On Friday, Linda put me on the bike. She warned me that I would not be able to do a full revolution. She wanted me to get the extension and the increased mobility of the movement. All I could do was press the pedal down and lift the pedal up. It was a lot like a seated elliptical. I was so happy to progress in the moment. The movement felt good. On the way home, I cried.
I did it again today on the Peloton. And cried. There isn’t any pain, but as Beth Moore once put it: it hurts me in my feelings. I can’t believe I can’t ride a bike. I can’t believe I will be able to do an IRONMAN in 22 weeks. For the first time in a long time: It seems impossible.
Here’s the deal, at the beginning of this year, I thought to myself: this is going to be a great year. It’s kind of like starting over. I’ll get to race a lot of the races I did when I started triathlon. With only one IRONMAN planned, I’ll be able to do the local favorites: Azalea Sprint, White Lake, Pinehurst Olympic, Carolina Beach Double Sprint and more!
Talk about starting over! Talk about going back to the beginning! I started triathlon in 2008 and never stopped. I moved up slowly from one distance to the next. I built my fitness from one year to the next. that stopped with this injury and this surgery.
I want to say I’m at square one, but since my team is the FULL-CIRCLE squad, I’m looking for all the full-circle moments. This is one of those moments. I want to say that this is impossible, but the IRONMAN motto is ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. I’m trying to let that thought of taking it back to the beginning inspire me and challenge me.
TTFN!
