Each Day a little better...and I discover the power of the blog land...

Today was jammed.  Early morning video conference.  Then, the rest of the day in a meeting with the Agency.  Tense discussions.  Good debates.  Some great advertising from different parts of the world.  Dinner out (sushi -- yum!)  Came home dog-tired.  Then, there was Elin, our little ten month old soooo happy to see me!!  "Why am I working" I think to myself?  Sometimes I just wish I could stay home all day and just play with her.

But, the big surprise in my day was logging on and seeing all of the really nice, uplifting comments on my blog!!  It made my day hearing from other athletes -- mostly all other athletes coached by Jen -- offering encouragement.  Man, did that make my day!!

Before I hired Jen as my coach, I probably interviewed and talked with at least a half dozen coaches.  One or two "local ones" and some as far away as Singapore (where I used to live) and even New Zealand.  Ah, the power of the internet -- who cares where your coach lives as long as we've got TP and the internet?  I was literally about to lock and load on a coach when, the night before, somehow (I don't even really remember how), I stumbled on to Jen's website.  I sent her an email that night and when I woke up the next morning at 5:30 am to go for a bike ride, there was already an answer.  We talked on the phone later that day, and I hired her on the spot.

Why on the spot, when I had interviewed (and slept on, mulled over and pondered) at least a half dozen other coaches?  Well, the first thing that struck me was how she made a "community" out of her athletes.  I read a bunch of your blogs ... and it was just "cool" how she had formed a community around her of like-minded people from all walks of life with one passion:  triathlons, and that kind of multi-sport lifestyle.  Second, when Jen and I talked on the phone, she totally "got it" about my needs -- I didn't need to completely spell it all out.  Third, with a job where I travel a lot (about 50%) and all over the world, she convinced me that she could be flexible, and work with what is available to me for training, when I'm out in the middle of no-where's-ville with only a treadmill to train on.

And, it's been great.  While it's only been a few months; and I've been injured part of it -- she put together a great training plan for me while I couldn't run with the stress fracture; and she's "been there" as a source of encouragement as I've been healing my broken ribs.  I KNOW that I will come back stronger...in part because she is telling me I will (and I'll hold her to it).

But, the really neat thing that happened tonight, as I opened my blog...was I got connected to all of you, who also gave me encouragement or shared your stories of injury and recovery with me.  It's NOT been easy not being able to workout the last few weeks.  It has been agony.  It was really hard to miss the last few tris of the season because of the stress fracture; and missing Berlin because of the broken ribs.  But, hearing some of the other stories, and reading some of the other blogs of what others are going through puts the broken ribs in to perspective.  I loved reading some of the other blogs tonight...and now I see how blogging can become so addictive.  I felt connected to others in Jen's circle of athletes, lots of similarities and shared ups and downs.

In a few weeks, I will be back.  I am lucky.  We are lucky.  We have our health, and even though I might be temporarily sidelined with a few rib fractures, I will bounce back strong.  And, we're also lucky to have a coach who pushes us and also reassures us and encourages us along the way.  Thanks to everyone who has left me encouragement the last day or two ... it was great to get your support!!