My coach has told me many times “don’t hang onto the bad days. After your worst ones you usually have your best. It works that way for me too”. I did hang onto Friday through Saturday, my day of rest for the week. I spent it worried because I didn’t have work to do.
But today came with more perspective. Of course my coach believes in me: he has taken me under his wing as I pursue my certification. He is not difficult to read and he would not have agreed to this if he had doubts. He put me on the Outlaw program. He does Outlaw workouts, this means I am better than I was. It just dawned on me today that when he said “better get to work on your swimming” it was a reference to the games which isn’t even on my radar but he is betting that anything is possible, not betting against me. I have been pulling all-nighters, going to work, maxing, and returning home to pull another all-nighter. When I study I forget to eat (setting my timers now) and the sudden onset of heat has made it impossible to stay hydrated. No wonder I took a little teasing so much to heart, I had no strength to understand. The next six weeks will require me to remember this isn’t life or death and people don’t often speak in literal terms.
I had my first Outlaw workout today. I have had mixed feelings about Outlaw but when he announced this is my new program, I immediately felt like I accomplished something. We are running it a week behind because there are tweaks he is making to the programming due to my need to develop certain skills and whether or not my hip is working. My original program had this week as totally off, my hip would have recovered, but he wants to get moving on Smolov ASAP. No week of vacation for me.
The five things I took from today’s workout:
1) Day 1 was solo and I loved it. I enjoyed the workout, it kicked my tush, and I loved starting it on my own. It reminded me of my strength and independence. It was a calming and empowering. It gave me perspective.
2) This is going to require less time than I have been dedicating to my program. I will be working just as hard but more efficiently. These workouts will challenge me in such a way I will rarely finish a workout and think “I should have worked harder/done more/stayed longer”. I will miss a lot of things from my old program but I will have more time to study, recover, and eat.
3) I am going to love, if my hip stays active, squatting multiple times a week for the next 3 or 4 weeks of Smolov.
4) The hottest day of the year, from 2-2:30, I was sprinting the trail along the river, and I loved it. I wasn’t stuck inside surrounded by metal and, while I love that too, I miss feeling the sun on my face, the wind, the smell of wildflowers. A walker mentioned that the college track would be easier on my legs but I said it is too beautiful along the river. I hated to leave despite the misery of 90 degrees and oppressive humidity. The rest of the week will be in the cave and outdoor work takes place in the parking lot. (Note: today was supposed to be airdyne or row. Subbing sprints was just what I needed.)
5) Ice bathes are much more enjoyable when it is incredibly hot outside and even hotter in the house.
Warrior Girl Lifting 