Yesterday was a distance training day. Eighty minutes in 15 second high speed, 45 second moderate speed intervals split between the Arc Trainer and the AMT.
Today was the first day back from a recovery week and was one of those days where you find your self trying to talk your self out of it.
The benefit of a recovery week is, well, recovery. The downside is you lose some momentum and if on the day you start up again you're off your game, it can really feel like you're pushing an elephant up hill.
That was today for me.
I felt good going into the session. Slept great last night. Good energy. Body felt fine. But, the drive was in first or second gear. I was in a funk.
I've learned that the way out of a funk is often to go through the funk. Acknowledge it and just push a little bit but don't quit. Sometimes I just talk out loud like I'm my own coach, which I am I guess so maybe that's not as odd as it sounds, and just remind my self to keep going. Focus on the motions. Breathe. Remember where you were in March of '08? Breathe, focus, nice job. Now, what's next. Get after it. Bring your A game. Champions finish.
Whatever it takes. You might, probably are, different. So, experiment. You're going to have days when you just don't feel like showing up. Sometimes, if you're sick or some other urgent thing needs attention, not showing up is a good thing but most of the time, it works against you.
After about 10 minutes, the funk faded, I shifted into 3rd, then 4th gear, but I won't kid you the first 10 minutes today felt like 60. Today was as much mental and emotional training as physical.
So it goes but I finished.
Here's what I did:
- 800 meter jog
- 10 pull ups, 10 push ups, 10 kettlebell one arm swings
- 15 pull ups, 10 push ups, 10 kettlebell one arm swings
- 20 pull ups, 10 push ups, 10 kettlebell one arm swings
- 25 pull ups, 10 push ups, 10 kettlebell one arm swings
- 30 pull ups, 10 push ups, 10 kettlebell one arm swings
Total time was 38 minutes and 12 seconds.
A kettlebell swing is a squat combined with a motion that sort of looks like a chopping action using a kettlebell. I didn't have one today so I used a dumb bell instead. A kettlebell is more difficult even at the same load as a dumb bell because the kettlebell pivots or swings in you hand adding more momentum to the swinging action.
I like the kettlebell swing for me because it loads the hips and spine without high levels of compression and it has a little bit of speed and, trust me, my speed could use a little work. A couple of tips - the swing is generated by the hips; not the arms. And, you have to pull back a little with your shoulder so that the weight doesn't distract the shoulder joint especially if you have any underlying joint laxity. I don't but I tightened it a little anyway because it feels better and it's safer.
To see a kettlebell swing in action, click here.
DK
