A victim mentality is blocking you from personal growth.
Setbacks are a privilege.
It’s a controversial perspective — one that I’ve come to understand only recently, after confronting my own unraveling.
In 2020, I ran my first marathon, an unofficial race through New York City during the pandemic, knowing I wasn’t well-trained. That decision to push through those 26.2 miles ultimately led to a laundry list of injuries that have kept me out of the game on and off for five years: a torn peroneal tendon (happened at mile 23), a combination of a ligament tear, a chronic fracture, and arthritis in my big toe, along with other injuries, complications, and scares scattered throughout.
All the while, I’ve been coping with massive debt. The same week of my solo marathon race, I cleared out my New York City apartment and moved in with my family. I chipped away at the debt, then I was let go from my job of seven and a half years. I chipped away, then after months of working at Equinox, I found out I had that peroneal tendon tear, requiring surgery. I chipped away, then the transmission in my car, nicknamed "Sunday Dirt," gave out — the second car to break down on me ("Blue" being the first). Two steps forward, one step back.
I’m not in the clear yet, but I’ve come a long way. I did physical therapy, walked races, slowly built up to another marathon (this time, the legitimate NYC race in 2025), and crossed the finish line feeling healthy. It was a moment that told me, “It will all work out.”
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Still, if I were to look at my bank account and find that all the debt had magically disappeared, I’d be sad that I didn’t put in the work. There’s beauty that comes from navigating these struggles, whether they’re financial, mental, physical, or familial. My setbacks have made me an even better Coach, one who keeps an open ear, and taught me the value of going all-in on what you love (for me, that’s being a trainer). Now, when I face setbacks, I’m able to see the rose among the thorns.
It’s easy to gush about the good of setbacks when you’ve overcome them. So, what do you do when you’re experiencing one in real time? First, view it as an opportunity to focus on the areas of life you’ve been overlooking. If your setback is a shoulder injury keeping you off the tennis court, can you improve your lower-body strength, power, agility, and/or cardio base while you rebuild? As you heal, plan how you’ll approach the next inevitable obstacle. If I get injured again, I know to dial in on two lifestyle changes that have historically helped my healing: prioritizing sleep and loading up on protein.
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In these tough times, mindset matters most. My college coach once told the team, “No good comes from feeling bad for yourself.” That struck me to the core. Dealing with these obstacles now transforms into resiliency and grit down the line. Good comes from friction. Don’t be a victim — be a champion to your setback.
Mike Owczarek is a Coach+ and group fitness instructor at Equinox Hudson Yards. A basketball player turned runner, Owczarek is now on his journey to build up his confidence to get back into sports, aiming to run with more speed in mind and heal his toe on the court. He loves all things movement and exploring what is new. In addition to strength and conditioning, Owczarek specializes in Stick Mobility, nutrition, pre- and post-natal coaching, and Animal Flow. Outside of the Club, he will find time to write a poem with a word of the day, to anything that may come his way.