Taking inspiration from Brownlee & Keane

It is always frustrating coming back from a lay off, whether chosen or forced. So coming back from a month off is again trying.

The struggle for motivation or the frustration at how your breath is lost far more easily than you remembered is hard to break. The feeling of going backwards during a swim session is not a pleasant one, no matter how much I expected it.

This all came to mind as I watched latest round of the ITU World Series in Kitzbuhl last weekend, and in particular the astounding performance of Ali Brownlee. This was his first race back having spent four months on the sidelines with an acute Achilles tendon tear. The initial prognosis of the injury was such that Brownlee considered his future in the sport.

Nonetheless, Ali took on the field as only he knows how; from the front. In the previous round, his younger brother, Johnny, was imperious in taking victory in Madrid. But even he didn't have an answer for Ali's sheer determination and power. Less than 1km into the run the older Brownlee was already clear and over the next 9kms the gap only grew. His final winning victory of almost one minute was emphatic.

Four months off and Ali comes back as strong as that! That’s definitely a way to make a return.

Then on Sunday as I looked up Hell of the West results, another top triathlete was back on the circuit having been off with injury.  Brian Keane, one of Ireland’s professional triathletes, was making his season’s debut and his victory was as emphatic as Brownlee’s.  And having had a long year of injury problems in 2011, his return was great to see.

So what is it we can take from all this?  Don’t rush back after injury. You are no good to anyone, least of all yourself and frustrations are guaranteed. So I’m going to shut my mouth, endure the tough swim sessions, extend my cycles and get out running some more.

If I do go racing before fully fit and ready, I’ll have to manage my own expectations. I can’t expect brilliant times. It will merely be a step towards getting it right.

Time to put those frustrations in check and just get on with it.