A serious setback and a much needed reminder

I'm injured.  It's nothing terrible like a broken leg or foot.  I can walk pretty normally and seem to be fine riding my bike but running is a different story.  I started to notice a bit of pain in my left knee toward the end of my 8 mile run on Saturday.  When I got home and out of the car I started to limp - going down the stairs was the worst.  It felt a lot like the IT Band issues I had a couple of years ago so I got out the foam roller - serious pain but I was hopeful it would help.  I made myself walk normally throughout the day thinking I just needed to work through the discomfort and it would be fine.  I was cautiously optimistic this morning when I went out to run.  I said a little prayer - asking God for protection, strength and perseverance.  I walked for a few minutes to warm things up - then I started hobbling along at a faster pace but much to my dismay after about a half mile the discomfort turned to pain and didn't subside.  I walked the remaining 1.5 miles home a bit dejected.

So it's time to come up with a new plan for the next couple of weeks.  I still think this is an IT Band issue so I'm going to keep up with the foam roller.  I'll also focus more on strength training, yoga and cross training and with a little luck I'll be up and running in plenty of time to get back on track with my Half Marathon training - you know, the one I'm going to run in 1:55. 

Oh, as I was walking home from my run - feeling dejected and sorry for myself because I couldn't run  - I came across a women that I often see walking in our neighborhood.  She's an older woman probably in her 70's or 80's but it's not her age that catches my attention - it's her speed.  She takes one painfully slow step at a time with a painfully slow pause between each step.  It takes her 10 minutes to walk the width of my driveway.  I saw her from a distance this morning - about a block away.  She only took about 3 steps before I caught up to her.  She looked at me and commented on what a beautiful day it was.  I agreed with her and then quickly thanked the Lord for blessing me with the ability to walk, and ride my bike, and swim and lift weights and do yoga and...

It was a much needed reminder of how truly blessed I am.  How I am guaranteed nothing, am worthy of nothing and yet have been given so much - all of it, every breath I take, is truly a blessing.

Keep breathing... and running!