To train, or not to train?

That is the question. Well, at least at my age (I’ll be 53 this month) it becomes a much more pertinent question. Fear of falling back into my old lazy habits makes it terrifying to consider missing even a single training session. Missed workouts have a way of multiplying like Tribbles. That’s an old Star Trek reference for you younger folks.

With that in mind, I also have to pay close attention to my body, how it feels, and how it is functioning. I’ve been trying to do this over the last month with a series of questions:

• Is that soreness? or is it pain?

• Is that fatigue? or is it exhaustion?

• If I absolutely cannot train this morning, will I be able to train this evening?

• Can I prevent an unscheduled day off by switching a weight training day for a running day? Or vice versa?

Essentially I’m going to have to be able to figure out if training has the potential to do more harm than good, and exactly what that line looks like. 51% Good 49% Harm? How far, and how long do I push before I end up injured and set myself back by months? How do I keep the fear of injury from preventing training I could have done? Should have done? And how do I keep the fear of continuing to be average from pushing me to injury?

Walking that blue-to-black line will be difficult. Pushing right up to the edge without damaging myself seems a nigh impossible task. That, however, will not stop me.