Class Recap, Training Woes, More
Class went well yesterday. I did dink around with more brazing, and I’m getting much more comfortable with it. I also got my first hands-on experience with TIG welding, which is pretty much the opposite of brazing in every way imaginable. It really bent my brain, but at the same time, it was good — it made me think about brazing differently. The result is that I feel much more comfortable with moving bronze/silver around the joints. Next weekend, I’ll be building a BMX frame — not for me, but for one of Paul’s kids. I’m actually pretty psyched about that. Clearly, I’m doing something right.
Training, well, I’m still sore from Friday’s foray into the weight room. It’s not painful-sore, more of a tight muscles condition, and it’s driving me batty. Especially since I have more weights on the agenda tonight, along with a 90-minute endurance ride (zones 1 and 2). This time of year, it’s supposed to be easy — getting my body slowly acclimated to the stresses I’m going to be throwing at it starting at the end of March. The problem for me now is one of mentality. I’m going bugshit when I’m at the gym, trying to avoid pushing myself beyond the training zones I’m supposed to be in. How to deal with the overwhelming urge to push myself harder? The best I can do is keep reminding myself that I’m just getting started and that the peak of my abilities is still six months away. The problem is getting myself to stick with that plan. Anyone else deal with this problem in the off-season?
All this bike stuff has caused me to miss almost every Vikings game this season. And it’s been a pretty solid season. I’m not really too upset by that, though, as much as I love the Vikes. I’ve got so much else going on in life right now that managing to catch the occasional game makes it all worthwhile.
Still working on that first writing exercise. That’ll be posted early this week.
