A Reminder From A Real Triathlete

This caught my eye on Liz Fedofsky’s blog this evening:

…. And then the frozen peas were passed around. One thing I keep learning from other athletes is how much time the care of the body takes. Sometimes I think I’m the only one that spends half her day with a ball crammed into her calf or sitting with ice bags. But then I met Beth. I have never seen someone stretch so much! All day long! I know many athletes struggle with injury and think they are the only one to have aches and pains. But we all feel pain at times and battle the lingering aches. Smart athletes are making the time to care for their body like it’s all they have. Because it is! Icing, stretching, resting. I know it’s hard in life when you have so many responsibilities but when someone takes on an athletic goal - especially like Ironman - keep in mind you cannot train like an elite athlete and not make the time to care for yourself. You can’t skip stretching, icing, massage or recovery and expect your body to be maintained. 

an excellent reminder of what I really don’t do anywhere near enough of!

So here’s me saying it right now: I WILL do stretching and flexability exercises in the future (assuming I make it through this weekend, of course). The only thing is, I’m a believer in properly structured goals - hwo the heck do I turn that into something that I can track progress on, let alone make specific.

Answers on a postcard to the usual address please. Or failing that, just leave a comment here.

Filed under: 'A'-List Blogs, Cleveland Steelman, Flexibility, Goals, Injury, Motivation, Triathlon

5 Responses to “ A Reminder From A Real Triathlete ”

  1. runmamalinz on July 4, 2008 at 3:50 am

    I am with you there I was just told today no running for two weeks at min. because I ran when I had no business doing it now I am paying for it. Lesson learned! I will also be taking resting and stretching and taking care of my body so it can get me the places I want to be going for a very long time.

  2. kimayars on July 4, 2008 at 4:34 am

    Just a quick note to wish you the best of luck at your tri! I’m looking forward to your race report! Have a great time!

  3. andreabona on July 4, 2008 at 6:30 am

    for the goal oriented… set a minimum amount of time per week that you’re going to stretch - like 2 hours over 7 days then track it here. since i’m so bad at it i set my goal for 1 half hour a week in 2008. it’s been touch and go, but i am a poster child for not doing the things i need to do outside of my workouts and i am paying the price for it. so, like you, i am trying to get religion.

  4. Bill Anders on July 4, 2008 at 9:40 am

    Agree w/ Andrea’s thought on setting a minimum amount of time each week.

    I’m slowly getting into the swing of it here. It took a year of being stubborn about it, but I’m working it consistently now. Which was funny, since one of my goals for the entire year last year was “Stretch”, which meant physically, emotionally and epistimologically.

  5. seashell on July 4, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    Hey Karl,

    Here’s a way you can ‘measure’ progress with flexibility & stretching:

    If you have access to a physiotherapist or a well-educated personal trainer, check in with them. They may have a tool called a ‘flexometer’ (how original!) or a ‘goniometer’ that can measure your ‘flexibility’ in many different joints. Hips, back, neck, ankles, you name it! This would be a GREAT way to measure your ‘progress’ of adding stretching to your repertoire.

    Keep us posted!