5 years ago all I did was Yoga. I loved Yoga. It made me strong. In 2008 I started spinning, in the spring of 2009 I started jogging, in the summer of 2009 I signed up for my first triathlon with Team in Training and all of a sudden Yoga took a backseat. I barely practiced. I was in the pool 3x a week, riding 2x, & running 3x. I didn't have time for Yoga. In September 2009 I became a triathlete. I fell in love with the sport. I couldn't stop researching races, reading magazines & books. Along the way I have met some awesome people who I now call friends but I turned my back on my yoga practice.
I do miss the 2+ hour workouts, the sweating, the feeling I have after a really hard workout. Crazy, 5 years ago all the training didn't seem appealing to me. Since I have quite a bit of spare time these days, I have been reading several blogs. The story is the same for running & triathlon blogs. Somewhere along the line you decide to sign up for a triathlon or running race. Maybe you finally decided to lose the weight once & for all. Maybe someone told you you couldn't do it. Maybe it is the only way you can honor a loved ones memory. You have never done something so crazy before. Heck, I couldn't swim when I signed up for my first triathlon. You put in hours & hours of long, hard work & in 14 weeks time you are a triathlete. When you crossed that first finish line you realized that if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything. That, is an amazing feeling.
I decided late last week that I would go back to doing Yoga several days a week. This weekend, I went both Saturday & Sunday. At the end of yesterday's practice the instructor read this quote from the Dalai Lama “Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.”
Today I read Katie's post over at Will Run for Carbs & it made me laugh. It resonated so well with me because it was so true. I do feel like every post is about my injury (which it is) & I do feel like I am whining a lot (which I am). I realize that this will soon pass & in the meantime I need to re-adjust my expectations.
It is so silly for me to be frustrated with not being able to run or ride. I mean really, I can still do so many other things. I will still post about my recovery not to feel sorry for myself but to document the progress I am making. In the meantime, I am going to do as many Pilates, Yoga & Strength training classes as I can fit into my schedule. I am also going to walk a few 5Ks just for fun.
Thanks for reading! Happy Monday!
There is just something about triathlons that gets into your blood! I couldn't swim either when I signed up and I was terrified. Now I couldn't imagine not doing them even with injuries that come with them sometimes(oh wait my injury is from a sweatshirt on the floor so that doesn't exactly apply!!). I am glad we can commiserate together!! And please know that I was only making fun of myself and not bagging on you or anyone else! After I wrote it, I thought, I hope nobody thinks I am making fun of them! Hang in there and enjoy getting back to the yoga!
ReplyDeleteWe must both feel guilty....although I was cracking up at her post, I haven't been running lately either. And not because of an injury, just laziness and being to busy!! Love your post. We do need to be thankful for everyday and make it the best.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you! Here's hoping that relief from the pain will come soon and you can get back to training. But in the mean time getting back to your first love is good. And I love that quote! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete