Progress takes time...

Progress takes time.  You must be willing to accept it.  It's a this fact.  If you don't, you will be disappointed!  Getting fit, or fitter, does not happen over night!  If you are willing to put the time and dedication in, you should eventually see some sort of results.  Time, I don't have time is what you are thinking... if you want it, you will find the time.  You find the time to watch television don't you? You find the time to go on Facebook or whatever other sites you visit don't you? How about the time to smoke or have a beer?  The time is there if you really want it to be.  I apologize... I digress... Back to the subject at hand... progress.

I've now completed 15 sessions with Ty, my trainer at Crossfit613. Only 3 sessions to go!  How is that possible?  Time flies when you are having fun I guess!  Every session has been different, challenging yet quite enjoyable.  I like pushing myself to do better -and I don't back down from a challenge.

Here's a few examples of the progress I've made...
The first time I went, I was asked to hang from the rig for I can't remember - maybe a minute?  I lasted a whole... are you ready for this?  a whole 2 seconds.  You read that correctly.  I couldn't hold myself up -just hanging, not moving or anything - for more than 2 seconds.  Last night, I had to do knee raises -that's when you hang from the bar, and you need to engage your "shoulder muscles" and then lift your knees up - three sets- one of 21, one of 15 and one of 9.  I was allowed to break the numbers as I needed to.  For example - my set of 21 I did 6, 3 second break, 5, 3 second break and the remaining ones.  For my set of 15, I was able to to 8, break then 7.  During the last set, I was very proud of myself for hanging on and doing 9 in a row without dropping!  What an accomplishment after not being able to hang on for more than 2 seconds!  I never thought this would be possible!

Other progressions - I am now able to deadlift 55 pounds (same amount of reps as the previous exercise -knee raises).  I could probably lift more than that, but it's important to take it slow and learn to keep the proper form.  When I started, I was lifting... you guessed it...  nothing... so great progression here as well!

My back squats are progressing well - I can't remember the weight I was doing last week...  but when I started I was doing only the bar - this time around, I have weights on the bar - just can't remember how much - I need to keep better track so I can see my progression better.

What I'm still having issues with are the "complicated" moves -well, they seem to be complicated for me! 😂  The jerk this, the clean that... I can't for the life of me remember the terms or the steps!  When it's explained to me, I get it, I understand, I can picture it in my head, I run it through in my mind, then it's my turn and... nothing.  Yet, there is Ty, encouraging me, saying I'm doing great - my brain is thinking yeah... right... but it's all good.  I know that it takes time and that I will get there...

Just like every single sport I have tried, it takes me time... let's see... swimming? OMG! I took the first yellow, orange and red at least 25 times each... I still grew up to be a lifeguard for over 10 years.  Snowboarding? It took me 3 or 4 years to feel comfortable going downhill -not thinking I was going to die.  What else... I will just stop there and embarrassing myself as I'm sure you get the idea.

The point is that if you don't give up, you keep trying, and you have people around you who keep encouraging you (I'm lucky I have Rémi and Ty encouraging me every single time),  you will get there.   Just give it time.

The training continues...

I've now completed week 3 of my marathon training (doing week 1 twice).  Things are going well, I think.  I'm still having a difficult time not walking once or twice, but that's ok.  Yesterday's route had what I consider to be "a hill from hell".  It's about 500m long and gets steeper and steeper as you get closer to the top.  I slow down, and concentrate on my breathing, some swearing in my head the whole way up.  I count my steps to help me not think of how difficult it is (a tip from my cousin who runs ultra marathons).   I think of my husband who would run this at the speed of a gazelle.  I think of my trainer who would be saying "don't leave anything in your tank".  I don't allow myself to walk until I hit the top.  By the time I'm done this darn hill, I'm all out of energy, out of of "oumph" and I feel like I must walk.  My brain forces my legs to stop.  I allow myself to walk 50 steps.  I count, 1, 2, 3... 25, 45, 50.  Wishing I had 50 more steps to walk, I start running again.  Discipline.  Mental strength.  That's what is going to get me through.  Why only 50 steps?  It gives me enough time to get my heart rate back down just a bit, and enough time to catch my breath (another trick from my cousin).  50 steps.  Rarely more. 

Yesterday's long run was a little shorter than last week.  I love that Hal Higdon's program has  you upping the distance for about three week and then you get a break.  The fourth week has a bit less distance to cover - giving you a little break.  I'm always thankful when I hit these weeks.  It helps me catch up if you will.  Since I have a difficult time taking complete rest days, these weeks are a must.  Next long run will be 14 km -that's almost double yesterday's run!  Ouch!  We shall see how that goes!  I'm not sure what route I will take.  I think I'm going to skip that hill from hell, or keep it for near the end.

Other than running, I'm on week 6 of working with Ty, my personal trainer at Crossfit613.  That's going well!  Ty is a great motivator!  He takes his time and doesn't get frustrated when I'm not "getting it".

Even though I'm not lifting much weight yet, I'm feeling stronger than before I started (this is really session 12 if you count the 6 intro sessions).  It seems to be helping my running as well.  My longest run so far this training season has been 11.3 km and I had no issues with my IT band - which I'm hoping means my hips are getting stronger.  I feel the muscles in my legs are stronger as well as my core.

As for getting the lifting techniques right, well, that is proving to be difficult for me.  I will not  give up! Never give up.  I will get it eventually - I'm almost there.  Just like every other sport I try, it takes time for me to "get it" - once I get it though - watch out!  Proof - snowboarding - it took me years to be good at it! 

Why does it take me so long to "get it"?  Fear.  Fear of what?  In the case of snowboarding it was fear of speed, fear of falling and getting hurt (broke my tailbone the first year), fear of losing control.

What's the fear now?  I'm not sure.  Fear of looking stupid? Fear of getting hurt? Fear of not being able to do it? I'm not exactly sure...I will figure it out and conquer it -of that I'm sure!

Well, today is a rest day.  As much as I love sitting there, doing nothing other than watching TV, I have a hard time not getting some sort of exercise done.  Today's plan was to go for an easy skate on the canal - major snowstorm happening with frigid cold... It's not worth the risk of driving there... so rest day it will be!



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