A Premature Seasons End :(

This was definitely not the way I wanted my season to end. I kept on hoping that maybe I could turn it all around and end my season an honorable way with some good results. But nothing has gone my way this year. I could not get rid of my hip/back injury – which I have dealt with since April. All through the season I have raced and trained whilst in pain. Around 3 weeks ago I finally realized that I couldn’t continue this pattern. My pain got worse and I had neural pain all the way down my leg. Three years ago I had a discus prolaps (slipped disc) so I recognized the pain. I started to get concerned and I was worried that I could cause further damage to my body. So I made the tough decision of “calling it a season” and REST. My body had been screaming for me to rest at so many points throughout the year and I continued to ignore it. Now I want to take the opportunity to get my body back to a pain free one and build up a solid base ready for 2011 season.

After that decision was made I had 16 days completely off – and I mean I did absolutely nothing. It was while at “my second home” on Lanzarote, visiting my boyfriend, Ben that the final decision was made. The plan was to train there for the last two world cups. In the beginning it was tough to stay there, there were so many triathletes who were preparing for Hawaii including my boyfriend that I found it hard to switch off from the sport. But after I had accepted my decision I then began to enjoy my time in the sun and made the most of being able to do nothing.

When I arrived back in Denmark I had an MRI scan of my back. The results were kind of positive – that means my back wasn’t any worse than it was three years ago. I still had my discus prolaps, but it was ‘inactive’ and then some of the bones in my back have changed a bit due to the crashes and over strain. I was happy that I didn’t have a new prolaps but there were still small issues that needed to be sorted. To overcome all those back problems I have started to do specific back/hip training together with a Physiotherapist from Team Denmark’s medical crew.

I started to “be active” again one week ago – with an average 1 hour of training per day. The main focus is my back/hip strength training and then start to run again. Since March I have been running 27K average per week – shocking, huh?! I will do everything I can to build it up gradually now and then I will hopefully next year I can show what I am capable of.

Currently we are making a plan for the off season all the way until the season is scheduled to start in March 2011. I will be staying in Denmark until my back is strong and the training is flowing again. Along with my own training I will be busy over the next 1½ month preparing lectures, training schedules and nutritional programs for many of my clients. Once I have completed all this administration work and got back into the flow of training the plan is to then move down to Lanzarote for around 3 months to live with my boyfriend and spend a winter training in the sunshine.

I do hope that my next update will be a bit more positive in regards to the progression in training. I am also currently establishing my sponsor team for my journey until London 2012 Olympics…. More news to come.