Two nights ago I was lying flat on our living room floor feeling very, very sorry for myself. My back was throbbing in multiple places (still don't know what I even did to it) and doing the triathlon this weekend seemed impossible. Even so, there was a little voice in my head that wouldn't shut up, and it kept saying, "Don't be such a baby. If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you are one lucky girl. Pain is temporary. Get up off the floor. Get up! DO IT!"
Stupid voice of reason. Then again, I thought, this isn't the first time I've had to bail on a race because of an injury, and it certainly won't be the last. Sure it sucks, but it's not the end of the world. So I got up off the floor, picked up the phone, and made an appointment with my chiropractor for the next afternoon.
Fast-forward through two days, one VERY painful session with my chiropractor, one therapeutic massage, and I'm ready to take over the world! Well, ready to race on Sunday, anyway. So to celebrate, this evening I pulled out a couple of race outfits to see what still fits (yup, definitely gained a few since last season - argh) and the answer is: everything and nothing. Everything looks sort of okay, nothing is really that comfortable...and I started to come down on myself again. You know, the usual suspects: you're going to be the fattest girl out there, you have no business being there, you're going to come in last and embarass yourself, hope nobody comes to watch 'cause it will just be humiliating, blah blah blah.
But before these yucky thoughts could really take hold, my trusty little loudmouthed voice of reason (which I think is becoming more outspoken and feisty because I'm aging -- ha ha) piped up and said, "Who gives a shit? Maybe you will be the fattest person out there, but so what? You're not there to win, you're there to participate because you love the sport (and maybe crush your PR). AND remember how many hours of training you put in this year - you may just surprise some people out there."
Gotta keep thinking positive and deal with the setbacks one at a time.
Days until Race Day: 2!
