Getting into Good Habits – Week Beginning 19 March
Just over a year ago when having a clear out, I was faced with a decision. My guitar was sitting in the corner, unplayed, unloved and out of tune. I had bought it aged 14 but not played for the best part of a decade. I didn’t want to get rid of it but it felt foolish to leave it gathering dust if I wasn’t going to play. So I did. Badly.
For the last four months I have been playing every day and am now at around the same level I was in my late teens. I am improving with regular practice. I rarely go on a four-hour guitar bender like I did when I was 16 but nor do I go a day without playing. It turns out that if you really want to get good at something you just need to be disciplined; all the stuff I tell my students about practice and hard work might actually be true!
I have no problem getting out for runs but have more trouble forcing myself to carry out the other elements of training that are beneficial like stretching, strength and conditioning exercises, sleep. Last week I did two core sessions and a weights session but nowhere near enough stretching. I am going to take the approach I have tried to take with playing guitar; little and often. Setting myself achievable but regular goals is the way forward.
My Week
Monday: AM 10km easy / PM 12km easy (22)
Tuesday: AM 9km easy / PM road session – 4 sets of 1300,800,500 off 75s (27)
Wednesday: 15km easy (15)
Thursday: AM 10km easy / PM 16km progression run 57:33, weights (28)
Friday: rest (0)
Saturday: AM parkrun in 15:39, 6*45s grass hill reps / PM 9km easy (25)
Sunday: 24km easy (24)
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