Subtract & add

I’ve nearly finished this book – a really enjoyable (and thoughtful) read. It centres around the idea that we all too often add as opposed to subtract – or as the book progresses subtract and add, as opposed to one or the other.

Reading this before going on holiday, a couple of weeks ago was really helpful. Holiday for me is a time to subtract lots – not looking at email, Strava, the internet as far as possible and give my brain a break from the world outside of my immediate grasp. Doing this, I find, is a massive help in clearing my head and thinking about what I want to do post holiday.

What I did come to the conclusion was that:

1. I need to do less courses, focus on what I have learnt, embed and understand before moving onto the next one.
2. Scrap all races for the rest of the year and let my body heal and adapt to training in a safe and solid way. Having my achilles scanned last week was reassuring (in terms of finding nothing more than fluid & some inflammation on the tendon), however having races in the calendar has pushed me to get back to fitness in a way that is faster than is safe. No more than 2 months of solid running in the last 18 months is a message to change something.
3. Read less books at the same time, don’t rush them and allow each one the time to sit in my mind. There is so much I am interested in, it is a shame to spread myself too thinly on what I do read.

This then led me to thinking what to add back in:

1. How to use Gary Ward & Helen Hall’s courses in coaching – where does it fit in, how does it fit in?
2. Zwift & the Smart trainer. This has been a godsend in allowing me to continue structured training. Hard – but over the last week I’ve really noticed the difference in how I am finding each session easier. I’ve started the 8 week TT training program. Alongside this wait to start running for 2-3 weeks. When I do add in , slowly, easily and sensibly.
3. Ring-fenced time to read. I had been doing this, and found that it really helped me and something that feels easier with focus on 2 books rather than 4 or 5.

I’ve had a good month, decisions made and things moving forward. The house in Westgate is coming along well, I’m happy with where Breathe to Move is and now begin to look at what to do come September onwards.