Restructuring

As with everything in life, sometimes the pieces just fall together and sometimes they scatter and hide under the couch.  I’ve spent a good part of 2012 wondering where the pieces are to my fitness and health goals.  Finally, after much searching, the pieces are starting to resurface.

My hamstring injury created the biggest setback, one that I’m still trying to fully recover from.  I failed to compete in a triathlon, partially because of my leg and also because I had a hard time dedicating myself to swim training.  I had wanted to compete in a few big races this fall.  While I’ve decided not to fill the calendar, I have decided to run a very late season half marathon.  I had set goals to tone my body and instead find an extra layer of softness in the middle.

I’ve spent time reflecting on what matters most regarding my health and fitness goals.  Do I want to continue to expand my fitness horizons by trying new things or do I want to narrow my focus to the core activities I like and really push myself?  Where do you stand with your current goals?  Are you accomplishing the goals you set for yourself months ago?  Have you lost focus?  Gotten bored or frustrated?  Or are you celebrating the hard work you dedicated yourself to?

I’m still a firm believer that no matter if you’re training for the Olympics or just trying to maintain a positive, healthy balance in life and for your body, you should have goals.  While the most strategic goals are generally smart goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound), really what matters is that you have a checks and balance in place to make sure you’re getting something out of the work you’ve put in.  Your goal could be to have another year of good cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, to look great for swimsuit season or to win a mountain bike race.

Now that we’re over half way through the year and I’ve had lots of time to think about my goals, I’ve decided to focus on distance running.  I’m setting myself up for the idea of some big running goals in 2013 but I need to keep seeing progress in my abilities right now before I’m comfortable making the full commitment.  I’ve restructured my weekly workouts to follow a running plan.  I’ll supplement with strength training, biking and other activities.

Even with the restructuring, I’ve struggled here and there with leg pain and the added challenge of trying to rebuild my endurance. I recently realized that the majority of my leg muscles are much weaker than I thought so I’ve started kicking up the lunges and squats, throw in jumping jacks and jumping rope and I am seeing a difference.  Twice in the past week I ran sub 8 minute miles (for multiple miles), which is something I haven’t been able to do since 2011.  I haven’t even been focusing on speed but now I see that my weak muscles were playing a significant role in my recovery.  It isn’t just my hamstring struggling to power through workouts again.  I also haven’t been able to run farther distances, ones I’ll need in order to meet new goals.  With my new running plan and a focus on building up leg muscles again, I believe I’ll be able to get there soon.

Even if all the pieces aren’t connected yet, I can at least visualize them and where they need to go.  That’s a huge jump from where I was a few months ago.  Do you try to visualize the effort needed to complete your goals?  It can be a good way to identify what’s missing, what challenges you could face and the tools needed in order to succeed. Feel free to share your goals and what successes and challenges you’re facing.  Good luck!

Miss FitGab