An Injury Can Break Your Body, but it Can’t Break Your Spirit

Thanks to Peter Robinson for contributing this story.

An injury can break your body, but it can never break your spirit.

My freshman season in college was going perfectly. I loved my team, my coaches, I was having a blast in college, I killed it at my November invite, and winter training was right around the corner. Then, in early December, I was diagnosed with Mono. I couldn’t do any form of exercise for fear of relapsing for four weeks, and couldn’t do any real training in the pool for another two weeks. It was not a fun six weeks, as i watched my team mates go through hell without me. When i finally returned to training, i still struggled. I was horribly out of shape, scared, and doubtful. Thanks to my team mates and coaches, I persevered and kicked some major butt at Conference, coming out with two best times. Heres my two cents to beating an injury.

1) Accepting reality

The hardest part of this process is just accepting what has happened. Whatever the injury may be, it has happened. There is nothing you can do to go back in time and stop it. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you can attack your road to recovery. Blaming yourself, your coaches, anyone or anything won’t help. Be at peace with yourself. It took me far too long to get to that point.

2) Patience

Recovery is not a short or easy road. This is going to take a lot of time, commitment, and patience. For me, I didn’t have to actively fix my injury. My body was doing it for me (albeit at an agonizingly slow pace). The worst part for me was the first two weeks of mono when i watched my team mates practice twice a day in the hardest training of the year. I just wanted to be there with them so badly. Take it day by day, and the weeks will fly by.

3) Trust in Your Coaches

I butted heads with my coach really hard during my month of training about two weeks in. It wasn’t fun, I regret every second of it. I was so scared about what would happen at Conference that i tried to change what my coach was telling me i needed in practice. I wanted to push harder. Whatever i thought, whether i was right or wrong, doesn’t matter. Put all your faith in your coach. I promise they want what’s best for you, and will do everything they can to get you there. (Shoutout to Coach Kelly and Duncan for caring so much)

4) You Know Your Body Better Than Anyone

Listen to your doctors and trainers. Do what they say. They also want to get you back in the pool ASAP. However…

My trainer told me on a Monday I could get back in the pool on Thursday, after doing 15 minutes on a stationary bike. I felt good on the bike, and didn’t relapse the next morning. So i disobeyed my trainer and got in on Tuesday. I didn’t relapse! I knew the large risk I was taking, but on a deep level i knew I was ready. Sometimes you just know you’re ready. You’ll always be more in tune with your body than anyone. Granted i got chewed out by my trainer and she wouldn’t talk to me for the next month or so, but that’s just a ramification of my decision I had to accept.

5) Find Strength in Your Brothers and Sisters When You Yourself Have None

My teammates and coaches had my back through the entire process. Any time i needed to talk or vent, they were there for me. When i started training again, my lane mates would encourage me and talk me up. Take advantage of all these people that love you to the moon and back who want to see you happy above all else.

6) Have Faith in Yourself

You are capable of more than you could ever imagine. You are so much stronger than you know. Who would have thought MonoBoy could drop two seconds in his 100 back after getting mono and only having trained for a month?? Definitely not me two months ago. Don’t ever doubt yourself. You can do this. You will persevere. Stay strong mentally and nothing can stop you.

“Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” -Michael Jordan

Let’s see some Giddy Up, go get some Tiger.