I feel like the last few months of my 2012 season have been narrated by that British-sounding GPS lady, with constant interjections into the best-laid plans: “Recaulculating…”
As I recover from my injury at Hy-Vee Triathlon, recalculating is exactly what I’m doing. I am plotting out the rest of the year’s races and adventures in a manner that will—I hope—maximize the progress I’ve made this year and leave me in the best possible place at the end of the season, looking forward to the next.
My hurt ankle left me off my feet and in rehab mode for a solid four weeks, meaning some significant changes in my season’s journey—no Vegas, no LA Tri, no Dallas Open. If triathlon is a choose-your-own-adventure book, I felt like I kept ending up at the same place: on the couch, foot elevated and iced, recovering. It’s a frustrating place to be, but athletes know this is part of the athletic experience: an unfortunate part, but a part nonetheless.
Have I simply slacked off these last four weeks, however? Definitely not. In this recovery time, I’ve worked hard on my swim at Tower 26 (especially pull), I’ve participated in the Women’s National Bike Summit, I’ve done quite a bit of outside-of-triathlon consulting work, and I now feel rested and ready as I get back to training. The cloud of physical injury has mental rejuvenation as its silver lining.
It’s at times like this that I am most thankful for having a coach like Matt Dixon of purplepatch Fitness to help me recalculate instead of throwing the GPS out of the car in frustration. Setbacks are a part of life and sport, and while hard to swallow sometimes, they can, if viewed through the right lens, be used as opportunity. I’m really looking forward to the last few races of the year and continuing this journey. Next up: Austin 70.3, unless anyone knows of any good mid-October races I can add to the calendar.
And a by-product of all that time I’ve had to think: I promise one heck of a Halloween costume this year (if I actually dress up).
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