TRAINING UPDATES

Had a fantabulous (is that even a word?) Muay Thai session this morning, my best ever to date. I am still feeling high from the class even now!

I didn't really expect it, as I was already half expired from the strength training session before that. Based on last week's performance, I thought I could at most hold up for 3/4 of the session and then fall apart. Truth was, I not only manage to last the entire 1+ hour, but managed sharp, clean punches and kicks, with quite a bit of strength and relative alertness and agility (for me)! The one obvious clue whether I had a good session or not is how I perform at the speed drills. We skip the drills when I'm really tired and my performance sucks. On mediocre days, speed drills are also mediocre; the speed punches are especially telling - I look like a cat scratching the punching bag, and it takes a lot out of me to complete the drills. Today, woah! The punches were strong all the way, with good enough form. I could have probably done another one or two sets if I had been made to. Another good sign is that we did new moves and combinations today, which never happens unless I'm really doing very well on the other basics. Even my instructor commented on today's performance, and let's just say that while he never says anything mean, he never praises either unless it is really up to par. I am just so hyped up! Woot!

I really hope this is not some one off thing, and the trend continues.

Strength training went ok. This week is conventional deadlift again, and I managed to up the weights from 55 kg 60 kg for my sets. On the last set, I tried 65 kg, but managed only one lift and that was that. Frankly, I still can't reconcile myself to how different 5 kg feels on its own and when added to a loaded barbell. Still I'm happy enough to see improvement. Will try upping my romanian deadlift weights during the weekday training slowly and see if I can up the load again two weeks later. DB flat bench went up to 10 kg per side, but was rather shaky still. I think my upper body strength sucks.

On a side note, this week has been good for all the finishers. Everything improved. Even the burpees. I thought I was at my max for that already. Likewise the leg matrix. But I continue to surprise myself.

One thing I learnt about training, especially from the finishers, is that sometimes, a lot of it is mind over body. Mental strength can accomplish an incredibly lot sometimes. Of course, it can become dangerous during training, if one pushes to the brink of injury, but I hope I'm way smarter than that. Though I sometimes wish I could extend this willpower to other parts of my life which needs it (like finishing my MSc...big sigh!).

All that exertion in the morning meant that my afternoon was gone too - came home and collapsed on the bed and didn't surface until dinner time. Sometimes I just think it is a waste of good weekend time, but oh well.....there is still Sunday.

PS: In my opinion, girls who want nice perky butts should really deadlift, deadlift and deadlift, especially the single legged variations. I spend so much time admiring my improved posterior in the mirror these days. Oh, and all those Muay Thai high kicks help too.