Andreas Macke,

Windsurfer
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Rolling with the Punches: Own Your Game
Sometimes, life just throws you a curve ball. I got one of those on the first day of the US Nationals in the Gorge last summer, racing in what can only be described as epic conditions. It was game-on, and I was as much in the zone as I'd ever been. Then I had one of those freak wipeouts that come out of nowhere, ending up with me breaking my ankle. And with that, I went from competing at my peak to sitting on shore with a cast, watching my buddies racing, and trying to come to terms with what had just happened. Over the following months, a string of complications ensued, and what started out as a prognosis of six weeks off the water and missing the rest of the racing season turned into almost seven months of rehab. What a great reminder that no matter how hard and diligently you work at something, there are things you simply cannot control. And, more to the point, no matter how much out of control things seem to be, rolling with the punches is not just about letting go - it's about actively making the best of the cards your dealt.

Before my injury, the game I was playing was defined by clear goals related to my performance on the water. I had set fitness and training goals, and I had worked hard on achieving those, with the result being that I had a very good chance of succeeding in competition. When I broke my ankle, those goals were no longer attainable, and the constant reward from making purposeful progress went up in smoke. To regain that, you have to take ownership of your situation and redefine the game you're playing by throwing out the old playbook and goals, and adapting to the situation you're facing. You roll with the punches, because you have no other choice (if you can't let go of things outside your control, you'll drive yourself crazy...), but then you get to choose your Plan B.

That kind of resiliency is a crucial skill in all parts of our lives; pursuing it in physical fitness can be a great laboratory to hone that. If you're facing a change in your circumstances, whether it's an injury, or something as seemingly trivial as a schedule change related to your work or family, take a moment to examine whether you are still playing the same game. If not, ask yourself how your goals need to change, and how you can create a positive path forward. What do you need to let go of? What can you achieve instead? Are you actively challenging yourself to make the best out of your situation? Are there hidden opportunities? In my case, not being able to load up my ankle kept me from pursuing my regular winter conditioning program. That's a bummer, because I'm about 10 pounds heavier and quite a bit slower on my feet than I'd usually be at the beginning of racing season, but it's also an opportunity, as my core and upper body are stronger than ever (lots of time to work on those things when I couldn't run or jump...), and the rest is now falling into place.

So when you're having to roll with the punches, don't sweat the stuff you can't change - but make sure you own your game. The club has some great resources to help you in that process, with a number of classes geared towards small groups and alternative training, and a great group of personal trainers ready to assist you in setting and pursuing your goals. Take advantage of those opportunities, and however you end up defining your game, be sure to play hard.