Reaching Into The Hurt Locker

Not long ago I finally learned how to creat a link so now sometimes I go a bit link crazy. So you would think that just after the Oscers and with a title like this one I would natuarally link to the movie. Wrong.

I haven't seen the movie and don't really care if I do or not but the term kind of stuck with me ever since I heard it. Other than describing the state of being in deep dooo-doo I also found the term associated with being it a state of great pain. After evaluating my performance in my last race I decided it was time to add more pain to my own game, or add some higher intensity training session to my schedule, spend some more time in RPE 9 and 10, or open up and see what I find in my own "hurt locker."

While my "time in zone" has decreased somewhat during my interval sessions I must say that the residual sensation in my legs tells me the new stimulation is needed and welcome..Change is good. As I've aged I've adopted a less aggressive approach to my training, more nurturing, hoping the results would come to me rather than going after them. After all, I'm no spring chicken anymore. "F" that! If I stay on that path you can expect a podium shot of me when I'm 83.

I lost sight of the fact pain is just a part of the game. No rest between plays, injury time-outs, bathroom breaks and half-time shows. I've been successful at being a part of the peloton, now I want to be a part of the race. That means stuffing myself in the hurt locker more often. I've come to measure whether or not I've reached the proper intensity during these workouts by the feeling in my legs as I walk up the stairs in my office ( I know some sort of power measuring device would be better suited to the task but until someone wants to make a donation to the "Help Charles Reach the Podium Fund" the stairs will have to do). I also use these same stairs to measure my recovery.

It's getting past my bedtime and I still have to stretch before putting on the 'jammies. I've got long time-trial efforts waiting for me in the morning. Next race is the LA Circuit Race, the wind makes this the next best thing to a Belgin classic in So Cal. I'll try my best to get a couple of posts in before then.