Tri to a Bi

Today I found out that I will have to change my aspirations...Even though being a triathlete was something I really wanted to accomplish I have to step down from that goal for right now. Swimming- as much as I have grown to love it, has caused me some lower back problems... sometimes the pain is so great that I can barely sit without experiencing a headache.

I spoke with a doctor and he said that this can happen- swimming pulling on the back to cause a bulging disc which causes nerve problems. This was kind of dis-heartening because I am so tired of getting injured but I realized that at a high level of training injuries/pain is inevitable. The best thing to do is take active measures to prevent them as much as possible and or take extremely good care of myself to heal to get back out there. And yes that means either taking time off or stopping the activity all together. I have learned to choose health over exercise.

Sometimes it is hard to take a break from things that you love- its easy to be prideful or ignorant and continue to push through the pain just because we don't want to stop doing what we love but if we do this, the pain can become unbearable... sometimes to the point where you cannot do the activity that you love anymore because you pushed it to the extreme. 

I had a plan and it was to train for a March Triathlon- For those of you who know me, you know that I am a strict planner and always have every step mapped out. However, I have realized in the real world that plans CONSTANTLY change. Daily, I get derailed from my plan for the day. My back pain has derailed me from accomplishing this plan. It sucks because I have put a lot of effort into this plan but at least I can still do other things- I am blessed to still be able to run and bike. So... Tentative Plan B? I will become a duelathlete.But this time I will not be so planned- I will have a "map" drawn in pencil and I will carry an eraser for this map because many things can and will change.

Warriors are always prepared to handle derailments- they have the ability to bounce back even when it hurts to change the course of action. Weak people wallow in self pity and refuse to take the new course set before them. They never accomplish anything great because they are holding onto a plan that no longer is in action.

So what are you today? A warrior? Or a weak individual? Take your pick and run with it.