tough workout

Very tough workout today...not sure why. I did 8 rds of 3 mins, on 1 min off with sword and shield, at a low intensity....working on material from my lesson yesterday with Devon of Acadamie Duello. I was focusing on neural ingraining, and fluidity.  Then i did my long cycle work out. I am focusing on 20 mins of long cycle, 20k, unlimited switches. I may compete at this, at a recreational level. However, from my triathlon experience, I have learned that I like to have some leeway, ie, the ability to go farther than the competition time or distance, so I increased from 20 mins, to 21.  By 7 mins in, my Inner Schweinhund was whining, by 11 mins, he was in full howl.  I had to switch from doing 5 reps per hand to 4.  My cadence was in line with previous efforts, but it was tough not to just put the weight down.  I finished the set, and wanted to just lie down and whine, but instead cooled off with 2 rds of arnis. Not sure what the problem was, the set should have been within my limits, and was, but what a struggle. Maybe i just used up all my focus on the sword.  I feel like it made me stronger to finish, to do the hard thing...but WTF, the human mindbody is a strange beast sometimes.

Do the hard thing

Has it been since November...I,m sorry (you, though, probably are not).  New Year, new sorrows : my dog Sammo had to be put down..it was necessay, but sorrowfull.  There is an old Basque saying :`Who must do the hard thing...the one who can. `  These words are true in life, and in training. Do the hard thing.  Lift the weights...go to practice, even you are soul weary.  Share what has been shared with you. Teaching is a privilege, and an obligation.  Go to new teachers and teachings....Acadamie Duello has deepened my appreciation and understanding of weapon arts, as has Hurstwic.  I next plan to incorporate the teachings of Luis Preto.  We are lucky to live in an age of open information, but the blessing can be a curse. Pick your teachers well, and your students. And remember, do the hard thing.