In my time time off from training I've been devouring books. I typically don't have much time to read when I'm training so I make it a priority during my time off. This season I've been reading books that focus on heroic feats, crazy endurance records and mental training. Reading these books and being idle is hard since they always light a fire under my ass but as I get closer to kicking off my training I'll recall these stories during the tough times.
A couple of my favorites have been the Lone Survivor by Navy Seal elite Marcus Luttrell. It's a mix of heroic war story, navy seal training methods and endurance for the sake of living. Another is Warrior Elite that describes the ridiculousness that is Navy Seal BUDS training and mental preparation involved to become an elite warrior. Finishing School is another that describes the tactics used by Navy Seals to overcome fear, tackle unbelievable human feats and the benefits of routine and efficiency. And I've also mixed in a couple mental training books by TR. Follow that up with articles about ultra marathoners, elite endurance athletes and you feel like you haven't achieved anything in your life...yet.
One of the most interesting pieces I've read is about how life is based on pain and pleasure. It talks about how what we do is dictated by pain and pleasure. We avoid things that create pain until it comes a time when dealing with the pain will bring us pleasure. It's the recipe for procrastination. Put the pain off, put it off more, and then receive pressure from external sources and that pain now is viewed as pleasure because once we get through the pain (task) we receive pleasure in removing the pressure from external sources. It describes ways of dealing with the pain and overcoming it even when no pleasure is in sight. It reminds me a lot of endurance training. Without the pain we cannot possibly reach our goals. We deal with pain for months on end until we get that pleasurable experience of competing and bringing all that pain to bear for the ultimate pleasurable reward - finishing and IM.
This year I will be dealing with pain everyday as I strive for bigger goals. My hope is to view pain as the ultimate pleasure because it will take me where I want to go. Pain will be getting in long runs in sub zero temps, 4 am mornings, riding endless hours on a trainer, punishing my lower body with weights, running endless hill repeats on broken down legs and pushing over hills with a screaming HR.
All that pain to have the pleasure of lining up on the beach in June more mentally and physically prepared than the next guy.
1 comment:
Remember! Pain is weakness leaving the body!
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