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.   

I am not a runner.  But I do walk on the tread mill for some cardio and to warm up.   It was truly just walking for a long time, but in the last year or so I tried to put in little jogs now and then.  It was never a target to run.  Nevertheless, my 1/2 hour on the treadmill is now around 1.5 mins of running for every 2 mins of walking:  hitting a new distance record (30 mins is all I can take) tonight.

I just gradually added more time on the run.  At first, just over 20 seconds was all I could do, and then needed a 3 minute rest.

So; it's certainly not going to make me a marathoner, but I have a rhythm that I can maintain, and that feels good.