Category Archives: General

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Is It Really Important?

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One of the best questions to ask (and probably many times a day):

“Is it really important?”

I started asking that every time I noted something that seemed to irritate me – the most common one that I was “sure” was put there just to tick me off – we have two – three stop signs on our 1.5 mile street. People rarely actually stop.

So instead of being irritated and subjecting my body to the “stress chemicals” released, I’ve just been asking that question and you know what? It really helps.

Use it in any situation and it will help focus your mind on what’s really valuable.

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Has Your “Get Up & Go” Gone?

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Mine has.

I hope that it’s only gone on a weekend break and not a sabbatical. I have been training hard (for me) for the Tennessee “race” in July. I have to work harder than ever before because I’m three years older than the last time I did it and my times have plateaued despite all the time I’ve walked since last year when I retired.

Last week I was really fatigued but not unmotivated. I just tried to push harder. I had to take one day off to go for a routine medical test. And yesterday my plan was to really elevate my miles. But I woke up not only with a head migraine but with a total body “migraine” (not a real entity – just the way I described how I felt). Even with my migraine meds I didn’t rebound like normal. In fact as they morning went on I felt worse. So, at that point I knew it was not going to be walking day. I couldn’t generate ANY excitement about even going out without the weight I have been training with. I ended up sleeping for 10-12 hours. I woke up this a.m. still with a headache but feeling some better. However, I really have lost my “get up and go”. I have no desire to walk or train. Maybe to walk but not to train. So, today I’m doing other things again. Being productive just not adding miles to my legs. It bothers me a bit but not as much as it might have if I weren’t so unmotivated – maybe that’s an advantage of apathy. Ha!

Overtraining is a continuum and ranges from occasionally “overdoing” it to a chronic state of under-recovery lasting for longer periods of time.

I thought I would post this because “overtraining” occurs in life as well as in sports. It’s just not talked about as often. It might be what others consider burnout but I often think of burnout as the end result of ignoring burnout. Here’s one website’s list of overtraining symptoms (for sports so may not be applicable) – this particular list is taken from blog.NASM.org (I’ll put the link in comments so that the page will still allow me to add photos):
1) A Plateau or decline in workout performance or progress (take the “out” out of workout” and you have “decline in work performance”)

2) A perception of increased exertion during “normal” or “easy workouts

  • How often does something at work that used to be simple seem to take “oh so long…”

3) Excessive sweating or overheating
– Maybe you’re thinking someone turned up the thermostat in the office (even if you’re working from home)

4) Unusual feelings of heaviness, stiffness or soreness in muscles
– the brain is a muscle so maybe it’s taking you a bit longer to recall things that used to be right on the tip of your tongue

5) A lack of feeling “refreshed” after regular rest and recovery
– I think this will happen surreptitiously when you’re working from home. You think you’ve rested but since you’re still at/in your “office” your mind is continuously thinking about the email, the project, the meeting, whatever

6) Recurrent injuries
– This might be recurrent episodes of chronic medical issues – migraines, back pain, repetitive stress injuries, etc.

7) A decline in enthusiasm for exercise (or skipping or quitting workouts)
– decline in enthusiasm for things you used to think were at least interesting. Maybe at work you’re putting more things off saying “I’ll get to it later”

8) Persistent feelings of fatigue, exhaustion or low energy throughout the day
– Has your caffeine intake increased? Do you watch the clock more frequently? Do you have to have that afternoon snack to build up your energy?

9) A decline in motivation and/or self-confidence
– You know you have to get that report done but just can’t put it all together

10) A lack of enjoyment in favorite hobbies or other signs of depression
– This was pretty easy to cover up during the pandemic but now are you still just as satisfied to hang out at home?

11) Unusual mood or emotions, such as agitation, anger, confusion, irritability and restlessness?
– Again easy to blame on other things during the pandemic but something to definitely think about over the past few months

12) Problems with sleep quality

13) Problems with concentration and performance
– We addressed performance above but are you having difficulty concentrating on even little things?

This blog referenced Budgett et al, 2000; HHS, 2017; Kreher & Schwartz, 2012; Kendall-Reed & Reed, 2020). I added the references to life and work

As I was writing this I realized that I have been really pounding out not just the miles (all the real ultra runners out there can laugh because my “miles” are nowhere near theirs but they are for me and overtraining is just as individualized as most other things in life), I have also been taking courses, participating in my least favorite activities of having to continuously interact with people I don’t know (Zoom-itis perhaps) and not taking the time to relax.

It’s funny I have an Oura ring which is a pretty good device for sleep and HRV and a few other monitors and it’s been warning me of this but when it said my sleep was good I thought it was bogus and vice versa so there are some inconsistencies but on the whole I think if I had listened to it and not thought I was even 5 years younger I would have been better off.

So even my physical overtraining has life components. I encourage you to look at what’s going on in your life and your work and your “stress-relieving” activities (maybe adding to your stress) and see if any items on this list apply.

Off to try to figure out how to out smart my over trained squirrels…arghh

Terrie

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Your Personal Power Lines

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Another beautiful site I found on my walk. But it’s not just the picture but what it represents that really struck me. As I was strolling over to one of my favorite rocks to take a break, I looked up this road – and of course the temptation roared within me – not only was it a great hill I could use for training but more importantly the signs all said “private road! Do not enter” – we all know what that does to the innards of an explorer. But alas, I begrudgingly obeyed the rules.

However, still gazing down the road I noticed what this view really means. For some it will represent a religious experience, for others something else. I’m not particularly religious (what does that mean anyway) but am very spiritual and this view represents all I know deep in my heart.

At first look you see how long and steep the hill is in the distance. You think “wow” and depending on your purpose, outlook and mood you could follow:that thought with
“whew I’m glad I don’t have to go up that one” or
“nuts, I would love to try to train on that hill” or
“man, I wonder what the view is like at the top of that thing.”

But if you look up and to the left you’ll see something even more massive – the power lines. These lines carry all the power that you need to conquer anything in life. But often we miss it and stay stuck to the ground because we don’t look up. If we do lift our head, we’ll see that there is something greater outside of us that can travel inward and propel us up any hill or mountain we have to traverse. That power is there for us. It should be used wisely and safely but once recognized and harnessed we can overcome anything that stands in our way, no matter how insurmountable it seems.

The power without becomes the power within. Use it. It’s all around us. We just have to “ask” for its help and it’s right there above us. It will guide us down the path we need to follow and push our weary bodies up that hill so we can all revel in the view.

Have a powerful weekend.

Terrie