Leadville–an off road experience

Preamble

Ever since falling on a trail run 2+ years ago I’ve avoided all off road runs like the plague.  I’ve even skipped most triathlons where part of the road is trail.  The risk of injury just wasn’t worth it any more.

That all changed with my injury last summer.  I did extensive therapy to strengthen my ankle (and did both while I was at it).  I felt my ankles were better than pre-injury, so maybe off-road would be ok.  Plus, I wanted to do something different where I wouldn’t put so much pressure in myself to perform.  That’s where the Leadville Trail 10K came into play.

Pre-race

Before arriving in Colorado for the race, I was mostly worried about the hills – the profile looked pretty bad.  Then I did a couple days of pre-race runs at 8800 feet (much lower than race level) and I discovered that I couldn’t run very far without running out of wind.  As a matter of fact, depending on how hard I ran I could only manage 1-5 minutes without having to stop and walk.  Now I was pretty freaked out, but decided this would be a run/walk event.  Still, lying in bed the night before the race I somehow came up with a projected finish time (No pressure, right??)

Fast forward to race time

The starting gun went off, and I deliberately hung back to let most of the racers go ahead of me.  I figured this way I would have fewer people passing and demoralizing me.  The race started with a short downhill and then into our first hill.  I was almost immediately winded, going downhill!  I told myself this was a bad idea:  I wasn’t ready to race this distance, I wasn’t acclimated and hadn’t done enough hill work.  I started composing an email to my coach telling her how I wanted to pull out of all racing until I was more ready.  I really had a lot of negative thoughts going through my head.  Then something happened…

I heard lots of yelling and realized it was my fellow racers.  They were just excited to be there and were having fun!  What a novel idea, have fun at a race.  I wish I could explain what happened, but something changed and I decided to have fun myself.  I didn’t worry about rude runners, conditions or anything that would take me out of my “Zen” mode.  I had good music to listen to, the course was beautiful and everyone was friendly.

I didn’t look at my watch much, if at all, focusing on the trail to ensure I stayed safe.  Before long I was at the turn-around and only aid station.  I’d survived the first half without walking.  (I should note that people started walking at the first hill, less than 1/4 mile into the course.)  It was very congested, and impossible for me to run through.  I decided to walk through, get some water and take a gel.  Then I was off again, the real test:  3.1 miles of mostly uphill.

I made it about a mile and had to walk to catch my breath.  I kept walking hard, and my breath didn’t really come back.  After about 30+ seconds I decided to get going again, even though I wasn’t any better off.  I made it another mile and had to walk again.  I forced myself to run up the hills and use the crest to recover.

This was an out-and-back course, with the first part being road.  When I hit the road on the way back I knew I was close, sort of.  We came to a big hill, with a lot of people walking.  I picked a spot halfway up and told myself I could walk after that.  Then as I reached that spot I decided I could go a bit further and picked another spot.  Repeat.  As I got to a spot near the crest, where I really wanted to stop, I thought I saw the finish line up ahead.  I was so gassed that I needed to get confirmation from the runner next to me.  One more down and uphill to go!

With my old friend waiting for me at the finish line I knew I couldn’t walk where he might see me.  I dug deep and hung on, watching the finish get closer.  I passed a lot of people up that last hill.  I wasn’t thinking about that so much, I just wanted it to be over.  I don’t remember much about the finish other than being handed a much needed bottle of water.  I rinsed my mouth and spit it out, right onto the shoes of a passing runner.  I felt badly, but it makes me laugh today.

The goal for this race was to have fun and decide if I’d be interested in doing it or the half marathon next year.  Thinking about what I’ve written I’m not sure it is clear how I felt.  I knew immediately that I wanted to do the half marathon next year.  I didn’t care about the profile or that at 15+ miles it would be the furthest I’ve raced in 30+ years.  I had SO much fun.  I don’t remember when I’ve had that much fun in a race – maybe never.

I don’t know what will happen the rest of the year, or in the years to come, but this much is certain:  I had a blast a Leadville.  I wonder if I could do a 50 mile mountain bike ride???

What’s next?

A quick update before I dive into “what’s next”:

It’s been just about 3 months since my surgery.  The doctor said it would be 6 weeks before I was good, and three months before I was real good.  I wrote that down so I would remember it correctly.  So am I “real good”?

I am able to run and bike without any pain.  I have some discomfort on my long swims or kick sets, but nothing that would make me stop.  My ankle is stronger today than pre-injury, but I still come up a bit short when it comes to flexibility.  I could work on that, but I think forcing the flexibility could cause more problems that it solves.

Am I real good?  I’m not sure, but I am sure that I’m good enough!

In two weeks I’m going to do my first triathlon in over a year, a sprint.  I didn’t say “just a sprint” because to me it is much more than that.  Not only is it the next leg in my journey back, but it is also the first race I had to cancel due to my injury.  Needless to say I suspect it will be an emotional race.

This race is special:  I’m a sweeper, meaning I (and a group of other runners) will be doing the run leg carrying the US and service flags.  I’m going to be carrying the Navy flag in honor of my friend Chris “Doc” Goehner.  It’s going to be an awesome finish, one I hope the crowd appreciates as much as I appreciate the honor of carrying the flag!

The question I have, and a race day decision I suspect, is whether I will do the entire race on my own, and then run it again, carrying the flag with the rest of the guys.  I change my mind daily on what to do, and probably will again half a dozen times before I commit one way or the other.  Whatever I decide to do I’d bet that I cross the line smiling!

Last year in review

I haven’t posted an update in 10 months.  I knew time was ticking, but just couldn’t find it in me to write.  Looking back over my last few posts I can see why:  too much uncertainty and nothing good to say.  It’s funny to me to go back and read what I did write.  I wonder if all of our lives would look differently retrospectively?  So here’s what happened in short:

Around mid-June 2012 I fell off a ladder.  I ended up tearing multiple ligaments and fracturing a key bone.  I call it key because it absorbs a lot of the impact when you run.  I went through 2 months in a removable cast and another two in a splint.  I did a couple of months of rehab, and after 6 months was finally ready to run.

Running was painful.  After several months of rehab, trying to run, and waiting I ended up having surgery to remove scar tissue and clean up the ankle.  I’m now  approaching the 3 month mark where I am supposed to be “really good”.  That is relative.  Compared to pre-injury it isn’t accurate, but compared to pre-surgery it is true.  Only time will tell how good it gets.

Before surgery, I think it was while I was waiting for an appointment with the surgeon, I snuck in a race, a duathlon.  I was very out of shape and ended up walking a couple of times on the last run.  I was certainly less than satisfied with my performance, but I was using an old measuring stick.  It’s time for a new one!

I’ve been working with a new coach – who is taking things slowly and cautiously.  She is also focusing a lot of time working on core strength and flexibility, something I’ve never done before.  I still do a lot of rehab exercises, because I want both ankles to be stronger than pre-injury to hopefully prevent this level of injury from happening again.

I don’t have a lot going on this year – it is devoted to building base and preparing for next year.  I have signed up for three races:  a triathlon (more about that later), a 10K in the mountains of Colorado, and another duathlon in AZ.

I think I’ll leave it at that as it gives me something to write about in the future.  For now it’s time to wrap this up and get to my rehab!

Patience.  I must be patient in my recovery and hopefully anyone reading will continue to have patience with my writings.

Rehab update

I just glanced at my last post, and that seems like it was months ago!

Since my last post I was pulled off of swimming for several days.  The plan was biking only, very easy and only 30 minutes at a time.  This would give my ankle some controlled movement in a safe environment.  He still is concerned about the swim being not controlled.

In my follow up appointment, after several days of biking in a row with less pain each day, I was allowed back in the pool, with restrictions.  I have to swim with a buoy, be careful getting in and out of the water, and take a day of rest in between swims.  Because of the local pool schedule (the one with the safest entry/exit) I only got in one swim before the next appointment.

Everything continues to go well with the rehab.  I’m only doing what the doctor allows, and being very careful to avoid mistakes.  Today I was able to extend my spin to an hour, and increased the power some.

I can tell I’m getting better because I’m able to walk around the house (again, this is allowed) without my boot.  Once I get moving my ankle loosens up and I can almost walk without a limp.  Slowly but surely we are getting there!

Roller coaster ride

This has been a crazy injury/recover!  It seems as though one day I’ve got one opinion and am headed in one direction, then just days later everything changes and I’m headed in another.

In my last post (and I just re-read it to be sure I remembered correctly) I felt certain that that the surgeon was going to tell me I needed surgery.  I went armed with lots of questions:  what and when would he do it, what was the recovery like, etc..  We talked briefly, he examined my ankle, and then told me that surgery wasn’t required.  He put me back into the removable cast/boot and told me to come back in a month.  I wasn’t at all prepared for that response and hadn’t thought about any questions.

I did push back, indicating that I had athletic plans for the future and needed a full recovery.  He told me I was getting the same answer that Mario Williams (a professional football player in case you didn’t know) would get.  Still in shock I only thought of one other question:  when could I run again.  Red flag:  he didn’t know!

He said he was going to speak to Dr. Sanders, whom I knew would have the presence of mind to ask the questions I didn’t.  The big ones being how can two pieces of the ligament that aren’t touching going to reach out and reconnect?  If that do manage that, how tight will the ligament be?

I’ve done some research this weekend on my injury, something I should have done before my last appointment.  There were two themes:  Avoid surgery if possible, and people who did months of rehab only to end up having surgery later anyway.

Today is my first day back at rehab.  I feel a bit sorry for Dr. Sanders.  He gets as one of his last patients of the day someone with a lot of questions, and a lot of frustration with the answers he got from the surgeon!  Hopefully he has some answers for me!

Medical update

I’m late with this post because there was always another update just around the corner.  It’s still the case, but I do want to log my thoughts.

Last Thursday I went back to the orthopedic doctor.  I immediately told him I was unhappy with the continued pain and lack of progress.  He took a look at my ankle and sent me for an x-ray of my foot to verify I hadn’t broken something there.  That came back negative.

He took me out of the removable cast, put me into an air-splint and sent me to rehab 3 times a week.  There were two key questions asked/answered:

1. Are you sure that doing rehab now won’t do any further damage:  No.
2. Is this amount of swelling and pain normal for this long after the injury:  No.  If the pain continues he will refer me to a pain management specialist.

I signed up for my first rehab session for Monday, two days ago.

After some pushing and prodding by my parents, who were concerned about my situation, I called Dr. Sanders (a chiropractor) who has worked on various parts before, but more importantly works with the Houston Texans. He looked at my ankle briefly (and a photo I’d taken weeks earlier) and said something wasn’t right.  He didn’t want to rehab me without knowing what the problem was and sent me in for an MRI.  That was last Friday.

I cancelled my rehab session with the orthopedic doctor for Monday, and instead went for the MRI.  I have two words for that:  loud and cold!

Yesterday I went back to Dr. Sanders for rehab and to find the results from the MRI.  I knew something was up when he walked in without his  usual cart of stuff (gels/lotions, etc.).  Long story short, it wasn’t good news.  While it did provide some level of validation that I wasn’t just whining, for me it was the worst case scenario.  Reading his notes now I see that I have a full thickness tear of the ATF and medial deltoid ligament, and a compress fracture of the talar dome.  I also see a sprain and strain of the calcaneofibular ligament.  I had to look all of those things up, but I agree; that’s where it hurts!

He isn’t a surgeon, but he doesn’t believe those full tears can heal without help, meaning surgery.  I go in for a surgery consult tomorrow morning.  This is an ankle specialist who works with the Texans and Houston Ballet.  I believe that he will know the best thing to do to speed my recovery.  In the meantime I’m back in the cast with no extra walking or biking and limited swimming.

I wasn’t letting Dr. Sanders off the hook that easily, I wanted to know what that meant.  What were the best and worst case scenarios.  He replied that my season is over.  “That’s what you really want to know isn’t it?”  He knows me too well.    He added that either I wouldn’t be able to come back, or if I did I would be one of those old/slow people, which I won’t do.

He didn’t leave me hanging though.  The best case scenario is 3 months in the removable cast and no surgery.  However, he doesn’t believe that will work and said he would want to speak to the surgeon if that is what he recommends.  The worst case is much worse and involves pins and plates and 9 months of down time.

Needless to say I was pretty upset yesterday.  Today is a new day and I’ve got to accentuate the positive.  If I hadn’t gotten the MRI I could easily have done some damage and would be down much longer.

Tomorrow is my first appointment with the surgeon.  I hope to leave his office armed with a new plan for recovery, and that whatever he wants to do, we get to it as soon as possible.  Time is ticking and I’ve got races to run!

The Long road to recovery

I know it’s been a long time.  I had such good intentions this year to keep up, then I got injured, moved twice, and then got really injured.

Four weeks ago Wednesday I fell off a ladder while installing a ceiling fan.  I couldn’t have been any more than 2-3 feet off the ground, but in my attempt to jump clear of the ladder I landed awkwardly on the mattress frame and really did a number on my ankle.

I won’t bore you with the details of how we got here, just where I am now.  I’m in a removable cast, with which I’m able to walk around fairly well – just not very far.  I’m also finally able to sit in a chair like a normal person for an extended amount of time.  I’m unable to walk normally without the cast (nor am I supposed to even try) and am still too swollen to fit into a shoe.  Training wise I’m limited to swimming, and then only with a pull buoy as kicking is still too painful.

I go back to the doctor later this week to find out if I can take the cast off and maybe start some rehab.

I might be able to do some biking on the trainer, but I’m very concerned about getting my cleat off my injured foot (no way am I going to twist it out!).

Hopefully I’ll be back in a few days with a medical update.