Race Coverage
Bruises, Mud, Disgusting Lockerrooms...
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Wednesday, 22 May 2013 11:10
From The Ashes
By Suzie Fox (suz--news.blogspot.com)
Gear West Du Race Report - On April 27 I crashed my road bike and hit my throat really hard on the cockpit between the handlebars. I ended up with a severe injury to my trachea and my left foot didn't unclip right away, it caught a little and I tore my hip flexor. Then I ended up with a strained hamstring, groin, and adductor all on the same side as the hip flexor as a result of compensation just trying to walk and do the little non training things to get through the day like put pants on and get in and out of the car. I had been putting in solid 20-22 hour training weeks and just three weeks earlier on April 6 I did a 22.26 mile run, then suddenly my life had been reduced to not being able to pick up a dog poop or swallow food and water without pain, let alone run....
My coach told me to remain CALM, CONFIDENT, & POSITIVE but with the season approaching and not being able to train I spent a lot of days feeling panicked, insecure, and negative. I missed three races in a row but knew that I was doing the right thing by resting and healing. Coach stressed the importance of my two options; taking care of business and getting 100% healthy or being a dummy and training/racing through my injuries which would end up making them worse or continue to nag all season long and beyond.