Last week I had a week off with the family down the South Coast. It’s been a while since Becca and I have taken a break and it’s always good to get away for a reset. It usually takes me about a week to actually to settle but somehow this time it only took about 24hrs and my mind was present and ready to be there.
Usually when I take week off down the Bay I book in for a week of solid training with the Area 61 Crew. It’s always great to go hang out at a some one else’s box, become a fly on the wall and enjoy not having to coach. Mark and Amanda are great peeps and I’d definitely encourage anyone ducking away to the Bay for a break to go and check them out.
This week however, I decided that I’d sort out my own training and bring down some gear in the form of paralettes and a couple of sets of kettlebells. while I’m no kettlebell master, I’ve got a fair idea of which movements work which body parts and know how to get a sweat on with a couple of KBs.
On the first day Mad, Isabelle and I (Becca was still up in Sydney attending a CF refresher course) headed down to Barlings Beach for quick KB sesh and dip in the ocean. While Isabelle parked herself near the shorebreak to build a sand castle, Madz and I each grabbed a kettlebell and headed to the dunes for a session that comprised of (in no particular order) alternating minutes of:
single arm clean and press (left than right)
Russian swings
goblet squats
single arms swings (left than right)
halos
figure of 8s; and
some more swings
Around the 10 min mark – usually about the time when I decide to remove my shirt – I didn’t. You see the shadows had grown long and the brisk afternoon breeze was well, quite brisk. I also thought I’d be more ‘hardcore’ to get through the session without putting down the bell. I mean I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t considered some fancy move that involved be cradling the bell in my lap, with one foot off the ground and then removing my shirt with one hand – but opted for the “just keep swinging…” and “it’s way too cold… so just keep swinging…” mantra.
Mad dropped the KB to take small breaks through out the session but generally duplicated (somewhat begrudgingly) every move and transition that I made – kettlebells bore her to death apparently. After the 22 minute mark we both decided to call it in favour of a dip in the ocean before the sun went down.
At the time I was happy that I hadn’t put down the kettlebell for over 20 minutes but as I drove home from the beach I started to second guess the workout. “perhaps I hadn’t done enough…” Perhaps I hadn’t gone heavy enough…?” As I drove back to the apartment I even felt quite fresh – and the weirdest thing was that I felt a little bad about it?!. “And you call yourself a CrossFitter!?” I mean “I just did a 22 minute kettlebell session on the beach…” I should have finished on my back, quivering in the foetal position, right?
I think sometimes we focus on absolutely smashing ourselves when all our body really needs is just to spend a little time moving each day. It doesn’t always have to be heavy and it doesn’t always have you leave you completely smashed. Sometimes it’s actually good to finish a workout feeling like you could have done more (or a lot more). Finish more workouts feeling like that and the good news is that you’ll be able to come the next day and train again – and perhaps give that little bit that left over from the day before…
Somedays I’ll smash myself but on most days I live by the mantra: “Train today so you can train tomorrow…” I try to hit most workouts at about 80%. Some days it’s at about 60% but that seems to work for me and I think I’ll continue to do that – I will try and train ever day but spend my time increasing my 80%.
Ben
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