A Crash Course

At the gym yesterday evening, I was working on my PT-approved bicycle workout and looking into the mirrored wall of the fitness room when I noticed a woman performing the same series of stretches that had been recently recommended to me.

It’s an odd sensation, realizing that you are probably completely accurate in your assessment of a stranger’s fitness challenges. I am confident that, had I turned to look at her and said mentioned IT bands, she would have rolled eyes in exasperation and replied with, “How much does THIS suck?”

Answer: it sucks immensely.

I’ve never been injured before. I’ve been lucky and always knew that I was lucky. And while my IT issues aren’t an Injury, it’s limiting. It’s frustrating. And it’s requiring me to commit to working my butt off so I can train to work my butt off on the marathon.

The silver lining? This is proving to me how badly I want this and how much I’m willing to work to get there. I’m now focusing on strengthening parts of my body that have always been weak. I’m committed to making myself better, stronger and, ultimately, faster.

I want this.

For the first time, success is going to require really gritting my teeth and getting to it.