W-O-W!
Three letters defined my day today. I was told the most upsetting and mentally crushing news this morning at my doctor's appointment.
I don't even know where to begin to tell all of you. Some of you are clients, friends, co-workers, teammates and so forth who tend to sometimes check out what I have to say in hopes for inspiration and knowledge.
Well this blog for sure will be one to inspire I hope!
As many of you knew, Exactly 10 months ago on tomorrows date, I was hit head on by a pick-up truck on my road bike while training for an Ironman. Now, some of you may think
...well that's your own dumb fault for training for something so crazy and nuts! But others of you will understand where I am coming from in a minute.
You see, training was a passion of mine. Not a chore. Not a duty. It wasn't just something I was good at so continued to do.
No, it was my ultimate escape. It was my dream to be the best athlete there was. To be FULLY rounded. Not just good at soccer....or running....or lifting....BUT to be EXCELLENT at them all. I took pride in my ability, and as many athletes do, tend to get carried away with it. I read book after book and article after article trying to learn how others did it and test out matters with my own hands. I made it my mission to gain the most knowledge I possibly could on fitness and use it in my very own program.
Well, I'm not going to lie, it sometimes backfired. But it is all the more reason to trust me as a trainer/coach and friend because I have experienced THOUSANDS of programs and tried to see what works and what doesn't. I went from running 10:00 miles to 5:00 minute miles in a matter of a year. I went from a 5'7 135lb boy to a 6'1 175lb man in less than a year. I tried every diet out there.
I took pride in doing all the dirty work to see what would work best for when I got a chance to do what I was put on this earth for...TRAINING AND HELPING OTHERS!
So, maybe this truck hitting me, ending my thoughts on mastering the 20-24 age group in triathlons, was meant to be. I mean, it tore my ACL, MCL, Fractured my femur, partially tore my patella tendon, and .....apparently, injured my shoulder.
But hey, it was all okay right? I am a tough kid now, so this is nothing new to me. I had my pity day and got right to work. The first day I could get up off the couch I was at the YMCA doing what I could. I was determined not to let the injury get the better of me.
For 6 months, I continued rehabbing 3 times a week for 2 hours a day. I did what I needed to do. Swam with one arm to start, then one leg for 8 weeks. Then started lifting. It was all great!
I then got the chance to start doing my dream in helping others reach theirs! I put so much time and effort into making sure I designed the best programs for clients, athletes, friends. I was given an opportunity and I sure didn't want it to go to waste!
And let me tell you, the experience has been life changing! I've met new friends who I care more about than anything, saw first hand the positive effects of my programs on clients, and got to be around those who cared about me for who I am and not about what I accomplished.
As my injuries continued to heal and not seem to get better,
....I was swapping with my training on others getting better and seeing my friendships grow! I'm not only their strength coach, trainer, etc....but ALSO their friend! I developed great relationships with everyone I train and couldn't be happier! I took a bad incident that happened to me and turned it into something greater! Something much better!
I started really feeling rejuvenated and at 8 months post surgery, I hit ANOTHER block.
This one was finished off by a cold day and me throwing a HUGE stick for my pup to fetch.(I promise you, ask anyone who knows bailey, and they will tell you she brings 6ft long sticks)
10 weeks later and I still was having shoulder pain so had the last straw and got an MRI.
I walked in this morning with a positive attitude, thinking, this can't be bad. I am still doing push-ups, already hit rock bottom, and I'm really feeling great! There is nothing but blue skies and happy trails for me and I was even starting to make summer programs for myself I was so excited to finally think my knee could be getting better and shoulder as well.
Unfortunately, I walked in, sat down, waited an hour for the doctor to come in and tell me the MRI showed the most extensive damage he has seen in a very long time. He then went on to tell me how I COMPLETELY separated and ripped my labrum of my shoulder away from the socket....not just a tiny tear to part of it....but THE WHOLE THING.
Not only that, he said I tore my biceps tendon because it attaches to the labrum....and THAT tear, caused a huge cyst from the fluid build up.
At that very moment today my heart stopped. I froze and looked, most likely, like I saw a ghost. I was, and still am, at a loss of words with this news. It requires intensive surgery and another year recovery.
So I figured, before this really hits me(because I have been fairly busy today and did let it sink in yet) I would like to share with you my thoughts.
I had a friend and client come to a workout tonight and tell me....
"You know Mike, your one tough kid. God won't give you something you can't handle."
Is that true? Because I really feel like I gave it all I had the past 10 months.
Where can I pull extra strength from?
And then what he said next really put a smile on my face.
"
Mike Over
CPT / Strength & Conditioning Specialist
www.mjofitness.com
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