Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome UPDATE: How I Dug Out of the Hole Again
Updated: Oct 13, 2021
It Was a Deeper Hole Than I Originally Thought
I can honestly say that I may have never gotten out of my aerobic deficiency hole if Covid hadn’t hit. I was in a vicious cycle of overtraining for too many events. Although I had pinpointed the issue and how to fix it, I’m not sure I had the discipline to do it. Even though I was working very hard to build my aerobic system so I could be a healthier and more successful paddler, every time I saw mention of a race I instantly wanted to sign up... even though I knew that pushing and going anaerobic just once in a race could derail weeks of aerobic work in someone that had dug themselves into a training hole as deep as mine.
I was never one to say “NO” to a paddle event. This was to my detriment, and greatly contributed to my Aerobic Deficiency Syndrome. Even when I was starting to work on improving my aerobic capacity (alongside improving my calorie intake and recovery strategies to support my high volumes), I kept signing up for shiny new events. Almost compulsively, like I couldn’t help myself.
I Come From a Long Line of Addicts
It really hurts deep when I see someone, more so someone I love, unable to take charge of their own lives and make good life choices. I don’t like that certain family members can’t say, “No” to a drink or go even one day without one. I don’t like how it impairs their ability to experience joy, think clearly, or live an autonomous life. It seems like a person addicted is in a current state of compulsion. It’s uncomfortable to watch them sit without a drink or a smoke for more than 5 minutes because they get twitchy. They’re unable to sit and be silent with themselves. They are unable to sit in discomfort and wait for the compulsion to pass. I see where their life is filled with suffering.