Perspective for the People

When I started this blog three years ago, at the outset of my first Ironman season, I knew I’d name it 3-P’s, as a tribute to my trusty carbon race horse, a P3. Power. Performance. Possibilities. That’s what I settled on. But truthfully, I really wrestled with the words because I wanted Perspective to be a P word too. (But we tri geeks all know the P4 was a flop and anyone who bought one got rid of it right away.) So perspective never made the title cut, but it’s something that has come up as a theme before. Not just on my blog, but in my Facebook musings. Once again, today it’s all about perspective.

In 2013 I did my first Ironman in Lake Placid. In 2014 I battled the wicked weather that was served up in Lake Placid for my second. What the hell, may as well go for the trifecta…. 2015 and Ironman #3. To know me is to know I LOVE Lake Placid for all its history deep seeded in athletics. The energy, the chiseled bodies, those glorious rolling hills, and the way the sun heats you up and the wind tunnels try to cool you down. Some people only know me as a competitive athlete. It is the biggest and loudest of my personas. Is that all about to change?

As spring threatens to be sprung, the days of winter cling in Vermont. They always do… My winter was highlighted by a 60 day run streak, a serious commitment to winter bike training via Computrainer training, and the wanderlust of another glorious winter skiing the hills of Vermont. I made my home at Stowe this winter. Unlike triathlon where I am committed to the lifestyle fully, when it comes to skiing I’m more of a weekend warrior. I logged more days than most weekend warriors and in March limited myself to one day of skiing on the weekend because bike and run durations were getting longer and longer. March 29^th I was skiing with friends; Steph who I skied with a lot early in the season and my co-worker Ben and his buddies. Suffice it to say I was skiing with the boys and leading the pack. They spent all morning trying to catch me. Finally they caught me around 11:30 when near the bottom of the hill they came upon my crumpled body on the side of the trail. Like a hot shot, I was skiing fast, in a tucked position, and caught an edge on frozen surface. There was nowhere to go but down. I hit hard. Tumbled a bunch. And before my body came to a stop I already knew my right knee was in trouble. I tried to get myself off the mountain, but in the end I just couldn’t. (I always try to get my money’s worth and a ride on the toboggan is one way! Remember when I got the free tire race day in Lake Placid last year?!?!)

Always time for a sled selfie!

Long story short, I annihilated my ACL, have a low grade tear of my MCL, a couple of bone fractures and enough swelling and bruising to scare any insurance company. On that day, March 29^th, my entire triathlon season ended before it had even begun. Nosedive. That’s the name of the trail where it all happened. Really.

Treatment began immediately following my crash. On a Sunday. I was evaluated twice, had xrays and an MRI, and was doing surgical consultations before most people even get an MRI. How is that possible? Because I have Carol Blattspieler on my team! She’s a leading Ortho Nurse Practitioner in Burlington and a fellow Ironman. We stick together. She took control of the situation and made $hit happen. (Have I thanked you yet today, Carol?) Surgery is scheduled. May 15^th at the University of Vermont Medical Center with an up and coming hot shot sports medicine specialist. The same one that put my best friend and training partner back together after a bike crash last May.

My job right now is to rehab my body so that I can have surgery. Physical therapy two times a week and lots of exercises to improve range of motion. In two weeks I’m traveling to Italy. While you all get caught up in the images Italy conjures up, the harsh reality for me is that I was traveling to Italy to race a Half Ironman. I will be making the trip, but I will not have my bike in tow. I’m sure I’m not prepared for the roller coaster of emotions that will present. I’ll be there with good people and I hope the trip will mostly be therapeutic. (Yes please, more wine.)

Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation & Garth!

The colors of the back story get boring, so I’ll get to the lesson here. Perspective. It’s easy to be sad and dwell on the fact I’ve cancelled all my races. But I find myself saying, “at least it’s not cancer.” Yes, thankfully it’s not cancer. We already went to that party and it was no fun. But here’s the thing…. Just when we think life as we know it is over….a whole new world is exposed. I sit here today (leg elevated) knowing the only reason I am an Ironman is because cancer entered my world and threatened to knock me down. So while I sit here once again with thoughts of life as I know it being over, I am reminded that is far from the truth. With a strong mind and body, there is no end to the possibilities that sing and dance on the other side of this. I know I will return to Ironman, but who knows what other discoveries I’ll make along the way. The next 7-10 months will be very different for me. They will not be highlighted by 100 mile bike rides and 20 miles runs. (For my Facebook followers, there won’t be daily pictures of me and my bike. What ever will you do?) But other experiences will unfold and new practices will take shape. And eventually I’ll pedal a bike. Really pedal a bike. And I’ll run. And the me that will come out the other side stands to be even greater than the me that went into this. That’s kinda cool.

My first full revolution. My bike hates me for those flat pedals.

I haven’t fully dealt with the emotional blow of cancelling an entire race season, but….Nope, life sure ain’t over. Not mine….and probably not yours either. So if things aren’t going the way you want personally, professionally, athletically…I encourage you to get some perspective in your diet. It’s rather tasty and can cure common ailments. Chin up, kids; you gotta lift your head to see the good stuff. When I forget (and I will), please remind me.

Then and now....