What a difference a year (or five) makes/Never give up!

Tracey Gibson: What a difference a year or five makes / Never Give Up

Exactly a year ago I was anticipating the Blizard Portugal warm weather training trip with some anxiety, with more to follow having come down with Covid and hardly running all December.  Unfit was an understatement.

However, wind the clock back 5 and a bit years and I’d just returned from the World Master’s champs in Malaga with a calf injury, a few days later lost my dear dad and subsequently my mojo.  I got back but the calf / achilles plagued me, then a problem with a nerve in my foot so took myself to Jenny in 2019 to get sorted. I’d just moved up an age group so plenty of motivation.  Her expertise basically restructured and mobilised me and everything took an upward turn.  Unfortunately in September I literally ran into trouble via a pothole and broke my fibula.  Time out, in a boot, get back to some fitness by Spring 2020 and we all know what happened then.  Continued getting fitter, including quite a lot of indoor rowing as of course no-one went out anywhere so lots of extra time to train!  Luckily we already had a rower and weights set up – although got some good offers for both during those crazy Covid times.  October 2020 got a weird shin cramp during a short run which continued that evening, resulting in the next morning stepping off the curb on the way to work and crunch! Then suddenly couldn’t lift my foot properly.  No problem, I was seeing Jenny in a few days anyway so I’m sure she’ll sort me out.  When Jenny diagnosed my ruptured tibialis anterior tendon and said she’d never seen this injury in her professional career I truly thought that was it.  Naively I said “another couple of weeks off then” and then the reality hit, the first surgeon said he’d never seen it before and I’d never run again but he put me in touch with probably the best foot/ankle surgeon there is who confidently said I’ll have you back running in 6 months (tendon reconstruction etc., 6 weeks in plaster/4 months in a boot), then sessions on the AlterG treadmill before he put me back in Jenny’s care.  Following Jenny’s rehab to the letter I was soon feeling great and doing a few post lockdown races.  Oops a hidden conker in the Autumn leaves brought on a beautiful ankle sprain that ensured a bit more rest and rehab.  The winter went well then a familiar pop in the foot at the end of a run and I knew that was going to be some more time in the boot – which it was, when eventually 4 weeks later I got the fracture diagnosed.  Another comeback – it’s getting tedious now, but always looked forward to physio with Jenny.  Mentally though was much more of a challenge.  I needed running to balance out my life - especially my job which was also causing me issues - but every run felt hard, getting older and slower.  Then Covid got me and we’re going to Portugal very soon...

My anxiety couldn’t have been more misplaced, what a great group of people!  Ok on the first run I hung off the back sounding like a steam train and I fell over in a huge puddle but it didn’t matter as everyone was so welcoming and friendly. 

Tips and knowledge shared, great facilities and lo and behold running everyday doing more miles in a week than I’d done for years – even a track session.  Dave, Jenny and Tracey encouraged and looked after us all. 

The turning point came at the end when we had to write 3 things down that we wanted to achieve in the year – Life Changes. 

My number 1 was to stay healthy and build a strong base in 2023.  Back home and renewed enthusiasm, however every run felt like slow, hard work to be finished as soon as possible.  Needless to say I wasn’t really enjoying it, feeling disillusioned, progression was marginal but at least physically I was intact – assisted of course by the regular Blizard run club S & C sessions. 

Number 2 on the list was to prioritise training over work.  Hmm not quite as easy to put into practice, but out of the blue I got a new job opportunity working from home for a flexible boss who is also a runner (therefore understands the need for a lunchtime run or finish early to get to a physio appointment).  Box 2 well and truly ticked. 

Number 3 was get a lactate test with Dave.  I’d put this off thinking I wasn’t fit enough so after speaking to Jenny I finally booked in and completed the test, which wasn’t half as scary as I thought!  Dave was so thorough and although my runs had felt hard basically I wasn’t working hard enough to improve.  My need to get them over with as soon as possible meant my HR at the end rose uncomfortably.  Under Dave’s guidance the majority of my runs became easy (surprisingly easy) and I had the capacity to run harder when I needed to.  Why oh why hadn’t I done this before?? At last I was loving the sport again with capacity to go further and faster. 

Back to racing again and the last few months have been incredible for me.  I’ve scored a few good results in my age group even though I move into the next one in 3 months so the motivation is there to carry this on  as a F60 and beyond!

Oh and in a few weeks it’s the Blizard training trip to Portugal again… this time I can’t wait to go!

Thanks so much to Jenny, Dave and the whole Blizard team – Never Give Up 😊