Injury

Six weeks after injury I am still not running. I tried to run 2 weeks ago but after a 40 mile week my ankle swelled. I was able to do small runs but my ankle couldn’t take long runs. I decided to stay off running. My goal for this year is to participate in a triathlon. I have non-existent swimming skills; I can float, do freestyle for a couple of yards and that’s where it stops.

I decided that the best time to start training for swimming is now, when my ankle is recovering. So I signed up for some swimming classes and have started swimming. On my first day of class my teacher told me that my strokes were strong and with practice I would be able to compete in a tri. I was able to do maximum 4 laps. Swimming was hard. Running is so much easier. I train at the YMCA and 36 laps denotes a mile of swimming. The second day of swimming, I was able to do 17 laps. I told myself no matter what happens I have to stay in the pool for an hour. And in an hour I did 17 laps.

I tend to get impatient with myself (my friends would say with others too). I wanted to swim back-to-back laps and swim a mile…etc. I had remind myself how I started running. One mile at a time and how I felt then and that with practice I would be able to swim the distance I wanted. Learning a new skill is good for you. It always humbles me, it makes me work harder, it makes get stronger, and it challenges my mind.

I have to admit…I may enjoy swimming, but running is still my passion…..Talking of passion…it is important to share your passion with people. I was fortunate to find one of those people, my running partner and friend Alain Boutefeu. ..Will share with you about Alain in my next blog.