Its fall in the Midwest. That means football, (which can be a frustrating process for Bears fans) changing colors, shorter days and cooler temps. For some of us, it also means the racing season is winding down, and reflection on what kind of season we had, changes to be made, sponsor hunting, and more time with family and friends. Or, if you don't mind racing in the cold, it means Du season is the way to let that pent up energy out.
Truth be told, this wasn't the season I expected to have. Out of the gate, starting this past January, things looked good. Appendicitis was dealt with and not even a speed bump. I was back in the water and my first tri in 10 years was a great hit, a 2nd overall, on a hot day. Then my ears went south on me, and 7 weeks of no racing came and went, as I watched friends and my athletes racing around the US. I went back to Du's and although its been ok, it wasn't as consistent as I had hoped and luck wasn't on my side.
So it came as no great shock to me that at my last ENT visit, my left ear drum had lost more surface area, resulting in more hearing loss, and necessitating surgery to repair it. This news came 5 days out from Powerman Muncie, a race I needed to do, yet was not a fan of the set up. This secret I kept to myself until now. Let me explain.
I love distance racing, especially in duathlon. Because its a grinder's race, and if a race comes down to sheer will and determination, I like my odds. Powerman, however, requires more planning, with both runs being equal distance, so going out too hard is extremely dangerous, but giving your competition too much rope is deadly as well, b/c you don't know who is able to sustain a brutal pace and who isn't. But with the news of surgery, I suddenly didn't mind the set up. I had nothing to lose, and could afford to go for broke. Thankfully, the weather matched the nastiness of the course, with temps only reaching the mid-40's wind gusts up to 30 mph, and no sun. My kind of weather.
There is something unique when you are at the start of a race on a particularly bad weather day, everyone huddled together, the sense that no matter your level of competition, its a shared suffering. That kind of bonding makes seeing one another on the race course that much more special, knowing its tough going for everyone.
Thankfully, I had a good day, using a patient bike and strong second run to pull out a fourth overall, my highest placing in a Powerman race, and going home with some money to show for the effort. Writing this now, I realized that had I not been on a course of antibiotics, and had better equilibrium, the day could have been even better. But hey, I'll take the result and was happy to walk away unscathed and now ready to race once more before calling it a season. I like October racing, so one more sounds like fun.
But the biggest lesson I learned this season was to endure. Endure whatever comes at you, b/c the strength and resolve you build is what makes you who you are on and off the race course. People ask me if I am angry or frustrated as to how things have gone this season. My response is always the same - I haven't given it much thought and won't b/c it starts a negative spiral of emotions and actions that I don't have time for. Instead, I focused on improving all areas of my life, passing my NASM to become a personal trainer at Midtown Athletic Club, allowing me to share my knowledge of Crossfit and Crossfit Endurance with clients and friends more consistently.
I also co-presented my first CFE certification class, and gained more insight into CFE and how it works for others. Great thing is I'll get to do it again next month in Columbus, OH, then in December with the big guns - Doug Katona and Brian MacKenzie. That promises to be extremely entertaining.
And yes, surgery. I guess a season is not complete unless it ends with surgery. Anyway, its a step in the right direction to make 2012 a truly amazing year.
What does all this mean? Well, it means that we will all go through ups and downs, that life isn't fair, and that if you let stuff get to you, that my friends, is on you. Life is going to hit all of us in the ass, sometimes repeatedly in a short span, but if you let it keep you down that isn't someone else's fault. And it sure as hell isn't life's fault. Blaming "life" is a cop out, and quite frankly, a weak excuse for throwing in the towel. This doesn't mean not to have empathy for people who are down, but the first hand you should be looking for to pull you up is your own. Some say that's harsh, but you can't help others until you can help yourself. Take a moment to acknowledge the good and bad, but don't let it define you. Be more than you think you are. At all times.
Stay strong,
Guy
