Today's post I really want to focus on how do you know when you've reached your limit? But first.... the disclaimer... I am not a fitness professional. So, although this is straight from my head... yup, and that's even questionable... it should not be considered a guideline, goal or any kind of measure for anyone else.
This image from over a year ago, shows my best Personal Record for a 5K. Is this PR my limit?
For my first year of running, my 5K times continually improved. Then I started adding distance, and the pace remained pretty much the same, but the distance improved. Ummmm, ok, so is that my limit? What if I did more or different workouts? How would that effect everything? What if I added in that targeted strength training that I still have not been able to fully slip into my schedule. What if I followed one of the many regimented plans I see that focus on all different aspects of running? Sprints, Hills, Timed, Endurance and Distance? Or why do I even care? When is good enough, simply that, good enough?
Thinking of my new venture into swimming and I've only recently made huge, IMHO, strides. That first open water swim really helped show me where I needed to work on.... Thanks again Jen. Focusing completely on Freestyle after that, I felt I found a sustainable breathing pattern. That second open water swim following my new pattern gave me so much confidence. What if I went more often? Would I improve or feel comfortable faster? Yeah, probably; but do I want to and at the exclusion of what? Running? Trying other new things?
My entire journey to date has been highly group focused. Group classes, workouts, etc. This summer I mixed up the running with weekly or twice weekly track workouts... My second summer doing the Wednesday night track workouts through AIM TriTeam led by Karen Smyers and Becky Paige really taught me a lot. I had much more confidence and finally realized that the entire focus was completely individual and geared to show you what you are capable of while focusing on distance and pace. I paid attention to breathing, I paid attention to endurance, I learned what I am currently capable of doing for the distance we were working on. And about 6 weeks ago I started doing Leah's Sprints for Breakfast at Holy Cross. Likely part of or a sister effort of the November Project, I've always loved any workout Leah sets up, so I went all alone not knowing anyone else but her. Those folks are just as welcoming and any... and although the group is a bit on the younger side, Leah always, always encourages all ages, levels and abilities. Even saw Brenda a couple of times and hope to see her again.
We ended the AIM Wednesday Night sessons a few weeks ago with a Relay Race. 3 person Teams. Each person running a total 8 200M legs as fast as you could. YES... a total push.. a limit? You rested while the other 2 team members ran their legs. After the first 200M, I figured I can't do that again. Ahhhhhh, that silly mind-imposed limit. After the second one I still thought 'Ummmm, and she wants us to do 8 of these! Yeah, right' The third one, I still pushed to the max, and even felt a little wobbly... so after that, I slowed it down just a bit and really, really focused on my breathing and form. I remembered that Chi Running class and alignment and leaning forward. I remembered Scott saying if you do a heal strike it's like running with the breaks on, so I ran more on my toes. I questioned trying all these things in the middle of a relay race and then thought when would there be a better time? I was more out of breath than I ever am.
Then I looked at the stats from my watch. And that Max VO2 actually went up ~ and race predictor times went down! Max VO2 is a measure of the maximum volume of oxygen that an athlete can use and can be an indicator of performance. It is rated based on age, sex and fitness level. This one moment of seeing it go up again.. is the original catalyst for this entire internal mental Limit debate... just my analytical mind attempting to understand it all ~ or not!
And more limitations... I've thought a lot recently about my hip. It nagged me for TWO YEARS! Let me say that again... TWO YEARS!!!! I told the Doctor about it and called it my barometer of over exertion and told her if it acts up, I just back off. She agreed that was a good course of action.... Did she conclude that because of my age? Would she have the same opinion for someone in their 20's? Well, I believed that for.. yup.. 2 years and then I eventually tried something different and went to a wonderful Chiropractor and within a couple of months, that nagging hip is no longer a nag.
It's kind of ironic.. or maybe analogous to the life I was living before running. I believed I was doing the best I could do and so let that limit me... until I finally questioned it.
So ... more questions: What the heck are my limits? Do I even care? Should I care? Should I follow a more targeted plan? And if so what? And how do I fit it all in? Or should I even try? I'm absolutely sure I could make more progress swimming if I went more often, but time is finite and what else might need to be excluded? And just to put it in complete perspective (yup, clear as mud?) ... I really do know what my capabilities are for any given moment... but I still believe I could do more. I believe I can still be faster, stronger. I believe I can push more; But I want to do it all, I don't want to exclude biking for running or vice versa; so if progress is slow because I'm not exclusively working on one thing, I am absolutely totally okay with that.
And the answers: I have no idea what my limits are. Yes, I do care; everyone should care..... and YES, I SHOULD question them... I mean... just like that hip nag... why not question if you can make something better, before accepting what is? I do so many things, I really don't focus on any one thing. And at this point, I'm totally happy with that. Other than being more pro-active about strength training, I'm happy with my "do what sounds good" ... "fly by the seat of your pants" attitude in creating and following a plan. And regarding the age thing, at least today, age does not seem to be holding me back at all... as I'm doing more now than I've ever done in the past. I certainly don't have to be the best at anything. I don't even think I want to be, because what I want is to do everything I'm already doing and still try new things.... and that's all perfectly okay!