Rebuilding Strength After Trauma: Day Two of My Comeback

What Rebuilding Strength After Trauma Really Looks Like

Some blog posts write themselves—this one, about rebuilding strength after trauma, definitely didn’t.
It took some tears, deep breaths, and 3.5 miles that felt like the longest run of my life.

Still, I promised to document the real stuff. The messy parts. The moments that happen when no one’s cheering, no medals are waiting at the finish line, and the only person keeping you accountable is you.

Day Two of Training: Baseline, But Not Basic

August 2nd marked Day Two of training.
My plan? A baseline run: 3.5 miles at a 10:21 pace in heart rate zone 2. It sounded simple enough, and my brain remembered how this used to feel—like an easy recovery run.

Unfortunately, my body—and my Garmin—had other plans.

Almost immediately, my heart rate spiked into the 150s. Even a slow jog triggered alarms on my watch like I was sprinting Everest. So I alternated: half-mile jogs and half-mile walks. And yes, I got hollered at by my watch the whole time.

Average pace: 16-something.
A few years ago, that number would’ve crushed me.
Not today.

The Weight We Carry

At my racing weight—132 pounds—I ran 10-minute miles with ease.
Now? I’m closer to 180.
And I felt every single pound with each step.

But here’s what I also felt: pride.
Not because I nailed it, but because I didn’t quit. Even when it hurt. Even when it felt humiliating. Even when I wanted to scrap the whole thing.

Underneath that run was something deeper—something worth staying for.

Processing Pain and Rebuilding Trust

I was listening to The House of My Mother during my run. It’s a powerful, triggering book that brought up everything: childhood trauma, estrangement, abandonment. All the things I often tuck away unless I’m coaching or speaking intentionally.

But as I circled the track—over and over—I was reminded:

I’ve survived harder.
I’ve rebuilt before.
I’ve risen.

And if I did it once, I can do it again.

What “Be Brave. Be Badass.” Really Means

People ask me all the time what that phrase means.
It’s more than a tagline. It’s more than a brand.

It started 14 years ago when I began training seriously—long before triathlons, Ironman races, and milestones. Back then, being badass meant showing up even when it was hard. Being brave meant trying, even when I was scared to fail.

Today, it meant honoring the commitment to myself.

Even when I was slow.
Even when I cried.
Even when that voice whispered, “Maybe you’re not cut out for this anymore.”

And I kept going anyway.

Real Growth Doesn’t Look Pretty

Being brave means doing the thing that scares you.
Being badass means sticking with it, even when it sucks.

And growth?
It rarely shows up when we’re at our best.
It shows up when we keep going on the hard days, lacing up and whispering, “Let’s try again.”

Starting Again—And Staying With It

We all carry weight—some visible, some hidden.

• Trauma.

• Aging.

• Identity shifts.

• Injuries.

• Insecurity.

But we also carry something else: the ability to start again.

You may not be where you used to be.
But you’re not where you were yesterday.
That’s progress.

Your Nudge to Begin Again

If you’ve been putting off your health, your goals, or your healing—this is your sign.

You don’t need a perfect body, a perfect plan, or perfect timing.

You just need to start.

Maybe planting the tree 100 years ago would’ve been ideal, but here’s the truth:
Today is still a damn good day to dig in and grow.

You’re Not Alone in This

Start where you are.
Sweat a little. Cry if you need to.
And remember: you’re not doing this for the world.
You’re doing it for you.

🔗 Related Posts

• Day One: The Rain, The Weight, and the Will to Begin Again

• Why “No Records Broken” Still Counts as a Win

• Because Sometimes Badass Looks Like Slowing Down

—Angela
#BeBraveBeBadass

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