CIAN’ S VOICE
4 MINS 34 SECONDS
Cian’ s Voice
Finding peace in the pause
As a runner we all love to start the year off strong and on a good note. So to be three months into the year and not run for six weeks, it feels an awful lot like starting the year off on the wrong foot, or be it leg in my case. Sometimes‘ firsts’ are fun. My first bone injury? Not as much fun.
36 ISSUE 177 | www. modernathlete. co. za
In mid January I competed in my first track race in nearly two years. I was so excited, it was so good to be back, especially since I had such a big year last year. I did 16:39 for 5000m, which was a solid start for me but I must admit, I did feel a little frustrated. Something in that race just didn’ t feel like it clicked for me, so I took it as a rustbuster race, still feeling good that I did it, even if it wasn’ t quite my best.
That Sunday, I did my usual long run feeling good and strong, I sent positive feedback to my coach and got ready to take on the new week. On Monday I felt a little stiff, which felt like nothing a little bit of a massage gun to my leg couldn’ t fix.
But when I woke up and joined some friends for a speed session on Tuesday I knew there was something wrong. I couldn’ t jog without limping and had zero power on my few strides. I called my session off immediately, a decision not taken lightly but I knew I had to listen to my body. Some chiro treatments and an MRI a week later confirmed my fear, I had a Grade Two Stress Reaction in my femur.
A stress reaction means it has not
quite become a stress fracture. So while I had done damage, backing off as soon as I did means I didn’ t do as much damage. It did still cause a sudden and forced rest and reset, and a shift in focus for my goals. Add in a broken toe from a silly slip on the stairs, I was left in a hard place which I promise you didn’ t all come without a few tears.
Last year, while many didn’ t know, I had a few hiccups, all of which I pushed through. I made my body work hard to reach some big goals,