Pain Has a Purpose?

I'm not even going to try and hide it...I miss running. The sound of your feet pounding the pavement. The cool, crisp autumn air as it hits your face. Taking in the scenery as it passes by. I miss all of it. And as my running season ended quite early this season due to a sports hernia, I was quite bummed that I needed to stop early.

The pain of running had just become to much to bear. The only treatment - REST! That's laughable...rest. How in the world does someone that enjoys being active just rest. I was puzzled. Therefore, I needed to find an activity that was low impact and high cardio. One that would allow me to keep chasing Iron Man. Therefore, it was only natural that I look to tackle the one event I fear in triathlons - swimming. 

Only a mere month ago did I step foot in the pool to begin 'training' in something I wasn't too fond of. Only a mere month ago did I struggle to swim for 100m without needing to catch my breath. Or swim for maybe three minutes before I needed to grab the end of the lane. Yet, three times a week, I awoke before the sun was shining and found myself immersed in water.

A month later, I can say that I have learned to enjoy swimming. Not only has my stamina and distance improved, I've also learned that the pool is becoming my friend. It was only yesterday that I finished a 45 minute swim workout. A workout that saw me swim four sets of 500m at a crack, with two minutes rest between sets. Something I dreaded for so long is slowly becoming a strength.

And while I sat in the sauna afterward, I begin to realize something bigger was happening. The pain of not being able to run, not getting to be outside on the pavement was making way for me to practice what I was terrified of. The pain is helping me learn who I am, what I have to be grateful for, and how to build up my weaknesses. I never realized swimming could be such a mindful activity. The sound of the water rushing over your head. The synchronization of your breathing pattern. Watching the water rush by your face. The soreness of your shoulders and arms and you push the water past you. Swimming has become my release - my escape from the world. And dare I say I enjoy it. Dare I say I look forward to tackling a long swim outdoors.......when the weather is right of course!

Don't see your pain as a burden. Look to your pain as a venue to become a better you. To shape who you want to be and who you can become. Look to the pain as a way to build up your weaknesses and keep faith in who you are and where you are going! 

#OWNYOURDESTINY #RUNLIKEANGELS