Last Wednesday I was doing weighted pull ups with 90lbs loaded on my weight belt and I felt a strain in my abs next to my belly button. First thing that came to my mind was a hernia....:( I know some buddies that have gotten sports related hernias before and my mind was rushing with thoughts of surgery, time off, time away from training, and medical expenses. With pain coming from my belly button area, but no bulge I still felt like I should see the Dr. I rushed to the Dr last Friday to get it checked out. She said she felt a bump-lump, but didn't think it was a hernia. She said take a few week off..(the last thing that I wanted to hear) and take some anti inflammatory meds. This answer wasn't good enough for me. I wanted a clear answer that I could see and understand. Not "well, you have a lump, but its probably nothing.." I kept thinking to myself what if there is a hernia there and she just missed it, because the pain was bad enough to keep my attention.
I Scheduled an appointment with a hernia specialist in Vail, CO. He checked it out and said the same thing that the other Doc said. He then grabbed an ultra sound machine to make sure everything was good to go. I watched nervously on the monitor trying to see something...I had no idea what to look for, but he talked me through it. The muscle wall line is white, and if there is a hernia there it will be a black opening where you can see the protruding hernia. We both scanned the monitor and all my untrained eye could see was a solid muscle wall white line that didn't have any sign of blackness or hernia. He confirmed that there wasn't a hernia and I instantly smiled and was over come with adrenaline! The lump was a fat deposit that isn't anything to worry about..crazy right!? He said just as you can pull a hammy or a quad, you can pull an ab! He said take it easy, but no restriction. I said "Hell Yeah" awkwardly loud without hesitation and he looked at me like I was a weirdo, but not many understand how much I love to train and workout :)!
Humble,
Throughout this journey to become an elite ultra distance athlete I have eaten my fair share of the humble pie! It takes so much commitment and resiliency to stay on course with training and races! With the Leadville 100 run, World's Toughest Mudder coming up quickly and Tough Mudder CO just around the corner I am jacked to know I can TRAIN ON!!!
Injury hides quietly around every corner and can take you down without warning, but you can't train scared! My training's have never been this rigorous and I am learning more about myself everyday testing my limits. I know dozens of elite athletes that are training like me for crazy events, and the injury bug has been spreading! Recovery, recovery, recovery! Seems like I'm beating a dead horse, but I am constantly reminded by myself and others just how important recovery is.
To all the Mudders, Spartans, Ruckers, CrossFitters, and Racers training hard right now! I want to say thank you for being a great motivation and inspiration to me! You guys have that same thirst for challenges, and you aren't afraid to be uncomfortable!
"RUN WHEN YOU CAN, WALK IF YOU HAVE TO, CRAWL IF YOU MUST; JUST NEVER GIVE UP!"
Dean Karnazes
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