Assignment 21: Ally Tripure

Luckily, I thought for a long time about what challenges, set backs, and failures I have experienced in my life. I am doing quite well in life right now and have been for most of my life so I had to really think to get this one out. Most instances that would be categorized as a set back or a challenge by many, I normally would push to the side and get over it because that is just how I move through life. After some thought I came up with a small set back that I have been dealing with for a couple weeks now. 

       I have asthma. And no this is not a woe-is-me post. Asthma has not affected me for years, a couple of rescue inhaler moments here and there and that has really been it. However, a few weeks ago I started wheezing at track practice in the middle of a hard workout. I used my inhaler and kept going along with practice. That week I had also been dealing with some annoying muscle pain. I had no idea where it was coming from and was feeling down on myself because I could not perform to the best of my ability at practice. 

       The next day, I woke up with a sore throat and some sinus problems...great. I went through the day, knowing track would be a challenge feeling like I was. I was right. I told my coach I did not feel well and he told me to just take it easy. I ran with everyone and starting wheezing, I used my inhaler and kept going. I started wheezing again...and again in the next workout...and again. I pushed myself because I did not want to be seen as weak or a quitter. This was not a good idea, my lungs burned and I probably worsened my condition. I ended up going to the doctor soon after that day and was put on a couple of medications and a new inhaler. 

       That week of asthma problems and muscle annoyances was a week leading up to a big meet. I had to run the 3200 meter race for the first time this season and my mind was not into it. I had been setback all week with these problems and was scared to perform in this meet. I had a meltdown the night before and told myself I could not do it. I went to the meet and sat there thinking I was going to quit and not run it. The time to run it kept looming nearer. At the very last second, I started warming up and decided to run the race. My only goal was to finish it, and I did. I was glad to do it. Pushing past the past week's set backs felt so good, I had beaten them, I had not let them win over me.