Almost Here – August 22-23, 2012
Yesterday and today have been interesting. With the help of the guys at Ambition Athletics I decided to take yesterday and today off from the gym to rest and recover for the start of the RKC weekend tomorrow.
I think this will be a smart move because I’m already starting to get that itch to train again. Yesterday was very productive simply because I didn’t do any training. It was a rest day so I rested…and really enjoyed it. I was able to relax before my training sessions in the morning and focus exclusively on the morning training sessions. I felt a little guilty around noon for not training myself but that quickly went away when I was able to watch a movie – an entire movie later that afternoon! Eating lunch, relaxing, and watching a movie felt great and was a nice way to spend some time with my Mom and younger brother this week.
Today has been more of the same. I had some very fun and productive training sessions with clients in the morning. I got my haircut (can’t have a messy haircut before the RKC!). And I was able to have lunch with my Mom, brother, and my girlfriend today before my afternoon training session and outdoor group workout.
It’s funny but sometimes I have to remind myself that this is my life…and that I get to do this stuff! I’m very lucky to be healthy and able to exercise and prepare for something like the RKC. 4 years ago I was spending most of the summer on my parent’s couch too fearful to venture away from a bathroom. I wasn’t working. I basically would sleep, eat (with caution and fear of a flare up again), and watch tv. When I tell people about the upcoming RKC snatch test they usually respond with amazement. “Why would you want to do that?” or “That sounds hard” are common responses.
I understand their reactions – but before I can say anything a voice inside my head answers:
“I don’t have to do this at all…I am so lucky that I GET to do this. Hard was worrying that I’d get sick again. Hard was not being able to digest babyfood. Hard was having to regain 50 lbs of lost weight.”
Of course I don’t say all that. I usually just smile and say that I think this kind of training is fun.
Because it really is fun to be able to push yourself physically into new places and see that you are in fact strong enough to handle the new challenge. And that can be something like using a 10lb weight instead of a 8lb weight or a 36kg kettlebell instead of a 32kg. It may seem inconsequential in the grand scheme of things at times.
But in that moment – that second before a heavy lift when your brain flashes back to remember the time when getting out of bed was incredibly difficult – it feels amazing!
~With Strength and Nutrition
