Coming to terms with my own stupidity

Not for nothing is this blog called Misadventures in Adventure Racing.  I have shared it all, the ups and the downs.  Sadly now, is a down moment.

Those who read this blog regularly over the last 5 -6 months will have noticed that I have gone awfully quiet for about 3 weeks.  Sorry about that.  I have spent the time coming to terms with my own stupidity.

How did that stupidity manifest?

I broke one of the fundamental rules of any sport.  I ignored an injury.  I stuck my head in the sand and hoped that by pretending the problem wasn't there that it would go away.

Remember the incident with the haematoma?  The cabbage leaves, the arnica and the optimism?
Hmm.  Well the haematoma has turned out to be a side effect of a torn cartilage in my hip.  The amazing thing is that after some initial pain and swelling the groin strain that I thought it was quietened down and I did the whole of the Beast of Ballyhoura without any pain whatsoever.  It was only after a 5 week lay off that the pain started to really show itself in all its technicolor glory.

At first I was struggling through training with a view to doing a short race at the end of September.

However my hip had different ideas.  It was mainly all right during a sports activity, it was directly after I stopped and the day after that the pain became so intense I would want to cry.

I went back to running in  September and managed to stumble and fall twice in one week as a result of catching my left foot on a root - in broad daylight!  In retrospect I think it had something to do with my gait changing to compensate for not being able to lift my left foot as high as usual.  I soldiered on along the runs though feeling fit as a fiddle despite the blood pouring from my leg and did a fairly decent time for one who had lazed about all summer.  Oh but the next day my groin was burning!

Later that week I arranged a little 30 km cycle with my buddy, Kate and I was rather glad that she got a puncture 20 km in because I wasn't really feeling it that day:  there was a slight niggle in my groin. But, of course if I kept on ignoring it, it would go away....

It was the kayaking that finally convinced me that this wasn't going anywhere.  Kayaking uses your whole body and the peddling, running motion of the legs made my groin burn like someone had put an incendiary device in my knickers.  I couldn't get out of the kayak and my sister, with whom I was training for a K2 event had to haul me out.

I went to the GP.

I was referred to a specialist.  He heard my sorry tale and diagnosed me straight away.  'OH BUM!'
was the thought that crossed my shocked mind.  However, he said that I could go on training if I really wanted to.  I wanted to.  I kept at it.

He sent me for an MRI.

My appointment came for the MRI.  In the meantime, I had developed a stinking cold and so had stopped training.  I toddled of to the hospital for the MRI. In the cigarette shaped tube I tried really hard to lie poker straight and absolutely still.  My arm went to sleep and despite being desperate to move it, I did as I was told and lay completely immobile.  They bunged some earphones with some frankly appalling music playing through them, over my ears.

I couldn't help it...I dozed off....it was the best 30 minute nap I had had all week.  I woke myself up snoring 3 times!

I was given a DVD rom of my hip and I took it back to the specialist who told me I need a hip arthroscopy to trim the torn cartilage and that they may also have to reshape the ball in the socket of the hip joint.  Wear and tear is the culprit apparently.  What wear and tear?  It was only a little race.... The goal of the op, he said would be for me to resume adventure racing.

Now what?

I went home and pretended that I hadn't had the conversation with the specialist.  I tried to carry on training not very successfully.  I had a little chat with one of the coaches at the kayak club.  He pointed out that the race season starts in May, the sooner I get the op done, the sooner recovery can take place.

I spent another week in denial.  I stopped training.

I went back to the GP. Surely rest could sort this out, I pleaded.

No.The operation is the only solution.  I made the call, I booked the op.  So I am off on my hospital adventure on Monday and then it will be the road back to full fitness.

See you soon.... Training starts with that first post -op physio session.....here we go.....!