Be Like Water

#Flexibility in training is essential. We must be prepared for the unknown.

How do you not stress when you’re in peak #training for your first #100mileultra and you have business travel and in addition you get sick.

I HAD a plan for the trip. The hotel I booked had a #gym, #treadmill, pool. I’d get up early and get my run in, after dinners I’d do my strength work. Maybe even a few laps in pool for some bonus #cardio.

Moving into the week of the trip I was progressively getting worse (congestion, cough, feverish, the whole fucking shebang). I began to panic a bit, knowing this is going to throw me off my schedule. I’ve been working up to a 20hr week and now I’m looking down the barrel of maybe maybe 3hrs if I can even handle it. I was concerned AND what if it bleeds into the next week as well!

That’s when the #training kicked back in. All those uncomfortable #workouts, #icebaths, predawn efforts, really do help you stay calibrated within the storm.

I began to remind myself, this is #ultramarathons, this is the game. It’s never going to go exactly as planned. It’s all about figuring out how to manage obstacles that you will undoubtedly face while chasing 100. You are the puzzle and you have to find the pieces that will keep you moving forward. You have to #controlthecontrollables.

I became laser-focused on healing. A regimen of super clean nutrient dense meals, #sleep, #hydration, #mobility, and easy/slow efforts on the #treadmill. It’s now the end of the week and I’m on the mend. My miles/workouts aren’t where I wanted them to be, but that’s ok because I know I’ll be back to stacking them bricks in no time.

People with ambitious goals can sometimes be too rigid and that can be counterproductive or even unhealthy. So hopefully this little story will remind you to be flexible, embrace where you are, and adapt to the situation.

Happy Training Y’all!