When The Teacher Becomes The Student

I have had many years of guiding athletes through the maze that is injury recovery. I've witnessed not only the physical effects of injury and illness, but also the struggles faced by the athlete mentally and emotionally as they work their way through it.

I've mentored them through the process, offered insights, and advised them regarding the attainment of life balance throughout this challenging time in their lives. I have always seen injury not as a failure, but as an opportunity - to learn from the experience and to put good strategies in place for the future. Through it all, I have gained a deeper understanding of the psyche of the athlete and the fine balance between all the factors required to make it all work.

That is, until I became the athlete in question. It is amazing how when the tables are turned, your head spins with the reality.

This year was going to be my 11th consecutive 3M Half Marathon. I truly enjoy the event. It is a fun course with amazing race organization. It also provides a great mental boost to train throughout the winter months. For these reasons, it stays on my running calendar.

I was, admittedly, a little behind schedule on my training in early December. However, I've done this race so many times, I knew exactly what the timeline was and how my training would piece together. No worries. Besides, I thought, I always build some extra time into my training program "just in case" something goes awry. It's all in trying to be proactive and have a long-term plan.

But then I got some nasty upper respiratory crud. No running. Barely breathing without coughing something up. Fatigue. Tick-tock-tick-tock. I can feel the stress building inside. What should I do?

Then, I heard the voices that all those athletes over all those years had told me about. Should I? Shouldn't I? What was prudent? Is this race really that important? I may be able to get through it, but will I put myself at risk of injury in the process?

Countless questions clouding my mind.

The thought of this was all new to me. I've never had to withdraw from an event, so surely I can't do so now - or so I thought. And there was that streak of consecutive finishes looming if I could just find a way to toe the start line.

My own best advice - that which I had successfully delivered to athletes throughout the years - was now my own to take. Bitter medicine, in some ways.

Master Kan: Quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand.

[Young Caine tries to do so and fails]

Master Kan: When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave. (“Kung Fu”)

I decided not to run the 3M half marathon this year. As a coach and as a physiotherapist, I knew better. I was still (slowly) recovering from an illness, let alone trying to get my immune system to recover from and adapt to any level of training stimulus. Was it a challenge to be "good" with the decision? Certainly. But I know that it was the right thing to do. There will be many more events ahead, many more opportunities to step to the starting line with all the right factors squarely behind me. Sometimes, though, the timing just isn't right and it's just not worth the potential consequences to forge ahead.

The teacher became the student.

For this experience, I will be forever thankful. No failure, just opportunity. Lessons learned. Now if I could just grasp that pebble ...

Photo credits: antony_mayfield

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