People tell you stuff, and you can read stuff in books, and for some that's enough to go on. I have a mental block when it comes to accepting just about anything that I haven't had time or opportunity to prove to my self. I don't know why that is, because in a way it's a form of mistrust, but so be it. The very idea of blind acceptance scares the crap out of me, and so at this point in my life I'm just gonna accept that that's the way I am, and try to work around it.
One of my strengths however, is that even though I often do it the hard way, I indeed like learning new stuff. When there's not a lot of resources available on a specific topic I enjoy the challenge of learning on my own. Perhaps because I don't have to feel guilty about discounting advice from all the experts? One such topic is endurance training for senior athletes, probably because, quite frankly, it ain't a very big market.
I have to laugh at myself because often when I decide I'm finally learning something, in reflection I can clearly remember someone else giving me the same advice....I just didn't hear it at the time. An example of this, and believe me I'm real reluctant to give him credit, was a comment Odd John made some time ago about all of the Ironman training programs being geared to younger athletes.
For some reason that suddenly makes sense to me. It's pretty funny really to think of myself talking training with the 22 year old professional triathlete at the tri store. What can he possibly tell me about what I should be doing? And yet..... probably the most important thing he ever said to me originally went in one ear, and out the other. When I told him that I was over trained, he corrected me by saying rather that I was under recovered!! While in principal it made sense to me, I never really put it in perspective. What a perfect way to discriminate an old guys training needs, from a young guys! It takes longer for old guys to get it up again...so to speak!
If I were to write my own book on Ironman training for old guys I would simply tell them to work as hard as the young guys, do the same tough workouts, and make them just as long. But! Take more time off between.
And that's where the positive reinforcement comes in. I trusted my instincts yesterday and took it easy. Today I felt so good. I had an excellent hill workout, and still felt strong when I was done. I was gonna try for six, and ended up with eight! Could have done a couple more but decided to be patient.
run 8 hills, 13 kms
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."---Albert Einstein
One of my strengths however, is that even though I often do it the hard way, I indeed like learning new stuff. When there's not a lot of resources available on a specific topic I enjoy the challenge of learning on my own. Perhaps because I don't have to feel guilty about discounting advice from all the experts? One such topic is endurance training for senior athletes, probably because, quite frankly, it ain't a very big market.
I have to laugh at myself because often when I decide I'm finally learning something, in reflection I can clearly remember someone else giving me the same advice....I just didn't hear it at the time. An example of this, and believe me I'm real reluctant to give him credit, was a comment Odd John made some time ago about all of the Ironman training programs being geared to younger athletes.
For some reason that suddenly makes sense to me. It's pretty funny really to think of myself talking training with the 22 year old professional triathlete at the tri store. What can he possibly tell me about what I should be doing? And yet..... probably the most important thing he ever said to me originally went in one ear, and out the other. When I told him that I was over trained, he corrected me by saying rather that I was under recovered!! While in principal it made sense to me, I never really put it in perspective. What a perfect way to discriminate an old guys training needs, from a young guys! It takes longer for old guys to get it up again...so to speak!
If I were to write my own book on Ironman training for old guys I would simply tell them to work as hard as the young guys, do the same tough workouts, and make them just as long. But! Take more time off between.
And that's where the positive reinforcement comes in. I trusted my instincts yesterday and took it easy. Today I felt so good. I had an excellent hill workout, and still felt strong when I was done. I was gonna try for six, and ended up with eight! Could have done a couple more but decided to be patient.
run 8 hills, 13 kms
"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else."---Albert Einstein
Love
Peter
I am no sure if is hereditary, but I too suffer the same problem of not believing until trying myself. Sometimes I think it is almost "well just because it doesn't work for you don't mean It won't for me!" You know what they say about us Dutchmen......wooden shoes wooden head, wouldn't listen. Maybe it is inherited after all?
ReplyDeleteLove happy odd john