😀 I once told a friend about a board game among women that had ended early cuz players felt upset about the ones who were losing. They did the Monopoly equivalent of handing those unfortunate few some of their own play money - to keep everyone happy, or at least extend the game. The friend (also an athlete) asked, Who supported the winner?
I can so relate to this. And I wish I started learning this lesson before tearing my MCL and multiple other basketball, track and field, flag football and other sports injuries over the years.
I’ve found the Power Zones training on Peloton to be helpful with this idea of what it means to be “competitive” because the rides are based on dialing into a specific level of effort and most of the rides are in level 1, 2 and 3 (out of 7).
Level 1 (or anything below level 4) for us athletes, feels like nothing at all — for 30-60 minutes — and frankly, where’s the fun in that?! Except that you can do it all day long and still feel great afterward. (Hmmm…maybe there’s some wisdom in that.)
When I first started these Power Zone rides, all of my attention was focused on holding back, fighting the urge to ignore the instructor’s directions, and trying to convince myself that there was some benefit to this easy, low-impact effort. Meanwhile, my quads and lungs wanted to push and burn and break my previous records. Then I realized I could flip the script and see the mental challenge of these rides as the real competition to be won.
My default mindset is to go all-in on every play and leave everything on the court. As I get older, I’m learning that competing can mean accepting the comfortable pace, settling in, making peace with restraint…finishing knowing I could have pushed harder and judging that as the win.
Btw, I am loving everything you are writing and look forward to your posts each week.
Hi Heather, yes, having played Trash Basketball, or whatever that was, with you at some ASAE event, I'm not at all surprised you can relate, LOL.
And yes, injuries are the inevitable outcome of immersing ourselves so deeply in a competitive environment that we lose all awareness of the quiet and loud "ouch" signals our bodies are giving us.
Interesting about Power Zone Level 1, and what you notice about the rest of the day!
Also love this: "knowing I could have pushed harder and judging that as the win." What a great idea. Commending yourself for restraint itself.
My best script-flipping moment (many seem to be required) came after a masters swimming workout. I was about 50, and lamenting the same sort of way you are now (you've always been precocious :-)) - what's the fun if you can't go all out? Even in swimming, my body just can't handle the 100% effort I have come to think of as the fun, natural, authentic sports experience. But I kept getting injured. A slightly-older teammate who no longer entered meets said, "My goal has changed. Now my goal is to stay fit." Lightning-level aha for me.
Thanks for this conversation and your kind words about the column.
Yes, exactly. I loved those neighborhood games too. Kid-designed for kid fun, based on what the kids felt like doing.
The thing about keeping score is that it can enhance the fun. And the thing about losing is, it's beyond the point. The point is that same kid joy, whatever one's age.
Keeping score, at its best, just intensifies everyone's concentration. It raises the stakes -- even if those stakes are only bragging rights for a brief second after the game -- so you try harder, and exert more effort. Athletes find this intense effort enjoyable, but only in certain settings: when the teams are fairly evenly matched; when everyone understands that play is the point; when people are good winners and losers.
Not instead of play for play's sake. Just another option.
Love this!!!
Thanks Katherine!
Spot on! I want to have a board game party with you & Nancy!
😀 I once told a friend about a board game among women that had ended early cuz players felt upset about the ones who were losing. They did the Monopoly equivalent of handing those unfortunate few some of their own play money - to keep everyone happy, or at least extend the game. The friend (also an athlete) asked, Who supported the winner?
Then you play 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5! You don’t cave for crying out loud!
PS: I’m glad you got to experiment with dialing into your “level 1” athlete and enjoy laughs and good times with others.
Maybe Level 3. :-) Progress.
I can so relate to this. And I wish I started learning this lesson before tearing my MCL and multiple other basketball, track and field, flag football and other sports injuries over the years.
I’ve found the Power Zones training on Peloton to be helpful with this idea of what it means to be “competitive” because the rides are based on dialing into a specific level of effort and most of the rides are in level 1, 2 and 3 (out of 7).
Level 1 (or anything below level 4) for us athletes, feels like nothing at all — for 30-60 minutes — and frankly, where’s the fun in that?! Except that you can do it all day long and still feel great afterward. (Hmmm…maybe there’s some wisdom in that.)
When I first started these Power Zone rides, all of my attention was focused on holding back, fighting the urge to ignore the instructor’s directions, and trying to convince myself that there was some benefit to this easy, low-impact effort. Meanwhile, my quads and lungs wanted to push and burn and break my previous records. Then I realized I could flip the script and see the mental challenge of these rides as the real competition to be won.
My default mindset is to go all-in on every play and leave everything on the court. As I get older, I’m learning that competing can mean accepting the comfortable pace, settling in, making peace with restraint…finishing knowing I could have pushed harder and judging that as the win.
Btw, I am loving everything you are writing and look forward to your posts each week.
Hi Heather, yes, having played Trash Basketball, or whatever that was, with you at some ASAE event, I'm not at all surprised you can relate, LOL.
And yes, injuries are the inevitable outcome of immersing ourselves so deeply in a competitive environment that we lose all awareness of the quiet and loud "ouch" signals our bodies are giving us.
Interesting about Power Zone Level 1, and what you notice about the rest of the day!
Also love this: "knowing I could have pushed harder and judging that as the win." What a great idea. Commending yourself for restraint itself.
My best script-flipping moment (many seem to be required) came after a masters swimming workout. I was about 50, and lamenting the same sort of way you are now (you've always been precocious :-)) - what's the fun if you can't go all out? Even in swimming, my body just can't handle the 100% effort I have come to think of as the fun, natural, authentic sports experience. But I kept getting injured. A slightly-older teammate who no longer entered meets said, "My goal has changed. Now my goal is to stay fit." Lightning-level aha for me.
Thanks for this conversation and your kind words about the column.
Yes, exactly. I loved those neighborhood games too. Kid-designed for kid fun, based on what the kids felt like doing.
The thing about keeping score is that it can enhance the fun. And the thing about losing is, it's beyond the point. The point is that same kid joy, whatever one's age.
Keeping score, at its best, just intensifies everyone's concentration. It raises the stakes -- even if those stakes are only bragging rights for a brief second after the game -- so you try harder, and exert more effort. Athletes find this intense effort enjoyable, but only in certain settings: when the teams are fairly evenly matched; when everyone understands that play is the point; when people are good winners and losers.
Not instead of play for play's sake. Just another option.
Thanks for writing.