Messenger Archives - April 2006
Playing With It
- by Peter Shmock
Spring is here.
And for me it didn't come too soon. I relish the days of warmth and getting outdoors. Spring is a time of transition from colder to warmer weather, indoors to outdoor activities and, in general, a reconnection to various activities biking, running, rollerblading, kayaking most of us have shied away from over the past six months. It's also a time to just reconnect with our bodies.
When I say connection, I mean an awareness of how our body feels now. One of the best lessons I learned training for the Olympics was simply to pay attention to how my body felt and to never disregard that. My beliefs how I thought my body should feel or my urge to do more were not always congruent with what my body needed. As you start to engage in activities or exercises that differ from those you've been focused on for the wintry months, learning to be attentive to your body's "idiosyncrasies" provides the main clues about what to do, how much to push, and when to change course.
I've always likened how I feel to a river's current, and I aim to flow with that current, not against it. Going against how you feel increases your chance of injuries and sickness, and often dampens your motivation. Going with the your body's unique flow, trusting what your body tells you, is the best way I know to make steady, injury-free progress. There are no concrete rules for success here, but I can offer some clues:
The first Rule of Peter is progression. You want to start any new form of movement progressively, with baby steps, adding time and intensity as your body is ready. Remember that less always better than more (even as your mind says otherwise). Progressively increase the amount of time you spend hiking, biking, running, weight lifting, or anything. For instance, if you haven't played soccer since November, and then play a two-hour game full out, you're going to be sore as hell. Your high school coach may have said to give it 110 percent, but I'm saying give it 70 percent and increase slowly gain without pain is the preferred alternative. The next Peter Rule is: If your joints hurt, you're doing way too much too soon. Muscles can be stiff or tight initially, but, if your joints ache, back off and go easier. It doesn't matter you're body is trying. Muscles recover faster than joints do. Progressing slowly will allow your joints to adapt without pain. Exercising wisely should decrease joint aches and pains, not boost it.
Rule number three: If you're tired, rest. You cannot push through fatigue and if you try you will suffer greatly. If you feel sickness coming on, head to the prone position and ignore your mind when it insists you should do this or that. Disregard those old thoughts from your misguided high school coach and coddle yourself.
Respecting what your body needs takes time and experimentation - what I call "playing with it." Make changes when necessary but what ever you do, don't criticize yourself for your mistakes - that's unproductive. Pay attention to your body, progressively increase your exercise time, minimize pain and suffering, and rest when it's called for. If you do this, you can still assault Rainier, play soccer with the 40-year-olds and run Green Lake when you're 70.
Just don't push when your body says back off. If I can help, contact me.
© 2006 Belltown Messenger