Comparing 3 Vacations

I returned this week from Cozumel, Mexico where my family and I enjoyed a wonderful vacation.  Upon returning, I immediately flew out to the east coast for some business travel.  I’m finally getting back into the swing of things after a few crazy, yet fulfilling, weeks of travel.

Our family takes an annual trip to Mexico, mostly Cozumel with an occasional off year to Playa Del Carmen. Rachel and I both scuba dive and enjoy the amazing reefs in the Cozumel.  It’s our favorite diving destination that we’ve visited in our 10 years of travel together.  Our trip is generally in August, as an end of summer trip shortly before our daughter returns to school. 

One amazing aspect of scuba diving is depriving yourself of a few senses while enjoying stunning beauty that most people never see.  You can’t hear, taste or smell anything.  Your communication with others is left entirely to hand signals.  You can still feel things by touch, yet you feel weightless while under the water.  Pain in my back escapes temporarily when while enjoying majestic coral reefs and looking for sharks and sea turtles.  The noise of the chaotic world above is silenced for 45-60 minutes while I think and reflect with no distraction.  It’s a therapeutic experience yet physical and challenging as well. 

The first vacation that I worked out every single day occurred 2 years ago.  In fact, I woke up at 2:30am to get a run in before our 5am flight because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to fit on in on our travel day.  The year of 2017 saw me work out every calendar day.  I was stronger and faster than I had ever been to that point as well as the leanest.  I was driven to not stop.  I managed to squeeze in some 8 mile runs while most of them were around 4 miles or so.

Last year was a wreck.  My back hurt so bad; it was horrible.  Scuba diving was my only relief on that trip.  Each day would begin with rehab work before I could make it out of the hotel room.  I only managed to visit the fitness room 3 times over 8 days for a light workout.  I lost something that I found the year before—not ignoring my body while on vacation.  I found the love for my “work hard, play hard” mentality.  The trip almost did not occur when I experienced a sudden back pain so sharp that it knocked me to the ground the night before our flight down south.  I laid on the ground wondering if we would have to call off the trip.  Would I make my flight?  I spent the next hour stretching and using a foam roller before heading to bed.  The flight was miserable as my body did not want to be jammed in the plane.  We ended up having a great trip, but my back hindered my experience.  I refused to not have fun though.

I am so thankful for this year.  I have more core strength today that 2017 in my prime.  Sure, I can’t lift as much can unable to run as fast or as far.  My pain level?  Less than half of last year.  Getting out bed is still painful.  How did I mitigate it?  Easy—daily workouts.  I didn’t take a vacation from taking care of my body.  I still breath air, drink water and eat food on vacation so why would I not exercise?  I’m not wired that way.  Consistency and drive have driven my back to feel better, day by day.

All told, I ran 27 miles over the week.  I completed 6 sessions of DDP Yoga, several of which were from the beach.  I had never done this before.  The beachside experience added a great mental relaxation aspect.  My body, mind and soul would finish the workout feeling refreshed.  It was euphoric yet hard to compare to anything else.  Just go do it if you ever have the chance.  I completed rehab work each day and squeezed in several open water swims of a half mile or more.

I’m very thankful that I was able to scuba dive on this trip more than any other trip that I’ve ever taken.  I was able to log 10 dives during the day and 2 night dives.  (Oh night dives are amazing…. the sea awakens when the sun goes down and the moon rises).  My mind left that island refreshed and motivated after experiencing so much time away from civilization.  I was reminded how lucky I am to have a wonderful life and family.  I was reminded how thankful I should be about my recovery.  It’s easy to get in the dumps and let the pain bring me down but I was reminded many times how I felt last year and how far I’ve come since then.

I fully intend to feel stronger with less pain next year.  I’m also thinking that my continued focus on core exercises should push me to new goals in 2020.  Maybe next year’s Mexico trip will involve a six-pack?  (No, not a 6-pack of Modelo Especial.  The other kind). 

Just wait, it’s happening.  Stayed tuned.

Work hard play hard,

Rested and Thankful Beast