Then I told my teammates. I was honest, but I also joked. I told them that I had breast cancer, but that it was caught very early, and that I could probably cure it faster than I could cure my leg. I wanted to keep the energy positive. He even threatened to punch me if he stopped and gave me a sad hug during practice. They kept that promise!
I have been working with a sports psychologist for six years and he also plays a big role. But while therapists are important, they can’t save you. I always say he is my housekeeper. He cleans the messes I can’t clean and gives me advice on what to throw away and what to keep. But I also have a lot of work to do in order to let go of what came before and lean into this difficult time. write For example, this is one of the ways I release things. Our mental health is important not only to us, but also to those around us. We need to keep investing in it.
(figuratively) Control who is in the locker room.
The other side of the coin is that it’s okay to set boundaries. You don’t need unsolicited advice, and it’s okay to remove yourself from uncomfortable conversations. I’ve experienced some of that myself, especially near the time of my potential retirement. Some people hear scary words. I know I’m 31 years old. Perhaps you want children. The Olympic year is over. But they say it from a condescending perspective, so my retirement is a decision that I will make.
It’s difficult, especially as women, because we always try to be polite. But even if you just listen and you don’t like what the other person has to say, you’ll still be taking it home with you if you let them continue. Instead, you can say, “I respect your opinion, but I disagree and don’t want to talk about it.” Or, “You have a lot of opinions, but I’m not interested in hearing them because they’re about me and of no use to me.”
It may sound wild, but I’ve really been working on it. It’s okay if people don’t agree with you. You don’t have to listen to them. You can save energy by keeping your distance. Think of it like a locker room. We need coaches, trainers, and massage therapists. However, it is undesirable to have too many people there, and you can decide for yourself who to include. If the locker room gets too crowded, you have to close it so people can’t come in whenever they want and say whatever they want about your life.
Celebrate along the way.
When I finished my radiation treatment at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, I had to ring the bell. I took a few friends and fell in love with it. That night, I gathered more friends and rang the bell again. I was frustrated for days. I was so happy thinking about all my friends from different parts of my life celebrating with me. I would like to keep a memory of even the smallest things. People think that the big day is the wedding and that’s it, but there are many other valid reasons to party.
We hope to celebrate more on the track next year. I’m already in my comeback season. first laceback I don’t know where I’ll end up, but I’m fully committed to getting back on the world stage and running at the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025.
But when you think about how far you can go, your mindset changes. The pressure of competition and the idea that you’re only valuable because you’re fast and that you’re good because you’re performing is honestly very harmful. Running is something I do, and it’s something I do for myself, not for anyone else. I know my body has been through a lot, but I don’t know where this journey will take me. But if you don’t try, you won’t succeed, that’s guaranteed.
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