to a close, but I feel ready to put some solid training in to get ready for a solid spring.
Most of all, I'm just thankful for being out there wearing the orange and blue.
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