When's the Right Time to Push?

Realized something yesterday -- maybe it's a breakthrough?? I've never been athletic, but over the years I have learned to love to exercise. Weight training, biking, walking, and very recently trail running; I'm sure there's more for me to discover, too. I'm just not always consistent with it, and that made me think I wasn't competitive.

But it seems I am competitive -- with myself! Now that the injuries are starting to clear up, I'm finding myself wanting to push harder and harder. Part of my therapy for my knees is riding my exercise bike. I've been doing it consistently, moving up slowly from level 2 to level 4 over the past couple of weeks. I was amazed at my progress; my quads are getting so much stronger. So, what happens next? That little drill sergeant in my head steps in: "LEVEL 5!!! NOW! COME ON, DO IT!! DO IT!!" I had only just moved up to riding consistently at level 4 and was already punching that little plus sign to pump it up one more level. Problem was I felt myself getting slightly discouraged because, well, if I can ride at 4, I can ride at 5 no problem, no? And I was having some problems...

At least I caught myself in time, because I can just see myself plugging away even more and getting more discouraged, and then not wanting to do any biking at all. It's all well and good to push yourself to the next level in anything you do, but you've got to be ready to do it! I've got to change my evil ways if I want my body to be injury-free, if I want to learn how to exercise consistently, and if I want to achieve a certain level of fitness.

And, heck, it's not like I don't know these things myself! I've probably read that advice a hundred times. I've just got to turn that little drill sergeant into a personal trainer! :-)