Unless this is your first time reading this blog, you are well aware that Spartan has changed me by making fitness and health an integral component of my daily life. I transitioned from a person who wanted to work out but who also thought working out at the gym lit by florescent lights was a chore. Hence, I never had long term success. I was your typical gym member who would make make month long appearances from time to time. This did not work. Starting in April 2012, I learned a new way to work out. I learned running through the woods was a real sport. In fact, you could buy special shoes for this. As a kid my mom used to yell at me for going into the woods all summer because I'd return with poison ivy. But I loved exploring the trails with my friends and I always went back despite the threat of torturous itching. Now I can do this as an adult. Even better, after 2 doctor visits and spending a month on Predisone for my first Poison Ivy rash of the season, I found Tecnu Body Wash so no more Poison Ivy EVER. Besides running in the woods, Jon and I worked on our Gym in the basement and around the house. Over the year I slowly accumulated more equipment, by either making or buying it. I would make up routines the night before by jotting them on notepads, so I wouldn't have to waste time figuring out what to do in the morning. In fact, at one point, Jon asked me if I was following some sort of a schedule. "No, I just make this shit up." And I do. I've taken what I've learned from the Spartan WODs, Google, YouTube, Insanity Infomericals, my Spartan Chick Group, etc. and make up work outs. I also keep them all in a binder. When I first began, I would print out the Spartan WOD and put it in my binder. I've since stopped doing that, but will print my fav's or save some of the ones I create. The binder is great for when I have Training Block.
And this has worked for me. I can work out when it is convenient for me without the commute to the gym or the lines. I get to go outside before my 8+ hours at a desk in a windowless office. I train alone, which has also made me stronger mentally. I have to be the one that decides to do one more rep, that the pain is temporary, that its time to get out of bed, that I can do this. Its changed my perspective on life. I think I appreciate the simple things more. I learned the fruit of my labors. I learned the value and reward of hard work even if it takes me some time to accept it. Despite the occasional aches, pains, and soreness, I've never felt better. And, I am genuinely happy.
So,where does that leave me for 2013?
Goals:
Top 10 Female finish for any local OCR's I race.Top 20 Elite Female finish for IN Spartan Sprint in April. - This a doozy and will be extremely tough.
Improvements:
This is how I'm going to achieve those goals. First, I need to get faster. This means more running, more sprinting, more pacing with my running watch, and more 30 count burpees for time. Second, I need to improve my nutrition. I'll speak more to this in a later post. But basically less chocolate chip cookies, processed foods, meat, cheese and eating out, much more veggies, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. I know sounds terrible, but I'm looking forward to feeling the results. Finally, I need to improve my confidence in myself as an athlete. I've definitely gotten better through the course of the year, but there's room for improvement. I was at the front of the starting corral in the local OCR's but still mid-pack my final two Spartan Races. I'm good enough to be up front for all of the OCR races. I won a race and had a really tough time accepting my victory as an athlete. Sheesh, you would have thought that would have boosted my ego, but nope. I am too darn humble. In both the Super and Beast I found myself stuck behind walkers. I mentioned this to some of the TeamTX members at our After-Spartay and one of them told me to just shove people out of my way. Well, I can't do that. But that's the assertiveness I must apply when on the course. Let people know I'm a coming and to move over. A Ludacris song comes to mind. Probably not best to sing in order to get by, perhaps a loud, "Excuse me. Coming through" will suffice. So that's it. My Macro-Goals and Improvements.Happy January 2!
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