Today I competed in my first triathlon in 2.5 years. Training over the last few weeks was a bit derailed due to me having lots of exciting nutrition work on my plate and generally feeling a bit lousy but thanks to my support crew (you know who you are), I was at the start line and raring to go - then I loved every minute of it!
I just lived in the moment (no headphones allowed) and took every bit as it came. Some parts were tough. Especially during the 10k run (plod) at the end. Your legs feel like jelly to start off with as you have just got off the bike and you know you have 10k to go or two laps round what looks like a very large lake which not long ago you were swimming in.
However, I just kept on putting one step ahead of the other whilst I concentrating on points just ahead of me, and not looking ahead until I reached that point. I then did the same again. I deliberately didn’t pick fellow competitors as landmarks. These days I try and stay out of comparison mode - something I was very much in for the first 31 years of my life. This was about me, no one else. I just enjoyed it and relaxed into it.
From a few self discoveries over the last few weeks, I know that I often constrict when I am working towards a goal - a time in this case - or if things are going well as I don’t want it to go wrong. Now I am aware of this I realise that this doesn’t help anything and probably makes things worse. So as much as I can remember I breathe, relax, think about how I want to be filling right now and enjoy. My performance follows.
So why is a triathlon like a health journey?
Whilst running round the lake, I realised that the run - or actually whole triathlon - was very much like a health journey. I didn’t look at my 10k run as one very large mouthful to tackle at once. The same way you shouldn’t look at a health journey from being sick or out of function to clicking your fingers and then being “cured”. It takes time and needs to be taken one step at a time. I took every leg as it came and then during the race I ran from from one rock to the next pavilion or km sign and so on and so forth. Simple, manageable chunks enabling you to enjoy the moment.
My health journey started off back in 2012 when I took two steps - I removed gluten from my diet and I started drinking homemade chicken broth….for breakfast. Since then I have implemented 100’s of recommendations, one by one, and wow it has been an amazing journey as my health has transformed. It is a journey that is still going.
For the most part, I have different people, mostly practitioners, support me on my journey - each appointment with them symbolises the milestones I picked in today’s run. They each helped guide me to stay in touch with MY body and help understand what to do next (like at aid stations today - water / no water?). No standard protocols.
Could I have perhaps just implemented everything at once and get the same results? No. We all have slightly or drastically different reasons for why our health is the way it is. It won’t be solved at once and we need to keep listening to what our bioindividual body is telling us. And did you know your body takes 7 years to replicate its full self. So don’t expect to feel better immediately but keep on going having faith that it will all work out in the end. Dysfunction takes a while to arise and takes a while to reverse.
Also, it is not always up. A bit like today when running. Some blocks of 250m I felt great! Others it was a real effort - often when I didn’t expect it. Sometimes I have had dips on my health journey. Changes may not work as well, or take time to kick in. Healing also happens in layers. You improve, and then you uncover something else so it might go backwards temporality. That’s ok.
Finally, as I mentioned above. Quit the comparison - even if you have the same health condition. Your health situation is unique. You are unique. We have all come from different families, different places, have travelled to different place in this work, have different things going on in our lives are exposed to different things. Swim in your lane.
Yes you will most likely need to be patient. But whether you are step by step transitioning to a real food diet and working on what is really driving your health or running step by step round a lake in a triathlon, have faith that you will get there and as much as possible enjoy the journey.
Big take away
Life is so much better when you take it in bite sized pieces rather than wanting everything right now. Live in the now, imagine how you want to feel and enjoy the journey.
Perhaps, a bit philosophical for a triathlon, but I wanted to share it will you all. It is amazing what happens when you relax and do things that make you happy.
‘Life Is a Journey, Not a Destination' - be present and enjoy.