Here's the good news: You, Mr. 9-to-5, are an athlete. No, you didn't plan for this to happen. Lucky you!
And now, the bad news: You, Ms. "Night Shift," are an athlete. Sorry.
Somewhere in those flipping calendar pages, you changed. Physically, at least, you underwent an evolution that can only be triggered by challenge. Mentally, you may not have changed. At least, not yet.
First, the litmus test:
1. When you woke up this morning, and saw Fran, was your first reaction anxiety?
2. Have you changed your eating habits today to avoid that trek outside to the ditch, post-Fran?
3. Do you accept that, worst-case, you may have to sacrifice that virgin to the Fran volcano?
Doesn't matter if you answered "yes" to any of them, because the first question was a trick: if you woke up this morning and checked the WOD, you win! Cue lights and bells!
And now for the painful part. Barker's Beauties, tell 'em what they've won!
If your body accepts this new reality, but you haven't yet mentally embraced the notion of You 2.0, that creates discord. And discord makes you dizzy. Discord makes your fingers tremble and your guts knot.
If you're behaving like an athlete, but eating like a nonathlete – ditto sleeping, recovering – then your sport will suffer. And you'll suffer, too: more than necessary.
Every WOD, you have to cross a line into athleticism. The workout demands it, and you do it. I've seen you do it. But you don't have to cross back into "normal" afterward. You don't have to pull that yellow cardigan back over your head when you get home. Crossing and recrossing, entering and exiting that competitive domain, is painful. Entry has a huge cost, and there's no one stamping your hand at the door. Why do you insist on going out for the metaphorical smoke every half hour, and then paying to re-enter?
We're not asking for a lifestyle change. You made THE BIG CHANGE weeks – months, years? – ago. The hard part's done.
We're not asking for you to ditch your friends. We're asking you to evaluate your 'down time' activity: does it help? Does it hurt?
We're not asking you to give up beer or donuts or Saturday Night. We're just asking you to think, while you're sitting on the edge of the treadmill. Ask, "If I'd known that 'Angie' was going to come up today, would I have eaten differently yesterday? Would I have gone to bed at 10pm instead of watching 'The Office'? Would I have balanced my breakfast better?" Then take your own advice.
You're a competitive athlete. You have a coach; you have teammates; you have fans and an arena and team colours and a competitive schedule. Do your best.