Help, I've fallen, and I can't get up!

Because I believe humor is a major element in diffusing tense situations, I possess a general proclivity (often irreverent, and bordering on inappropriate,) to humor-ize even the most somber moments.  (Also, to create my own words.  Topic for another day.)


FOR example: when my oncology nurse wheeled in my dose of radioactive iodine, I snapped a quick picture of the biohazard sign on the container.  Then when they ran a Geiger counter over me to ensure I was contaminated, I laughed incessantly.  The idea of being a walking mini-Chernobyl just seemed preposterous.


So when a bad episode of vertigo hit yesterday, and I tripped and fell - knee-skinningly hard - on the way into a restaurant, I walked up to the hostess stand (which offered a prime view of my spill) and quipped, "Guess they oughta keep me out of the bar today!"


The truth is, the whole thing was kind of scary.  I've had vertigo for over 6 years, so spinning rooms and really crazy swims are de rigeur.  But I've never actually fallen.


I know, lots of people trip and fall, and my vertiguous ass has certainly stumbled in public (let's not even discuss drunken falls), but for some reason falling like this bothered me in a way your average stumble wouldn't.  Not having control over my balance - that's just another level.  I mean, 31 is WAY TOO YOUNG to be the "help, I've fallen, and I can't get up!" lady.


Of course, I did NOT work out.  My day was already jam-packed: a massage, pedicure with a friend, studying, workout, and more - all following work at Big University (My Small Liberal Arts School project is on break and I work at Local Technical College tomorrow).  After all that, plus the tumble, the idea of spinning during a swim, falling off the bike, or taking a faceplant on a run were just not appealing.  I took some medicine, cut my errand list down and just finished my grocery shopping so I could get home.


The person who usually inspires me to consider things, once again, asked me a pointed question: shouldn't you wait to enter Augusta until your health is more stable?


My answer: NO.

My answer was “no” for many reasons.   For example: this is only my first week back to training; I’ve been training off and on since the marathon; I’ve successfully trained at an aggressive Olympic volume (VERY close to Half Iron) very recently; my health is more stable than it has been in years; I’m undergoing a new type of treatment that should improve my vertigo; and this is only one workout missed in the first week of the maintenance plan that bridges me TO my 70.3 plan which doesn't even start for another 8+ weeks.

But, more than that, my answer was NO because I absolutely refuse to let my limitations stop me from pursuing my career and fitness goals.

Seems both tenacious and noble, but could be a recipe for disaster.  That’s why I’m deferring to common sense in ALL cases.  I’m not going to create a situation where training (or racing) takes priority over my health.  But, as long as my previous experience indicates that I am perfectly capable of training and racing successfully, and as long as my track record also demonstrates that actively training, even racing, IMPROVE my mental and physical health, then there is ABSOLUTELY no WAY in HELL I will let missing a workout here or there hold me back.

Life happens.  Even people without major health issues find themselves missing a workout here and there.  As long as I have my physician's approval, it's all systems go.  When I miss a workout, I'm treating it just like a "well" person would: shrug it off and move on to the next day's.