Surmounting the Slippery Slope of Sloth
Burned out since after Thanksgiving Break, that would probably be the most accurate description of my state of mind, body and soul during that time frame. It all comes down to one thing: I did not run or work out enough.
Sure my rigorous, (read: insane) schedule did not help. Neither did the declining daylight and temperatures.
The real enemies were the familiar excuses that began to penetrate through the my better instincts. Those impacted the workout schedule I had been on for the better part of 10 months more than anything else.
One of the favorite cartoon battles of my youth took place on my shoulder on a nightly basis: Angel Rob vs Devil Rob.
“Wouldn’t a nice run just get you feeling better. The easy path is the road to Act I Bob Parr”
“But you are on four hours sleep, and besides it is dark outside…take a nap. Better yet, eat some candy and then take a nap.”
Sadly the latter lapped the former the past three weeks. That reality showed up last night in family photos at last night’s father-daughter/mother-son dance. An all too familiar puffy face from the past decade-plus made an unwelcome return. Those five extra pounds really can round out the jowls, can they not?
When we got home last night I made a vow: that devil will not win anymore. It was go time.
My New Year’s Resolution/Revolution starts now.
- There will not be a week where I am not out on the road or treadmill at least five days a week with a 15 mile weekly minimum. My writing, both on this blog and otherwise, was never as vibrant as when I am feeling healthy and getting out on the road. The past few weeks underlined that equation: there have been far too many days where my hands and mind had to be dragged to the keyboard, and more often than not it showed.
- Weight training has to be a part of the mix: whether it be push up, Pilates, something, it cannot be all cardio.
- Get back focused on the diet. Food was pounded all summer at teenage intake levels as I trained for half marathon 2.0. But it was almost all organic and at least healthy. Holiday treats have infiltrated my daily diet and it can be seen all over my face in the photos from last night. The kicker: I don’t even enjoy them for anything but the sugar rush, which I can get from fruit and healthier options.
- Set goals, both physically and creatively…they seem to work hand in hand. I don’t need to post them all here to fulfill them, self motivation is not a problem(no matter what the devil made me do the past three weeks. That is exhaustion, yeah, that’s the ticket.) My promise this year was a post a day, there was no badge needed to get me there.
This shift from sloth had to and did start today. The excuses conspired to delay: it was 22 degrees out, my back was sore from the dance, Anna kicked my butt throughout the night, and I had to work at noon. The devil almost got his due again.
Somehow the Angel was stronger. I plodded through 2.6 miles in just over 28 minutes, not a great number…but I felt great. I knew I would, that angel always seemed to serve the Looney Tunes well. To fulfill all my 2012 goals the rest of 2011 can not be a wash.
In 2012 a full marathon is being considered (with 2 half marathons on the back burner if I pass on that). The 100 Mile AIDS Ride for Life is certainly back on the docket for 2012 and beyond.
Both of these events help towards a larger cause: my physical well being. This past year taught me that once that is in place it will feed the same for my emotional, mental and creative centers. That should be more than enough ammo for the Angel to win the rest of the year and forward into 2012.
It has to be. “The Other 97%” in addition to my three percent cannot afford otherwise.
Great post. It is hard getting back out there after a break or an injury. The Devil wins too often after that. Good luck to getting back out there. Keep on running!