source: www.greatbrewers.com
As I sit here drinking a delicious beer, for the first time in my life I don’t feel obligated to push the envelope in competition any more. I’m headed to Denver Colorado soon to start a new life with my lovely girlfriend. I’ve been competing balls to the wall since I was about 12 years old. I always felt that this was an incredibly important aspect of my life. I also felt it gave me insight beyond what traditional health care practitioners had. I still feel that way.
At this point in my life I’m working with old injuries and find that every time I turn up the intensity and volume I start hurting. My shoulders are bugging me currently and I just spent that last year pushing hard to do well at the crossfit open. As great as this experience has been, in all honesty all I have to show for it at this point is a jacked up shoulder.
As a soon to be physical therapist I feel obligated to practice what I’ve been preaching on this blog over the past year. Every time I push through a workout with subpar results and tweak my shoulder I feel more and more like I’m not being honest to myself. What a hypocrite I’ve become.
Does this mean I’m giving up on competition?
Hell no.
I think this is merely a transition point in my life and career. I sit here day in and day out writing about how important it is not to push through pain and here I am ripping through workouts with a painful shoulder. I’m excited to continue my work here at fitnesspainfree but from a different perspective.
I believe it may be time to give up the dream of competition and start working on helping others more and more. I love exercise and competition and believe I’ll continue to hit it hard in the upcoming years but know that it’s time to start changing things up some.
Some of the things that have taken a back seat to my training will finally have a chance to come to the forefront. A better boyfriend, son, friend and career. I’m really excited for what the future holds. Thanks to everyone who has been reading this blog over the past year. It means the world to me. I can’t wait for what the future holds.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, drink some beer for me,
Dan Pope
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Hey you’re human Pope, just like the rest of us. Giving up on competition doesn’t mean giving up on being a better athlete. I love your site, keep up the strong work. I am a little excited about you coming to Denver, we may have to have you do a seminar for us knuckle head firefighters! Best of luck!
Thanks for the kind words Scott! Where are you in Denver? We’re heading near Littleton at Swedish Medical Center. Where do you guys train? I’m going to need to make some new friends! P.S. I’d be more then happy to help however I can.
Dan,
I for one would endorse your approach to helping others in your professional life. Sorry to hear you’ve had your own personal training setbacks but in a way it’s encouraging to know that even you have had to adapt to your changing physial status. My best to your and your girl as you head to Colorado. I’m sure you’ll do very well. I’ll be continuing to follow you advice and read your blogs from time to time. Again, my best,
Harry
Thanks for the kind words Harry! I’m going to miss working with you!