To heal or not to heal...

It's been a few months since I have been 100% healthy - I guess I am at fault since I decided to take on the world...Let's see between training for the Crossfit Games, the Ironman I was signed up for, I decided that I wasn't busy enough so I went out for the flag football league thinking it would be fun!!!

It has most certainly been fun, beyond fun really - but it has come at a cost.  While I was recovering from my achilles nicely I got hurt in a game the weekend before this last one.  At the end of the first half I came down straight on my heel which hurt like heck.  If you've ever bruised or strained your heel you know this is no fun at all. 

Of course I played the rest of the game - running itself did not hurt, but the slowing down and everything else was kinda of excruciating.  We lost the game too, which made it a double whammy - oh well.  I thought this heel thing would go away in no time, and immediately went into PRICE mode.  If you don't know what that means, let me spell it out for you :)  Proof in the picture below...

Prevention
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

 

I spoke to a few physicians that had a look and no one seemed to think I broke anything, but I was most certainly not very happy with their diagnosis - rest and probably will take 4-6 weeks to heal completely.  You mean I have to be patient with it and not go all out with things right now?  Yickes, that is a lot to ask for.

The game was the past Saturday, and by wednesday of last week,  I was not walking any better - I could not apply any pressure on the heel which meant that I was walking around with a limp (pretty right?)  I was starting to get concerned and then I remembered another little trick of the trade someone had mentioned before for bruises - Arnica...as soon as I applied it that day, it started to feel better and at that point I was still icing it 3-4 x day and wearing my compression socks daily.

As the week passed the pain subsided, but it hasn't gone away completely, and then came Saturday and our team was playing and I had to decide whether to play through it or not.  This was not an easy decision, but I chose not to play which I am thankful I did since our team won handily.  I could have risked a serious injury and instead I cheered from the sidelines.  I was super tempted to play, and even brought my gear to the field, but left it in the car and made the right choice.

If you've been keeping up with this blog you know I am kind of competitive, so having to sit from the sidelines was kinda torturous - looking back at my athletic career I can count in one hand the number of games or events I have had to miss due to injury - I suppose  I have been super lucky with good health and am able to recover quickly from injuries.

I get into action as soon as something happens - I went and saw my accupuncturist and had treatment on it and went into PRICE mode, but the rest is always the toughest.  I still kept up with my Crossfit workouts as we prepare for Regionals in June although I have had to modify some of the workouts considering I can't do anything dynamic and come down on the heel hard.  

So where am I now - its been a week and a half since the injury and I have been 'resting' to the best of my ability :)  It's still bruised, although i'd probably say its about 75% of the way to recovered.  My psoas has been a little out of whack since though because I have been limping around and compensating for not being able to apply any pressure on the heel.

Was it a sign from the universe that I am supposed to let my body heal?  Is this darn heel suppose to hold me back, or help me become more aware of my choices in regards to athletic events and what I get involved in?  It's definitely been an opportunity to reflect and evaluate what I get out of each thing that I am involved in.  I am grateful for superb health and that my body does recover quickly, but at times I push it too much - time to take a step back and allow the body to get back to 100% - then watch out Crossfit Games

Here's the heel today - still slightly bruised, but I think I will be 100% by next week :)

Preview

What it's like to lose

Olympic training center in Chula Vista

 If you've known me for any sort of time you probably know that I am somewhat competitive.

I have played volleyball, soccer and am now playing in a super fun flag football league, and let's not forget running events and triathlons. 

One time I was playing volleyball at the beach with some people I knew and had to be reminded that people were playing just for fun, and did not need to be coached.  I guess I felt it was my place to tell them where they were supposed to be and what to do - not so much :)  My friend kindly pulled me aside and put me in my place.

I like competing a lot - but not so much for the winning or losing aspect although that's sort of always part of the fun.  I like the idea of competition because you see people put their best out there and lay it all out on the line and really push themselves beyond what they might think what's possible.

Yesterday our team lost for the first time this season.  We had been undefeated, 6-0 and were playing the other undefeated team that came into the game 5-0.  It was a showdown and tons of anticipation leading up to it.  The game was close in the 2nd half with our team down 20-19 and then the game got away from us, we committed too many turnovers and the other team capitalized and ran away with it.   They played well and deserved to win - but it wasn't easy to take.

I hate losing - it can be super disappointing, especially when you feel like you put it out there on the line and still walked away with a defeat.  How do people deal with it time and time again?  We have a super strong team - that was our first lost of the season yet I was frustrated with it because it felt like we gave it away and could have done better. 

There are 2 teams in our league that have not won a game yet - i cannot imagine what it must be like to go through the losing week after week.  From what I have heard, the first few weeks was dissapointing, but then you accept it - its not good or bad, it just is what it is, and that's that!

So why was I upset over the fact that we lost?  Was it because I felt we didn't do our best, was it because I felt we could have won had we played to our potential, was it because I hate losing?  Who knows, I got into the flag football league because I wanted to have fun and meet some new people and didn't really know what to expect from a competitive standpoint then all of a sudden we're undefeated and going into a big game and poof - we lose.

I've heard this time and time again - it's not really about the outcome, its more about the journey and I can relate to that.  I know that preparing for the Crossfit competitions its about the sweat and tears and the discipline it takes to get prepared to do our best when it comes to lay it all out on the line - but in the long run, does it matter if you win or lose?  Which will i remember more - the win's or the losses?

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment.  Full effort is victory."  Mahatma Gandhi