It feels really good to sit down and write again.
I realized the other day that I had not published a blog post in almost two months. Not because I did not want to write, but because life felt full. Busy in a quiet but intense way. Healing. Rebuilding. Learning how to listen to my body again.
If you have ever stepped away from something you love because of injury, burnout, or fear, you probably know this feeling. That strange mix of gratitude for rest and impatience to return. That tension between wanting to rush and knowing you should not.
This past month has been about coming back. Slowly. Honestly. With a lot more respect for my body than before.
The Painful First Two Weeks
I officially returned to training in December, after fully recovering from my injury.
The first two weeks were brutal. There is no romantic way to describe it. My muscles hurt in places I forgot existed. My body felt stiff, heavy, almost foreign. Even movements that used to feel natural suddenly required effort.
But there was also something grounding about it.
Pain reminded me that my body was alive, adapting, waking up. It was not failure. It was information.
Instead of jumping back into everything at once, I rebuilt layer by layer.
Swimming First, Trusting the Process
I started with swimming.
Swimming felt safest. Gentler. Almost like returning to water before returning to land. I spent a few weeks just swimming, letting my cardiovascular system wake up again, letting my muscles relearn rhythm.
There was no pressure to be fast. No chasing times. Just movement and breath.
Cycling came next.
Then finally, running.
I was cautious with running. Almost scared. Running was where my injury started, so stepping back into it felt emotional. Every step carried memory. Every slight sensation made me pause.
But my body surprised me.
It held me.
It reminded me that healing does not mean forgetting. It means learning how to move differently.
Falling in Love with Strength Training Again
One of the biggest changes this time around is strength training.
Three times a week, consistently.
I forgot how much I love lifting heavy weights. There is something deeply calming about it. It demands focus. Presence. You cannot overthink when you are under a barbell.
Strength training makes me feel grounded. Strong in a quiet way. Not performative, just solid.
It also gives me confidence. Not just for racing, but for life.
Yin Yoga and the Art of Slowing Down
Alongside strength training, I have been practicing a lot of yin yoga.
I have always preferred yin yoga over more dynamic styles. It asks you to stay. To sit with discomfort. To breathe through tightness instead of fighting it.
Yin yoga relaxes me deeply. It works into muscles I cannot reach on my own. It softens both my body and my mind.
In a week filled with training, meetings, and responsibilities, yin yoga feels like permission to slow down without guilt.
Being Taken Care Of
One thing I am deeply grateful for is my recovery team.
I have two people who consistently take care of my body.
My physiotherapist helps me address specific problem areas, especially my left leg, my thighs, and my feet. My left foot tends to get tight easily, and without regular work, it becomes a weak link.
I have also gone through several acupuncture sessions to make sure my muscles are functioning well and balanced.
And every week, I spend about two hours with my massage therapist.
Those sessions are not just physical. They are emotional resets. Full-body massage, hot stone techniques, and deep relaxation. I always leave feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected to myself.
Recovery is not a luxury. It is training.
Preparing for the First Race of the Year
My next race is in March, the Vietnam Festival triathlon.
I love this race. It is challenging in a different way. Swimming in a lake is much harder for me than swimming in the ocean. There are fewer visual cues, and it requires more mental calm.
This race will be my first triathlon event since coming back.
I am not chasing a podium. I am chasing trust. Trust in my body. Trust in my preparation. Trust that I can show up fully present.
Sometimes, that matters more than any result.
Life Beyond Sport, Giving Back
Outside of training, the past two months have been just as full.
I have been deeply involved in the UWC selection process this year. It is one of the volunteer commitments closest to my heart.
Every year, we start designing the application in July. Applications open in August and close in October. After that, we read hundreds of applications, interview around 80 students online, and select 40 students for the final round.
Reading the applications this year was incredibly moving.
The courage. The honesty. The dreams these students carry.
We have designed a two-day final selection program on January 24th and 25th. That will be when I finally meet the students in person. I am genuinely excited.
From those 40 students, we will continue refining and eventually offer scholarships and placements across UWC schools globally.
Being part of this process reminds me why I push myself so hard in other areas of life. Growth is meant to be shared.
Holding Multiple Identities at Once
I am proud of myself.
Not in a loud way. In a quiet, grounded way.
The past few months have not been easy. Balancing full-time work, returning to training, and continuing volunteer commitments has been intense.
But I did not quit.
I showed up.
I learned how to move with more patience, more intention, and more kindness toward myself.
You can be ambitious and gentle at the same time.
Vision, Clarity, and Energy
Last week, I spent time working on my vision board.
I now have six clear power goals for the year ahead. They sit on my phone screen and my desktop, quietly reminding me where I am going.
Not in a stressful way. In an anchoring way.
Clarity creates calm.
When you know what matters, it becomes easier to say no to distractions and yes to what truly supports your growth.
A Gentle Reminder for You
If you are coming back from injury, burnout, or a difficult season, I hope this reminds you of something simple.
You do not need to rush.
You do not need to prove anything.
Coming back slowly is still coming back.
Honor your body. Build strength patiently. Invest in recovery. Create space for reflection.
Your pace is allowed to change.
And sometimes, slowing down is exactly what allows you to move forward with clarity and strength.