I'm Still Alive

Hey guys,

What has it been? A week? Two weeks? I haven't posted anything for a long time, which I apologize for. I have been in bed for around a week, fighting crazy headaches and hip pain. But once I was able to get off the pain killers and get on different medicines for my headaches, I was able to start functioning like a human again. As of now, my road rash is gone! I have some light patches on my skin that will probably just be scars, painful reminders of how I went down. But, as we know, injuries happen, and we all have to live with them.

That really got me thinking: As I've been in bed for the past few weeks, I've considered how much stress my young body has gone through. I'm not 16 yet, and I've already experienced shin splints multiple times, a stress fracture, a concussion, a broken jaw, a good amount of bleeding with a large amount of scars to go with those times, over 4 pulled muscles, at least 2 strained muscles, I've torn every ligament in my ankle 3 times, had muscle weaknesses in multiple muscles from cycling crashes, Achilles Tendinitis, and the constant tweaks and pains that come from intense training. It's a long list for a young kid, don't you think? It's just crazy all of the pain I've endured over the past few months and years. This doesn't really bother me, but I look at kids my age and see them all running and biking and swimming ridiculous amounts of distance and intensity, but they never get hurt. It's very frustrating for me.

But, on a good note, I'm losing weight SUPER fast. Today marks 2 weeks and 2 days, and I have lost 20 pounds. I went from 185 to 165, and I'm expected to lose more somewhat rapidly. This is really crazy to experience, because I'm getting really, really skinny. Like, REALLY skinny. My shirts are starting to get really loose on me, and I'm looking like a skeleton. You can see my rib cage very easily, and even my face has seemed to get leaner. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but doctors and my parents are concerned at how quickly I'm dropping weight. I'm loving it, and hoping that I can keep the weight off, but it's forcing me to get really creative with my blender. Yesterday, as a joke, we baked a cake and added milk and ice cream to the cake and blended it, and it tasted like real cake! It was crazy, and I was really happy. I've got I think 2 or so weeks with my jaw still wired shut, then I can go on to rubber bands. But the rubber bands aren't going to let me open my mouth still, however, I should be able to get a spoon in my mouth for jell-o and such. Which I'm excited about. But it's been a real journey, with a lot of new experiences and adventures.

So, as of now, I'm up and around, and my head is feeling good enough to write some more blogs now. I'll start to write a few more just to pass my time. I'm really bored at home now, I don't have much to do.

But as for all of you guys, I hope your summers and training years are doing better than mine, and that you're enjoying racing season!

Happy training guys!