Skip to main content

The Unknown

 
 
Linda picked some of our sunflowers and set them up in her little vase that greets anyone entering our back door.  I kinda looks like a Dr. Suess scene of happy little flowers singing a song of joy.  

Everybody has their hot buttons and other environmental influences that from time to time can cause distress.   One of my worst causes of stress is being unsure and not knowing what sort of outcome is expected in a certain situation.    I had exhibited this behavior since high school.  For example, when I was in athletics, before each meet or game I was a total wreck in the locker room or just prior to the races because the race or games were up for grabs. Would I be able to perform or just stink the joint up? Self doubt was ridiculous.    I would go the bathroom 5 times in 30 minutes and of course nothing happened of any consequence, but I would get that wound up over competition.  I am getting better now, but not much.

I have been wearing a Nike wrist band for a couple of months that measures the amount of activity or movement over time and calculates some number that represents your  fuel burn.   I call mine, the Tattle Tail, because it lets you know if you are moving or burning any energy.  Last week, during air travel  from Nashville to Spokane , Idaho it was useful  for defining my level of Unknown.    The plane leaving Nashville, was broken and we would have to make new connections ( unknown) to get to Spokane much later than planned.   After getting to Salt Lake City,  that plane was broken as well ( just enough to get me aggravated about this unknown).  2 out of 3 legs had bad planes--Delta does this regularly to me.  I finally made it, 8 hours later than planned and not in the best of humor.  I do not like this sort of failure and Delta had quite a string of failures for me on their regional jets.    Regional Junks would be a better moniker.    I looked at my fuel burn for that day and it was pretty high for someone that sat a lot or walked most of the day.   I could have done a hard workout and not burned that much fuel !!   I was quite stunned at the amount of energy burned and it all relates to the unknown...  I am still not of fan of not knowing and I really do not see this improving much for planes, airports and rental cars.    I am getting better for meets, I have cut down from 5 times in the bathroom to 2 or 3, but at my age there are now legitimate reasons.  I still get pretty ramped up worrying about having a good performance, but that is my wiring and it is not going to change.  Can I win it or do my best??  that is a big unknown that every athlete always struggles.  

I am still doing some of the distance running and have started to do a little weight work.   Linda is working on some strength related activities and I jump in and do some reps.    Last week I was in Idaho and ran on a little high school track with a great view.  The Clearwater River valley was clear, warm and without any real humidity.   Great day to run some 600's.   Work went pretty good as well.
     

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Race Day Again

Finally, we get to race again! As many of you know, I was injured last April 4, 2024. I had a disk at L4 vertebra collapse and pinch a nerve in my back that caused over half of my lower leg strenth to disappear. I had a lot of atrophy in my right leg quad and I have been recovering ever since. I am close to 100% on strength and the right leg looks like it is very close to normal size again, but it has been a battle. I have been working in the gym, doing pilates again and also running. All of these things must be done in balance so you can get the proper rest and recover. I still do full body massages every two weeks and I also have been working with a Cox Technique Chiro since the injury on a weekly or biweekly basis. The chiro has gotten me stretched back out and the pressure off the nerve, that treatment has been the real source of healing in my opinion. MY normal doctor was not any help, but this is not what normal doctors do--naturally healing. The first meet of 202...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jump Ahead

 Hello to all the faithful readers out there is the ethernet.  As you know, I have been dealing with an issue with a pinched nerve in my back that has been affecting my right leg strength.  My leg strength is back to 85% according to the squat machine at the gym.  I use the type of machine that has belt around your waist and you hook up to an arm that connections to the weight rack. This machine does no put any weight on my lower back and allows for leg strength development.  Progress has been made and I am also running a couple days a week at the Pettit Ice Center in West Allis as well.   Things are coming along.    About 6 weeks ago I began doing weekly pilates classes.   The pilates has been very helpful in generating flexibility and strength in  my lower body.   The sessions are around one hour and they are very intense and I am enjoying the improvement in my body strength and movement. I plan on continuing these ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Really Important Information

I participated in the USATF Masters Indoor National meet last weekend in Winston-Salem, NC.   It was good meet for me and I will add the details of the results in another post later this week.  What I want to reflect on here is the quality of people in that building.   I am just so impressed with the high level of competition and caring for each other that goes on for 3 days.  Hug and Cry Area for Awards  There were around 1000 competitors for the event, and with families and officials, generally 500 to 2000 people were in the building during the times the track was open. It was not completely full at JDL Fast Track, but a really good crowd. North Carolina passed some very hateful and just plain repressive legislation a few years back concerning rest room usage and anything that did not meet the "hateful Jesus" religion that they were  promoting.   The NBA pushed back and moved their All Star Game location and I think this may hav...
3 comments
Read more