I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that being almost good enough just ain't quite good enough any more. Some considerable changes in every day habits would be forthcoming - dietary changes (actually paying attention to what I consume instead of just eating anything and everything), a reduction in alcohol consumption (not quitting but it sure wouldn't hurt me to cut back) and a slight reduction in the upper body weight training to help facilitate lowering my weight.
I still haven't decided whether I'm happy being above average on my running and leave things the way they are or if I'm wasting my potential. I don't want it to turn it into another job or become so obsessed it screws up everything else in life.
Questions, comments or jokes will all be appreciated.
I still haven't decided whether I'm happy being above average on my running and leave things the way they are or if I'm wasting my potential. I don't want it to turn it into another job or become so obsessed it screws up everything else in life.
Questions, comments or jokes will all be appreciated.
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Good old running philospher George Sheehan coined the phrase "experiment of one". And really, that's what self-coaching is all about. Tweak this, modify that, increase here, decrease there. Once you get to the point where there is no more "what if's" in your regiment and it all comes together, I definitely think that next step up will be a big one.
And as much as I'd like to be politically correct and agree with the adage, "all things in moderation", there comes a point in serious athletic pursuit where you need to be a purist. So I'd really recommend sitting down with a race calendar and pinning down the performances you'd like to peg. From there back up the weeks prior and consider being a purist for awhile. If that means pulling in the reigns on junk food and alchohol, I think you'll find your peaks to be higher. Give it a try for say, a month before a big race and analyze the results. Then maybe try six weeks or eight weeks next year. Go at it with the attitude of not being a life altering obsession, but part of your training for a brief race season.
And as much as I'd like to be politically correct and agree with the adage, "all things in moderation", there comes a point in serious athletic pursuit where you need to be a purist. So I'd really recommend sitting down with a race calendar and pinning down the performances you'd like to peg. From there back up the weeks prior and consider being a purist for awhile. If that means pulling in the reigns on junk food and alchohol, I think you'll find your peaks to be higher. Give it a try for say, a month before a big race and analyze the results. Then maybe try six weeks or eight weeks next year. Go at it with the attitude of not being a life altering obsession, but part of your training for a brief race season.
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I can't speak to potential yet, since i'm probably a couple of years at getting close to my college times, but i've been thinking about diet quite a it recently. I know that i don't eat very well, and probably not enough, and i know that come february when i start marathon training (assuming i get in for Grandma's), i'm going to have to seriously think about working on my diet just so i can handle these long runs and extended training.
But what happens if i don't? I know that i don't perform as well, but can i still do it? I don't think i'm anywhere near above average and certainly won't be in the marathon, but is taking those extra steps to improve important enough to me besides just running?
I got no answers, because i'm working on the same questions, only from different directions.
But what happens if i don't? I know that i don't perform as well, but can i still do it? I don't think i'm anywhere near above average and certainly won't be in the marathon, but is taking those extra steps to improve important enough to me besides just running?
I got no answers, because i'm working on the same questions, only from different directions.
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no time like the present.
i can't speak to your training tactics cuz i think you've got that nailed rob, but as far as diet goes, (and really anything else in life) it's $hit in, $hit out as far as i'm concerned. and i'm not talking in the literal sense either. good fuel=a better you.
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I still haven't decided whether I'm happy being above average on my running and leave things the way they are or if I'm wasting my potential.
I don't think you would have posted this if you weren't already leaning towards a specific answer.
I don't want it to turn it into another job or become so obsessed it screws up everything else in life.
And based on what you know is the right answer for the first question, this part probably scares you.
Take a chance, rob. Go for it right now. You can stop whenever you want. You have nothing to lose by trying. And you'll never hurt yourself by putting forth an honest all out effort to see how good you can become at something, no matter what it is.
From my own personal experience, the other things like diet, rest, etc tend to happen on their own because your body slowly makes those decisions for you.
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Rob if I know you, a focused determined effort and training will do wonders. I say like JJ and Sue, pick a race or two to nail, focus training and eating for that race. Heck, if some tweaking in dietary changes are it, man that is an easy fix. You already have some pretty solid training.
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As for your diet, maybe you can meet with a nutritionist and come up with some goals and get some feedback and tips on balancing out your diet
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Rob- I like JJ's phrase "all in moderation". You "know" what you weaknesses are......take out one junk food at a time....don't give up everything bad in your diet. :wavey: I'm thinking of taking the chips out again :|
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This is great advice. I don't know, Rob, you have a lot of potential. Why not start with the diet and see where it goes from there. If you feel you're becoming too obsessed, step back.
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I'm in the same boat as you, Rob. I decided that being almost good enough, isn't good enough.
I've recommitted myself to more focused running and cycling. I've seen big gains in both departments (even though I had a poor 5K performance recently, I'll chalk that up to 'just a bad day'). Cycling has really taken off. I'm showing lots of improvement there.
In the last week or so, I've really focused on dropping those last few pounds. It's been hard--harder than doing intervals. Hungry lasts all day, intervals only last a few minutes.
Has there ever been a better time in your life to focus on running? You're single now and your last school-aged kid doesn't need constant supervision. I say GO FOR IT!
I've recommitted myself to more focused running and cycling. I've seen big gains in both departments (even though I had a poor 5K performance recently, I'll chalk that up to 'just a bad day'). Cycling has really taken off. I'm showing lots of improvement there.
In the last week or so, I've really focused on dropping those last few pounds. It's been hard--harder than doing intervals. Hungry lasts all day, intervals only last a few minutes.
Has there ever been a better time in your life to focus on running? You're single now and your last school-aged kid doesn't need constant supervision. I say GO FOR IT!
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Hey Rob,
Thanks for posing this question. I am kind of in the same boat as I work towards September 1 and the start of my Fall Season (even though it will still be 90 here). I know I need to cut back on the beer, the junk food, soda, etc. I have a lot of races planned with a couple of key ones. I am going to try and pick a couple out and really watch what I eat to drop the weight I have picked up this summer and see how it helps me.
Good Luck and keep on posting how things are going.
Thanks for posing this question. I am kind of in the same boat as I work towards September 1 and the start of my Fall Season (even though it will still be 90 here). I know I need to cut back on the beer, the junk food, soda, etc. I have a lot of races planned with a couple of key ones. I am going to try and pick a couple out and really watch what I eat to drop the weight I have picked up this summer and see how it helps me.
Good Luck and keep on posting how things are going.
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Based on your posts, Rob, you seem like the kind of guy who really tries to get all he can out of life, even if it means paying for it the next day when wrestling a Marine. So why not try it? You can decide later that you don't want to continue, but it feels a lot better when that choice is born of experience.
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Well mother nature may be making my mind up for me. That damned groin muscle pull that I suffered early in the year has flared back up. I'm just going to try and hold my own thru October (last of my races) and then probably take a considerable amount of time off to let it heal completely. Going to run a couple of 5k's before the end of the year and am bagging the half marathon.
In the meantime, I have changed my diet some and am planning some more changes. I've dumped off a few pounds and cut back on the heavy weight lifting somewhat also. Beer consumption has gone down about 10% and will probably go down some more. Maybe I can look to next year as a completely fresh start.
In the meantime, I have changed my diet some and am planning some more changes. I've dumped off a few pounds and cut back on the heavy weight lifting somewhat also. Beer consumption has gone down about 10% and will probably go down some more. Maybe I can look to next year as a completely fresh start.
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sorry to hear about the groin pull....I hear they can be pretty nasty. Does biking aggravate it??????
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