Originally Posted by
Racer Ex
I've coached a bunch of folks back from injuries including myself, and it's as much about rebuilding the mental stuff as the physical.
Right now you're doing quality work, regaining your skills, a muscle that was MIA, and are having fun and chomping at the bit; that's pretty much a perfect world after what you've been through. You might feel a bit underworked but that's not going to be the case pretty quickly
Fortunately, I trust your judgement much more than my own on these things. What I add of value is discerning whether a twinge is something to work through, or back from off to let heal.
Originally Posted by
shovelhd
My advice to you, AZT, is to keep looking forward. It's hard not to look back, but you will progress mentally much faster if you don't. Focus on your forward progress. The past is the past. It's all about the now. Make your priority listening to your body and recognizing and celebrating your progress.
Thanks Shovel, and I hear you. For me, the greatest value in any looking back is knowing that I can get back to where I was, and in many ways, exceed it. That, and not wanting to accept being a '41', is what is keeping me going through the mental challenges. As both of you have pointed out, the mental game becomes even more critical for a comeback. Way too many things go through your head, both from a macro level, and from the micro level as you get in the pack and race.
Voicing my thoughts, feelings and concerns here, to folks who get it even more than I do, is a huge boon for me. Talking to anyone about outside of cycling about my surest challenges gets some pretty strange looks these days.