Maggie vs Dog

Maggie vs Dog: Part 1

As the title of my article implies, I have been involved in a collision with a dog: me on a bike, and a dog chasing after me. I lost the fight, without even a chance for a rematch. As I am lying there, in the hospital bed, several questions and concerns popped in my head.

You see, I have been a very active triathlete for the past 12 years. I stumbled upon this sport as a way of rehabbing a bummed knee. It was the last time I ever was slowed down for an injury. Knock on wood, the most I suffered was perhaps some bad chaffing, and the usual lost of toenails. No tendonitis, no stress fracture. Just me and my sport: day in and day out.

Of course, this changed a couple of months ago. The “invincible” triathlete now had a hard time breathing, let alone just moving around. I was then immediately taken into the roller coaster of emotions: Will I get better? How long will it take? Will I ever PR again?

And then something clicked: I am indeed a triathlete. For every race, and almost every workout, I have learned to push myself to the limit, learning how to deal with difficulties, learn from my victories, learn how to focus on myself and letting go of my competitors. I know very well how to deal with pain, how to make peace with it. I know just how to push my body, how it reacts and how it moves. I know how to pick myself up, brush myself off and go on after a bad race. I know how to look at adversity in the eye but also look at the glory and the amazement of how wonderful a body can function.

And that, my friend, is what helped me the most.

I vividly remember, again, lying down in the hospital bed, that I would be ok. That I had, just now, signed up for a very long race. Unfortunately, I did not know how long this race was going to be and where the finish line was. But I knew I had toed the line just like every other race: with my will to do my very best. I needed to concentrate on what I could do, versus what I could no longer do. I had my race bib on for this new race to recovery and I was ready. Bring it own.

I sincerely think this attitude is what kept me from falling into a very dark hole…The things I had learned as a triathlete was now being useful in my daily life. It was difficult, but I was now “racing” to get my health back. I have also been celebrating any new improvement just like we celebrate a new PR. All the same

As the title implies, there will be a Part II. Maybe a Part III. But some time down the road. After I have cross the Finish Line.