Sometimes it’s really hard to wake up and get a training session in. Sometimes it’s really hard to get a training session in at night. Just to clarify, if you run, bike or swim to race (singularly or in triathlon) you are not working out, you are training. You are part of a militia, a ‘Runner Army’ or a breed of killer athletes setting the streets on fire. This is your life.
Any of you who know me or follow me know that I had the worst season (since my start in 2008) I have ever had last year due to a mysterious knee problem. Granted, I ran a few marathons and had a triathlon now and again but I did not complete my 3rd Ironman as I could not start it. Mentally, it took me down.
After seeing the amazing Dr. Levine and months of trial and error on what caused my knee issue I have finally been cured. It is as if I have been reborn. I now bound up stairs two at a time as I used to. I love when crosswalks are going to change and I can run across the street pain free. To quote the not-so-with-it band of the late 80’s ‘Cinderella’… ‘You don’t Know What You Got til it’s Gone.’
So tomorrow, when you wake up, or get out of work and are like “Man, I don’t really want to train. I’ll be fine. There is always tomorrow.” imagine if you couldn’t run. Imagine if something you took so matter-of-factly was gone.
Go. Be. Do what you love to do, even though it might be arctic outside. Embrace the pain, love the sweat and feed the hunger. No matter what speed you run, or what caliber athlete you think you are, you are one of us. Go out there and kill it, because you can.
* This post is dedicated to all my peeps (you know who you are) who can’t train due to more serious issues. I know you’ll be back, and so do you. Battle Stations.