Omar Zenhom trained for an Ironman during COVID, got hit by a car, and suffered a severe heel and Achilles injury. He reframes these setbacks as preparation for future challenges, arguing that adversity builds the resilience you need.
I remember when I was training for my Ironman, and it was around 2020 because Covid happened and the whole world shut down and the race got canceled. But I kept training for it because we decided we're going to run our own unsupported race. And as I'm training for it, I get hit by a car, cut off, smashed in the side of the car. And that was bad. And I kept training, and I end up cutting my heel wide open, my Achilles. And that was an issue. And I remember everybody around me saying, maybe this is a sign that you should take it easy. People would say this, like, calm down, Dan. Maybe you're running too hot. Maybe you should chill out a little bit. And I got so mad, I was like, maybe this is actually exactly what I need to prepare me for what I'm about to go through. Maybe what I've been asking for. This is what gets me ready to receive. Maybe everything that's ever happened to me my whole life is going to prepare me for the moment where I can actually be ready for the challenge. It's going to be facing me.
