#62Motivation.
By Chris | posted on 8 June 2009 | 4 comments
For those who don't know, I was supposed an operation on my left ankle on the third of June. The injury came from messing around on holiday back in 2006 and has been a source of virtually constant irritation ever since. Annoying because of its longevity, irritating because though not a parkour injury originally, it has recurred through training and made many movements difficult at one time or another; and frustrating because I really should have been more careful! Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I can't wait to properly develop some foresight...
Regardless, hopefully the injury will be in the past soon. And hopefully few, if any, of you will have to endure the same.
But the point is, from the time I discovered I was going to have the operation, I attacked my training, and especially my strength conditioning with a renewed vigour. I'd like to think that I hadn't exactly been slacking off before, but I'd definitely found a little extra energy from somewhere.
Which got me thinking: have I only been giving 80% up until now? Have I been short-changing myself in training for the last couple of years?
And these begat more questions: was being strong or good at parkour not that important to me? Or, and I've come to believe this to be the case, was I not really aware of JUST HOW important it is to me? And in this I realised I was guilty of taking things for granted. How strong I've become, how much stronger I want to be, and how lucky I am to have found this discipline and be able to practice it.
All of which, in my usual meandering manner, brings me back to motivation and my operation. Because surely, my movement, health and fitness can't only be important to me when they are taken away temporarily. Likewise, they can't be more important when I don't have them.
So in a funny way I find myself giving thanks for my injury, and even the need for surgery. True, it shouldn't take something so serious to make you appreciate what you have. And I certainly hope no-one else has to make the revelation in the same circumstances. But I think a lot of us at some point or another may "coast" a little. And you know what? If parkour isn't such an important part of your life, that's fine! I don't suppose (or wish) that everyone has the same motivation, or even the same level of motivation as others. But if it is, think why. And try to remember this and keep it with you.
And then try a little bit harder ;)
Labels: Injuries
About the Author : Chris4 Comments:
nice post man ;)
By 
, at
11:20 am, June 09, 2009
Thanks Chris, this is a great post. I hate injury, as does everyone else, but it really reminds yourself how important parkour can be as you are forced to take a break because of injury. I really want to continue doing parkour for the rest of my life, and even pursue a long-lasting career in the stunt business - So I need to make sure that I keep training hard, but safely, and condition my mind and my body for it.
I'm sure the Academy students will be happy to hear you have only been giving it 80% up to now mate...
And well done for utilising the word 'begat' in a post. Not an everyday occurrence that.
By 
Dan, at
3:24 pm, June 10, 2009
Great post, as usual! Even though I have some doubts; I don't think that for the long term training it's totally a good thing to give your 100% in every session. Think of it, athletism coaches usually ask for the 70% or 80% of your competition times and heart-rate. I don't fully get why this happens but it does.
Anyway, it's a great way of thinking, giving always the best and more, and we can.
I guess I'm a little confused at the point. Some tell me, a good training session shouldn't be based on those moves you can't completely master, but on those where you feel the flow.
Others think you should always challenge yourself, and I've seen a lot of support on that matter over this blog, specially by Tracey, Thomas and yourself.
I get both sides of the aprroach for my training and consider both to be important, but how do I balance them-? How do you keep the whole picture in sight?
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