Two weeks ago this blog would have been impossible to write; however, sitting here in my kitchen as I mentally prepare for my 90-minute swim I realize that there is now a light at the end of the tunnel. “The tunnel” being a extraordinarily frustrating injury involving my hamstring, groin, and hip. This injury has now officially put me out longer than any other injury in my entire career and has sent me through a tailspin of emotions and… cookies as the Olympic Trials dream I had slipped away. With all that said, I write this blog from a positive angle as an encouragement for anyone else that can relate (which I am almost certain is 99% of the athletes out there).

The biggest piece to recovery has absolutely nothing to do with physical therapy, rest, or cross training. The most integral part to getting better is the people that you surround yourself with. I have written many times before about the support that I get on a day-to-day basis from my family and from my coach, Magda. True to form they have been fantastic. My mom will jump in the pool with me and sacrifice her run just to keep me company; my sisters and my dad have been on the bike with me; and everyone has gotten me out the door and to the gym on the most trying of days…it’s not easy to be inside on perhaps the sunniest November and December I can ever remember. Magda, has been on the constant offensive getting me last minute appointments at SOL PT and doctor’s referrals. She has also been there fostering that positive dialogue in my head with stories and examples of her own. These people have been nothing short of fantastic, but the really rewarding experience out of this whole process has been the unexpected people who have stepped in to help me out.

A great family friend of ours, masters runner STUD, Brian Pilcher has turned into one of my greatest assets in recovery. I am definitely one of the luckiest “struggling post collegiate” distance runners that exists. Brian happens to have an Alter-G and a set of Elliptigos in his garage. Not only did he immediately get me on his Alter- G before I could finish explaining my injury, but he stayed and chatted with me while on these runs. This passed weekend Brian and I went on some INCREDIBLE Elliptigo rides from our houses to the Golden Gate Bridge and back and then yesterday out over Mt. Tamalpais to Alpine Dam. These were absolutely amazing rides with views that I would never have experienced while running everyday. Consider my sanity and positivity restored, thank you Brian.

It might seem redundant to those who read these blogs, because there is a theme to all of mine, and pretty much everyone else’s. Whether it is from family, friends, teammates, or random people, you have got to have positivity surrounding you. When I was in my lowest of lows I had my parents telling me it’s going to be ok, think about June, July, and August. I had Magda fixing problems from across the Bay and I had Brian swooping in for the rescue. I am truly blessed, and definitely going to come out of this experience stronger.

And you know what the greatest thing is about our sport? I may not be running the Olympic Trials, but I do get to pick whatever spring marathon I want. Our sport DEFINITELY does not wait for anyone, but you can always catch back up.