May Day, May Day: An Honest Beginning

 What you should know....or at least what might be insightful....is that I started typing the first post of this "comeback story" in November of 2023.

And if I am being honest, it was little bit of a set up.

After dealing with a mysterious breathing issue for 12+ years, I had just received confirmation from an ENT that a good deal of my problem was likely coming from my vocal cords. In particular, my left one, which seemed stubborn and didn't want to move.

This news was bittersweet. On one hand, I was possibly on the verge of a real solution. On the other hand, I was a little pissed off, because I had mentioned this vocal cord possibility to numerous people as far back as 11 years ago and everyone just kind of shrugged it off. 

But here I was, with a real possible answer to the issue (and one that seemed to corroborate many of my symptoms), about to start up some sessions with a speech pathologist. 

And that was going to be my beginning. In November 2023. It was like how receivers in the Canadian football league can start running towards the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped; I was sure that this was going to be the answer, and that this blog would document how I overcame it all and launched myself in to the world of possibility.

Then....the speech sessions didn't really change much. Then, my psoas started to bother me. Which eventually led to my hip bothering me. And it all kept spiraling down down down in the wrong direction. Not only did I still have my breathing issue, but how I had an issue with my hip, which was killing my fitness, my mobility, and my general life function.

A month in Seattle followed by three months in Spain didn't help. While I did get some interesting insight in to my hip issue (much of which corroborated with what I thought was wrong as well), I didn't have, or make time for, all of the actual work. And as it turns out, just thinking about something doesn't move the needle much.

So I have spent the last two weeks dialing in some plans. I have some appointments made. And as of today, I decided to start posting my activities on Strava; not so much to hold me accountable, but to document the ups and downs in a way that is more public and transparent.

So, unlike the running start that I thought I was getting back in November 2023, I am starting from a true down point. Today I probably embody the second worse shape I have been in in about 25 years (with the first being right after my cancer surgery in 2015). By almost all measures....speed, endurance, strength, mobility, weight, BF%, etc....it's not a pretty party at the moment.

But hey, it is also an opportunity. And just like how I started racesherparises.com on the day of my cancer diagnosis, I now start racesherpareturns.com as I acknowledge my low point and embrace the work it takes to get back to chasing one's dreams.

Those dreams?? I will write about all of that at some later date.

I took my cranky hip up and down Sanitas just now. Even with all of the variables working against me, it wasn't terrible (https://www.strava.com/athletes/26959064). So here we go.

Keep on truckin'