The real reason I have decided to blog again however is because I am sick of the depressing, injury ridden blog that is currently taking place on my homepage...it needs to be shifted down the page a few mouse clicks out of sight.
A lot has gone on since that blog 8 months ago. It has been some of the toughest few months I have been through, and it was not a time that I felt like writing about. However, since things have been on the improve for the past few months, it is time to get this blog alive again!
When injury strikes, some people like to document the process, keep fellow blog-readers informed and remain in a positive frame of mind. I was of the opposite. Upon learning of those pesky stress fractures in my femurs on that wintery August day, I preferred to go into lock-down. I was burnt-out physically and mentally. I didn't want to have anything to do with the sport that once used to made me so happy, and so 12 weeks of inactivity (apart from the odd swim) and sadness followed.
But thankfully, with the support of some awesome friends and family I am now in the position of being able to to say I am a stronger and smarter athlete because of that time off. Looking back on it all now, time away from the sport was exactly what I needed. I needed to get away from it all and get a bit of perspective. Triathlon can often be a very self-centered sport, and luckily I have had the chance to learn that there is so much more to life than riding a bike all day, following a black line up and down a pool or running around and around an athletics track. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for all the opportunities the sport gives me, but at the end of the day, it is just sport, and if it's not making you happy then why do it.
So after a few months of reflection and with a renewed vigour and passion for the sport, I decided to attempt running again. After about 3 months of rest I knew my body would be a bit out of sorts, so I decided to try running for just 30 seconds, and then two days later, I added another 30 seconds, and then two days later, another 30 seconds. Getting the jist?? After 6 months of slowly increasing the volume, I am stoked to say I am now up to 90 minutes of pain free running. It was a long process, that at times I thought I would never get back the fitness I once had. But luckily I am not one to give in too easily, so I stuck it out, and after a confidence-boosting bike time trial and run race this past week, I know I will be fine and I'm on the right track.
I have made a few changes to training over the past few months to ensure that my body stays strong and gets me through the next phase in my athletic career. I am so excited to get out racing again, and all going to plan I have my sights set on Yeppoon 70.3 in August as the first big one back which I can't wait for.
An extended break also gave me time to do some other things I have not had the chance to do over the past few years. I went mountain biking for the first time (think I'll stick to the road from now on), got my surf on with the girls and went over to Colorado to go skiing for a few weeks. While in the USA I also had the chance to drop by Boulder to check out the town in its winter colours...so pretty! So it definitely hasn't been all gloom and doom!
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Boulder in winter
Skiing at Vail
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