Ode to Burpees
I.
HATE.
THEM.
~Patty
Strength training is a necessary evil, when you are going to take on a physical challenge, like climbing a mountain. I know this, and I accept it...but I don't have to like it! In the past, when I have been training to do something, like the 3 Day or our modified triathlon, I have promised myself that I would do the cardio required, and I would even do the recommended cross training. Sadly, I fell short of that goal more often than not. I am not a fan, never have been. Not that I don't love seeing the results that strength training exercises produce, I truly do, but I just don't like doing them. But in this case, I am feeling as though I can't skimp on any of the training. I am trying to follow the recommended schedule, and add more when I can. I don't want to struggle on the climb and look back and think, "wow, a few more sit ups/push ups/squats/lunges...sure would have helped." And so I do them. A LOT of them. But the one thing I cannot and will not ever get used to is burpees.
Who is the evil mastermind behind that exercise?! It is TERRIBLE! Every inch of my body rebels when I know that it is time for that part of the workout. Every cell screams NOOOOOOO! Sometimes so loudly that I am sure that everyone in the gym can hear it. Yes, all of the other strength training exercises challenge me too, but not like this. I feel at least a little bit competent doing sit ups and squats, and even push ups. Not burpees. NOPE.
But here is the thing that I have discovered through this training journey; when my head echos with the voice screaming NO! or BUT WAIT!... it is probably what I most need to be doing. That little voice is the one that is afraid of change. It is really good at talking me out of doing things, and convincing me that "things are just fine the way they are". It is really good at rationalization. It can come up with any number of reasons why it would be okay to skip training just this once and stay in bed, or watch tv, or read a book, or or or... This is a fight that I have almost every day. Pushing beyond the comfort of the status quo is not an easy task, at least not for me. It takes effort to silence that voice, get off my ass, grab my gear, and hit the gym or the road.
And here is another thing that I have learned, or at least been reminded of; when I do get up and get going, I feel so much better. Even if I am sweating, shaking, and exhausted by the end of it, I feel accomplished and stronger. And that is worth every moment. When I can stand up from being seated on the floor, holding a 20 pound baby, without using my hands, I have to take a moment and thank the squats and lunges that have made my legs so much stronger than they ever have been. So I have to admit that the exercises I don't particularly like are doing me some good. That is the ammunition that I need to use to silence the voice of doubt in my head. And there are still going to be days when I don't have it in me to do those last 5 push ups, or I drag my feet getting ready, so I only have 35 minutes to do cardio, not 45. That is okay, so long as it doesn't become every day. If I am going to make the changes I want to make, there will need to be some discomfort involved. And I will have to exercise my right to tell the voice in my head to shut up.
The goal of reaching the summit, and being able to enjoy the journey up the mountain to get there, is what keeps me going. I will follow the plan, push past the doubts, and do the dreaded exercises. But I don't have to like them!
...stupid burpees
I.
HATE.
THEM.
~Patty
Strength training is a necessary evil, when you are going to take on a physical challenge, like climbing a mountain. I know this, and I accept it...but I don't have to like it! In the past, when I have been training to do something, like the 3 Day or our modified triathlon, I have promised myself that I would do the cardio required, and I would even do the recommended cross training. Sadly, I fell short of that goal more often than not. I am not a fan, never have been. Not that I don't love seeing the results that strength training exercises produce, I truly do, but I just don't like doing them. But in this case, I am feeling as though I can't skimp on any of the training. I am trying to follow the recommended schedule, and add more when I can. I don't want to struggle on the climb and look back and think, "wow, a few more sit ups/push ups/squats/lunges...sure would have helped." And so I do them. A LOT of them. But the one thing I cannot and will not ever get used to is burpees.
But here is the thing that I have discovered through this training journey; when my head echos with the voice screaming NO! or BUT WAIT!... it is probably what I most need to be doing. That little voice is the one that is afraid of change. It is really good at talking me out of doing things, and convincing me that "things are just fine the way they are". It is really good at rationalization. It can come up with any number of reasons why it would be okay to skip training just this once and stay in bed, or watch tv, or read a book, or or or... This is a fight that I have almost every day. Pushing beyond the comfort of the status quo is not an easy task, at least not for me. It takes effort to silence that voice, get off my ass, grab my gear, and hit the gym or the road.
And here is another thing that I have learned, or at least been reminded of; when I do get up and get going, I feel so much better. Even if I am sweating, shaking, and exhausted by the end of it, I feel accomplished and stronger. And that is worth every moment. When I can stand up from being seated on the floor, holding a 20 pound baby, without using my hands, I have to take a moment and thank the squats and lunges that have made my legs so much stronger than they ever have been. So I have to admit that the exercises I don't particularly like are doing me some good. That is the ammunition that I need to use to silence the voice of doubt in my head. And there are still going to be days when I don't have it in me to do those last 5 push ups, or I drag my feet getting ready, so I only have 35 minutes to do cardio, not 45. That is okay, so long as it doesn't become every day. If I am going to make the changes I want to make, there will need to be some discomfort involved. And I will have to exercise my right to tell the voice in my head to shut up.
The goal of reaching the summit, and being able to enjoy the journey up the mountain to get there, is what keeps me going. I will follow the plan, push past the doubts, and do the dreaded exercises. But I don't have to like them!
...stupid burpees
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