Bad Sore vs Good Sore

 This week was a great example of bad sore vs good sore.

Wednesday we did break falls, grappling, shoulder rolls, and lots of rowing (that darn leek 😂). My knees and shoulder were sore before class and during class they downright hurt.  I was so upset, it was the first class in a very long time that I was just waiting for it to end.  I started doing modifications towards the end of class but I waited too long.  This is a bad sore, not because of class but because of what I did to get there.  I have been working on endurance and kicks and was over working my knees, my solution was Aleve.  I haven’t been drinking enough water. I had meat for supper the night before (only second meat meal in months).  All of these contributors caused the inflammation before class.  Class just inflamed it more.  Bad sore!

Then I had my physio for my knees on Thursday.  Not only was I getting more exercises to strengthen weak muscles but he was working to release the tightness in my quads that have been compensating.  With these released, it was easier to isolate the muscles that I needed to work on.  Those muscles are now sore but this is a good sore!  It’s because I am building strength not dealing with inflammation.

My physiotherapist asked what I wanted from physio.  “I want to keep all my parts as long as possible, I want to be mobile when I’m older, and I’m willing to put in the work needed to maintain that.  I know it will be a life long commitment and it will be hard work.”  His response “most people aren’t willing to work for the results” so I smiled and said “well I am”.  How is this relevant to the above?  It’s not just about working hard, it’s working hard with the right outcomes.  You need to aim for the Good Sore and realize which one is which.  Also I wouldn’t have been able to link my diet and water to this if I wasn’t logging everything.

Work smarter!  Log everything!