I have opened this window to type an update so many times over the summer. Crashing my bike and ending up on the injured list for the second year in a row definitely threw me for a loop (figuratively speaking – there was no looping in my crash, just a direct impact with the ground).
To recap my injuries, in addition to some abrasions that left some cute scars, I managed to fracture my elbow and permanently dislocate my collarbone at the sternum (I didn’t even know that was possible). I had surgery to remove gravel from my arm and prevent a bone infection. I still have some bone bruises and my elbow hurts about 75% of the time.
I’m not going to lie, recovery has been slow and mentally challenging. Rehabbing my hip labral tear was mentally much easier because there were things I could do. I could push myself and really work for that recovery. This has certainly been slow going. It took a while, but while I’m not back to my full weight lifting routine (and won’t be for quite a number of months), I’m back to swim/bike/run and recently swam my first mile since April.
But that’s not to say that the summer hasn’t been fabulous. I’ve had a lot of great adventures and I wouldn’t trade any of it.
As you may remember, I was aiming for 70.3 Ohio this summer. For the second time in a row, I had to drop out of a 70.3 due to injury. But for the second time in a row, I still went to the race to cheer and hang out with friends. And that was worth every second.

I got to hang out with a bunch of friends and cheer many of them through what proved to be a very tough race, both physically and emotionally. Instead of wishing I were out there, I was just glad I could still be part of the day.

I’m not going to lie, there were definitely moments where I thought “Perhaps I should register for another 70.3 next year.” But at this point, I think I’m committed to racing local next year, mostly Olympics. I want to make sure that I’m properly rehabbing my arm and my shoulder and not pushing just to make a distance.

I will, however, likely still go to some of the big races to cheer on friends and strangers. It’s so much fun to be part of a big race environment, whether or not I’m racing. I’m lucky to know so many awesome people.
So next up, I am finally getting a chance to race this year. I’ll be racing the Patriots Olympic the weekend after Labor Day. It’s not going to be pretty, and it’s probably going to hurt, but I need to get back out there. I don’t want to go a full year without racing if I can help it. And of course, once tri season is over, I’ll be out doing running races once again. And looking forward to the 2020 season (and beyond).
I’m sad that your 2019 season hasn’t gone the way you expected and had hoped, but glad that you turned a negative into positives. I had some serious FOMO going on while you all were in Ohio!! Sending you lots of awesome race day mojo + vibes for the Patriot’s Olympic in a couple of weeks!! xoxo
Are you spectating WDW Marathon Weekend in January? I’m doing Goofy this time! Because I am an idiot.
Jenn @ Fairest Run Of All recently posted…In Which Jenn Wants POCKETS (& No Chafing)