WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE!!!

People are very territorial. This is MY house. This is MY job. This is MY path to greatness. This may be genetic, this may be a learned trait, but everybody suffers from “posessionism.” Are we born with a need to grab our piece of the pie? In addition, is it in our nature to grab the biggest piece that we can?

Or is it a learned trait? Could the way we are raised change how we react to encroachment? If parents behave this way do their children develop territorialism through observational osmosis?

Sometimes territorial behaviors are manifested in a group dynamic. The Crips and Bloods have their spot and heaven help anybody dressed in the wrong color comes onto their turf. Other times it’s an individual characteristic, Wall Street for example. A trait that seems to be a uniquely Western peculiarity, but I doubt that’s entirely true.

I noticed this last night at Frisbee. “Don’t give up your position.” And again today at work. “Don’t let him talk to suppliers. That’s not his job.” Of course my boss was implying that it’s mine.

Last night, Carlee and I had a scare. We almost lost our pending territory (although our current living arrangements are pretty spiffy). It seems as though we’re out of the woods and that we’re still on track (just a little bit behind schedule) but it got me thinking. What would you do to protect what you feel is yours? Would you be physical as is the case in Frisbee or would you not allow somebody to help you out for fear that somebody could take your territory? Would you take legal action or would you let the chips fall where they may because we all know that good things come to those who wait (or do they).

I know what I am going to do. I am NOT going to let Carlee down. It is because of me that we are in this position in the first place and I will make the necessary sacrifices to ensure that our territory is protected. I will do everything within my power, given the tools that I have, to make certain that we get what we deserve, together. She’s earned it, especially after her 3:48 marathon. This is our pending territory, I am territorial and I won’t let anything take it from us.

So I Got That Going For Me, Which Is Nice

Lately, I've been listening to my body a little bit more. When I'm tired I rest and when I'm feeling good I hit it hard. These recovery days are really helping. While I haven't taken an actual day off this week I have gone for more an active recovery sort of feel to a couple of my workouts. I feel that this will help me in the long run in that I won't hit a wall down the road and can continue training at a high level (for me). Taking days as active recovery also, I feel, will keep the gym fun rather than feeling like a chore which is how my workouts had been feeling about a month ago.
Until I have a post of substance (which hasn't happened, well, ever) enjoy the video and extracurricular reading.

Gender Strenth
10 Reasons Heavy Weight Training Doesn't Bulk Up Female Athletes

Carlee's Marathon

Carlee's getting me up pretty early tomorrow. We're going to be out of the house at 6AM. Still, later than a weekday. We'll head up to Hartford, put her things away and get ready. She'll get nervous and I'll try to calm her down. Then, at 8, the gun will go off and so will she. She will weave and dart through people. She will probably play 'Run and Snipe.' It will be glorious. Her goal is a pristine 4 hours but then ultimate would be 3:40, the Boston Marathon qualifying time. She's going to do great and it'll a lot of fun watching her cross that finish line. She deserves it, with, you know, the running and the running and the running and the never ending running. Maybe I'll get a good picture of her this time.

From the Ground Up
Unhappy at Work and a Solution

Thursday

Carlee and I are headed to the Excel Center for the Marathon Expo. Should be a good time. They'll have some chiro's, maybe some ART massage people and I'm hoping some food.
For those concerned, training has been going well. Yesterday was more or less a rest day for me. Some medium weight thrusters (245) and I called it for the day.
Today was a speed day with 10x3 squats @ 225#, rest 30 seconds and then after a quick break AMRAP 15 minutes 5 Push Jerks (start set from floor), 10 Pushups, 15 Back Extensions. 8 rounds completed at the 14:30 mark.
I hope you enjoy these links.

Energy System Interaction and Relative Contribution During Maximal Exercise
Why Meat Eating is OK for the Environment

Music Sunday

Dinosaur Jr. - The Wagon
Born Ruffians - I Need A Life
AA Bondy - Vice Rag
Phoenix - 1901

Plan Ahead

Sometimes the apple rolls miles away down a hill from whence it came. My parents have it. My fiancée has it. I don’t have it. “It” is the ability/desire to prep for anything. Like the Joker, “I just do.” While to some this may seem like a great lifestyle, living all nimbly bimbly, it’s not always the case. My inability to prepare, look ahead and organize my life has greatly impacted myself and those around me.

Not preparing has gotten me into trouble a couple of times, from getting a respectable credit score, paying more for flights and in school. Two of those only affect me, which I’m ok with. That happens. I am, however, not OK with how my lack of foresight impacts those that I am associated with.

Carlee has been a champ in dealing with this but I can tell that her patience is running thin. The way that I plan holidays, wait for the last possible second to do anything and have a general “things will fall into place” attitude has put an unneeded stress on our lives.

So what I’ve decided to do is to start keeping a calendar, a notebook or something that will keep me on task. This has to be something easily accessible and memorable enough to do it everyday. I’m figuring out a system. I believe that this will greatly impact my life in the positive. I’ll be able to do things beforehand thus producing something of better quality. Carlee should be most pleased.

If you’re not already, taking this approach can really beneficial to your fitness goals. Keep records and keep goals. The gym is way less of an inconvenience if there is a goal in mind. It could be a marathon, a weight lifting meet or just to be able to do 10 pull ups consecutively. The preparedness and having certain guidelines to accomplish tasks will easily make obtaining these goals more manageable.

I feel like Johan tossed me closer to that tree.