Eat Your Vegetables!

It's funny, I knew the answer. But I still felt compelled to ask the question.

"Hey chat, do you think I could start adding some sprints back into my program, even though I can't do a single leg calf raise?"

To paraphrase, "no you f**king idiot, of course you shouldn't" was my reply.

For context:

 I ruptured my achilles 6 months ago. Progress has gone well, I created and followed a very aggressive early loading protocol with my doctor and have been pushing hard. From day 10 back in the gym, modifying exercises to maintain a loading stimulus on my leg. Transitioning out of the boot by week four and back to 95% normal walking by month 4.

All well and dandy. The problem….I'm getting bored. I'm losing discipline. I want the ice cream and I don't want to eat my vegetables.

This is really normal and happens to most people on return from injury. It's usually the place where most people get reinjured. They get to that point where the pain is gone, or only shows up with a lot of use or a very particular movement.

We think, hmmm, let's see, and then push to a place that we haven't really exposed the body to, then, bang, flare up…and just like that we're stuck in the injury cycle. 

So why am I doing this? I know better!

First off, I am avoiding what I am not good at. I hate calf raises. My spindly little legs have never been that strong and because of that I avoided them. I have a poor mind-muscle connection and always felt the bang wasn't worth the buck.

The very movements and muscles I avoided end up being the ones that explode under pressure…surprise surprise.

I am still avoiding it, just because I don't like it. Christ.

Secondly, I just miss sprinting and moving fast. I miss playing football. I miss hiking.

This one I can be a bit more patient with myself about. Of course I am going to miss what I love to do. The irony is, the longer I avoid what I don't like to do, the longer I will be away from the stuff I do like to do.

We all fall into this trap. Only training the things we like to train. But that is the definition of a beginner in this game.

The irony of the whole thing, the longer I keep half-assing the rehab because it's boring, I'm not looking at another month or two out. I'm looking at watching my friends play from the sidelines all next summer while I keep effing around at an 80% recovery. And all because I couldn't be arsed to do single-leg calf raises three times a week. Silly. 

How do I fix it?

Step one - make a choice.

I am going to be honest with myself. Do I want my training to be about long-term physical development or do I want it to just be entertainment and distraction? There is nothing wrong with either choice. But if I want to get back to playing sport and sprinting but only train the way I want and not the way I need…then I can't complain if I never get back to playing sport and sprinting.

Pull on the big boy pants and take ownership.

Step two - discipline.

Assuming that I do answer that question in the mature way, it's time to eat my fecking vegetables. Yep, got to be disciplined. That means I am doing the things I don't love to do not just for a session or a week or two but until I don't need to do them anymore…which may just be never.

I’m never going to love calf raises and discipline is easy to fade. So, I put them into sessions in fun ways. For example they are my buy in. Not allowed to do a session I like until I hit the calves.  And I gamify it just like any other exercise. Have I added a half rep? Have I added more sensation, more range? Treat it like the greatest skill on earth. 

Fun might be a stretch, but I know that once I get there my tendon is strong enough to handle a run. It’s unlocking a new attribute, eyes on the prize! 

Step three - patience.

What difference does it make if I am back playing on month 6, month 9, or month 12? I plan to be doing this shit my entire life and the chances of lacing up the boots for Manchester United are pretty slim right now. That ship sailed 20 years ago. Three or six months in the grand scheme of things is nothing if it means I can trust my achilles to not explode on me!

Ring a bell?

If any of this sounds familiar to you, then start by asking yourself the question: what do I want? If you want change, then don't keep doing the same things and expecting a different outcome. We all know what Einstein DIDN'T say.

And if you do want change but don't know where to start, then talk to us. Ask the coaches for their opinions, email me back, set up an appointment with Joanna, or hit the good old Google machine. Arm yourself with knowledge and attack with discipline.

There'll be plenty of ice cream soon enough.