feeling thankful
i’m thankful for so much right now.
mostly, for the sake of this post, i’m thankful for my health. i’m feeling strong these days. like really great, which after a shaky start to the year, is pretty incredible. a week ago today i finished my first half ironman (distance) tri, slowly, but i did it. today i knocked out over 10 miles and felt like i could easily keep going. don’t get me wrong, i was more than happy to get a hot cup of coffee and delicious carbs in my hand. but it got me thinking.
last year i stepped up my game a bit and had a great year. i got fast on my feet and found a sport that has really become a hobby i never even considered would mean so much to me. that would show me how strong i could be both mentally and physically. i knew i was lucky, but this year started out less that awesome. i discovered that my IT band and as it turned out, my hammies and quads, were problematic. i dropped out of my spring marathon which honestly broke my heart. but, i also knew that it was the thing to do if i wanted to get to enjoy a full tri season. i allowed myself a few days of anger and sadness then i got over it. i started seeing someone to work on my legs, took up yoga, stepped up my strength training and focused on being even smarter with my training.
it worked. all of it. some of it, i don’t know. but it worked. i feel amazing. i can’t wait to (smartly) get my speed back. my speed is the only thing that i miss terribly right now. my knees feel great. all my joints do. i’m strong. my core is strong (my love handles are just there to keep it warm). my legs are strong. my mind is strong.
a few weeks ago someone in our community, an acquaintance and a close friend of a friend, was killed by a tree branch falling from the sky (what the fucking hell?). he was strong. he was the picture of strength, health and good humor. it is a fucking tragedy is what it is. an unavoidable, fucking tragedy. shit fucking happens. every fucking day. its not fair.
so, i am thankful.
i am thankful that after smart training, i accomplished something that scared the shit out of me. i’m thankful i did it with a smile on my face. i’m thankful that a week later i wish i could do it again - right now. i’m thankful that somehow, i’m actually considering completing a full ironman. not just completing it, but enjoying it. i know i will. a week ago, it was the most ridiculous notion i could come up with, but now its only a question of when. i’m thankful for the process too, because tomorrow, my health could be gone. or i could break my leg. or i could get hit by a tree branch on my way to work.
i am thankful for each run, each ride, each mile.
i am thankful.
