« 2006 Pittsburgh Olympic Distance Triathlon | Main | Back to Business »
August 7, 2006
Funny How Things Work Out
First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their very nice and very encouraging comments! I appreciate it! If I need a little pick me up I can always count on you guys. :)
I don't have any training to report on today. I had the day off and boy did I need it! I was super sore today when I woke up (and still am). K and I were discussing what we thought made us so sore and we both determined it was the hard running. Funny thing that running... :)
Regardless, I wanted to comment today on a comment that Alison had on my entry about yesterday's race. She said "I think the PF might turn out to be a blessing in disguise!". Boy Alison - I couldn't agree more! :)
I think it was about 6 weeks ago, I was just thinking about the triathlon races and the training and for the first time in my whole entire life I was actually happy that I was injured. I was happy that the PF wouldn't allow me to run like I wanted. Happy that it bugged me long enough to push me into another sport. Very happy that I can still run some but happy that I can't run too much. It was a weird feeling for sure but it was really how I felt. I haven't felt this excited about sport, this hungry to win, this disciplined to train hard and correctly for a long time, maybe not even since late high school, early college. And I'm just thrilled about it. Absolutely thrilled.
The funny thing is this whole experience has been one of the most telling lessons God has ever taught me. A year ago at this time I was so frustrated and sad and just disgusted with my feet...and it only got worse over Sept/Oct/Nov to the point where I just gave it all up altogether. And at the time I knew, knew without a doubt, that God had a plan, He would use me how He wanted to use me, not how I thought I wanted to be used. I knew that His plan was much better than any plan I could think up. I knew I had to have just a little faith and He would be faithful to me. I knew that in all the times I didn't know what to do, didn't know where to go, was scared and felt lost that He would direct me. See I knew all that. But knowing something and living something in confidence are two different things. When I finally decided to let go of the struggle I was waging with my feet, started to open my mind a little to other possibilities, started to give up the control I thought I had, that's when the simple idea of triathlon popped into my head. It took me a while but I finally got to that point this past winter.
It's funny how God works.
I've been in the situation before. Choosing to leave my PhD program was another scary move where I really had a hard time seeing how it was all going to turn out. But it did. And I couldn't be more thrilled.
I'm sure it will happen over and over again in my life - I think I want to go in one direction and God wants me somewhere else. Things aren't working out and I'm frustrated. Hopefully as I age and become more mature I can realize it sooner than later. It would save a lot of worry. Good thing God is patient. He has to be with hard-headed people like me. :)
Posted by beth at August 7, 2006 8:07 PM
Comments
Belated Super Nice Tri Beth! (multiplied by several orders of magnitude...) There is so much that could be said in connection with your last two entries... and i am not one to stay away from commentary :) However, as I was "visiting," I incidentally found a quote on Mario Fraioli's latest entry which offers an interesting rebound on your "favorite" - the pivotal - Third leg of your new sport ... (or is it a new way of doing the same sport? :) ... all the best, corrado
"When I’m running, I run on my own terms and do as much as I feel I need to do on a given day. With painting, I have the same control; I dictate what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it. The way that you become great at both of them is by being willing to do what’s necessary to take it to the next level when other people aren’t.
- Anthony Famiglietti
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at August 8, 2006 10:52 AM