We talk a lot about being accountable to each other. That’s the whole idea behind #verbals: telling someone that you’ll be there, committing to them that you’ll wake up and be there to workout with them. This is one of the biggest benefits of working out with a friend: they keep you honest. But after a couple of weeks of missing some of my own workouts because I’ve just rolled over and gone back to sleep when my alarm has gone off, I wanted to talk (read: ramble) about being accountable to yourself too.
Each session that we miss, be it an early morning NP workout, a spin class, a session in the gym, a solo run before or after work, or whatever else it may be that you do, makes it that much easier to miss another one. You slowly become desensitised to the idea of missing sessions, and the thought of going back to sleep becomes progressively more attractive. You get used to taking the easy option. On the other hand, every time you tell yourself that you’re going to do something and you then do, every session that you do complete, every workout, class or run that you crush – especially those where you push yourself hard than you thought you could go – builds you up. Each success instils self-discipline, and more importantly, self-belief. It leaves you feeling empowered.
As I mentioned at the start of this little spiel, this is something that I’ve noticed myself slipping into. Last November I did a deck workout every single day. Whilst I have no intention of doing that again, I am going to commit (to myself) to more workouts (and more burpees) than I have been doing recently. I don’t want to get used to taking the easy option, I want to feel empowered.
To quote Julian Goater, a past English cross country champion and Commonwealth medallist, “Every time you train, you’re rehearsing either quitting or pushing on through. It’s much better to practise the latter. If you’ve said you’re going to do it, then do it. If it’s written on your schedule, get it done.” That’s why we make goals and write them down: it makes them tangible, a testament to your ambition and what you want to achieve. Actually achieving them requires work, and that is what we train for.
Goater’s mantra? “I’m an athlete. I’m stronger than that. If it’s raining, it doesn’t matter. If it’s snowing, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to get out there and train.” He almost sounds #weatherproof.
Other Stuff:
- In case you missed Tuesday’s post, or yesterday’s announcement at the workout, NP Buffs are back. Top secret design, but based on past years there’s no doubt it’s going to be a cracker. $5 each. Order form is here: https://goo.gl/forms/j1uTyZhe9itXA1Nd2 Deadline for orders is 27th October.
- Introducing the official trailer for “Showing Up“, a documentary film coming next month by Dooster, powered by The North Face, that is going in-depth on 8 November Project stories from around the world. We are currently working to organise a screening event next month – watch this space and get excited!
