Rest- The Hardest Exercise of All

It's been a week. I've been thinking about this blog for a few days now and was going to post it last night but I lost power! Ugh! What a night! My body has been slowly recovering this week. I am in therapy with a doctor and that has helped my back. On Tuesday, I had a battle with food poisoning. I really believed I was dying.

The past few days have been very trying for me. I have missed my workouts. I think for me, its more then just staying healthy, losing weight, training for the triathlon; working out is like my daily therapy. It makes me happy. I enjoy challenging my body and seeing how it responds when I push it beyond what I "think" it can handle. Sitting on the couch has not been good for my soul.

Rest. I took it for granted. I would take a day off from the gym here and there. My idea of a rest was that I only worked out in the morning and not the evening too. Most weeks, I pushed my body past the point of exhaustion. I never felt like I was doing enough. I always feel like I should be doing more or pushing myself harder. In typical Mary fashion, it took a dramatic event for me to listen.

When I met with the doctor on Monday, he ran test and told me that I couldn't do any physical activity other then "doggie paddle" through the water. I was so mad! What about my training? All my hard work? White Lake? Damn my body for giving out on me!

When I went back in on Tuesday to get the results of my test, he said that I could swim without using my legs, bike but not run. I was like, "no running?" He was adamant about that. I also asked him if I could hurt it anymore. At first he didn't understand but then when he realized that I wanted to continue with my workouts he said the magic words that made me listen- "If you don't take care of this, there will be no White Lake." So I began therapy and being somewhat nicer to my body.

As of today, my back feels so much better. I know its not 100% and that I need to continue to be good to it but it was nice this morning to be able to tie my shoes and not groan aloud. I refuse to be standing on the sidelines at White Lake and if more rest is the training my body needs now then that's what I'll do. I am getting in some good swims and I am going to ride my bike tomorrow. The doctor gave me some instructions- stretch after ride, ice my back. I can do that. Tomorrow's ride isn't about speed but for the love of the ride! Nice and easy!

I'm getting better physically. Hopefully, I'll find some mental release on the bike tomorrow. This rest thing is killing me!!!