Somehow, recently, I slipped back into training ‘for serious.’ I’m still sort of messing around, but my fitness is coming back so nicely (and I have a month now to build up a big base), that it’s hard not to imagine what could happen if I had a whole year without any major injuries, accidents, or other disasters.
But, the difference between serious and not serious is so thin. It’s all in your head.
The other day I had one of those one-thing-after-another afternoons that used to happen all the time when I was training a lot. Because when you’re training a lot, there’s always something that doesn’t work right, so there’s going to be a lot of ‘When You Give a Mouse a Cookie’ days. Thursday, I needed to change the tires on my bike, but it was really hard to get one of the new tires on and I cut my hand. Blood and grease everywhere. Then, I finally got them on and couldn’t get the wheel to fit into the bike. So, I let some brake cable out to loosen the brakes, but it still wouldn’t fit. Finally, after lots of finagling and yelling, I decided the tire must be too thick for the frame. Took it off, put the old tire back on, re-aligned the brakes. And, by then, it was too late to go for a ride. (I also dropped a drawer on my foot, and tripped and fell into a door frame during all this.)
This would never have happened when I didn’t give a shit. I would have just given up much earlier in the process. That’s one of the major differences between serious training and just working out. These are some of the other things I do distinctly differently when I’m serious:
- Actual workouts on the treadmill
- Rain riding
- Bothering to make sure my equipment works
- Writing schedules
- Swimming
Things I have not yet started to do, but will mark when I am really serious:
- Stop eating all the desserts
I have never stopped eating desserts. I believe it is almost impossible for me. I probably have never been super serious to warrant this type of dedication. I don’t want to live a life without dessert!
No, no, not NO dessert. Just not ALL the desserts.
Ahhhh. That’s a big distinction.
HATE when equipment problems interfere with working out. very frustrating!!! I’d have hauled the bike off to the shop. I am a “frequent flyer” there!!!!
Yeah, well, the bike shop would have said: ‘this tire’s too big for your frame; you’re an idiot.’ Hah!
[…] failing to get my bike to work, I decided to just do my easy run instead. Ran 5 miles slow, with drills and strides. Followed up […]
The dessert thing is my downfall too!!!! We can work on it together!
Just discovered your blog…this is an awesome list! I love your sarcasm. i.e.: “swimming.” No explanation makes it even funnier. Excited to follow along with your training.
Thanks!