A Swimming Recovery

On the 28^th May I finally replaced my plaster cast for a moon boot. Any athlete would know just how attractive these boots are, equipped with little air pockets for comfort and style. I was so excited to have a proper shower without a plastic bag over my leg or chair in the base of the shower. As you can imagine, not washing your leg for two weeks was not the most pleasant experience. I still needed to use my crutches and had to stay off the foot for another two weeks before weight-bearing could begin. 

After the removal of the plaster, I was given the all-clear by the surgeon to start swimming again. I was told that I must use a pull buoy at all times however and could not push off from the wall, but I was able to get back in the water none the less. After three weeks off any form of physical activity, I was ecstatic. I was also able to get back into the gym to rebuild some upper-body strength too which would help my swimming fitness return quickly.

Admittedly, the first couple of swim sessions were a struggle and my heart rate was through the roof after just a few laps. But my fitness returned very quickly and I had not lost a lot of technical components that Warwick and I had worked extremely hard on before the injury. I have been back just over two weeks now and my fitness has completely returned and, in another week or so my swimming will be back to where it was before. I’ve built my weekly mileage from 10km in the first week up to 50km this week, and up again towards 60km next week. I am working very closely on all of the finer details so I can move my swim forward whilst I still cannot run.

I am also doing a number of water running sessions to build my run fitness and allow me to work on technique, without loading the foot. I am currently doing four 30 minute sessions each week. Anyone who has done water running before will know how frustrating it can be. You can run as fast as you can for 30 seconds whilst only moving about ten metres. It works a charm though so I know it is worth sticking at until I am able to run again.

I will be back on the bike next week, can’t wait to get some rollers sessions under my belt!

Ellie xx