A Rut

I feel like I'm in limbo right now. I finished my first round of Insanity and I'm not really sure where to go from here. I am training for a marathon, but as a coach, my focus of training has shifted. It's not about me this year, it's more about helping others achieve their goals.

I've decided to keep doing Insanity and spread out the schedule over the course of 90 days rather than 60, allowing more time for running and more rest in between. With that decision, I flipped to the front of my DVDs this morning and put in a Month One Plyometric Cardio Circuit. I started with a huge ego, thinking this would be a piece of cake after going through an entire round including the daunting Month Two videos. I came out crying real tears, gasping and feeling extremely humbled.

I certainly couldn't explain the feeble attempt to complete the six circuits or what seemed like a lack of fitness on my part. I felt dejected and focused only on getting through it. How could this be? What has happened in the two weeks since I felt like that rock star for completing my first round?

After a little research, I have since learned that this is a common phenomenon that happens to many Insaniacs. I guess maybe I was thinking my ego would carry me through to the end and I thought it would be so easy that I wouldn't have to put forth any effort.

Experiencing difficulty today was probably just what I needed. I needed to get back to the basics and start fresh and most importantly, I had to realize that I still have a lot of work to do. Why would it be worth doing if there was not a challenge?

Whether we are experiencing a rut in our fitness regimen or in our lives, persistence and fighting through the tough times are what defines our character during the good times. Pack your egos and send them far away! This is just a small valley that I need to work my way out of, but I know that if I believe in myself and if I do not give up, I'll reach that peak again. It's a just a matter of how I choose to get there. I choose to push hard to the top.