What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

This past week has been incredibly challenging and frustrating, but a huge learning kerb all at the same time. Unfortunately, I have had to end my overseas journey and return to Australia with a broken right foot. Definitely was not part of the plan!

After my first French grand prix in Les Sables D’Olonne, I was struggling to stand on my foot, let alone walk or run. The pain decreased across the following week and everything was looking up. However, we decided to get some scans done to make sure everything was looking as positive as we thought, but some terrible news resulted from the scans; an acute broken navicular. In the surgeons words, jumping off a 3 storey building and landing on your feet would be another way to break the same bone. As you can imagine, I was devastated.

I returned home last week and underwent surgery last Tuesday to have a pin put through the bone. I am now sporting an attractive plaster cast and crutches for a couple of weeks, waiting to be replaced by a boot. 

Apart from not training, the crutches have been by far to most difficult thing to adapt to. Currently, I have fallen up two flights of stairs, fallen down one and just generally stacked it three times. There is definitely an art to using them, one I clearly don’t possess.

Fortunately, I am able to swim again as soon as the plaster comes off next week and then cycle soon after that. I have a very specific rehabilitation plan in place to get me back to full fitness as soon as possible, whilst still giving the injury ample time to heal. Even though I am extremely frustrated with not being able to train, it has given me a great opportunity to get on top of other aspects of my life that will help me move forward as an athlete.

I am very positive at the moment and know that I will be a better athlete from this adversity. In the meantime, I will keep you updated on my progress, rehab and the many more stacks off my crutches that are bound to come.

Ellie xx