How Much Planning Is Really Necessary

I'll start this post by saying that I wish I could be as organized as Brian and Danny in their approach to their workout regiments. Reading their posts reminds me that I had great plans to tailor a mix of Insanity, P90X and running, but just never seemed to get organized for that.  I ended up doing Insanity by default.  I'd gone through it before.  I enjoyed it before.  It definitely gave me the cardio to run a mudder, but, in some ways I feel like I just fell into it again because I didn't get organized to do anything more extensive or different.  I'm on day 46 of 63.  I'll finish one week before the Miami Mudder, and have only really modified it by including a 10.5 mile run on the "off" days and a 5.5 mile run on the "recovery" days.  During previous training routines, I've tried to build to running longer distances (I think my longest was 14 or 15 miles), but I thought I would stick with the same length runs and go for speed this time.

Of course, as the mythical "they" say, the best laid plans end up going haywire.  I've had to deal with various injuries over the months since South Carolina.  Some are of the "nagging" variety (for example, a case of turf toe from SC that just won't seem to go all the way away), but others are of the "hey...that's new...I wonder what caused that to happen" variety (for example, a new arch injury on my left foot that has kept me from running since last Tuesday). None of the injuries have caused me to take extensive time off, and they all seem to be improving without having to resort to "shut it down" kind of rest, but they do raise a question as to whether a more rigorous planning phase would have saved me some of these aches and pains. I guess I could have been more alert to the "off" and "recovery" day concepts in Insanity.  I would guess that there's a reason why people who design these kinds of training regiments actually build in slower days and days off, but I've always thought of the "off" or "slow" days as opportunities to do something else - not necessarily an opportunity to rest.

Of course, these are all hypotheticals, but I'm not sure that greater planning would have done much to improve my situation.  I've come to the conclusion that I naturally "fly by the seat of my pants" to a certain extent.  This has made me adaptable to changing situations and circumstances, but can also mean that I've been disorganized at times as well.  At nearly 41 years old, though, I'm not quite sure how much I'll be able to change to become more organized.

I used to think my life would be better if I was just a little bit more organized.  I always wanted to be a list-maker.  I always wanted to be the guy who had his calendar scheduled out months in advance.  I wanted to be the detail-oriented guy who knew every step of a process before I took the first.  And, I was always disappointed with myself when I didn't meet those self-imposed, and completely arbitrary, goals. Perhaps hitting my 40s has brought perspective that I didn't have as a younger man, but I've come to realize that I should be placing more value on the benefits that my strengths offer than focusing on the weaknesses.  I may not have my calendar arranged for the next six months (except for knowing which Mudders we'll be participating in, of course), but I have been able to build my life around the flexibility that I desire.  I've been able to recognize and seize opportunities that I may not have been able to accept if I'd been more rigid in my planning.  I've been pretty adaptable about my life, and if I have to give up my list-making dreams, then I think that's a more than fair trade-off.  I still envy list-makers. I still wish I could have that mindset. Detail-oriented people will always fascinate me, but I have come to realize that's not a skill set I'm likely to master anytime soon - and I'm okay with that.

What does this mean for education?  Well, for me, one of the themes that's emerging from this blog is the need to prepare for what confronts us.  Whether it be standardized testing, a new technological innovation, or the various obstacles found in a Tough Mudder, we have to go in with our eyes open and a sense of what we hope to accomplish.  But how do we make it work if we are naturally "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of folks?  Do we have to change?  Can we succeed without changing?  I'm not sure that I know the answer to these questions, though. I have actively disliked most of my jobs that required a rigid structure.  I would like to think that we can succeed through some level of self-modification merged with some level of environmental-modification, but sometimes that's a tall order to ask of otherwise busy people.  And, more importantly, it's naive to think that everyone can "make it work" regardless of their external situations. If we're lucky, we each work things out in our own ways and to whatever extent we can manage.

In my thinking, this is an important lesson for educators to learn.  We each have to learn how to work with our own strengths and weaknesses.  We shouldn't avoid trying to improve, but we don't have to become completely different people to succeed either.  I've found a system that has worked for me, and - perhaps most importantly - has kept me motivated to stay in shape. Of course, having said all this, I still plan to modify my workout regime after the Miami Mudder to include more P90X...

Postscript: I would like to say that I don't think my shoes are at fault for all of my foot-related injuries. It's not like I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest cross-trainers I could find.  I spent quite a while researching my last shoe purchase, and ended up buying a pair of Merrell Trail Gloves.  These have been very nice shoes - lightweight, comfortable, durable.  All of the things that you could ask from a running shoe when putting 16 miles of trail runs a week on them.  In my experience, though, a pair of shoes is really only good for two Mudders, and the Vibrams have been with me for the training up to South Carolina, two laps of that course, and two months of training since South Carolina.  All together, I've probably put about 200 miles on them since July of last year (assuming Runkeeper.com can be trusted to keep accurate records). I'll keep them around, but may end up donating them at the end of the Miami event. I recently went and bought a pair of Saucony Kinvara TRs that feel great so far, so I can't fully put the blame on my equipment.  Both pairs have worked well for me.  I think that it really just comes down to working on my form as I run.

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How Are You Preparing? (Update and a Look Ahead)

The first month of the year has passed by quickly and I wanted to provide a quick update to a previous post "How Are You Preparing?" .  I also wanted to publish the training schedule I have mapped out for February.  The combination of publishing January's training plan and writing down the results of all the workouts has yielded some pretty amazing results.  I have been able to set personal bests (PB) in all facets of the workouts.  I can do more crazy pull ups and push ups while running farther and faster than I could at the beginning of the month.  I've also almost reached my fighting weight with just under a month to go.  I'm excited to see how all of this plays out in Miami but I still have work to do in February.

February's plan picks up where January left off and also takes me in a slightly different direction.  January was mostly about building strength while February will focus on improving performance through explosive, obstacle specific exercises.

The intent is still to run on back to back days with an additional short (5-7) mile run on Wednesdays.  I never thought 5 miles and short would be in the same sentence one year ago.  Well, I could see me being short of breath just thinking about traveling 5 miles a year ago.  This plan incorporates a higher volume of running into the routine and honestly the running has become a bit monotonous.  DC and I have plans to change that up a bit.  Yesterday we completed a 6 + mile run on a mountain bike course which ended up being a lot of fun.  My plan will remain the same in terms of writing down the results of each workout.  This simple strategy easily demonstrates progress on a daily basis.  There is no better feeling in a workout than to establish a PB and realize that you've just completed something you couldn't do before.

The countdown clock shows that the Miami Mudder in 26 short days away.  The clock serves as a constant reminder that every moment is an opportunity to prepare and improve.

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My Start to "Our Year in the Mud"

My Start to "Our Year in the Mud"

Usually when I think of starting a work out regimen and adopting 
a rigorous nutritional diet, I think WTF - not WTM. But I have to admit I'm inspired. Getting inspired at 39...now that's not too bad. I've often heard that one needs to make their mark by the time their 40, so I guess there's no time like the present. Maybe I'm confusing inspiration with the onset of my midlife crisis. I was really hoping to hold that off until I was at least 45 or so, but I don't think a midlife crisis is that bad when it comes to getting my mind wrapped around trying to compete in the World's Toughest Mudder. I mean I did just complete two laps at the Society Hill Mudder so aiming for 4 or more at this years World's Toughest doesn't seem that unreasonable. (As long as I don't reflect on that ridiculous Artic Enima obstacle.) I did just successfully spend the last 45 minutes going through my meal plan for the week. Maybe this year will be My Start to "Small Victories."  Dropping down to my ideal 180 is probably going to be the hardest challenge in this whole endeavor.

This isn't going to be the first time I've prepared for a Mudder. Well I can't really say I prepared for my first one. I got up to a maximum 4 mile run but that in no way prepared me for what I was about to face at Wintergreen last year. That course was accurately described as up the mountain and down the mountain. A tough course - probably the Toughest yet for me at least. Then came Pennsylvania and a Double Mudder at Society Hill. A bit of veteran I have become. 

But again, this time I truly feel inspired to get ready. I mean - I am blogging about it. Truly, I'm not sure how you couldn't be inspired if you followed any of the results of the 2012 World's Toughest Mudder. My hat is still off to the great coverage available on MudderNation. I spent the better part of the day calling out to my two girls to come and watch the latest video - especially those covering Amelia Boone. A true inspiration to all of us - not just the girls and women out there!!!!

This will be the first time though that I really get prepared. Prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually. Yes - spiritually! Go ahead and say it - it's not a bad word.

I actually thought of a pretty good start to this journey. Over the past weekend, I completed a 13.5 mile loop hike around Three Ridges in the George Washington National Forest. I have done parts of that trail a couple of times, but never the entire loop. Good strenuous hike over beautiful mountain peaks and along wonderful mountain creeks. (Ahhh you didn't know I was a poet as well did you. It all just flows.) I'll have to admit it was tough. I haven't been in the back country of any forest since my oldest was born, and I truly forgot how to pack. 51 pounds on the back!!! About 20 pounds of it were never used. Note to self - leave the change of clothes in the car, denim is heavy. And yes, one sweatshirt is plenty for a weekend hike. But we did find a Weirwood. How appropriate for a December hike - Winter is Coming!!!

One of the great perks of the Tough Mudder, for those of you who don't know, is that it isn't really a race. It is truly about the camaraderie. I mean granted I'm on a team of two other males so it is probably always a race, but to me it's a lot like golf. No matter who is out there with you, it is still you versus a little ball that just lays there and mocks you. The Tough Mudder is about me. My race. My preparation. My test. Having 2 buddies to pull me a long is a huge bonus. And I definitely would not be out there if it wasn't for them. I guess in all things there is a benefit to having, as I like to call them, a couple of Mudda Brothas!

So here I stand - or actually sit as I work to draft my first post - preparing to commit myself to a year of P90x, Insanity, and running. Running - yes for the first time in my life I'm going to commit myself to running. I WILL FEEL A RUNNER'S HIGH I SWEAR IT!!! That, in and of itself, will be a victory for me. There is very little exercise that I love less than running. I guess that is why I'm grateful that I've actually found a race that makes me run - along with wading through chest deep mud, jumping into freezing water, crawling through narrow underground tunnels, and ultimately learning to enjoy a good electrocution. I mean you really haven't lived until you've had an electrical wire ping you on the top of your head. (Put a helmet on, hit yourself with a hammer and you too can enjoy all there is to a good 10,000 volt shock.) 

Wait a minute - maybe this is a midlife crisis. I guess we shall see. But I don't think it can be all that bad. At the end of this thing I will probably be in the best shape of my life.

So let's go. 13.5 mile hike - check!. The first day of Chest and Back P90x behind me (seems like I just finished 90 days of that stuff) and Insanity plyo in the back of my mind for this evening. Should be fun!!!

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