I can see it slipping away… 

A week ago, I began experiencing some pain in my right hip. I hobbled around for a few days, stopped doing my training runs, and tried to build more purposeful resting and core strengthening routines into my schedule. Then, two nights ago…disaster struck. My iliotibial (IT) band is strained to its max and it feels like a lightning bolt of pain; like a razor sharp screwdriver drilling into my knee when I walk. Now, I’ve been popping pills, foam rollering, and icing for 25 hours straight (yes, even in bed and yes, I get up to change it out during the night) and I’m getting more and more concerned that one of the major goals I’ve been working towards this year, my first triathlon, might be slipping away.

The most frustrating thing is that I felt like I was doing everything right. I know how to eat properly to build my muscles and protect my bones from stress fractures. I know the right percentage to increase my mileage. I know how to cross-train. I am keeping up with my physical therapy routine I began last winter. I thought I was doing everything right and am struggling with how on earth this could happen. 

It’s 2 days until race day. I know God is working through this. I know He makes all things work together for my good. In fact, that is the only comforting thing about this whole situation. I know I might be putting too much of my identity in my ability to reach this goal and not enough of it in the peace I get from remembering that I am a child of God created in His image. Maybe that’s what He’s teaching me, or maybe He will orchestrate yet another outcome out of this mess. All I know is, I’m crossing my fingers. I’m hoping that His will is my will, but praying that His will (no matter what it is) wins in the end.