At the end of last year, I had to finally accept that my injuries had well and truly won for the time being. Accepting I needed some proper, and a lot of time off, and coming to terms with letting go of all the goals I had wanted to achieve this Summer, including trying to earn a spot on the Australian team for the Commonwealth Games, was quite difficult. Particularly as this was a driving force that partly pushed my injury over the edge. Trying to impress, and set myself up with a better shot at qualifying only to have my body completely break on me, and ultimately sidelined me for 4 months was tough.
After finally coming to terms and letting it go that there was no way I could possibly get myself even close to try and qualify, and realising how much the last few months had taken out of me I decided to really let the training go until I was back into a position where I could move forward. This unfortunately blew out to about 4 months on the sideline! Waay longer than I had anticipated, but made my decision to make no plans until I was fixed the best thing I did. So I spent the Summer trying to relax and enjoy myself a bit, keep fit, rehabbing my foot, and build up some pressure free swim km to tackle the Rottnest Channel swim ( 20km OWS) with my duo partner. Which we managed successfully!!
Some sad news came at this time though that my coach Mel Tantrum, resigned from coaching, and I say a big thanks for making the only way 7km swims can be fun, fun :)
I also owe a massive thanks to a number of people that really did an exceptional and meticulous job in planning my rehab, injury management, and have helped put me in an arguably better state for preparing to run than I have ever been!. With the diligent planning my team has set me up in the best possible position I could be in to have a smooth return back to training and racing, and put up with A LOT of whinging from me in the process.
I am extremely lucky to have had the combined efforts of WAIS, Carmel Goodman, Brett Slocombe, Darryn Seargant, Greg Morgan, Wayne Davies and Bernd Adolph, the best in their respective businesses, and am extremely grateful for the diligence they used.
The good news is I am finally back running! Back on the bike again, and was even so lucky to spend some time training in Christchurch NZ, with Joel Filliol and his crew for a few a few days. Though I think that was the first time i'd seen Winter weather in about 6 years, I very quickly came to the conclusion I am a summer baby 100%! :)
Followed up with a few amazing days training in Queenstown, my faith in NZ summer was restored!
And I am so so happy I could see these places actively!
So for now, though still a little while off racing I am so happy to be back out there, and with patience I look forward to racing again soon!