02 Training in Thailand – Keep Cool

Being in my 40s doesn’t keep me from training. It’s really about telling my body what to do and how to pay attention to what it’s telling me.

If the muscles are burning, then that’s manageable. Keep going. If the joints feel stiff, then I know I need to stretch more. It’s when something buckles or the senses are making you feel dizzy. That’s when you have to listen and act accordingly. It’s either slow the pace down or start the self diagnostic.

Self Check

There are many things to look out for to maintain a good pace for training. Here are my top three things to be most aware of:

  • Sudden dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea

Knowing my body, these say to me I’m overheating and that I need to cool down. The secret is to keep electrolytes balanced. Gaterade isn’t on my list because of too much sugar. I prefer plain water with a pack of electrolyte mix on standby as I try not to be dependent on it for all my physical activities. Keeping my ego checked and adjusting my pace has worked the best for me. It’s the best choice really. It always feels like double the work if I don’t. Martial arts life lesson right there.

Training in Thailand so far has been a great experience. It’s day 5 and the only thing that is bothering me is still waking up at 3am. Looking forward to the next one.