I didn't give myself enough breaks during the training year to recover. I didn't understand the power of periodization.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I trained 8 hours a day 7 seven days a week and I had 2 weeks off in a year.
At 28, you need recovery time after training.
But, I didn't get my first break until I was 17.
If one can stick to the training throughout the many long years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's besides the point. It's simply that I just have to.
It's good for your body to have a break. Even when you're training, you have to have a cheat day every week. The body reacts better to training if you give it intervals of not training, or you relax the diet.
We started training a month before the movie started and then by five months in, we were at our peak shape.
I'm not saying I didn't have ample time to recover, ample time to get to my best, I felt this year I did fine. When I stepped on the field for the national team, I was ready and able to make an impact, to score goals, to create chances.
Take the great example of the four-minute mile. One guy breaks it, then all of a sudden everyone breaks it. And they break it in such a short period of time that it can't be because they were training harder. It's purely that it was a psychological barrier, and someone had to show them that they could do it.
It became my solace. Because it's the only thing structured in my life right now. Training is sort of a therapy session, I guess.
I had lots of breaks.