CONFESSIONS OF AN AGE-GROUPER

BY HOLLY BENNETT

INJURIES HAPPEN. BUT HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FALLOUT WHEN YOU SO STRONGLY IDENTIFY WITH BEING A TRIATHLETE?
62 AUGUST 2012

HOLLY THE IMPOSTER

Im having an athletic identity crisis. Am I truly a triathlete? For a number of reasonsboth sports-related and otherwiseIve been on the injured list for the better part of the past two years. Frustrating is one word Ive uttered more than a few times. Its not the only F-word thats frequented my vocabulary, but its the only one t to print. My only race of 2011 was a 70.3 in December, during a brief injury-free stint. In 2010 I raced Ironman Canada, but my two lead-up races were pre-planned DNFs; I nursed an injured foot right up until go time in Penticton.

HUNTER KING

Let me tell you, its hard to slink out of T2 undetected by cheery spectators. Everyone is eager to help and asks, Whats wrong? Whats wrong? Yet all you want is to disappear and lick your wounds alone. I long for those summer seasons of yore when I raced nearly every weekend, with barely time to rinse the urine from my wetsuit before pulling it on again. Sure, I can swim a lot and ride a little at the moment, but the label duathlete doesnt do anything for me. I feel a signicant void. I cant bear to look at my running shoes. Theyre like a photo of an ex-boyfriend tucked deep in a closet, too painful to face. In the months since I LONG FOR THOSE SUMMER my last race, Ive aged up without realizing what SEASONS OF YORE WHEN happened. Ive stopped registering for races entirely I RACED NEARLY EVERY until my current injury is WEEKEND, WITH BARELY resolved. Instead, I simply TIME TO RINSE THE URINE ush crisp dollar bills down FROM MY WETSUIT BEFORE the toilet. At least I get a cool visual of my money goPULLING IT ON AGAIN. ing to waste. I walk my dog on my favorite running trail, SURE, I CAN SWIM A LOT longing to pick up the pace AND RIDE A LITTLE AT THE while instead I pick up his presents. Every now and MOMENT, BUT THE LABEL then, feeling nostalgic and "DUATHLETE" DOESN'T DO empty, I eat an energy gel just for kicks. ANYTHING FOR ME. Oh, woe is me. I could drone on about my misfortune, but my foot isnt going to heal any faster. Instead, l may as well pinpoint the positives. Injury is part of being an athlete, after allright up there with saddle sores and decreased libido. And so Ive found some activities to occupy my downtime and fuel my competitive re; perhaps theyll help you when you are injured, too. World champion Julie Dibens, currently recuperating from a double dose of surgery, recently told me to focus on what I can do, rather than what I cant. Like shopping. Shopping is something I can tackle with incredible endurance. If only stores were open for 17 hours straight! Readmore than Triathlete magazine. When I train hard, my attention span goes soft. I last 1015 minutes max (just long enough to read the cover story) before falling asleep. Nows the time to break out Leo Tolstoys War and Peace. Or, if thats too daunting, at least I can manage Chrissie Wellingtons A Life Without Limits. Get ridiculously good at Words With Friends. I would have ranked myself an elite amateur before this latest ailment, but now Im unstoppable. If there were a WWF World Championship ring Id be wearing itno matter that my rivals are so mentally taxed from training they dont stand a chance. Im condent that this is the only competition where Ill ever crush four-time Ironman champion Mary Beth Ellis. Did you know that liger is actually a word? Yes, even lame-duck lemons can be turned to lemonade. And while Id much prefer to merit an electrolyte-replenishing sports drink, lemonades not all that bad.
64 AUGUST 2012