CONSISTENCY
Consistency
or
be steady and repetitive in your actions.
This word seems to be everywhere I look at the moment.
What actually gets in the way of consistency for me?
Is it a lack of understanding of the real reason. . the why I am choosing to do something?
The life noise starts and it is raining cats and dogs outside. The sofa calls. The sofa wins.
The run or SkiErg or gym is lost in the mind.
The why was not meaningful enough. It does not deliver enough pain or enough pleasure.
The pain of being fat or unfit.
The pleasure of knowing everytime I do the exercise I am getting better.
Or a combination of the two potential drivers above.
Life though brings NOISE.
The list of what can get in the way is actually endless.
What have I discovered over the years of following so many training plans. . I have paid for plans on trainingpeaks, from running coaches and skierg coaches privately.
The long run is a sunday for example. This does not work for me. I walk the dog for a few hours on a sunday morning. Plus the long run always requires an afternoon nap nowadays.
Also the day after the day after the long slow physical exercise I am fatiqued. Or darn right knackered actually.
The 3 runs in the week minimum as an example: The dog will always come first for me. Hence I am time short in the morning. Yes I do get up before 0500hrs. I walk the dog and then choose to sit and consume coffee in silence. A wind up session for the day. . This is more productive for my mind and soul.
So the run / SkiErg or gym is straight after work or later in the evening in the week.
Do I have a work finish time. No. I finish when I finish. So if this is 3pm, great. It could be 7pm. I need to adapt as i go.
So my consistency is:
What 3 cv sessions MUST I achieve this week, based on the last 2 weeks?
I must fit in 2 minimum weight lifting gym sessions. Why? I always feel alive and so so so much better after them.
What bonus sessions can I add in assuming time allows for it?
I make Mondays or Tuesday a day off. The measure is usually = = am i needing a nap mid afternoon on Monday or Tuesday in the office. If I feel good, I will train though. I still want to do the work over not.
I follow ‘a feel’ based physical exercise plan for each day. I ask: How am i responding to the stimulus from the last few days? NO Junk training though. I need a purpose for the time i am investing. Hence why i con sider the previous 2 weeks training.
So Why do i do this? It makes me consistent. .
Following a structured plan is far too restrictive for me. The noise of work and life can simply get in the way. Fatigue means more recovery time is needed for this 53 year old body. I simply must listen to the body now. I often ignore it though basing the session on how I feel once i have actually started moving. . . My best sessions are often the ones I do not want to do.
The structure of a plan can play on my mind. I find myself reflecting on the ski or run that is prescribed for the day.
If I am demolished and it is a threshold or interval session and I do not have the legs, I can get frustrated with myself. I have had to learn to adapt my training to how I function on a personal level nowadays and how my work commitments play out for the day.
Everyone is different. My neighbour follows a prescriptive plan. Yet he is work from home and can choose his training time. The joy of life is the fact we are all different. The joy is finding what works for you so you can make the word ‘consistency ‘ work for you.
The noise of life, plus the voice in my head can easily persuade me that sitting on the sofa is simply more appropriate right now. .
I have had to learn the hard way. Learn to have a word with myself. I must remind myself of my reason why every now and again at 1800hrs sat in the car with the option to turn left for the gym or right for home. .
