When life-long athletes realize that they no longer are the athletes they used to be, it can be a bit of a shock. When we find ourselves less fit than we expect, it is so easy to start questioning our “athlete-ness”. It’s a slippery slope because how you think about yourself often becomes your reality. This is why I’m so proud of Annie Black! Years of pain & injury slowly chipped away at her “athlete” identity. But she’s made the mental shift & the changes necessary to bring herself back. She’s well on her way to recovering her “athlete-ness”. Way to go, Annie!
In Annie’s own words:
“I’ve been an athlete all of my life – from winter skiing as a kid to college rowing to any manner of outdoor sports as an adult. But…as the years went by, I found I was forcing myself to workout rather than seeking the joy my bike, my skis or my time on the trail had provided.
In my 20’s I sustained a knee injury that, despite surgeries, caused significant pain. Bound & determined not to let that stop me, I spent the next 25 yrs living off the high of shared sports adventures, often using brute force to manage the injury & as a result…exercising through constant pain.
Eventually though, that technique backfired. As injuries spread to other places in my body, I became very discouraged that so much of me hurt. Then came the trifecta that decreased my fitness to the lowest level it’s ever been:
- Medical advice to ‘stop exercising for a while’
- COVID disruption of my social exercise options
- The new & different needs of my now-50+ yr old body.
The process of getting back into shape after being so very out of shape has been a learning experience. I’ve come to realize that wishing for things to change, and applying old workout strategies, simply won’t work. Nor could I make the necessary changes on my own – I needed help, I needed a strategy & I needed a plan. I decided to reach out once again (we worked together back in 2012) to Coach Michelle.
Together we’ve created an efficient training program focused on balancing all of my life needs – family, work, friends, injury rehab, relaxation & multi-sport training. Through this process I’m rediscovering the joy of being ‘an athlete’. I’ve come to realize that being ‘an athlete’ in my 50’s feels different than it did when I was in my 20’s. But the rhythm of time on the bike or the trail has me feeling like ‘an athlete’ again….and has me curious about what my 50-something limits might be, not to mention my 60- or 70-something potential. 😀”
If you’re ready to recover your “athlete-ness”, click here to learn about Coaching options.