Lessons from a year off training and alcohol

If you are new here welcome! My name is Michelle and I am a consultant and coach. My work and life is grounded in trying make the world a better place through equity, justice and authentic living. As someone self defined as a "Type A" person, I have spent the better part of my life achieving, and yes, overachieving. While from the outside in, this might seem "impressive" however, what I am learning at this place in my life is that being still, frankly just being, is something you must work at everyday.

In addition to my multifaceted career, I took up running and then triathlons over a decade ago. I am a multi marathon and half marathon finisher, one time full distance Ironman and 6 time Half Ironman finisher. Racing became my passion following a dance career that was cut short by injury and motherhood. The discipline I came to love in the dance studio I found through racing, and it has been a part of how I define myself since I toed the line of my very first race.

At the end of 2024, I DNF'ed (did not finish) my Half Ironman In October, 2024, after completing two prior races that year with awful results and some injuries due to bike falls.

I sat with all of these feelings and at the end of last year and decided my body was trying to tell me something, and if I wanted to continue to race, I needed to listen!

I made the hard decision that I would take the entire year off racing, and while I was at it, I decided to also abstain from alcohol for the year. My thought process was that if I was stopping racing to heal my body externally, perhaps doing some healing from the inside out was a good idea too, so I did just that.

The biggest take away from the year for me was the amount of time I had to explore other passions and interests. The hours I would spend training, I shifted into trying new things. Instead of waking up, slamming down some coffee and heading straight to the gym, I had slow mornings with meditation, reading and coffee outdoors. I ate what sounded good and not based on macros, carbs or protein intake, I simply grabbed healthy good food I wanted to make and I improved my cooking skills because I was able to cook with time, intention and care. While I continued to lightly workout with walks and a few weights (cause in your 50's that's a non negotiable), I also took some ice skating lessons, I loved skating a child and rediscovered my passion for the ice. I also started the first chapters of a book I have been wanting to write for a while. I was able to actually sit, think and put pen to paper because of the extra time I had. I also had more time with family and my pets who had pretty much given up on sitting on my lap (because I ever sat still long enough for them to). Lastly, I studied and took a course and became a Level 1 Sommelier. It was something I had wanted to do for years as a wine lover but ever had time to do the study. (And for those of you thinking how did I do that sober, the level 1 test is theory only, and the very few tastings incorporated in the training you spit out the wine you don't drink It).

As I enter 2026 I am coming in with a very different perspective and focus for the year. I will go back to racing and I will start drinking alcohol again, but the year helped me to have perspective. Perspective on what I was missing out on, how much time my racing hobby was taking from other areas of my life and how unimportant alcohol is to a good and enjoyable life. The old saying "everything in moderation" is so resonant after this past year and that is how I will approach 2026. Maybe doing half marathons rather that full, maybe doing one triathlon every other year instead of 3 every year, definitely reducing my alcohol intake, especially now that I know the difference between good wine and not so good wine after passing my test. Also, appreciating the clarity of my mental cognition without alcohol and not being inflamed all the time.

I look forward to sharing more here and also some small excerpts from my book that will be looking at some of the themes I have shared above. Thanks for taking the time to read my reflections!

*Photo at the finish line my first race back, December 6, 2025, Panama City Beach Half Marathon

Stay tuned!

~Michelle