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Overcoming injuries and my first tri DNF

I'm almost 5 months into a hamstring injury. I injured it running downhill on Jan 31st. Two weeks later I tried to run on it and restrained it. I've managed to continue to agitate it and restrain it a couple other times. I know injury and recovery are never a straight line, but this has been pretty demoralizing emotionally. I miss running so much. 

This injury has been really hard on me. I think it's because this was supposed to be my year to RACE HARD and see what I'm really made of. I got a coach, got power on my bike, and had a taste for some SPEED after finally getting quicker last year (and getting on some podiums)! It's taken some time to get over that idea - the idea of what this year was "supposed" to be. In reality, all I had to do was change my mindset, focus on the positives.

 I went to Victoria earlier this month for a half Ironman. I had initially wanted to place in my AG and get closer to AWA status. But, instead I DNF'ed. I went into this race knowing I could be walking a half marathon, and thought many times about not participating at all. My coach urged me to at least swim/bike. It's good practice, I had already paid, and it's still kind of like racing, just 2/3 sports! Which is basically what I did. Raced the swim and bike, walked a 10k and called it a day.

Although I miss running every single day, I am extremely thankful I've been able to train through this injury. I can still ride and swim. I can still lift. I can still move around easily. I can still generally be active. Yes, this hamstring issue is super annoying. It flares up, I'm not totally sure all that agitates it until it's too late, but in the grand scheme of life it's not all that bad. While I love racing and love triathlon, at least I can walk. 

AND, there are some ways this non-running time has been beneficial. Despite the injury, I've made some big strides in my other two sports. In the last few months I have increased my FTP by 20 watts! That's pretty stellar. I'm faster in the pool than I have ever been. I averaged my fastest race pace (even faster than sprint triathlons) for the whole 1.2mi in Victoria!! Pretty happy about that.
Bike spot at Victoria
I won the race... haha

 Really the hardest part of this all has been the mental shift. I have my entire life to run and race triathlon if I'm lucky. This year won't be the racing year I had hoped for, but that doesn't mean I can't still keep improving the things I CAN do. I can still make gains, and I am SO thankful for that. 
LOVE OWS season! (and the tri community!)

 I am BEYOND thankful for the community that surrounds me and has gotten me through the first half of this year. The tri community is seriously the best. Thank you all for your words of encouragement and helping lift me up when I've felt down. Hopefully I'll be out there racing again by September in Chattanooga!!! **fingers crossed**

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