An (Athletic) Fraud

I feel like a fraud. An athletic fraud.

I am wearing a shirt that says“I tri like a girl so tri to keep up” on the front. On the back, it says “fast.”

I’ve competed in two triathlons. The first as a part of a relay team where I swam. The second all by myself: a swim, a cycle, and a 5K. You can read about it on a previous blog post.

I still don’t think of myself as an athlete.

I’m not fast in swimming, cycling or even running.

I’m recovering from a hip and shoulder issue that has required almost weekly trips to the chiropractor for the past few months. And a realization that I have one leg shorter than the other.

I’m not sure if I will be able to run again. So far, this shoe insert has helped keep my hip in place with walking and daily life. Now, I’ve slowly started back with sprints.

I’m hoping my shoulder will be strong enough to swim again. My chiropractor is now working on breaking up some icky scar tissue that has developed because my shoulder was compensating for my hip issue all these years.

I want to feel confident cycling again. I haven’t been on a bike for quite awhile because of a cancelled class and my injuried hip.

I have continued to lift weights over the past few months, which I know has made me stronger. Who wants to compete with some bench presses and Romanian Deadlifts?

I’m hoping I can feel strong enough in my mind, my hip and my shoulder to compete again this summer.

Maybe then I will consider myself an athlete. But right now I think I’m a fraud. An athletic fraud.

I’m attempting to take part in the “The Fifth Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge” through the month of March. The challenge is run by Two Writing Teachers.

Posted

March 14, 2012

Fitness, Slice of Life

jessica

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Comments

6 responses to “An (Athletic) Fraud”

Kat

March 14, 2012

You sound like a real athlete, all right, injuries and all. I hope they all start to resolve themselves so that you can tri some again!

Reply
Kathleen Gillis

March 14, 2012

No, you’re not a fraud. If you are a fraud then there is absolutely no shred of hope for me to ever see the light of fitness again and I am holding on to the hope that it’s never too late, that I will be able to see past my gut again someday, that it’s worth pursuing even though I’m closer to 50 than to 40, and the only regular exercise I get these days is chasing my 2 yr old around.

You are taking care of your body and keeping your health and wellness together until you can push it to the next level. Please don’t undervalue your work in this area. Or I’ll cry and eat a case of Twinkies. You don’t want that on your conscience…

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Maria

March 14, 2012

Heh…. as I’m sitting here realizing that I didn’t get on the elliptical today because I’m exhausted (and, honestly, I just want to go read the new Batgirl)

Reply
elsie

March 14, 2012

You sound like an athlete, you are on the disabled list from full-time athlete. Take care of yourself and you will find your stride again.

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pamelahodges

March 14, 2012

A fraud? Hardly. What you feel isn’t necessarily what you are.
According to Wikipedia and athlete is —–A person who is involved in Athletics (sport), which involves track and field events, long distance, cross-country and road running, and racewalking or a person who participates regularly in a sport
or you are a —- Athlete (band), an English indie rock band.

Nice slice by the way. Honest and vulnerable. And all “that”.

Reply
Mardie

March 14, 2012

I thought that injury was the sign, testimony, to actually being an athlete. Athletes get injured because they push their bodies to the limits. You are an athlete, Jessica, not a fraud at all. I admire you for being a tri girl.

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