When you commit to doing something for an entire year it's only reasonable to expect that there will be periods of, shall I say, mediocrity? That applies to both my training and my blogging, and I think it's more than just coincidence that these periods seem to come concurrently.
And while I call it mediocrity, I do so only in order to be hold myself accountable. What I truly believe happens, is that both my body and my mind are telling me that it's time to coast a bit. You've crested a hill, and not just is it okay to take a breather, it's actually critical that you do so. So tuck yourself into the aero position, and conserve a bit of energy for the next hill.
Certainly my previous response to this "mediocrity" (especially last year) has been the opposite. Pushing harder when I was tired surely backfired on me, and I need to learn from that. When you truly need a break, and you don't let it happen, you're heading for trouble.
My wife often tells me that she respects my tenacity, and while I am gratified by that, I have come to realize that I often don't know when I've crossed the line from tenacity to stupidity. Upon reflection, if my times of uninspired blogging are coincidental with the same in training, perhaps my mind would be a better messenger than my body when it comes to giving a "back off" message. After all, the problem with listening to my body is that it is always tired, and is always telling me to rest. So much so, that I have learned to ignore it at all times.
I need to think that out a little more, but either way, at this point I know there is very little to be gained by pushing too hard, as it's still very early, and so I'm gonna take it day by day. My focus at this point remains my bike workouts, and while I will try to stay religious with them, the rest will fall as it may. Today I coasted a bit already. I was supposed to do hills, but settled for a jog around the block.
Besides I had a priority. I spent the greater part of the day learning about life from a dear old friend. Thanks Frank for your inspiration!
Run 7.3 kms
"When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity."---Napoleon Bonaparte.
Love
Peter
And while I call it mediocrity, I do so only in order to be hold myself accountable. What I truly believe happens, is that both my body and my mind are telling me that it's time to coast a bit. You've crested a hill, and not just is it okay to take a breather, it's actually critical that you do so. So tuck yourself into the aero position, and conserve a bit of energy for the next hill.
Certainly my previous response to this "mediocrity" (especially last year) has been the opposite. Pushing harder when I was tired surely backfired on me, and I need to learn from that. When you truly need a break, and you don't let it happen, you're heading for trouble.
My wife often tells me that she respects my tenacity, and while I am gratified by that, I have come to realize that I often don't know when I've crossed the line from tenacity to stupidity. Upon reflection, if my times of uninspired blogging are coincidental with the same in training, perhaps my mind would be a better messenger than my body when it comes to giving a "back off" message. After all, the problem with listening to my body is that it is always tired, and is always telling me to rest. So much so, that I have learned to ignore it at all times.
I need to think that out a little more, but either way, at this point I know there is very little to be gained by pushing too hard, as it's still very early, and so I'm gonna take it day by day. My focus at this point remains my bike workouts, and while I will try to stay religious with them, the rest will fall as it may. Today I coasted a bit already. I was supposed to do hills, but settled for a jog around the block.
Besides I had a priority. I spent the greater part of the day learning about life from a dear old friend. Thanks Frank for your inspiration!
Run 7.3 kms
"When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity."---Napoleon Bonaparte.
Love
Peter
Well thought and said, my friend. Somehow, I think our bodies speak to our minds at a level we don't notice at first. Until we say or write something really dumb or, as you say, mediocre. Then we really need to listen!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Gail