This year started out exciting! I had a new focus for my training
with World’s Duathlon on the horizon, my new business was thriving, and my
husband and I were planning trips and adventures. It was going to be yet
another great year! And then just like that, SMACK! I ran into our counter top. I know, not what you were
expecting. But let me tell you how one stupid silly incident completely turned
my world upside down.
This run-in with the counter (no pun intended) accelerated a
pre-existing issue in my hip. The sudden impact exposed this issue putting me
out of commission for 3.5 months. That’s a LOT of time to miss for training. At
first I was optimistic. No injury lasts THAT long. But low and behold, this one
did. The only two things that kept me from wallowing in self pity were 1) my
husband was still going, and I was not going to ruin this for him and 2) I have
athletes that need me to be strong for them and that I need to be an example
for. So to my husband and my runners, thank you for pulling me through.
As they say, “this too shall pass”. And it did. Overnight. I
accompanied my husband on a work trip to Seattle and finally gave myself some
time to breathe. He went to work, I attempted a run…no pain. I expected to wake
up in agony the next day but I didn’t. I attempted another run a day later and
PB’d my 2 mile. This was all I needed to mentally get back in the game. I had “lost”
my legs for 3.5 months, but they were back and they were running and they were
ready to go!
I recognized quickly that I had a lot of work to do for my
goals. With Nationals Duathlon, at the time, just over a month away (now less
than a week, EEEK!!!) I made a plan. I would get myself there, but smartly. If
I felt any pain at all I would pull back. I would listen to my body, more than
ever, and take it a day at a time.
So here I am, a month later, running and feeling strong. In
that time I have gotten back on my bike and even won a road race.
So, what’s next? Well, Nationals is this weekend in Magog,
Quebec. It will be a training race for Worlds and a fitness check. And a great
excuse for my husband and I to explore Montreal while we are there. And then,
WORLDS! Let’s talk about Worlds…
I am pretty excited to be going to Worlds in August, which
happens to be on Canadian soil. I am honoured to have this opportunity to represent Canada
as part of the Canadian age-group team and to be able to share this experience with my
supportive husband. Knowing I will be lining up with fellow Duathletes from
around the world wearing our country’s colors is pretty exciting to me. I am
not a professional athlete, so for me this is truly the next best thing. I get
to take four things I love and put them all into one day: my husband, our
beautiful country, and running and cycling. I CANNOT WAIT to lace up my runners
and run and cycle my heart out for those who are truly rooting for me to
succeed. I’m running for you, for me, and for those who can’t! I know just how
lucky I am to have two legs that allow me the freedom to do the things that
bring me so much joy in life, especially after losing them for 3.5 months. In
the grand scheme of things, that is nothing.
And so, 2017, we have had some hiccups along the way. But
now as I sit back I realize just how lucky I have been. I am starting a new job
in just a week’s time as a part-time accounting manager to free up some time
for my own training and my own business. I am healthy, the people I love are
healthy. And my legs are back!
My husband’s advice to me on the bike has often been to
power over the crest of the hills and coast down. And so, I’ve taken that
advice literally on the bike and it works for me. But I think it’s going to be
my 2017 mantra for everything I do: keep powering through when things feel
tough, even when you’re uncertain about just how much father you’re going to
have to keep pushing. When you finally get to “coast” and enjoy your hard work it
makes it all worth it!
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