Monday’s and Wednesday’s always feel like the longest days ever. I wake up around the same time everyday, but each time something different hurts. Today as I woke up and tried to get out of bed, I realized my abs were still hurting from an intense core workout last Thursday. I tried three times to sit up, but the only thing that would rise was my head. I accepted defeat and just rolled out of bed instead. This looked like it was going to be a great day already. Every morning I start off with a protein shake, just milk and a couple scoops of the grossed protein I’ve ever tasted. I’ve always learned though, if it taste bad, its going to work…Thanks Buckley’s for that life lesson :-s I choke down the concoction along with the ten different vitamins and minerals I take to start off the day. After drinking my shake my taste buds are usually pretty disgusted with me, so I wait a while to eat anything. I use this time to creep! I spend a little time on Facebook to check out what my friends are up to and try to respond to any emails that I get. Creepin’ definitely makes me miss home a lots, but I just remind myself that I’m here for a reason and I just focus on that to get me through it.
After the nasty taste finally dissipates from my mouth, I can finally eat breakfast! I try to eat the same thing every morning, that way I know it won’t mess with my stomach at practice and I will have enough energy to train. Once I’m done eating I still have a bit of time before practice starts so I do a little on my own before I head out. I took a yoga class in my last semester of school as a joke, but now its actually paying off. I spend about 45mins doing yoga to help loosen up, and stretch out any nagging tightness before practice. After yoga I shower up then start packing and get ready for practice. I’m use to dressing in layers for practice because around this time in Regina it would be starting to get really cold. Old habits are hard to drop, so five layers later I’m ready to go to practice! I pack extra clothes because after practice I still have lifting to do, and lifting in sweaty clothes is no fun.
Every practice is hard, but Monday’s always seem the worse. This Monday is no different, 600-300-200-200 is on the plate for today. I’ve slowly getting better at running 600s but no matter what they still hurt. The five layers of clothing turn out to be too much, so after my warm up jog, I’m already down to two. As the layers come off I know the workout is coming closer and closer. I work through my drills and dread what’s coming at the end. Once again I stretch out anything that is tight, then I’m ready to go. The first time I did this workout I ran the 600 in over two minutes, my goal this time is just to beat that. I line up and tell myself that its going to be ok and just to give it all I’ve got. I take off pretty hard and at first I worry that it may have been too hard. I set myself into a good pace and just tell myself to hold it. 300 meters in and I’m actually still feeling pretty good, I’m actually a little surprised. I pick it up just a little and continues to keep my form. With 200 meters left I expect fatigue to set in, but nothing, I’m still feeling great. I pick it up one more time and pump my arms faster. I finish in just over 1:38, I’m more then pleased with my results! I can’t believe the improvement, now just to finish the rest of the workout. We have a rest before the next rep so I try to conserve my legs and prepare for the next one. Anything after a 600 feels like a piece of cake, I fly through the rest of the workout and leave the track pretty satisfied. After the running portion we still aren’t done. A couple lengths of drills are up next. When your tired running As and walking Bs are just that much harder. My legs can barely lift, they feel like 100 pounds each. I activate my core to keep my balance as my hips and my legs burn with each step. Thirty meters feels like 100 and the drills seem like they take forever to finish. Even though it all hurt, taking off more then 20 seconds in the 600 in just a couple weeks felt pretty awesome. I’m excited to see how this will improve my time in my races.
Even though the workout is done, I’m still not done training for the day, off to the weight room. I take a bit of a break though before hitting the weights. I give my body a minute to recover so I can put in a solid effort with the weights. This week I’ve only got 3x3reps of bench press, back squat and hang cleans. Even though its low reps, its going to be pretty heavy so I need all the energy I can get to do them.
After the little break my body feels ready to go, and I hit the weight room. I am able to do each rep and each set with no problem. I’m pretty close to where my maxes were at the end of last season, and I’m just getting started. Once weights are done my body is exhausted. I spend a good ten minutes in the ice cold tub to give my body the therapy it wants. I never though water that cold could feel any good, but today it feels amazing.
By the time I get home its been close to six hours. All I want to do is sleep, but I muster the strength to cook myself a nice little supper and plop in front of the TV to finally relax. I’m not really sure what’s on but I know it feels good to finally sit.
This is day 1, only 4 more to go…
No comments:
Post a Comment