Josh O'Neill

1-2-3 Sundays: Mortality, Emotions & Recovery

Josh O'Neill -

1 Theme

Your Own Mortality

I had a fantastic conversation with my Mum this week.

We were talking about events in our life that bring into focus the short time you have here.

It makes you realise how lucky you are even to be here at all never mind the opportunities, skills or experiences you have.

You begin to question your values and whether what you're doing right now is what you want to be doing or what society thinks you should be.

Because the aim is ultimately to give your life meaning while you can.

Stopping for a moment to take a different perspective is all it takes.

2 Positive Outcomes

My Biggest Month Yet

Sunday to Sunday, I ran 59 km. Or 36 miles.

March 2023 has been the biggest ever in terms of distance ran - 153 km.

I've been relentlessly consistent when it comes to training this year. I've barely missed a session running and can only think of a couple of times I've missed the gym. Those times were down to illness.

I'm hyper dialled into the process of preparing for Ultra X 50 in May.

Cold Baths

Recovery is playing a very important part as well at the moment.

I've set myself the following protocols for recovery:

  • Cold Baths post run
  • 8 hours sleep
  • Massage gun every other night
  • Sauna 2-3x per week

Long run days also include eating back the calories burned on my Garmin.

This ensures I'm replenishing the lost nutrients from long periods of running.

3 Things I've Learned

Fuelled By Emotion

In the gym this week I sent it pretty hard.

A lot of it was coming from emotions rather than the intrinsic motivation to train hard.

The problem with relying on emotion is the highs are high but the lows are low. It's not a sustainable lifestyle and, in my opinion, an unhealthy way to live.

I do believe there has to be a balance between being process driven and being mindful of how you're feeling.

I've been guilty in the past of being overly process driven and not acknowledging my emotions

Taking the time to write it down on paper helps me see where I am and whether I need to pull back in certain areas of life.  

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You...

Learn.

I'm a big believer in reframing failures or losing into positive situations.

Everything is a lesson. Learn enough lessons and the failures become useful - James Clear

Why?

Because it'll come in handy the next time around.

You didn't give up on walking when you were a toddler. You kept going every time until you got it right.

Talk

Especially guys.

Get it out rather than bottling up feeling and emotions.  

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