Learning Curve

My last blog was over two weeks ago, since when I have spent over nearly 12 hours out on my bike and over 10 hours on the Spin bike. In total I reckon on around 320 miles and burnt about 30,000 calories.

Being somebody who learns from their mistakes, I would like to share with you some of my 'learns' in the last couple of weeks.

My mind is willing but the body not always able - I seem to be trying to do the same things at the age of nearly 52 that I used to do when I was in my thirties! Somehow I need more time and to do it slower - whatever "it" is. I don't have to compete, but I like to - I know my limits better now.

I need to feed and hydrate my body - having discovered energy bars, energy gels and hyrdration drinks, I wonder how I managed before! Each hour cycling and I burn around 1,000 calories - now I eat more and refuel.

Proper recovery is important - having suffered from leg muscles that ache beyond belief, I was told by my sports therapist that I have over trained - so, giving exercise a miss (apart from a 2 hour spin session) this week I now appreciate the need to rest up and let my body recover sufficiently - legs feel okay now.

Proper planning and preparation prevents poor performance - earlier this week I made a 252 mile round trip to visit some new clients - they were out when I got there! - Having phoned the previous day and left a message to confirm my visit, I assumed all was in order - for all of my forthcoming appointments with new clients, I will speak with them and pre-qualify the reasons for our meeting plus clarify everybodies expectations.

Losing focus is easy and keeping focus on the right things is difficult - having tried to keep my various 'plates' spinning such as the Charity Bike Ride, business, gym, family, friends - I think a few of them have dropped off and I need to get them back up again - my learn here is that all of the important things impact upon each other and indeed they all need focus, but different amounts at different times - travel light mentally and physically.

So, I am more aware of how to look after myself, where my limits are and what is important to me - not forgetting though, health and happiness mean everything!