I am competitive... incredibly competitive... ridiculously Competitive! I'm that guy playing board games. I turn things into a competition that aren't meant to be. I'm the guy that competes with himself. I'm competitive about my job, I always wanna be one of the best agents with Farmers. I just compete, plain and simple.
When I got hurt it became a competition, especially when the realization hit me on how badly I was hurt. I pushed to see how quickly I could get out of the hospital, I wanted to master tasks and build strength as quickly as possible. I would go to the therapy room when I was in the hospital and do extra workouts to push as much as I could. I played wheel chair rugby(A.K.A. Murder Ball, great name) just 4 months after my accident and only 1 month removed fro staying at the hospital. I have to be challenged to have drive, and competition is my fuel.
There has been a sort of emptiness without motocross in my life. I mean, on so many levels I'm okay with it. Mostly because I know God always has a purpose and a plan. I trust that, but it doesn't make it easy. I miss that carrot in my life, that drive to push myself to be better at something. to win races, and frankly just battle with someone(shout out to the Vet crew! I miss lining up with you boys!).
After my injury I knew that my success in staying positive and not dwelling on my injury was to find something quickly to replace Motocross with as quickly as I could. At first just the recovery was enough to drive me. Then I quickly looked at options and thought what made the most sense was mountain biking(very similar to dirtbikes). So I have been striving to get one, but they are not cheap, especially with the mountain of Med bills and all that. So it's something I still look towards in my future and have a desire to get into, hopefully sooner than later, but it will take a little time.
In the mean time God has unexpectantly opened another door for me. I've had the blessing to get to know a few individuals through a sponsor Red Rush and old friend from my training days over at Concept2 rowers that have united me with the Crossfit world. Given my training background I've always been a neighbor to Crossfit, but never actually connected to it. I have gotten to know some individuals that have opened the world to me and the process of competing from a wheel chair.
The drive is back. The fuel that once burned inside has been restoked, and as I ready myself for the Adaptive Crossfit Open and the camaraderie I begin to build with other athletes around the world I can't help but think about this as a gift from God I never expected. I look forward to being part of a movement to grow this sport locally at the adaptive level and bring competition back into others lives. Huh? He truly works in mysterious ways...
