Tag / work in progress

by susanmcrae75

Tunes

When I swam in college, we had an underwater speaker system.  It was awesome, especially for back then, and it was amazing how many yards you could plow through when you had a beat and/or were distracted.  Also, depending on the tempo, it could really have an effect on how fast you went as well!  Mental?  Maybe, but who cares!  It also was great for those 5:30 practices.  There is nothing cool in my mind about having to get out of bed only to listen to myself struggle, grunt, huff, etc while trying to complete my morning workout.  Add some tunes…and you get into a rhythm and it actually “gasp” becomes somewhat fun!

Now, pick your tunes wisely.  The Train lyric “She listens to Mozart while she does Tae Bo” does not apply to me…I will fall back into bed.  Our college coach was stuck on playing “What’s Going On?” every morning.  Every.  Morning.  He was in charge of the tunes initially, but we did get that privilege away from him thank goodness.  Talk about not wanting to warm up to that playing-again!  My friend replaced it with the Pulp Fiction soundtrack (much better!)  Yep just aged myself there but that is ok.  Pulp Fiction soundtrack is always cool.

For me, it has to be fun, something with a beat, something that makes me feel kick ass.  My playlist is quite a blend, but all those songs make me feel good.  Songs by those who inspire me to have abs like them (J Lo, Pink, Sheryl Crow) don’t hurt either.  Or, a few that make you feel like you are the sexy love interest in an 80s hairband (or country crop top short shorts) video.  Maybe that’s just me, lol, but like I said-fun!

Music definitely makes you feel a certain way.  So I challenge you to make a play list.  When you turn it on, you and your mind are ready to go!  Otherwise, enjoy your various noises 😉

by susanmcrae75

Whack a Mole

I bet this one confuses many and that makes me chuckle.  So let me explain!  I see many, many athletic injuries from overuse.  People do the same thing over, and over and you get the picture.  An even bigger problem?  Overuse of a bad technique.  A colleague of mine would tell his patients “practice doesn’t make perfect…perfect practice makes perfect.”  I love that.  So, a few ideas about this…

  1.  Get someone who IS an expert to watch you and advise you.  Therapist, coach, a really good player/swimmer/runner etc-and have them film you in slow motion if possible.  I’ve even advised some of my patients to film themselves, then go on that fabulous thing called Google and search the best in the sport.  Compare.  Practice perfectly.
  2.   The body gets used to things pretty quickly and likes to coast.  Weaker muscles may get lazy, weaker.  Hence my whack a mole reference.  Keep it guessing.  Many runners’ injuries I see are because they do not train side to side, up and down, inside out….they are just very linear.  Cross training does not take you away from your sport/activity-it may prolong the time you are able to do it as well as improve your form and power while doing it.  And, of course, it can reduce your possibility of injury.  The program I am doing right now for example is different everyday:  core, upper body, lower body, total body, cardio, stretching/yoga-results are less strain on all these parts that are getting older (and we all are) and better overall fitness (which is my own personal goal).
  3. Don’t be afraid to try new things.  Yes, I know you may “love” that one activity, but are you doing more harm than good?  Are you going to get bored and stop doing it, losing your progress towards your goals?  Would it be less boring if you had different options?

Keep the balance.  This is with all things: life, work, exercise, sport.  And have fun-like playing whack a mole!  😉

by susanmcrae75

26.2

I have always wanted that sticker.  26.2.  Actually, I was shooting for the 13.6, and had it all planned out.  Going to do the Disney Half, all smiling, waving to characters……Problem is, I am not a runner.  My husband, when I asked him to watch me run to figure out why my right knee and hip were hurting told me “you’re just not a land animal babe!”  This did not help, and made me want to run more just to prove him wrong!

Problem is/was, I don’t enjoy running.  I envy those gazelle like people who can run, and I wanted to be like them!  I heard of the runner’s high-I am not sure what that would feel like but I am sure my hands on knees feeling of nausea was not it.  I have tried to return to running over the years, and finally my hamstring said “nope!”  And there you have it.

The same occurred with yoga.  Again, I envy these people and friends who look so peaceful, so flexible,so toned!  Problem is, I am a mover.  When people ask me what I think about yoga, (and I get this at least several times a week from my patients),  I say “what do YOU think about yoga?”  They look at me confused and I clarify-you have to enjoy what you are doing or you 1) are not going to stick with it 2) resent the time you are spending doing it 3) not see results because of 1&2.  So I say-“try it and see!”

Wait, is exercise supposed to be enjoyable?!  YES!  I really look forward to getting up in the mornings (gasp) because the program I am doing makes me feel good, proud and sets up my day in a positive way.  This exercise, and the feeling I get from it, overflows into everything else I do that day.  When you find something that brings you that feeling, then you’ll stick with it and reach those goals!

You are always welcome to join me (I admit not EVERYONE does the program in the mornings 😉  if you are struggling with what you are doing now (or NOT doing!)  Have fun!

ssmcrae75@gmail.com

by susanmcrae75

Disappointment

Tomorrow would have been my father’s birthday.  He was such a pillar in my life and was always at my meets.  Our relationship was a great one, and I miss him daily.  There was nothing worse than swimming badly and feeling that he was disappointed.  He never said it, (well maybe that one time in college when he said “well Sus, it looked like you were dying out there!”  I could have melted into a shamed ball of putty right there) but I created this disappointment in my mind.  I never asked him either-I created it.

Why is it so hard for some of us to focus on the positive in ourselves?  Maybe he enjoyed watching me swim.  Maybe he enjoyed watching me interact with my teammates.  Maybe he was proud that I showed up everyday doing something I loved.  Instead, I was always focused on NOT disappointing him.  Fear of failing.

It took me years to develop a strong since of confidence in my own self, and realize the importance of self appreciation-not putting others’ thoughts and expectations above my own.  In fact, I’m still working on it-a work in progress.  Did you show up?  Good!  Were you a good supportive teammate/friend?  Good!  Are you working towards those measurable goals?  Good!  Where does perfection come in there?  It doesn’t.  Just show up, try hard, and be proud of your own self and this path you are on to improving that self!