"You'll only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone" - Percy Cerutty
Writing this blog now, I realize how important the above phrase truly is. I've spent the last 4 months living my life outside of my own comfort zone and have discovered that, with the help of others, I've grown more than I did in 36 years. Cerruty knew that if his athletes were not living life off the track outside thier comfort zone, they were not experiencing life in full. He knew that once they did, they would handle the stresses during racing and training much easier, and more maturely.
And that's exactly where I found myself this past weekend, doing my first tri in over 7 years. With sporadic swimming thanks to chronic ear infections, I wasn't sure how things would shake out. But I remained relaxed, not thinking about the antibiotics running thru me, or the fact that I still couldn't hear out of my right ear. Its funny how a race can make you forget that kind of stuff, as you get caught up in the competition and excitement of racing.
I raced one of the Midwest Indoor Tri Series races, at Health Track in Glen Ellyn. The series is one of the longest standing ones in the Midwest, and I guess qualifies as a "classic". My love of professional cycling is always renewed at this time of the year, as the mini-classics of Europe have started, as well as the week-long classics, like Paris-Nice, and the romance and history that surrounds these events. I had always hoped for the same in multi-sport, but with constant sponsor changes, and governing body shifts, some races never get the chance. But the Midwest Indoor Tri Series has withstood the test of time, so, for me, its a classic.
The day actually went better than expected, although I could not get comfortable on the stationary bikes provided, but I felt good, a little worn out from the meds, but all in all, fluid. So much so, that once we hit the run, I hit my stride, and until the last couple minutes, felt that I was on pretty good form for this time of the year. Of course, getting pimped by my coach, Jen Garrison at the bell wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but, if anyone was going to do it, better her than anyone else. And it all hurt, from gun to final bell. All anaerobic, all full gas. There were moments on the bike where I had to close my eyes to shut out the noise and just embrace the pain. And the end result - a 3rd place overall finish. Do I wish that I was first? Of course. But considering my health, and what I had gone through during the week, I smiled, (a rare event indeed) and drove off, feeling better, stronger.
In the Midwest, we don't have many opportunities to measure ourselves against competition and races like this can snap us out of the winter slumber mindset and into race mode. I know for me, that's what happened. I felt energy, alive, and ready to go again. Will I be able to race tri's this season? Not sure. Its all on my health right now. And if I can't, I can live with that. The best thing was after the race, the days following the race, I wasn't sore, I wasn't fatigued, I felt good. I didn't taper for the race, I had put in heavy training and came out on the other side, feeling better, gaining confidence.
But I know I need one more race effort before Powerman Alabama, thoughtfully scheduled on March 27. So, I will be back at it this weekend, racing at Orland Park at an indoor du. I'm still not 100 percent healthy, but its ok. I've learned that racing without anger is actually better than racing with it. It provides more clarity, more focus. A very special person taught me that recently. Someone who is truly good and real. Its true what they say - a good woman is hard to find. And although I am not with her, she had the kindness to remind me of the true importance of letting all the anger go, let that huge chip on my shoulder fade away and just race. I'm forever grateful for that.
And of course, thanks again to Jenny who keeps me in line and reminds me to keep my head on straight. Without her, I know I'd probably be sitting on the couch eating potato chips and drinking beer, giving up on the whole scene. But I still don't like her workouts. Jsut don't tell her I said that, she'll only make them worse.
Stay strong,
Guy
