Overcoming adversity

"In spite of this we are doing just fine

Even diamonds start as coal

Give us time to shine

Even diamonds start as coal"

~Incubus

While out for a long trail run last week, I was thinking about overcoming adversity. I thought about my friends overcoming some of their issues to put forth 100% of their 100% every day. People like: 

Matt Long- overcoming getting run over by a bus and being critically injured to return to marathon running and Ironman triathlon. 

Sam Cila- getting blown up by an IED in Iraq. The blast blew out his left side taking with it his brachial artery and almost all of his left bicep and tricep. Because of the amount of nerve loss to his upper arm Sam's hand was now considered a secondary injury. He spent three years fighting a never ending battle. He took every opportunity available to him to try and fight the inevitable. Amputation. He is now an Ironman athlete (World Championships in Kona 2010) and just completed RAAM this year with Team RWB riding across the country in 7 days!

Nick Roumanada: At the age of 13, Nick Roumonada was stricken with bacterial meningitis (meningococcal) and was not expected to live through the night. While his life was saved by his parents' swift action to get him to the hospital, Nick's left leg had to be amputated below the knee as a result of the disease, this was followed by a second life altering event when Nick was diagnosed with Focal Dystonia (a neurological disorder) which ended his adult career of being an accomplished professional musician. Nick was recently a resident of New York, NY but moved to San Diego, California to fulfill a new chapter of his life by becoming a part of CAF (Challenged Athlete's Foundation) allowing him to dedicate all of his time to help bettering the life of fellow Challenged Athlete's like himself.

As I ran I thought about my own setbacks: severe asthma that reared its ugly head this week, yet there I was, albeit at an easier pace, out for a 9 mile trail run. Got in 22 miles this week despite have trouble breathing. Not too shabby.

Think about the obstacles that you face with training and think about a way to get over them. Sometimes the obstacle is a weakness. Figure out what your limiter is and then spend some time working on it this off season. We always want to do what we are good at, this winter, work on what you aren't so good it.