This summer I had 2 goals. The first was to get my shoulder better enough to paddle again. The second was to paddle with my mixed team again in competition.
After six long months of physio, acupuncture and osteopathy, as well as three months of paddling to get back to competition level, I managed to finish off the season meeting both those goals.
At the Montreal Festival in July I paddled with a women's team and that was good. The intensity wasn't quite as, well, intense. I raced only once each day with the women and didn't have any pain. My shoulder was stable!
August and September meant long months of paddling practice with my mixed team and there were a few sessions that did hurt. But I took care of my shoulder right away. I kept on with my exercises, strengthening and stretching, strengthening and stretching and finally it came time for our last competition of the season, Quebec Cup and I was allowed to race with the team. Not every race because I do understand we all wanted the best result possible. But that's OK. The races that I did do with the team were races that we won!
I was so happy to end the season on a high note; with a podium finish, surrounded by my team mates and a medal (bronze is beautiful) around my neck.
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