The re-becoming of an athlete

My latest identity revelation is kind of a biggie: I’m an athlete.

For the past ten years or so, I’ve identified as a “former-athlete”—since hanging up my cleats (and basketball shoes and alllll the pairs of dance footwear) and not having some kind of officially sanctioned team to structure my life around, I’ve maintained that it’s a former version of myself.

There was a during and an after, and I’ve missed that time that was so firmly rooted in the in-between. It was integral to how I viewed myself and my purpose.

But, why?

Am I not still participating in sports, classes, and daily training? Am I not still competing, even if it’s just against myself, even if it’s just to be better? Am I not still creating goals and personal records to crush?

So, there it is. I’m reclaiming and redefining my status as an athlete.

This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about my fitness journey, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But it is a new era of attitude and confidence and purpose as I step back into an era I loved so much.

I’ve kicked it off with two new-to-me types of fitness: the Ride spin and the TRX conditioning classes at Spire Fitness in Milwaukee. In one, I felt the thrill of working hard for my own benefit and pushing to see if I could rise out of my seat at my most exhausted. During the other, I was reminded of group fitness and how good it feels to sweat my way through a circuit while a coach hypes us through the workout.

It feels good to be back.

What’s next? Crushing it on the pickleball court, rebuilding some ab strength at The Barre Code, finding basketball hoops wherever I go? Subbing into Chad’s work softball league? Taking Wally on daily walks?

It’s undefined, and that’s the way I like it.

The door has been opened and there’s only movement forward from here.