I have traveled quite a bit lately.  Just domestic, but still away from home, away from my honey, away from the cats.

My shoulder is killing me: not sure if it's the strange beds (hotels, so not like strange, but.... strange).  Or carrying a 800 pound back pack. :)

Going to go home tonight. Day off tomorrow and celebrate with Garth his birthday.  And another day off for me Thursday....and I'll go lift. (yay!).  And then get a massage.  All on the shoulder.  :)

I love someone who does.  And we'd like to keep it working.  :) 

Because of that, and the myriad of other issues that impact mens health, we support Movember.  Garth and I have raised just over $2000 this year so far, and it's our little part to help and in memory of Garths dad, who fought, and ultimately lost his battle with prostate cancer.

I'm no social scientist. So if you want to read about Maslow's hierarchy of needs  try Wikipedia.   But there was an interesting reference to it in a book I am reading for work.    I'll spare the back reference (but the book is called "Beyond Engagement" - Brady G. Wilson, if you are interested...)... but it quotes someone who ran the Boston Marathon as saying;

"After I ran the Boston Marathon, I had no motivation whatsoever.   My diet and my training schedule went to pot.  I need to set another goal for myself before I fall apart."

Oh, Snap.    

....And I do kinda remember that feeling after the London meet in July.     I have continued training, but I know for sure that it's a slightly different feeling than training towards prep for a meet.    Which is OK.  I think actually that may be one of the things that makes Powerlifting the sport for me.  There is ALWAYS a goal.  Because it's not a specific event at which you measure your progress....  well, of course it IS, if you go to a meet,  but also... it's not.   Every few months you cycle through the program and BOOM!  PR baby!     

I found my magic.   My girlfriends is yoga.  I can imagine that it might be much the same.     

My goal tomorrow: Just one squat at a time.  Just one more.  My goal for January - test and new PRs for all 3 (Squat, Benchpress and Deadlift).     And then we'll set them again, AND schedule a meet!

I know it's called a "Meet" because people... well, they MEET.  But I am going to think of it as just the place you meet your goals.   

... is exactly like this past week.  :)

No drama or anything.  It's been a bit busy.   A bit of extra travel.   A bit of a chest cold.    I also stopped food tracking, because I felt a bit of pressure stacking up.  So I turned on the compassion.   At least I hope it's that and not me slacking. 

I still went to the gym; I figured that while I might have an excuse to be able to do a bit less..... I had no excuse to do less than I was able.