In the words of Robbie Williams “No regrets”
So if you been following my World Masters championships updates you’ll know it didn’t quite end the way I had visualised.
The one question that everyone seems to be asking is do I have any regrets?
The answer is simple.
No.
I’ve been fortunate, I pretty much had most of my 6 months of training into this event injury free, just a hamstring niggle 4 weeks before but then 10 days before an old achillies issue of past reared it’s ugly head following one of my final “sharpening” track sessions.
I had treatment and although it wasn’t like it was before it certainly felt manageable and the plan was to come back from the championships and rehab fully over 6-8 weeks before returning back to any track running.
The 60m heats saw me run an indoor lifetime best, nerves got the better of me in the semi finals but when final day came I promised myself I would enjoy it, this was meant to be my “fun” event after all.
I nervously watched the clock as the announcements came through for the medals (it was a close race), another lifetime best and a world indoor championship bronze medal.
Running over to shreddette, friend and half of my coaching team Leanne she could see I was in pain, “get those spikes off”, when Leanne tells you to do something you do it (well unless it’s running above 250 m then you might find me throwing my toys out of the pram ????)
I had treatment that afternoon with the GB team and hit the 200m start line to make it an easy qualifier rather than putting to much pressure through the achillies.
I qualified in another lifetime indoor best just 0.05 seconds outside the British record but once
over the finish line I knew I was pushing the boundaries.
Further treatment that afternoon, but when you know you know, I spoke to my mum, my coach Nathan and fellow running instructor and friend Debbie back in the UK. “I am running on thin ice and not sure if I am gonna make it, but coming out of the heats ranked No 1 I can’t not at least try. I don’t want any regrets.”
The next morning as I warmed up, i knew by this stage it was probably a race to much and that the semi final was likely to be my last run so I dedicated it to my brother Wayne on the start line.
Little did I know that my calf would pop after my first 4-5 steps and I’d be left sprawled across the track in what was a very impressive fall. I certainly don’t do things by half’s.
Initially I think people thought it was my achillies but fortunately a scan showed a partial calf tear, something I’ve dealt with a few years ago so content with the the fact I knew the rehab time and the process to go through.
What I didn’t realise was the damage done during the fall would become my worse nightmare.
Bruised ribs, track burns, whiplash and of recent days a horrific cough (very common with rib pain), quite clearly my body is in shock.
But you know what?
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Not this time round.
Being a single mum I have my children nearly full time, I rarely leave them and so 8 days away from them competing is a huge thing.
It’s like a military operation to plan, parents being brought in, shopping, meal plans, schedules for each child and of course enlisting the Elite Conditioning Team to cover classes and enquiries so I could focus completely on my event.
I didn’t want to waste the opportunity and certainly didn’t want to not give it my all and not know.
I had to try.
For my kids.
For the team behind me.
For me.
I literally left everything out on that track.
And I am glad I tried.
My body will heal.
But to have regrets would be something that i would probably never recover from.
In the words of Robbie Williams
“No regrets”.
So many athletes had similar situations, pulling up in finals, not running in their semi finals, popping their calf or hamstrings in warm ups.
It’s just part and parcel of being an athlete.
So now onto a few weeks of complete rest and rehabilitation can start.
I am not certain what my summer track season looks like, or if I will even attempt one as yet, but I do know that I wouldn’t change a thing.
I will be rehabbing and training like an athlete regardless, whether that’s a goal of a championships this year or next year because even athletes sometimes lose seasons or miss out on championships.
I will be back, but only when I am ready, because one thing I’ve never had and don’t intend on having is a relapse through an early return because that’s not part of being an athlete.
So torn now it’s a huge thank you to all the Elite Conditioning Team and members for your support into this event and now during my recovery.
Have a fabulous Easter and if I’ve any words of wisdom they would be to have no regrets this weekend, eat the chocolate, drink the wine and remember no one ever regrets a workout or run, good or bad.
Lots of love
Karen and the team