Embrace the Process for Progress

First Steps in in my Boot Cast using cart at Lowe's as a crutch.

“A person's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.”

 Jack Welch

I'll be the first to admit I have lived an incredibly blessed life; one with very little heartache, surrounded with inspiring and spiritual people. I am grateful to God for giving me gifts on many levels, and my parents for providing opportunities at every turn.

Dealing with an abrupt end to what had been a fairly good 2015 season due to a rupture in my posterior tibialis needing total reconstruction via surgery seemed like a death sentence to someone like me. I'm just being honest. I've never had a major injury requiring this kind of care, I have never been on crutches, never been in a cast and rarely taken unscheduled days off. Frankly, I have only done "performance enhancing pre-hab" in physical therapy, so this sudden change in my lifestyle left me feeling like someone stole my mojo. At first. 

As I adjust to changes out of my control on a daily basis, I begin to find myself grateful for this learning experience, and thankful my Mom instilled the mantra "attitude is everything" in my psyche. Every time I want to feel sorry for myself, I try to remember each phase of this recovery is part of my process goals for the Olympic Trials and subsequently, the dream outcome goal: Rio. 

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

 Wayne Gretzky

Sure, it would be easy to sit on my bottom right now dreaming of the 1500m Olympic Team for Rio 2016, but that is the problem with outcome goals, or even performance ones. I know what time I'll most likely have to run, and I'm certainly not there right now considering I just started walking again this week with a boot cast! Process goals, the small daily steps taken (pun intended) to reach outcome and performance markers, keep me focused on my minor successes along the way. With the extra time I have currently, I am able to really step outside myself and help the kids I coach achieve their goals, and gift my experience with causes like RunningWorks to get out of the house. 

Jared and Jacob Coccia leading the pack on their way to duel PR's in the 5k on the track.

The RunningWorks crew at the final meet of the Run For Your Life Summer Track Series.

This week, I got to lose the crutches. I'm walking better every day in my boot cast, but I had to use both crutches and the boot at first. Progress. In another ten days, I start physical therapy--this time with a vengeance and some serious time to make up. I'll be ready because I have learned to embrace this recovery period as a positive, and use it to hone my mind for the competitive year ahead.

PROGRESS