Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Frustration

I think that I'm now more depressed and frustrated then I've ever been. I've been fencing for about a week and a half since my injury, and it is incredibly frustrating. I can't lunge, and it's only now that I realise how big a role it has in fencing. I have to wait for fencers to come to me most of the time. This is fine with beginners, but more experienced people realise what I want them to do, and just back away. I've won most of my matches so far, but I prefer to focus on how I'm doing technique wise. I'm loosing more points than I should be, and I've been told it's going to be at least another four weeks before I'm back to normal. It's incredibly annoying to not be able to fence with my usual form and style. I arranged a match with the Norwich High School for the 29th, and I doubt whether I will be able to compete. The NFC is doing their annual competition and I know that I cannot compete in this, despite me looking forward to it. I'm told that I just have to deal with it and be patient, but it hasn't helped. Fencing was a way in which I could escape from the world of everyday problems and trivia, and now I can't, so I'm getting really wound up, fed up and frustrated.

3 comments:

Dave said...

Oh dear. Sounds like the 'recuperation' is not going well.... Sometimes life is like that and I would suggest that perhaps you are pushing yourself just a bit too far and a bit too soon. Fencing competitively at this point is probably not a good thing for two reasons: 1) are you really really sure your hamstring is being helped (any exercise will test/strain it) and 2) fencing without lunging isn't really fencing and is bound to be frustrating. Practicing parries and ripostes is a whole different ball game from fencing and trying not to lunge....
To my mind an injury is the bodies way of saying "leave off I'm tired". You are young, still developing and your muscles are going to get strained. What's wrong with backing off and letting things recover naturally?
Which is better? A couple of weeks off now or months off later because muscles haven't healed properly?
Ease off, slow down and give yourself a chance; there really is no hurry. The piste will be there when you get back..... Also, try and make sure the piste isn't the only place you find a calm state; you can't fence all the time!

Chris said...

I'm trying to find a calm state in something else at the minute. I've got some ideas, but I can't help but miss the piste. I guess I've just got to consider it rationally.

Rob said...

We only find frustration in things we can't accept.

Injury, with respect, is the one thing you cannot afford not to accept. Whilst it is not likely to do you further harm, it would still be wise to be content with the ability you are limited to, knowing that soon you will be up and improving again.

I once had an ingrowing toenail, and after it was removed I couldn't fence for a couple of months. I found that once I had fully recovered, I was improving again, but before I felt that the injury was over, I was poewrless to stop myself from being sub-usual-standard.

The most important thing is to accpet what you can't change, and as Dave said, rest easy, and take a look at the more tactical side of things- judge fights and ponder how you would react to the situations that unfold.