Training in Rhythm
Finding a groove in a new fitness routine
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The Aim
Monday’s are a chance to take a look back on the week of training that was. Athletic philosophy at it’s core requires you do the training, and that in turn becomes the evidence upon which you can continue to explore different types of truth. My weekly training reflections blend body, mind, and spirit, and give you an accurate look into how I train based on deep values, spiritual appreciation, while also adjusting the physical elements to progress in skills and experience.
Last week I wrote about my reintroduction to 3 sport training (run, bike, swim) in anticipation of completing two different IronMan triathlon’s next year (read it HERE).
My aim this past week was to build momentum by remaining consistent in each sport while also adjusting to the variable demands life throws my way.
The Execution
Solid week of training. There’s a special one in there on Saturday morning, an article for later in the week on that one, but overall a typical looking 7 days of activity for me.
One thing that emerges in the second week of a new routine is finding a few familiar grooves and starting to see sustainable ways to interlock everything.
My week started off with a long swim and a short bike ride, then became more like my training from the past 10 years with runs sprinkled in between shorter HIIT style strength workouts.
That was all done on the fly, especially the Monday workout where I improvised the swim because my morning coaching call was moved to later in the week. This opened up my schedule and I took advantage of it. Check out this short video I made taking you through this decision and how I scrambled to take advantage of it!
This week however I am actively planning to swim on Monday after my long trail run yesterday. It feels like a great chance to get some good work done, while also giving my body a break after a hard effort. Earlier in the year, I would look again today, but with a new approach, I’m looking to establish a new rhythm.
Having a more concrete sense of when and how I can start planning to fit in these newer sessions gives me more ownership and control of the entire process. My training right now isn’t as comfortable as it has been, that’s good for growth, but when it comes to all of my other responsibilities as a husband, dad, coach, and business owner, that’s not a great place to be.
Week 2 is giving me greenshoots on how I can make this all work for when we get back to school and a normalized routine in September.
So on THAT alone this week was a giant training success!
The Projection
This week is a doubling down. Keeping to 1 swim and 1 bike a week, while maintaining 3 runs, and filling out the rest with strength sessions.
I want to keep refining the process, making it smoother, faster transitions, more ease in flowing from activity to activity. Having a more ‘automatic’ sense of what to do each day.
The fitness is there, I’m likely the most fit I’ve ever been in terms of overall strength, endurance, cardio, and speed.
The key goal now is to keep that level, push it forward slowly and consistently, but most importantly not allowing a disharmony to emerge.
It’s kind of a like a jazz jam, there’s a familiar beat, irregular of course, with new musicians coming up and off the stage to improvise, but all around a known structure that’s a bit mysterious too. So the best I can hope to manage is to find the groove, feel the rhythm, listen for the right pitch, and then play my heart out wide open.
The Takeaway
Now when it comes to your fitness, here’s the main thing to note from my process.
First, for those who don’t struggle with consistency but sometimes feel like exercise isn’t as exciting or as meaningful as it could be.
Don’t be afraid to change the music every now and then but never forget the groove that helps you move best.
Or in fitness terms, be confident to switch up training to keep it fun and challenging, but never forget WHY you do the training in the first place.
Second, for someone who isn’t consistent in the gym and is struggling to gain traction and create a solid foundation.
Forget about performances and just worry about frequency. Figure out ways to make frequency easy and then allow consistency to stack into greater interest and performance.
Focus on finding a rhythm of schedule that is both rigid but also flexible to the demands of your life. Then find joy in completing the sessions and allow a more consistent structure begin to emerge out of your enjoyment
Finally, for someone who isn’t even training or exercising but wants to get back into it here is your aim
Find something FUN about exercise in terms of movement, something you enjoy doing. Put that on the schedule 2-3 times a week and DO IT. Don’t worry about anything else. Allow your love of the activity to motivate you to start each session, and take that as the win, no matter the duration or intensity.
Ease into the jam session by making sounds you like, have fun, be accountable, but recognize this is just the early stages of a larger journey. Take the pressure off, and just have fun moving with intensity and purpose.
And for anyone looking to find ways to make physical activity more meaningful, aiming it towards spiritual growth and character development I have one final piece of advice.
FIND A LANGUAGE YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT TRAINIMG THAT HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND IT.
Notice how I talked about my training in musical terms, specifically like jazz, and then extended the metaphor as often as I wanted.
Find a language of your own and watch the depth of training emerge right before your eyes.
Drop a comment below about your own process, finding a new language for training, or how you find rhythm through a consistent refinement of your training. I’d love to hear it and help you out.
Happy Training Friends!