Never give up, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.
At the Tokyo Olympics, I ran my ankle broken. After 6 months of following a conservative healing approach, the fracture in talus bone started showing signs of an early non union and a surgical route had to be followed. Two screws to fixate the fracture.
This was only the second half to the story and in my opinion the easiest because there was a more definitive timeline to returning back to running and triathlon.
It takes a team effort with multiple sessions every week including: physio, Laser treatment, High pressure oxygen chamber, Osteotron device, rehab and EMS.
Two weeks in a cast
8 weeks moon boot and crutches
Plenty of aqua running, core exercises and eventually swimming then cycling
week 8 - slowly applying body weight to foot (week 1 - 20%, week 2 - 50%)
week 10 - started FWB exercises and proprioception.
After 12 weeks (3months) I had my first run on a AlterG at 50% body weight Another two months and I was running at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Many times I doubted whether I would be able to run again. What I learnt is if you keep going, don't give up, keep chipping away at the process, you will eventually get there! sometimes you are closer than you think, don't give up!
