Progress

 Before everyone goes and blames me for blathering on and on on a more frequent basis, this blog post can be blamed on a friend and fellow fitness fanatic. I'd would name him or her but I don't want any harm to come to him or her!

It was suggested that the next blog subject should be the word "progress." According to Merriam-Webster, as a noun one definition is "gradual betterment." Using it as a verb it has one definition of "to move forward."

After my last post about acceptance this does seem like a natural progression! (See what I did there?) And progress goes hand in hand with acceptance. 

I am certainly not the runner, cyclist or especially human being I was at the beginning of this year. I can accept that. Really! And I know I will progress. 

It may be slow at first. I will probably (definitely) back slide too. But I will eventually move forward. I just need to be patient. Hmmm...maybe I should delve deeper in to that word in a future post. 

I'm hoping to progress to where I was at the beginning of the year. And then beyond that. I had a strong start to 2020 in my humble and uneducated opinion. I started the year doing a half marathon program using Zwift on the gym treadmill. I felt strong most days. My paces and distances were progressing nicely. I added in weight work a few days per week and saw my strength and the weights and reps progressing. I even managed to sneak in some time outside on the bike. Never far or fast but enough to keep the hunger alive for sunny spring miles. I felt like everything was on track for a strong 2020. In retrospect I think that in the deepest and darkest corners of my pessimistic mind I knew what was ahead. It’s possible I was pushing harder than I had in a while because I was afraid it was going to end. I had my first appointment with my urologist on January 6. By the end of February I had my diagnosis. And I was still moving forward. Feeling strong. Making progress. I knew surgery and the ensuing recovery were ahead so I was doing all I could. After surgery in May I tried to relax and remain calm. I took my recovery slow. I started another half marathon plan and slowly made progress. I did my 5 hour virtual run. I had a strong race on my single speed. I was moving forward. 

Then I started hormone therapy and radiation treatments in mid October. At this writing I am just over halfway through. I am aware of all the possible side effects. But I thought my fitness and general overall good health would minimize them. And that I would keep making progress. And I am horribly wrong. It took a couple of weeks but my earlier progress became steady as she goes. Then it became hanging on with all I had. And now I am trying to limit my losses. Progress becomes regress. What was effortless a few months ago is now damn near unthinkable. At best, I know it will stay this way. At worst, it will get worse. The two events I did since starting this regimen certainly brought me back to earth. I was amazed at how quickly I have regressed. 

But, eventually progress will find it’s way back. Slowly but surely. It will take time. That’s where patience comes in. Honestly, I’m secretly hoping that while I’m pushing during treatment that I can come back stronger than before. Or at least make progress quicker and smoother. But, I will eventually begin making progress again. 2021 brings new challenges, hopefully some races and a new age group. Look out 60+ I plan on kicking some ass. I can smack talk a little. It will help push me to progress once I kick cancer’s ass. And that is one front I believe I am making progress on. Every day brings me closer to being cancer free. That may be soon or in the distant future, but I am making progress!

So there you go. I hope you are happy Becky. Oops!!

Thanks again for reading. Comments and questions are welcome. 

Svenofthenorth