Life has a way of throwing curveballs; sometimes, those curveballs come in the form of injuries. For an athlete, an injury can be a devastating setback. But every setback is a setup for a comeback, and that's the journey I've been on for the past 18 weeks.
The Timeline of My Recovery:
June 10 (18 weeks ago): A stress reaction on 5 bones in my foot.
July 29 (9 weeks ago): A greater trochanter (femur) fracture. This was a double whammy, meaning 10 days of complete inactivity.
August 9-25: Swimming was my only solace. I swam a whopping 49,000 yards during this period.
August 26: A significant milestone. I took my first spin on the bike, rode the coast, and felt so exhausted that I came home and napped. After 5 weeks of cycling and 4 weeks of no biking, I'm currently at 80% of my strength and improving every week. The joy of riding my bike has returned!
August 23-30: I began climbing stairs and within a week, I was doing them for an hour while wearing a 20lb weight vest. This was just 10 weeks after my foot injury.
September 8: Another milestone. My first run in 12 weeks, albeit for just 15 minutes.
Today, September 29: My longest ride has been 4 hours, and I'm gradually building my stamina. My longest run is 35 minutes, and while it's slow and painful, I'm optimistic. Given the time off and considering my age, I expect the discomfort to last till December. But the silver lining? I'm running pain-free.
The Challenges of Recovery:
The journey hasn't been without its challenges. The strength I lost during the 4 weeks of inactivity was astonishing. Simple exercises like lunges became Herculean tasks. My left side, where the femur fracture occurred, felt weak and unstable. But I've been committed to my recovery, working on balance, stability, and strength.
I've been visiting the bproject, a unique PT organization I discovered in 2018 when I tore my hamstring. Their approach is unparalleled. Each session involves 30 minutes of hands-on work on the table, followed by an hour of challenging exercises. Today, I struggled with single-legged deadlifts using just 10 lbs. It was a humbling experience, and I left the session in tears, feeling old and defeated. We are working on what I lost in my crash and issues with my hips for as long as I can remember.
Running has been another challenge. Every run feels like a battle, not because of my hip or foot, but because of the sheer physical exertion. Some days I feel clumsy, like a baby giraffe trying to find its footing, and on others, I feel as heavy as an elephant. But I keep reminding myself that I'm running, and it will get better with time.
The Ups and Downs:
Yesterday was a high point. I rode GWL, feeling stronger than I have since my crash, and even managed a transition run. But today was a low. It's a stark reminder that progress isn't linear.
Injuries can be mentally and physically taxing, but they also teach resilience, patience, and the value of perseverance. I'm optimistic about the future and determined to come back stronger than ever.
