MULTISPORT
Lockdown Breakdown
My first mission back onto the mountain trails was a cardio nightmare . Carrying a less fit , chunkier version of myself around made running less enjoyable than I remembered , but distracted by the fresh air and beautiful views , I started running a little further , climbing a little higher , moving a little faster with every run . Eventually , I reached a point where I found myself racing personal bests along certain routes , and within two months I managed a half marathon training run .
Lockdown Limitations
Then COVID-19 and its parade of inconveniences arrived ! The day before South Africa was to commence its national lockdown , I decided to head up to my favourite isolation station , Devil ’ s Peak ( a . k . a . Satan ’ s Boob or Lucifer ’ s Tit ) for one last peek at the outside world . My mind was on a mission , my thoughts fluctuating with the elevation as I contemplated everything from the true meaning of life , to how many Grey ’ s Anatomy episodes one could download with 10GB of data . My body was 1000m above sea level and my head lodged firmly in the clouds , pondering global pandemic realities , wondering why pyjama sharks have stripes , and the imperative consideration of what to have for lunch .
King Protea on Devil ’ s Peak , with Lion ’ s Head and Table Mountain as backdrop
I wasn ’ t going to share this story , as it is my most personal one yet , but I do feel it is important for young female athletes ( actually , all women ... and , of course , men ) to be aware of their bodies and the warning signs they give , before you cause irreparable damage , especially if you are a long distance runner and swimmer like me . I hope that it may give you something to relate to , and provide some guidance , or at least a little bit of a laugh . – BY LEIGH DE NECKER
After four months of a monumentally
frustrating , but lesson-infused recovery from a running-induced right femoral neck stress fracture , I placed the wretched crutches in the cupboard next to a smelly old broom , and took my first steps . Initially , I walked like a person who mistakenly thought she could handle her tequila , but after a while , I progressed to the stumbles of a newborn springbok calf .
For five weeks my right foot was incredibly sore . It had been out of service for so long , that all the ligaments and tendons had atrophied . As unpleasant and unexpected as this was , it did prevent me from rushing back to running like a rockstar rushing back to his beloved cocaine . Actually , I was terrified to start running again … mostly because I feared my lycra attire would no longer fit my now heftier buttocks , but also because I feared feeling fracture pain again , meaning that the demanding recovery would have all been for nothing . days ) and to make myself look better than I felt , and did a short , slow 5km waddle around the block . My knees niggled , butt burned , legs ached , feet felt weird , heart nearly exploded ... but I cried a little , partly in disbelief at being able to run again , but mostly with relief that there was no pain at the fracture site ( even though there was pain , literally , everywhere else ).
Once the government had placed all ‘ non-essential ’ civilians under house arrest , running was confined to staircases , passageways , gardens , balconies and routes to and from the fridge . I was considered ‘ essential staff ’ at the Two Oceans Aquarium , where our animal keepers , divers and aquarists were split into two teams , working on a three days on , three days off rotation . I am so fortunate to have had work during this time , as well as having the Aquarium space as an awesome setting to do some physical training .
A final run on the mountain before lockdown
Images : Big Bay Events , Cleeve Robertson , Sean Altern & courtesy Leigh De Necker
But one morning , feeling nerves consistent with those on a race morning , I got dressed in my baggiest , moderately flattering running clothes . I laced up my running shoes over a pair of long colourful socks , with tropical birds collaged on them ( all the rage these
42 ISSUE 135 NOVEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za