How often do we, 21st century human beings, experience what it is like to be at our physical breaking point? In our cushy modern society, we are lucky enough that survival is no longer a daily fight. Without fear of being eaten by a sabre tooth tiger and with food and shelter readily available, our focus has switched from staying alive to enjoying the luxuries of modern science and technology. But in this evolutionary state of comfort, what have we lost?
As I battled through the gruelling Filthy 50 on Monday, this thought came to mind. I can honestly say that I came close to reaching my physical limit during those 50 burpees. Every single trip from the ground to my feet felt like an eternity and I questioned my ability to complete each repetition. The desire to puke, the side cramps and the blurred vision, combined with the muscle fatigue that made it nearly impossible to push-up off the ground, cannot be described as an enjoyable experience. But later, as I watched my classes suffer in the same way that I had, the merits of putting your body through hell became clear.
There is great value in surviving something that, in the midst of it all, felt as if it was crushing you. Being uncomfortable is okay! With three qualifying points. 1. Yes, I am aware that you cannot compare real life threats to your physical safety with a silly CrossFit WOD. 2. Being uncomfortable does not mean fighting through pain and injury. Mindfulness is key. 3. Don’t be dumb and workout until you puke every day. There is a time and place to go all out (remember Training versus Testing.) That said, knowing where your limits lie will help you apply intensity appropriately when it comes to training every day. So get to that sick-to-the-stomach, room-spinning point occasionally, but treat it like you would a 1RM back squat, a way to ‘check in’ on your progress.
Back to the initial question of how often we push our physical limits, for most people the answer is never. Into adulthood, most people will never do something that truly challenges them physically. With our convenient lifestyles, it is simply easier not to. Why actively seek out discomfort? For one, we know that intensity produces results. To reach our physical potential, 30 minutes on the elliptical while reading a magazine isn’t going to cut it. But beyond our desires to get fitter, stronger and healthier, it is a matter of truly understanding our bodies and what they are capable of. If we weren’t meant to squat deep because it’s bad for our knees, surely natural selection would have seen to it that we lost the ability to break parallel. Similarly, our bodies are capable of sprinting, jumping, pressing and pulling at high intensities, even when our mind begs us to stop.
I’m sure one day there will be a pill I can take that will grant me perfect body composition, health and longevity, without need for healthy diet or exercise. Even if the health benefits of exercise become redundant, I will never stop working out like an animal. I love the high that follows an arduous workout and the sense of accomplishment I feel. But more than that, I want to know my body’s true potential. Hopefully I am never in a situation where I truly have to fight for my survival. But I will try and hold on to those instincts by always pushing the boundaries and not losing touch with what I am made to do.
