If I Knew Then.

Good old hindsight. When I think of all the things I've been doing incorrectly or inefficiently and how long I've been doing it that way, I can only laugh. To think: I went about things a certain way in dead seriousness only to later uncover the fact that there was a better way.

The above paragraph surely sounds cryptic; however, rest assured that you can apply it to just about anything. The path ahead is rarely ever clear until after we have traversed it and survey what we've passed over in the rear view mirror. It comes to us all as experience but only a percentage of us will absorb it as wisdom: learning from experience and applying it in the future. 

To me, this process of establishing habits, making mistakes and then synthesizing their lessons is what makes life worth living. That moment of crystallization when you step back and think to yourself, "This is the way." I guess this is also why I'm in the minority with regard to aging. It's an absolute pleasure to accumulate experiences and if I'm fortunate enough, some wisdom as well.

Speaking of doing things inefficiently: I really wasted a lot of time doing fitness regimens which were finally ineffective. Live and learn. If only I did back squats and dead lifts from the start. If only I had trashed bicep curls for pull-ups and shrugs for burpees. If only I'd ditched the long slow runs and started sprinting instead. Oh well. If I had gotten it all right from the start, I wouldn't be sitting here appreciating the illumination I now experience by doing things more effectively.

Oh and hey, whenever you get a little too serious about the way you go about things, just remember this quote by Joe Rogan:

“If you ever start taking things too seriously, just remember that we are talking monkeys on an organic spaceship flying through the universe.”

RUNNING TABATA

Treadmill set to 12% incline, set at 7.5 mph per Rx. Run 20 seconds, rest 10 seconds. Repeat 8 times. Video below gives a better description.

I did six sets at 7.5 mph, 12% incline. I did six sets because I miscounted. After a one minute resting period I tried again and vowed not to miscount.

Result: 12% incline, 8 mph. 20 seconds running, 10 seconds resting x 8. Although the 7th and 8th rounds were somewhat difficult, I feel comfortable increasing the incline and doing a 25:10 ratio instead of 20:10 ratio next time. It's interesting to see what my strengths and weaknesses are in Crossfit. Cardio and speed work are coming to me much easier than overhead exercises.

Speaking of.

Pullups - 50 reps for time. Completed it 5 minutes and 3 seconds. Was pretty much in failure after this was completed so there was little chance of doing the 100 rep WOD within the confines of the same day, let alone the same hour. Still, I went on to do this after a two minute rest from the treadmill Tabata WOD. Possibly eyeballing an off day tomorrow, or more speed work.

For your listening pleasure, some thought provoking rap. Be good everyone. And if you can't be good, have fun.