Iron Lion Training

On March 19th I learned I’m  not invincible….well I knew I wasn’t “invincible”, however I felt major injuries were things that happened to “other people”. Ridiculous I know, but I felt that dip in The River Styx meant I was immune…guess I should have read the fine print…

 

 

On March 19th, 2014, while doing sprint drills, on my very last set, 3rd stride off I heard a loud ‘Pop’.

I mean this shit was sickeningly loud. I actually stopped, looked behind me because I thought someone had popped an air filled paper bag. Confused, I attempted to keep going. When I put weight down on my left foot I knew something was off, it wasn’t painful, maybe because my adrenalin was going, but I couldn’t stabilize my leg – it felt like the ground was moving…

 

 

I hobbled over to the front desk at the gym that I work at, GoodLife Fitness Bathurst/Richmond, and my Colleagues iced it, compressed it, and carried me to a cab to be taken to Toronto Western Hospital.

“FUCK – AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME TO BE INJURED!”

*That was an actual thought.

“I can’t be injured now – I’m training for Golden Gloves, just started a new job, and a big part of what I do requires working feet”

 

 

Well despite my ‘thoughts’ on the matter, an ultrasound revealed a full rupture of my left achilles tendon that required surgical repair. Estimated recovery time, 6 months to a year. So on March 26th, terrified, I went into surgery, not before requesting some adamantium, and other upgrades…

 

 

After taking 1 week off post-op (was on Percocet for pain) I got right back to work.

 

 

I was, and am determined to return to 100%, so I learned very quickly it was extremely important to keep a positive mindset. I read, and researched this injury and understood it could go 1 of 2 ways:

• -it could heal, allowing me to get back to training and competing, OR
• -it could end my competitive Boxing career

 

One of my She-roes, Lucia Rijker, suffered a similar injury that ended her career:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2112834

So I made a decision. I decided I’m not done Boxing. At age 33, I finally identified one of my gifts – my athletic abilities, and I am not ready to let them go without a fight. That ‘POP’, I heard on March 19th was a warning shot from my body – you won’t have these ‘gifts’ forever. 

Woah.

 

 

I am 15 weeks post op, and am grateful to be walking without crutches. I still have some swelling which limits my mobility, and my left calf isn’t very strong, but it is coming along nicely. My Orthopaedic Surgeon says I can start running, and punching in a week, and start agility training in 3-6 weeks.

http://www.tgwhf.ca/mha/surgeons_gandhi.asp

I am grateful for the support of my patient, and loving Fiance, Ron

 

 

I am grateful for my amazing training, and boxing clients, who encouraged me every step of the way.

I am grateful for the many lessons from this injury such as:

• -A deeper, and greater respect for my body, and what it requires to perform at a high level (rest and recovery)
• -Patience
• -Understanding the necessity of  ’embracing the suck’

 

This injury has not been easy, and has sucked on all kinds of levels, HOWEVER I am grateful for the strength I’ve gained through going through it.

Thank you to my family, and friends for all your love and support!

I am healing much faster than anticipated, and am looking forward to getting back to training. While my foot was healing, exercise was minimal – this was also a challenge. Some said “your upper body is gonna get jacked’ suggesting I go ‘HAM’ with upper body work. I did the exact opposite, in my opinion, an injury isn’t a reason to shift, and beat up another part of your body – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

With the advice of my Coaches, I elected to take it easy, rest, relax, and give my body what it needed – time to heal.

So that is where we’re at! Healthy, recovering, and getting back to training in a couple weeks 🙂

Until then, myself and The Dykstra Clan are off to Alaska for a 10 day cruise. Looking forward to Family time away, recharging, and adventure!