Would like to hear some examples of people that have come back from serious injuries. Anyone came back from injuries bad enough that the doctor told you to stop running forever? Make it back to your PRs?
Would like to hear some examples of people that have come back from serious injuries. Anyone came back from injuries bad enough that the doctor told you to stop running forever? Make it back to your PRs?
I came back from a severely broken leg. In May of 2003 I was running on an undiagnosed stress fracture and when I planted my leg to hurdle a steeple barrier. The next thing I knew my tibia and my fibula were completely snapped in half about 4 inches above my ankle. I had surgery the same day and had a rod inserted into my tibia with 4 screws to hold it in place. The doctor never flat out told me that I couldn't run again, but I'm sure that it went through his mind. I couldn't walk for 4 months, and didn't run for almost 9 months after the injury. After a slow and steady recovery I made it back to run XC in 2004... and am finishing my senior year(5th year) of outdoor track now.
It's been almost 2 years since the injury and I just ran my first steeple this past weekend. As far as PR's, I have achieved almost all of them after the injury. I've lost a little bit of pure leg speed, but I'm much stronger and tougher now.
Before and after PR's:
(1500) 4:01---->4:03
(3k) 8:41---->8:29
(5k) None---->14:56
(8k) 26:07--->25:16
Steep 9:13---->9:34 (1st one of the year)
Haven't got the steeple PR yet, but that's the goal...
one relatively famous one was dave merrick - a great hs runner (illinois i believe) who went to upenn in the mid-70s.
had all sorts of lower leg problems, had seen many specialists, and was on the verge of calling it quits. he saw dr. sheehan, was diagnosed with a foot problem, and less than a year ran one of the fastest times ever at VCP for 8k. the story was related in one of doc sheehan's books.
Dick Beardsley got run over by a farm tractor... tons of surgery...
i believe he ran a fast mary after this
dick is a great first name!
Not sure if this counts as an injury:
HS 1996
2:04
4:27
9:32
College 1996-97
Drank myself into a stupor
XC: 27:30 at start of season, somehow developed a slipped disc in my lower back, ended season running 29s, didn't really run much for 3-4 months and gained 20 lbs.
College part II
Transfered and still running 29-31 for 8k. Visited a chiropractor who fixed my back. Fall of '98 back running 27s for 8k. Fall of 1999 ran school record 26:26, month after season ran 25:19 for a 5 mile road race.
Hopefully going to be running a Sub5 in the mile after 2 months of injury. I have 8 weeks to do it...