"think like a bumblebee; train like a horse"

The muscle soreness from my first kickboxing class hadn't yet settled in for yesterday's run, so it was a good run.  Last night however, I tried to avoid laughter (hurts the ab muscles), walking (hurts to get up from a seated position), lifting anything (hurts the back, arms, chest) or reaching up or out to get something (also hurts the back, arms and chest).  Crazy that I want to go back for more?  Don't worry Marcy, I will be ;)  

I usually find that the delayed muscle soreness, the type that comes between 24-48 hours is the worst.  That's where I am now.  Today was the first time since back to running where I ran on consecutive days!  I'm back!  While this morning's run was good, my legs definitely felt heavy though, so I'm looking forward to a rest day tomorrow, and good food/drinks tonight with the running group.   Tradition is that during the week following a race, we go out to celebrate, most of the group ran the Angus Glen HM this past weekend, and while I didn't race, I'll will partake in the celebration! :)

This may turn out to be a long post, but I was very inspired by the following, and has since sorta become my mantra.  Thought I'd share.

Since my injury, I adding cycling and swimming as part of my recovery, and recently blogged that I wasn't sure which would be my favorite if I had to pick one.  My goal is to do a try-a-tri next year and see what happens.  In my quest of avoiding injury and trying to figure out a way to balance being a working mother, while fitting in all the training necessary to accomplish my goal, I picked up The Triathlete's Training Bible, by Joe Friel.

One of the first few pages talked about NASA scientists and their interest in bumblebees and their ability to fly.  The size of their wings, relative the amount of hair a bumblebee has and their size and shape.  Goes on to say that their conclusion was that "Bumblebees are not capable of flight."

Here's an excerpt:

"Fortunately,  no one told the bumblebee.  The silly insects go right on believing that flight is normal for them despite what the best minds in the scientific world know as fact.  We can learn a lot from the bumblebee.  The single most critical piece of the multi-sport puzzle is believing in yourself and your capacity to succeed 'If you think you can or think you can't,' automobile manufacturer Henry Ford said, 'you're probably right.' The bumblebee thinks it can fly. Actually, the thought of anything else never even crosses its tiny mind.  It just keeps on flying."

Then the racehorse.  Another excerpt:

"Have you ever been to the Kentucky Derby or another big horse event? The physiology of equine athletes is similar to that of human athletes, and they are trained in much the same manner as a runner. They use heart rate monitors, train with intervals and endurance, follow a periodization plan, and eat a diet designed to enhance performance.  

Psychologically, racehorses differ a great deal fro multisport athletes.  They never question their training preparation.  When it comes time for a workout designed by their trainer, they do it without wondering if it's enough. They don't go out in the morning and put in a few extra junk miles for "insurance." They don't worry and fret after a poor performance.  Stable life goes on as usual.

On Derby day, racehorses are nervous just as human athletes are; they know what is about to happen, but they don't magnify the tension by comparing themselves with the other horses ("Look at the legs on that stud!") Instead, they are very purposeful in their approach to training and racing. There is but one reason for everyday existence -- to get faster.  If the horse if physically strong and the trainer is smart, this happens.

If you are to succeed in multisport, the first thing you must do is believe in yourself just as the bumblebee does.  Without this, all of the science in the world won't do any good. Also, if this book is to help, you must have a purposeful, racehorse trust in your training. Continually second-guessing and changing training direction after every race are a sure way to fail. Think like a bumblebee; train like a horse."

I have been thinking about this a lot, and seems so powerful -- thus my new mantra.  I need to think more like a bumblebee... running was something i never thought i could/would do.  But I am :) I needed to share it with you, and hope that you find it as inspiring as I did.

Do you think like a bumblebee?  Do you or will you train like a horse?  Have a great day :)