I spent all of 2019 trying to recover from injuries in my left foot:  plantar fasciitis, a broken toe, a torn plantar fascia, and finally a stress fracture in my fourth metatarsal, diagnosed in late December, a perfect end to the year of the foot.  

On my way home from the appointment where the stress fracture was confirmed I stopped at the local pool and bought a punch pass, committing myself to cross training. Then I got busy gaining as much fitness as I could in spin class, lifting weights, and swimming in the pool. Little by little I found myself able to swim a little farther and a little faster. I was able to work a little harder and spin a little faster in spin class. I was able to squat a little more weight and get in a few more reps. I was thrilled with the fitness I was gaining as I worked my way back to running.  

As I swam and biked I started thinking about how fun it would be to showcase this hard work in the form of a triathlon. I started researching options and writing training plans that would allow me to complete a triathlon on the way to getting back to being a marathoner. I was excited. 

Then the coronavirus hit. The gyms closed. The pool closed. My options for cross training were gone. I kept hoping that the weather would warm up and I could spend some time on my old road bike. The snow persisted into April. I was able to start running more but felt the biking and swimming fitness slip away. 

Instead of feeling like all those hours in the pool and on the bike were a waste, I decided to celebrate that I had done what I could at the time to be fit. I want to celebrate the process. I won’t have the product in the form of a shiny medal and the tale of a triathlon completed. What I do have is some strength, mental and physical, to carry me through the global pandemic. I have the cardiovascular fitness to help me return to running. 

This experience has led me to take a closer look at the process of running and fitness, whereas I am typically more focused on the product. Would I run if there weren’t any races? Would I swim and bike just to enjoy the movement of swimming and biking? The answer is yes. I love the process. The product is often out of my control due to injuries, schedules, and, you know, pandemics. What I can control is my effort, the process. What I can’t control is the product. And that’s okay. I’ll keep plugging away.