We’ve all felt it.
We’ve allowed it to dictate how we respond to injury.
We use it as an alarm bell, warning us to stop or back off.
Think of how you use it in relationship to your performance. Do you have the same relationship with pain in training as you would if you were placing your hand over an open flame? Do you pull out of a workout because it gets the slightest bit painful like you’d pull your hand away from fire? The comparison may not be fair as one can legitimately injure you while the other...just causes you to suffer.
As an athlete I am no stranger to pain. My IRONMAN training has brought me to new levels of pain and suffering that I never thought possible. My days spent running around the Springfield College turf chasing a field hockey ball brought pain but in shorter and more intense bouts. Today, now, as someone that participates in programs for metabolically challenging classes I still experience pain. Regardless of how and where I am training there is pain. There is also a desire to perform and strive for constant improvement. My pain, as expressed in the podcast, is no different than what Bussi is experiencing. Elite athletes are not exempt from feeling pain over amateurs or non-athletes.The pain in real. What differs is how it is managed.
Take yourself as an example. When faced with a workout that challenges not only your strength but your heart rate response do you:
A. Pick a lightweight knowing it’s going to hurt?
B. Go for broke knowing it’s going to hurt?
OR C. Not even sign up for class knowing it’s going to hurt?
I will say this: getting to this place of pain and suffering is not easy and it takes practice. The layering of exercises and prescribing of work intensity requires a great deal of thought and experience from a trusted professional. Your limits will be tested. You will break, mentally, but the goal is not to break you physically. It is easy to see the fitness trends and mimic your counterparts but there is a line. It sits between suffering and injury.
I challenge you to tow the line. As Geoff mentioned to me today, “Taste Metallic” you know...the point where your insides are starting to revolt and creep up your throat from working so hard. Embrace the pain and see how far it takes you.
SK
If you want more insight into Vittoria Bussi 2018 attempt on the HOUR Record watch this!
If you’re interested in listening to the Outside Magazine Podcast Sweat Science: Loving Pain go to your podcast app and search for Outside Magazine to download the episode.
If you’ve never listened to a podcast, you’re missing out. Get on it!
