Overkill, Repair and some new Asics.
Posted on December 29, 2009
Today, I felt horrible. Totally my own fault, no one to blame. Woke up with the flu and every bone, muscle and tendon was aching.
Yesterday, I started the day at 900 hours sharp at the military training facility. A friend of mine, Lars has been working in the army and ran the through the different obstacles with me. We couldn't run the track which you normally do because everything was over iced and very slippery. We walked carefully around and climbed the obstacles. They were not for the soft! Underneath many of the obstacles was asphalt, not water or mud like in Wipeout! ...And the asphalt WILL hit you back if you try to hit it with your body! I concurred most of the obstacles, even some that I didn't expect... There was this deep hole in the ground - they call it Bull's ass LOL - that you had to jump into and then jump up and grab the rim and pull yourself out... I was quite proud that I was able to get out of there by myself! If I hadn't had Lars with me I would never have jumped down there!
Defeat
There was one obstacle that was giving me serious trouble. Number 10: "The irish bench". Don't ask me why they call it that. I would have called it "The bench from hell!".
As the name implies, it's like a bench but a VERY tall one. I was supposed to run and jump up and grab the plank at the top but at the backside. The plank was pretty wide, as it turned out too wide for me... After two failed tries and two very hard falls, I was like a mad and wounded bull. I hate to give up! But on other hand, I hurt my elbow, my knee, my hip and my shoulder. I was holding back my tears and felt like such a girl and it was pissing me off! I didn't want to let the plank win and I was ready for a rendezvous with the asphalt again. I was driven by pure anger and a sneaking feeling of defeat... And I knew that if the plank defeated me that it would affect me psychologically, possibly effect me on the track in Argentina.
My military friend Lars dragged me away from the Irish bench, which was a really clever move at the time because I was tired, frustrated and started to fear number 10. We moved on to the Bull's ass. My confidence was low and the hole deep. At first, I said I wouldn't do it. I was afraid I would never get out. Lars assured me that he would help me out if I failed. I jumped in. Took a deep breath, ran across the hole and jumped right out. First try. I was so relieved and happy that it went so smooth. My confidence returned. We did a few more obstacles that went well and returned to Mr. Irish. Lars jumped up on his back and took off his t-shirt like a gentleman and started to rub Mr. Irish's back and made sure that it was dry and free of frost. I started to jump a little up and down to sort of built up my confidence and one last try... I jumped... and my hands caught the edge of the back of the plank. I couldn't believe it. I defeated Mr. Irish!
No.10 The Irish bench (looks pretty in the sunshine but wasn't pretty in 5 degrees frost!)
Here's a few pics of some of the other obstacles. There were 20 in total:
At 3pm I started my shoulder workout. I really felt the effects of the strict diet. My strength had taken a serious drop. I was fine with that. I do not care about the poundages I lift I care about the feel that I have when I lift. I do precision training. I like to hit a specific muscle where I want it when I want it. It's very carefully planned.The workout was a success. Afterwards I threw in 30min of cardio: stairmaster. We are becoming good friends. Stepping down from the stairmaster I glanced at the clock and remembered that a spinning class would be starting in 15min. I just had time for a shake and a banana. Full blast on the music and 30 intervals later I was pretty beat up.
I had 60min to get home, eat, change my sweat-drenched clothes and get back to the gym! Last week I promised one of the instructors that I would come to her class... and as I hate to break a promise... I had to drag myself in again for a FUNK dance class... 20.45 I finished my last class of the day... had I been a dog then my ears would have been as flat as the floor... I went home and went to bed without a word. LOL. Very exhausting day but fun! I think I am crazy!
...Woke up this morning and felt horrible. Totally my own fault, no one to blame. Woke up with the flu and every bone, muscle and tendon was aching. Could I have over-done it? My body said "yes". My mind said "yes", but my willpower said "No". I did the only right and sensible thing to do that I preach to my athletes all the time: I stayed in bed. Rest is the only way that the body will heal. I pushed my body too far and now I have to take care of it and repair. I booked a session at a massage therapist and enjoyed every second of it. Just what I needed. I choked down 13hours of sleep, too.
On my way home from the therapist I thought I'd give myself a treat. I went by the sports store and purchased a new pair of Asics and a few tops to wear at the obstacle course in Argentina. On my way to the car and with the loot in my hand I almost didn't feel sick anymore. It's amazing how shopping can cure anything!! :-)
Posted on December 29, 2009 by Helle Nielsen - 0 Comments
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