Freak Fall #2

Can you believe it? Yes, another crazy fall. Eleven days ago, I had just returned early Monday morning from a two hour bike and was doing a short 30min easy run after. I was heading into a very light week in my preps for Boulder Peak but ultimately Sprint Nationals. I was about 10minutes from home when a lip in the concrete got me and my leg straightened as the rest of my body thrust forward and down with the sudden halt in motion. I knew as I was falling, it was not good as I felt the stretch in the back of my leg from behind my knee to up in my glut. I kept thinking, "Oh this is not good, this is not good!" I had to hitch a ride home as I was unable to walk.

Upon arriving home, I quickly was dealing with intense pain and symptoms of shock and nausea. This truly concerned me as I down played it to just "pulling a muscle". I called Melissa seeking some advice and made an appt to get in to see a doctor. The first thing Dr. Papillion said to me was that acute hamstring pulls/tears are one of the most painful soft tissue injurys that can be sustained. I guess this made me feel a little better and I wasn't just being a wimp. =)

After being evaluated, xrays, and an MRI, the findings were a muscle strain with a 5mm tear in the tendon attaching to the ischium. This to me was relatively good news as I had not torn muscle which would require a much more difficult and lengthy rehab. I left with crutches for 8 days, a lot of pain killers, a 4 month recovery and a frown.

I have never sustained an acute injury in the middle of my season that pretty much ended it. Dr. Papilion is pretty optimistic that I can make it to Clearwater in November. I have remained optimistic but definately have shed my tears occasionally.

Stay tuned...