The 7 F-Words Making Training Workouts Different Than “Just A Workout”
By admin
2 Days…
Just 2 days until my first training hurdle.
For the past 2 months, I’ve been focused not just on running this 50K race, but preparing for my RKC test.
What’s that you ask? I’m going to Philly, as mentioned yesterday, to get my Russian Kettlebell Certification.
To succeed, I have to pass a series of test like push-ups, ability to teach, and their infamous snatch test.
For the snatch test, I have to be able to perform 100 snatches within 5 minutes with a prescribed kettlebell dictated by my weight. Right now, that’s looking like a 12-KG.
Shouldn’t be too bad, except 3 bad reps = disqualification.
Ahhh…
So that means training for PERFECT snatches. I’ve been doing it with the 16Kg so that when the 12 is in my hand, it’s light as a feather. <— Dan wants me to strive for a new RKC woman’s record. Lol.
Why I am I telling you all of this?
Because for the past 2 months, I’ve been training for two very specific events. And when you’re training, workouts are a bit different than when you’re not training.
What do I mean?
Let’s keep things simple with a list….
The 7 F-Words Making Training Workouts Different Than “Just A Workout”
This is my list and I’m betting that you might relate to at least a few of the items here.
Please?
Training for something means being focused. Pretty obvious, right?
When I’m not training for something specific, workouts can get lazy. I may stop to answer a text, spend a few too many minutes resting to choose the perfect song, or skip out when I’m “close enough” to being done.
Training workouts, however are planned and laid out. I hate to not be able to put a big fat check on my training calendar, so it gets done… the way it’s supposed to.
Each workout during a training plan has a distinct mini goal and purpose. For example, yesterday morning I ran 6 miles, all of which needed to be around my 10K pace. It was tough but had I not had a training plan:
A. I would have slept in, which would have made me miss the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen in Charleston (below).
B. I would have just cruised at a comfortable pace to get the miles done.
The same is true for your overall training plan…
Training gives ultimate goals.
While each workout has a mini goal to accomplish, each training period, has an overall goal. It can be hard to set solid goals when you’re not training for something specific. I have a really hard time aiming for something if I don’t have to.
For example, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said I want to focus on improving my pull-ups. Yea, I’ve been stuck at the same PR forever.
Not a positive word, but let’s be real.
There are times when the last thing I want to do is practice 100 snatches or run 8+ miles in the middle of the week. If I wasn’t training for something, chances are, on those days, I wouldn’t.
But since I am training, it means forcing my body to wake up at stupid hours to knock out the workout in order to get a stronger, build confidence and train hard. For the run above, I was meeting my friend at 5:30am for a run… I slept in my clothes so I could squeeze every minute out of sleep I could.
I don’t always love working out, people. Lol, and I’m going to guess you don’t either. Sometimes I have to force my behind to get out the door and get’her done!
Training often means LOSING.
Training for an endurance event? Be prepared to lose some strength and/or speed.
Training for something that requires lots of strength or speed? Expect to lose some endurance.
When you’re focused on something, you have to lay low on something else. It kind of stinks but that’s how the cookie crumbles. When this race is over, I can’t wait to start focusing on strength again!
And yes, I have noticed a huge difference in my strength and speed. I miss running fast! Come June I’ll be training for a new 1/2 Marathon PR… can’t wait!
Training can/will affect friends, family and social outings.
Saturday mornings I am up and out of my house by 6:30am to knock out my long runs. That means no late night outs or happy hours on Fridays, no relaxing mornings with my husband, and often times not much on Saturday evenings since I’m tired!
On the plus side, our wine consumption over the past 2 months has significantly decreased!
Of course this depends on what you’re training for and how much time you have to dedicate to it. Dan and I are ready for some relaxing weekends without 20 mile runs!
Stay with me, I know it sounds like training is the worst thing ever… it’s not.
Not training means more unstructured play!
Just working out to stay in shape gives more freedom to play around. You can cross train, work on handstands, go experiment with new workout studios, play around more with your schedule and make exercise a stress-free activity.
Now this isn’t to mean training for something isn’t fun.
Training workouts are FUN but in a different way. You have to really love what you’re focusing on. Lucky for me I LOVE running & kettlebells! So to me, training is a blast.
It’s fun to see progress, it’s fun to push farther than you have previously gone… it fun to cross off a finished workout. Truth be told, I personally have more fun when there is an event involved.
As my friend Paige recently said, “Fitness should enhance your life, not be your life.” So true! When training though, this can get a little hazy.
Training delivers pride and a feeling of accomplishment.
This makes all the hard work, worth it. Makes those early Friday nights, worth it. The aches and pains (non-injuries) worth it.
The feeling of really focusing on something, training for it, and then accomplishing that event, is amazing. The pride and excitement you feel, words simply can’t describe. It puts all the hard work into perspective and makes it worth the lost Friday happy hours.
And finally, anytime you’re training for a specific event, there is some fear. I actually addressed this recently because I’m starting to really freak out about all the events I have. Once this weekend is over, I’m sure I’ll be more at ease.
It’s natural to have some stress placed on you that you won’t be able to succeed. And it’s necessary! Without a sprinkle of doubt and fear, what will motivate you?
Non-training workouts, don’t deliver this anxiety. Each one can be laid back, emotionally stable and nonchalant, in a sense. There is no fear of “oh did not completing those workouts hold me back?” or “if I skip today, when will I be able to make it up?”
Just working out is fearless, and sometimes we need that in our lives.
Which brings me to this…
It’s Okay To NOT Train For An Event
When it comes down to it, there are some really good reasons to NOT train for an event, and some really good reasons to find something you have always wanted to do and do it!
But it also has to be the right time. If you’re workouts are good enough and your life is structured in a way that just can’t handle training for something, then don’t.
I have several races this year, but come December, I plan on taking quite a while off from events in order to allow my body to rest, take in every that I accomplished over the past 12 months, and re-evaluate my overall fitness goals.
Racing or competition isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. But that isn’t the only reason to train. You can make your own event…
- Give yourself 6 weeks to be able to do 50 non-stop push-ups
- Give yourself 12 weeks to be able to run x amount of miles.
- Give yourself 10 weeks to be able to do a pull-up or two.
What You Need Regardless
Remember #1 above? If you don’t have a plan, it’s easy to be lazy.
My recommendation for everyone is to have a training plan. Even if you’re not training… know what days you’re working out, what workout you’ll be doing and make sure to progress yourself.
Test yourself by doing a workout at the beginning of the month and then repeating it 3-4 weeks later to see how you improved.
The worst thing you can do is stay stagnant… unless you like where you are and don’t want to move ahead? And for some, that’s the case. For others (like me) I can’t stand to not get better, to simply “settle”.
Just the word, settle, makes me cringe.
Make sense? I know I stress this a lot because I feel too many people (men and woman) just fly by the seat of their pants, making excuses and not accomplishing what they repeat over and over and over again that they will.
Okay, off my soap box. But you get the idea.
So now, let me ask you…