Multitasking to a Fall-T


 


I've been going to physical therapy for my back for several months now. It really has helped me better navigate old injuries, new conditions and a lot of hard years on my body. 


If you are active (and you should be!) it's not a matter of if you are going to have some injuries and conditions arise, it's when, how many and how bad! I'm sure you can relate!?

That said, make sure you take care of yourself and have a team of medical professionals who can help you when you need them (before even!), to keep your motor running so to speak. 

Well, here's a rather embarrassing story about the downfall of multitasking and an almost near 'situation' during my last PT training session.  

To warm up for our session, Wendy, my PT typically has me walk on the treadmill for 5 or 6 minutes. Nothing crazy. No big incline or anything like that,  I even get to pick my own pace.

She usually stands by me and we chat as I'm hoofing it. 

Yesterday was no different. 

I'm nearing the end of my time and she goes into her office to grab some paperwork, still carrying on our conversation. 

This all happens pretty much simultaneously: 

The time ran out, so I hit the stop button on the treadmill, while at the same time turning my head to keep our conversation going with Wendy. The treadmill is slowing down and I go to get off from it. 

I'll be honest here, it happened fast so I'm not sure exactly why I did what I did. It could have been my 5 year old Indiana Jones brain thinking I'd ride the conveyor belt until the end of it, then jump off...

Or I put my foot on the belt sooner than I'd expected. 

I remember there was a few things going on in my head.

I'd like to think that under normal, non-distracted, conditions, the rational 53 year old Craig would have thought better of any of the above dismount methods. Maybe choosing my normal, put my feet on the side rails where they're supposed to go) and wait for the thing to come to a complete stop before walking off from it.   

However this wasn't the case Tuesday. 

I was half in the conversation, half paying attention to my feet and before I could reconsider or regroup, my body was in action stepping on the still moving tread.

It was good at first, until it wasn't! =)

My feet went faster than my upper body and off and over I went. 

Shooting off that infernal machine at a much faster clip than expected! 

Luckily, I didn't end up like the guy in the pic at the top of this email. I caught myself before crashing and getting hurt. 

I ended up in a funky twisted pushup looking position off the back end of the treadmill. Good thing that I caught myself... Barely!

Wendy about had a heart attack asking me if I'm alright! (I think she worried about me and not a lawsuit!? As if I'd really sue over something like that! =) I'm sure others have...)

Laughing at myself, I told her, "I'm ok, nothing hurt but my pride here."

In the words of Bugs Bunny, "What a maroon!"  

A rookie mistake for sure. That could've been bad! 

I did a quick rundown/check to see if I pulled anything. 

Nope! Lucky guy this time!

I'm happy to report that the rest of the session went well.

Wendy wasn't too hard on me. 

This is a Good Illustration...

This incident points out many things when it comes to training, managing conflict and defending yourself (& others).

1. Stay focused (even if you done it a thousand times before)
2. Verbal communication is a powerful tool when you use it right.
3. Distraction works great to get people off balance!
4. Train smart.
5. Mistakes happen to the best of us. However...
5. If you do something stupid, you better be tough, because stupid hurts! 

Yea, yea, I could keep going and going with the nuggets of truth...

I'm sure you could add some lessons of your own here (or smarty pants comments...), but you get the idea!

Where Treadmills Fear to...
     Tread?! =)


If you want greater command over your mindset, your body, your training and your Life... (Treadmill shenanigan's aside) You have to train in the right way.

Get your hands on my Free Home Study Course: One Simple Defense - https://www.peacewalker.org/


Keep going,
~Craig

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