The $60 T-shirt that I will never wear.

A few weeks ago I picked up a t-shirt that I payed $60 dollars for, it was for a half marathon here in my home town, one that I had registered for months ago. Unfortunately I've been plagued by injury the past few months and my training has gone to the wayside. Instead of prepping to run 13.1 miles, I've been waiting for a date for surgery on an injured foot. Picking that shirt up, and subsequently seeing all of my training partners and friends complete that race was hard for me. While I was naturally enthused at their successes and genuinely happy for them, sitting on the sidelines isn't an easy place to be for me.

Two years ago I was a couch potato, to put it mildly. I've transformed myself from obese to athletic, competing in several triathlons, multiple 5Ks and a Tough Mudder along the way. My new life was less about being sedentary and more about sweating. It's funny that as much as "fat kid problems" used to be a mantra of my daily lifestyle, active living, pushing myself and becoming a better me each and every day has become equally as important to me. I've gone from 12 oz curls to building muscle, stamina and endurance. To say that my life took a 180 would be to minimize the impact that this change in lifestyle really had on me.

Along the way I started to enjoy it, the sweating, the hard work, pushing myself harder and accomplishing things that I previously thought I wouldn't be capable of. I was recognized by the #2 Fitness and Weight-loss Company in the world as a finalist for their "Active Couple" award, and was blown away by this. Activity and physical accomplishment became a part of my life.

It was about 3 months ago that I became sidelined by chronic foot issues and all of a sudden found myself unable to accomplish even simple physical tasks requiring me to be on my feet. I spent a few weeks bound to a wheelchair, unable to walk. Until finally I was able to see a doctor that was able to offer me a resolution, and a date for surgery. That surgery is scheduled for 3 days from now and there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel, a reprieve for my physically imposed hiatus from the sports and activity that I've grown to love.

So now I have a red shirt hanging in my closet, it doesn't represent failure to me, but rather a missed opportunity, a door that will open again, a motivation to be a better me once more. This injury has held me back, but it won't hold me down. I will be back on the pavement, I will be back on my bike, and I will be back in the pool and the gym.

I've managed to lose 13 pounds bound to this wheel chair with an activity level close to zero, and I won't stop when I get out of it. While I may not have earned the right to wear that $60 shirt this year, don't worry I'll be back for it next year!