Pain

Physical pain is an inescapable part of physical fitness. "No Pain, No Gain" is the age old saying. The tick is to get the most fitness with the least amount of pain.

Treatment: Typically, treatment comes in the form of massage, trigger point therapy, dry needling or acupuncture. It is very rare for treatment to be comfortable and enjoyable. Since we work out every day, treatment is a very necessary part of our discipline. We have to accept the pain as it is delivered and allow it to wash over us. We wont die. Muscles and tendons don't break from treatment.

Workout/Race: Many times during the week and often in Road Races, we have to go to the well. We draw from the deep and draw again. A high tolerance for pain is a gift that allows us to draw water from the bottom of the well.

Those of us who resist the pain...don't. Resistance is futile. We have yet to meet a Bootcamper that is going to die in a race or workout. It takes a special maniac to even run yourself unconscious. No one is going to die.

Acceptance is the answer. Observe pain with curiosity. We say to ourselves " I am having a very human experience of feeling pain." We can question ourselves "If physically, my body can produce enough power to make it through this, will my brain be quiet enough to allow it to happen?"

We know this for sure. THINKING almost never improves performance. Thinking is a wonderful way to solve problems. We can not think ourselves through pain.