Push – Pull

PUSH

1. to press upon or against (a thing) with force in order tomove it away.
2. to move (something) in a specified way by exerting force;shove; drive: to push something 
aside; to push the door open.
3. to effect or accomplish by thrusting obstacles aside: to push one’s way through the crowd.
4. to cause to extend or project; thrust.
5. to press or urge to some action or course: His mother pushed him to get a job.

PULL

1. to draw or haul toward oneself or itself, in a particular direction, or into a particular position: to pull a sled up a hill.
2. to draw or tug at with force.
3. to rend or tear: to pull a cloth to pieces.
4. to draw or pluck away from a place of growth, attachment,etc.: to pull a tooth; to pull weeds.

With training, fitness, relationships, work… we push, or we pull.  Or, more typically, it’s a delicate balance between the two.

I want to push my descending, I want to pull my fitness up, my power numbers, push my weight to race-weight for maximum benefit.

We push and pull our loved ones in relationships.

I’m pushing on the pedals, I’m pulling up on them.  I’m trying.  Sometimes we push too hard, or pull too much.

I crashed yesterday, again.  I was just healing up from some bruises, and now shall have another nice one.  No, that isn’t my knee on the left.  It’s the middle of my shin.  Don’t worry – it doesn’t look that bad today.

What am I trying to say?  I’m not sure, really.  It’s been an odd 1.5 weeks following my rest week and vacation day of climbing.  Things have been like a rollercoaster.  Sometimes it’s busy, sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it’s a climb, sometimes it’s a descent, fun, painful, long, short.

It’s funny to me, right now at least, thinking about the last 12 months.  And, I’d like to interject that my foot is fine.  It looks healthy by and large most of the time, and off and on has actually felt really quite “normal” this past week.  Whatever that means.  I still wear Sorel winter boots, winter cycling shoes, and Uggs 99.5% of the time.  So, there’s that.  But, my foot is alive and kicking, which allows me to train and be healthier and happier than last year when I sat on the sidelines.

Interestingly enough, last year after cross season had started, and I was in a holding pattern sort of training, I had no problem sticking to the training plan.  Suffering.  Following the numbers.  Testing.  I struggled with the nutritional quotient – unable to eat healthy or clean most of the time, and still enjoyed imbibing in potent potables more often than I should have been.  But, the training came easily enough.  In January, when I really started “training” I easily kicked into nutrition gear and was eating clean and healthy, dropping my injury weight.  I had a great 3-week block to kick off serious training, went into my rest week feeling like I needed it.  I came out of it not in the place I’d hoped to be.

I pushed too hard, I pulled back too hard.  I tried to keep going.  The inputs and outputs have been whacky.  It happens, I think.

2012 will be interesting and either just as different or just as the same as the last 2 years.

I know I’m pushing forward, gaining momentum, and racing is right around the corner.  Less than 1.5 weeks until Vail kicks off the US Cup race season.

Justin and I are both super excited to get the season underway. We’ve been doing a good amount of trail miles and time the past few months, riding about 2x week on dirt and getting in about 5-6 hours of trail time with some good intensity.

We’re also excited to continue to be partnered with Rock N’ Road Cyclery, which has been an amazingly awesome and supportive shop for the last 3 years, as well as with the new Bikes for Boobs team. Check out our page, donate if/what you can to help the cause (Mammograms in Action). If you’re out at the US Cup races you’ll see a good contingent of racers out showing support and racing hard for MIA. Check us out, stop by and chat with us.

Nowhere to go but up and out.  Pushing forward.  Pulling up.

I feel lucky to be where I’m at, and can’t wait to see what’s ahead. But, for now, it’s time to train. Let the pain – I MEAN FUN – begin. One day at a time.