I get knocked down...but I get up again!!

Life always finds a way to throw us curve balls...maybe it's to check to see if we are staying focused,  in the now, maybe they are meant as wake up calls or maybe they are just a way to test our inner strength, determination and resolve....whatever their true purpose, I know that it is the reaction to the situations, not the falling, that is the test, how quickly you get back up, dust yourself off and start moving towards the goal again!

Training towards my half ironman goal has shifted things in me slightly (I am excited to train, not skipping workouts, drinking more water,  sleeping more and I have more energy) I am beginning to dig deeper, pushing harder and flirting with efforts levels as I haven't in years.  I am finally running with my favourite again, something I have missed terribly.  It's great to run side by side with someone who pushes me, and rather than back off and make an excuse when he starts to pick up the pace, I push back, I dig deep, I feel my legs scream but my brain encourages me to try to match his stride and stay at his side.  I am hitting paces that I wasn't sure I would ever run again and I'm loving it!

However, life threw me a curve ball...or in this case a cracked, broken sidewalk while on vacation.  I went down pretty hard (I took a chapter out of my older sisters book and actually hit the pavement). Yes, I cried and yes, I had a few moments of worry that maybe I had re-broken my right foot but I forced myself up and started moving back towards the hotel...no use wishing I hadn't fallen...no use worrying about July.  I kept my focus on the now and taking care of what I was able to control.  I decided to not let a sprained ankle ruin my vacation.  I enjoyed a fun/scary moped ride through Playa de Carmen with a sweet little Mexican man.  I kept my ankle iced and elevated while holding down my beach chair with a drink in my hand.  We went for slow walks along the beach drinking in all the sights along the way.  I took advantage of the beautiful pool and allowed my long lost love of swimming to rekindle itself while SV headed out for his runs solo.  I refused to feel sorry for myself, it's a small injury compared to what could have happened, I have been focused on doing what I can and letting my body recover (minimizing any further injuries by pushing too hard too soon).  I'm doing all the things that I can control and not allowing myself to worry about things that I have no control over what so ever.  Truly, for the first time in my life I am 100% able to let go of that worry... maybe that is what this latest curve ball was meant to do, show me that I have truly gotten mentally stronger and I am not going to be knocked down long by anything...So bring it on!!!!