rebuilding

For as active as I am, I’ve been pretty fortunate to remain injury free.

About six weeks ago I began experiencing pain in my right quadricep. I had a massage to work it out and continued as I had been, but the pain returned. This time it spread to my right glute and hamstring. 

At my next massage therapy session we delved a little bit deeper in an attempt to discover the root of the problem. We talked about my recent exercise patterns. Had anything changed? 

Thankfully I am anal retentive about tracking my workouts. This allowed me to easily determine that not only had I increased the weight during leg workouts, I had also increased the volume (by adding two days of a short body weight routine). 

The result...my right quadricep became significantly stronger than my left and my quadriceps (in general) became significantly stronger than my hamstrings.

Once we identified the source of the problem we were able to come up with a strategy for correcting it. I’m working on strengthening my posterior chain. I’m working on regaining balance with single leg exercises. 

I’m working on body awareness, not only in regard to pain, but also when it comes to breathing...this has proven to be the most challenging part of the rebuilding process.

Pemi Loop: putting it all together

I’m grateful for having two spectacular days to experience this hike without restrictions. While doing the entire loop in one day is feasible, it doesn’t afford you the opportunity to truly appreciate your surroundings.

This is my second long overnight hike in the White Mountains. For me, solo hiking has become a necessity...it is a cleansing experience...it allows me to recharge my batteries...it tests my limits, both  mentally and physically...it is spiritual...most of all, it provides the perfect balance between soul searching and (re)defining who I am.

"I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out til sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in"

- John Muir

trim the fat

Winter to Spring to Summer, then Fall...endless miles on a bike...countless hours training and traveling to group rides or races. I peeled away the layers until the only things remaining were me and my bike.

And I felt disconnected, but helpless. And I had burned bridges, but I didn't really care. It was a hole that only I could dig myself out of...just hold on...just hold on.

I hit reset. I apologized. I reconnected.


Sometimes you need to lose yourself a little to find yourself.

Toleration

Toleration is the practice of deliberately allowing or permitting a thing of which one disapproves. 

Helen Keller said that "Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle." 

Lately, I have been in disagreement with the decisions some of my friends have made. 

While I view them as poor choices, I struggle with the decision to voice my opinion or remain silent. Am I a good friend if I keep my mouth shut and allow someone to make a decision that will ultimately land them in a bad place financially? Am I a good friend if I voice my concern over the decision that is about to be made? 

I've had a difficult time identifying the line between my obligation as a friend and toleration. Let's just say that I'm much better at riding a bike.

no way out

Since the start of my Bikram Yoga practice (a year and a half ago), the most important thing I’ve taken away from it is that the body will always try to find an easy way out. This became overwhelmingly evident while trying to hold a challenging posture for a minute (and then 30 seconds) in the 105-degree heat.

I don’t think that the brain is much different in that respect. Our minds will try to find the easy way out so that we don’t have to deal with things, whether it be our problems (past or present) or simply something that is unpleasant for us to think about...and there are plenty of distractions...we have TV and cell phones and the internet, which constantly demand our attention, they cause us to shift our focus elsewhere...and it is easier that way.

One of the biggest reasons why I enjoy hiking is because when you are alone in the woods there is no way out. There are no distractions. You are forced to be with yourself, your thoughts and feelings, the good and the bad.

I make it a priority to take a long hike at least twice a month. It keeps me balanced. It helps me, not only to remember who I am, but also to build upon that person, by facing whatever it is that my mind has tried to take the easy way out of.

from the archives: balance

A long time ago there was a social networking service called "Myspace" which allowed the user to create blog entries. Most of my old posts have been transferred over to blogger. Here is one from March 2006.

I woke up a few weekends ago after a night of intense partying and realized that something needed to change. This word had been stuck in my head for a few months now and I was desperately trying to do something with it.

Moments like these serve as a reminder of the importance of having balance in your life, of investing your time and energy into things that make you happy, things that are healthy not only physically, but emotionally as well. People tend to forget about this somewhere in between working 60 hour weeks, abusing their bodies, staying in unhealthy situations because they think people will change, because they feel trapped, because they feel like this is as good as it gets.

There is a recurring theme in my life, that I tend to over extend myself to people who don't appreciate it and it lends itself to friendships that become one sided. I am not sure what quality it is within me that seeks these types of bonds or if it is with any intent at all. Maybe I feel as though I can conquer these people. Maybe I think that if I show them just enough love or attention or whatever that they will reciprocate.

So yeah, I guess what I'm saying is that I am going to try to make some better decisions in the future regarding the people and activities I invest myself into.