Its been a bit since my last post, and I admit I have some catching up to do. June came and went so fast, and thanks to a double ear infection, I was limited to one race, The Battle of Waterloo in Michigan which went excellent, but saw me give another gift. After racing neck and neck for the first run and bike, myself and the winner came into T2 together, and I knew that the second run would be tough - hilly, some on single track, and the rest on limestone. Add wet climbs and wind, and it was an idllyc setting for a great finish. But there was a problem - the cold weather (55 degrees) left my hands numb, which gave me fits in trying to get on my running shoes. As I fussed with them, I could see the winner taking off. After a minute of the frustrating process, I finally got my shoes on and began to chase in earnest.
And for the first 2 miles of the 5.5 mile run, I was closing. Everytime the road rose, I would attack, seeing myself gaining ground. By mile 4, heading on to the single track section, I felt like I could reach out and touch the leader. But once in the forest, with the twists and turns, I lost sight of him and ran blind, trying to keep my balance traversing rocks, fallen trees, pools of water and low hung branches. Once in the open, I saw the leader, and the finish line, as he crossed it. 20 seconds later, I was there, the prize of bridesmaid waiting. Still, knowing I could push and literally get away from everyone else, that was a good feeling and one I planned to take with me into my next race.
Unfortunately, the last 3 weeks have seen me in more doctor's offices than race courses. This is typically the time of the year when athletes begin the racing once a week or every other weekend, which was my plan. But my body had other plans. With no other choice but to relieve the pressure, both ears had to be cut open and the fluid drained. If there was ever a reason to ensure you take care of your body, the pain I experienced while having my ears opened and then vacuumed out, made me beg for the pain post clavicle surgery. I swore he was cutting into my brain. It was vicious, and left me dizzy and out of sorts. And it meant more time out of the water and difficulty training on the bike and run.
So, as I read FB posts of friends who are preparing for races the last 2 weekends has been a bit bittersweet but I have discovered something else. Thanks to the words of Jenny, Brian and Doug, I've discovered that taking this time to get healthy, has renewed my passion for training, given me time to get even more fit before my next race at the end of the month, and allows me to watch my favorite race of all time, The Tour. And what a race its been. And along the way, I've enjoyed teaching kids how to swim, spend time with my nieces, and teach them about the greatest sporting event ever. But most importantly, I am learning to be patient, to recognize the importance of not racing out of anger or frustration, and the benefits of properly preparing for big races.
I know all of you type A's are like me - you miss a race or have a bad race your first reaction - find another race immediately and try to crush it. Here's why its a bad idea - you most likely aren't 100% healthy and if you have a bad race again, mentally you will be worse off. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way. Better to focus on your next big event, take some time to get healthy and things will work out. I'm suggesting you start practicing yoga or meditating, but learn to relax and enjoy the ride. You'll be suprised how much better you will feel.
Stay strong, - AND WATCH THE TOUR
Guy
