I started a Krav Maga(Israeli self defense/martial art) a few weeks ago. I wanted to wait until I got past a big project and I was coming off a stomach bug but I didn’t want to use that as an excuse. I didn’t have a partner so I took every rep with different instructors. I was so dehydrated I dropped. But I drank someone else’s ice cold water and finished the class. Made sure to focus on hydration all week leading up to the second class and did great. I was so nervous about doing something like this. The warm up is jogging, side to side steps and bear crawls. Stuff I haven’t done since HS gym classes. If we don’t challenge ourselves it’s easy to say screw it and not even try.
Inspiring. I've always been interested in Krav Maga - this is cool to hear and rekindles my interest. Echo the hydration comment. I made that mistake early on when I was in obstacle course classes training. Also, lateral movement like the side-to-side steps = super important.
Most people live in environments (people, friends, cities) without a culture of physical risk. Your progression from desk-bound to Spartan racing is the exception rather than the rule (gross understatement). I believe many of us would be interested to hear your insight on how to best prepare for Spartan racing now that you've made that journey. It's in your book, but I'm suggesting that given hindsight, how would you now approach that journey? It could be a post or another book.
I've shared this on social and via email to friends who could use a boost, a mind-shift -- and Wendy delivers all that in so many ways. I'm grateful for her work and stamina and perseverance. The image of that heavy chain says it all. My wife is Japanese-American so I often hear "ganbatte masu" for various areas where you encourage someone to do their best. It can also be used in sports, ganbare to mean "fight" and so, Ganbare, Wendy!
The HBR article reminds me of a book I read many years ago on raising children. Based on a Japanese research study, it suggested praising children for hard work, not for being smart. Children praised for being smart became adverse to challenges for fear of failing and disproving their intelligence.
100%. A lot of the research I've read, particularly some of it from Carol Dweck, underscores this. My parents were pretty careful to not praise me very much growing up unless it was for hard work. I didn't really like it at the time, but now I recognize the importance of their thinking.
Wow. Just wow. Perseverance. Following your mindset is a learning experience. Thanks for sharing doubts and worries and how to make them disappear. True grit
Thank you Beth. I'm not sure if doubts and worries ever totally go away. But I increasingly believe there is a way to put them in the backseat vs. the front.
Gwendolyn, the picture of you with the chain over your shoulders speaks volumes. Your story is inspiring. That face! Thank you for recounting it for us mere mortals.
Ha! That look on my face is pretty consistent with what was going through my head! Thanks for following me along the journey here and for your comments. Really appreciate it and admire all you are doing yourself to push your limits.
I started a Krav Maga(Israeli self defense/martial art) a few weeks ago. I wanted to wait until I got past a big project and I was coming off a stomach bug but I didn’t want to use that as an excuse. I didn’t have a partner so I took every rep with different instructors. I was so dehydrated I dropped. But I drank someone else’s ice cold water and finished the class. Made sure to focus on hydration all week leading up to the second class and did great. I was so nervous about doing something like this. The warm up is jogging, side to side steps and bear crawls. Stuff I haven’t done since HS gym classes. If we don’t challenge ourselves it’s easy to say screw it and not even try.
Inspiring. I've always been interested in Krav Maga - this is cool to hear and rekindles my interest. Echo the hydration comment. I made that mistake early on when I was in obstacle course classes training. Also, lateral movement like the side-to-side steps = super important.
Krav is great. Aside from the self defense part it’s an hour of fast paced movement.
Most people live in environments (people, friends, cities) without a culture of physical risk. Your progression from desk-bound to Spartan racing is the exception rather than the rule (gross understatement). I believe many of us would be interested to hear your insight on how to best prepare for Spartan racing now that you've made that journey. It's in your book, but I'm suggesting that given hindsight, how would you now approach that journey? It could be a post or another book.
Good idea!
More to my point — quote from the philosopher Archilochus, “you don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your training.”
Congrats! That’s such an awesome story and the chain is such a great metaphor too.
Thanks. One big heavy metaphor... :)
I've shared this on social and via email to friends who could use a boost, a mind-shift -- and Wendy delivers all that in so many ways. I'm grateful for her work and stamina and perseverance. The image of that heavy chain says it all. My wife is Japanese-American so I often hear "ganbatte masu" for various areas where you encourage someone to do their best. It can also be used in sports, ganbare to mean "fight" and so, Ganbare, Wendy!
Thanks for this note and for sharing the post TJ. I also like your wife's thinking on this — tell her I might borrow that phrase!
The HBR article reminds me of a book I read many years ago on raising children. Based on a Japanese research study, it suggested praising children for hard work, not for being smart. Children praised for being smart became adverse to challenges for fear of failing and disproving their intelligence.
100%. A lot of the research I've read, particularly some of it from Carol Dweck, underscores this. My parents were pretty careful to not praise me very much growing up unless it was for hard work. I didn't really like it at the time, but now I recognize the importance of their thinking.
Wow. Just wow. Perseverance. Following your mindset is a learning experience. Thanks for sharing doubts and worries and how to make them disappear. True grit
Thank you Beth. I'm not sure if doubts and worries ever totally go away. But I increasingly believe there is a way to put them in the backseat vs. the front.
Congrats on your finish and completing your misogi! It’s another continuation of your success from where you left off in “not too late”!
Geoffrey - thank you. I appreciate the support here in this community. I thought a lot about it and leaned on it during the races!
Gwendolyn, the picture of you with the chain over your shoulders speaks volumes. Your story is inspiring. That face! Thank you for recounting it for us mere mortals.
Ha! That look on my face is pretty consistent with what was going through my head! Thanks for following me along the journey here and for your comments. Really appreciate it and admire all you are doing yourself to push your limits.