The Dream-Day 68

The Injury-Day 2. Quad feeling a little better. Didn't run this morning & will not go to swim training at the college tonight. So, because I have to do something, I started to think about everything since I began training on April 4th.

Thus far, this adventure has been one giant science experiment. What to train, how to train, when to train, what to eat, when to eat (my closet looks like a pharmacy), how often, how to deal with soreness, MRIs, injections, rest (newly defined & really difficult to do), sleep (waaaaay underrated), etc.

The thing that fascinates me the most is how quickly habits can be formed (good or bad) and how any deviation can create an imbalance in ones' day. For example, I didn't get up super early and train like I have for the past 86 days. I won't go home after work and immediately down a Shakeology exactly at 5pm as usual and then take off at 6:35pm for the college to swim. To say the least, I'm just out of sorts. Come to think of it, it's not as much as an imbalance as it is uncomfortable. I'm just a bit unsettled.

Let's take this to the another extreme. Those that are not active that really want to change how they look and feel need to reach a level of being uncomfortable and unsettled as this is what helps us grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. For the first 2 months, I was incredibly anxious in the pool and there were several times that I seriously thought of stopping. Instead, while in the pool and on the brink of panic, I focused on the big picture: Why am I doing this? Interestingly, that calmed me down and helped me push through. That was my way of handling it and not necessarily the way anyone else would deal.

Bottom line: If you want something bad enough embrace whatever is required to attain it. Getting up a little early won't kill you. Sprinting up a hill so hard you have to grab your knees to catch your breath won't kill you. Get uncomfortable or else you're just punching in and doing something your body won't take seriously. That's why you see so many people at the gym seemingly working hard, but not looking any different and, in many cases, worse.

Tomorrow's another day and hoping to get on the bike for an easy ride to test the thigh. What are you going to do?