Last week I wrote about my back-sliding with rope jumping that had me frustrated. I had drawn the analogy of a major league batter struggling every time he steps up to the plate. Some of my friends in the box occasionally express concern that I am sabotaging myself with negative self-talk. I appreciate their concern and I understand where they are coming from, but I don’t wholeheartedly agree that discussing my setbacks is negative.
From the moment I stepped into the Box I knew I was challenged. The beginning of my seventh decade is a heck of a time to decide to become an athlete. My best years have been squandered, but I do not despair. I am grabbing whatever I can out of these days I have left on this planet. I am eagerly pursuing health and fitness. I am actively taking control of my well-being to “delay the decay”.
When you start this level of intensity you expect setbacks. Failing to perform today is simply a setback. Quitting is real failure. Failing to perform is frustrating. Today’s failure is simply an obstacle on a long road to recovery for this body.
Just a note: In Tuesday’s WOD, I performed horribly (12 Rounds OTM: Push Press x 5/KBS x 15/Double-unders x 20). I did not complete one round in twelve. I scaled back repeatedly throughout the progression, but I still didn’t complete one round. In fact I went through half the rounds before I even got to touch the jump rope. After several false starts with the rope, I got my groove back. Though the WOD called for 20 jumps, I kept going. Screw the timer, this WOD is down the tubes anyway. Just keep jumping. I jumped 89 consecutive times before tripping. That slump is over! The WOD was a disaster, but I finished triumphantly, having taken down one more goat.
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