Life is a beautiful thing. Since coming to Austin nothing has gone as planned but perhaps this is the beauty of it. Considering that by profession I am a planner, I have had to learn how to go with the flow, let a lot go and reconsider what time means.
Before I get too far ahead of myself I will recap all that happened since I arrived here. In March I thought I had iliopsoas tendonitis. I started to see Dr. Zelinski of Advanced Rehabilitation who treated me 2x each week trying to get me loosened up and moving again. When I first arrived in his office I was not walking normal at all and had a significant limp. After 3 weeks of treatment and strengthening exercises everyday, I had definite progress but still pain. Dr. Z and I determined that we better get an MRA done. A week later I learnt that I had an extensive labral tear in my right hip, a possible stress response in the joint, and damaged hamstring tendon. Not a good prognosis. The day I learnt this I was also on the plane to Victoria BC to say good-bye to my grandfather who passed away a week later. Upon arriving in Victoria I spoke with Dr. Taylor, my amazing Sports Medicine Doctor at the Carleton Sports Medicine Clinic in Ottawa to see what we should do. In discussing my right hip labral tear, I also learned that I had a labral tear in my left hip. Just keeps getting better! Dr. Taylor was able to get me a consult with Dr. Gilbart of the Joint Preservation Centre at UBC Hospital in Vancouver. Thanks to some amazing people in Ottawa (Chris and Rob) and Austin (Brad) who didn't mind making phone calls and driving all over the city to pick up and deliver MRIs for me, Dr. Gilbart had all the necessary information to meet with me. Lynn also gave up a whole day to drive me to and from ferries, to UBC and sit in traffic for 3+ hours to get home. Yup, I am loved.
Dr. Gilbart examined the MRIs of both hips and recommended that I try to manage the labral tears without surgery. We discussed the challenges of labral tears, what leaving them means and also what surgery may or may not do. He also examined x-rays for hip dysplasia and CAM impingement and is not convinced that I should have anything "corrected" at this time. He is encouraging me to get back to running while improving the weaknesses that have been identified. If in 6 weeks time I am not running and "managing" then he is willing to do the hip scope and address the tears.
So here I am back in Austin, getting back into training and even thinking about possibly racing! I don't think I am out of the woods yet by any means but am confident that I have the best people to help me get back into running safely. I have decided to make Austin my home base for this next year partly because of the great weather but mostly because of the amazing people who make up an incredible training environment.
The other significant news is that I have asked Zane Castro to be my coach. After 3 awesome years with Ken Brunet of the Peak Centre in Ottawa I decided that I needed to make some changes to how I train. I can not say enough about Ken. He is an incredible person and coach. He has brought me to where I am today and given me a huge platform for which Zane will build upon. I would only be so lucky to keep Ken as a part of my team that propels me to be stronger, fitter and faster. The reality though is that I need Zane, his broad knowledge and expertise to apply to my running mechanics, my bike skills and racing strategy. I have the utmost confidence in him and know that once I have all my cylinders firing, it will be a scary thing!
So finally I will say to all you out there, there is no detail too small that shouldn't be addressed when you are pushing your body to the limit day in and day out. Your body will thank you later. Start slow, get it right and don’t overlook the small stuff.
I can not say enough about the emails, encouragement and support that I have got. Thank-you. The army behind me on this journey never ceases to amaze me. The first line I cross this year is to all of you. Hopefully it will be in first!
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