Doing hard things

I’m not good at setting intentions for my life. 2019 started ‘unapologetic’. I was me and that’s what you’d get.

But that was the last year I decided to set an intention.

This year I realised how much I detest waste, so that became my intention. Wastes of time, like travelling to an office for things I could do from home with better equipment. Wastes of people, by getting them to do tasks that don’t best use their abilities. Wastes of resources, like single-use items. They have their place in medical and other situations, but not everywhere.

Next year is my year of embracing hard things. I start a new job in January. And this time in 20 weeks I should be in a spa in Ballarat recovering from my first (and only) marathon.

Oops

Except today I started early. But I’m really proud of myself and want to celebrate.

As part of my injury rehab and to make safer training habits I’ve been deep water running.

Except I can’t swim and I hate getting my face wet.

Doing the hard thing

This afternoon I went down the deep end of the pool AND did laps in the lap lanes.

I could stand on the bottom in the deep end and the water level would be 50cm above my head. Even with a water running belt that prospect is scary. But I risked going to the bottom on the pool and ran to the deep end.

Then… because I survived the deep end and the slow lane was empty, I ducked UNDER the lane rope, wetting my face, and going where the experienced people swim.

What happened

Success. I did 2 laps in the lane. Sure my form was faltering at the end and I suspect the lifeguard who happened to patrol the deep end each time I was there did it to keep an eye on me, but I did it. Oh, and I also got stuck under the lap ropes leaving. But it was success.

And an injury update

I was cleared to ease back into running last week and it’s going mostly well. Tomorrow I walk 7 minutes and jog 3 for 30 minutes. I’m also having more tests because my leg is still not recovered. No answers yet, but I did get to hear my blood wooshing though my leg on Friday.

Photo by Joe Pizzio on Unsplash

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