I’m coming back from an injury that had me out for the season. I’ve had a few setbacks aside from that lately and after being in amazing shape for a few years have found myself feeling almost worse than when I first started training at all. Feeling so far from where I need to be I’d love to hear some inspirational stories of you getting out of shape due to injuries or whatever reason and coming back strong.
Still in progress. After 2007 Silverman I ended up injured. In 2008 could not do much. By fall I was sick. By March 2011 I was cleared of meds but instead of weighing 185 I was 255. Had to start 30 minutes eliptical 30 minutes bike. To heavy to run. By July I got 1000 miles on the bike in a month. Went from swimming 250 yrd to 2000. By begin Sept did a half iron, 3 hr bike 2:20 run and 3rd out of the water out of 82. …Oct 1 did a 5-40-5 du. Down to 200lbs and 10 mile runs at a 9:05 pace. 1000yrd swims at 1:25 per hundred and holding a 19mph avg on a 2 hr rolling ride. Will return to Ironman distance next year. Maybe a 5k open water swim. and a whole bunh of other stuff. Want to the bridger ridge run again http://www.winddrinkers.org/BRR/BridgerRidge.html. I live in Montana so some Mtn pass rides and Yellowstone.
Goal is to return at previous speed for our local “Peaks to Prairies” End of April. 9 mile run. 43 mile bike 23 mile Kayak. …So get motivated You can do it. Set some goals and build small to big…Good Luck
After being nearly killed when a car hit me head-on during a training ride in 2002, I lost a year to painful rehab of my many serious injuries. Got to get back on the bike in Sping '04. Borrowed a friends TT bike for a tri relay in '05 and got hooked on it. Won my state TT championship and a few other neat races and TT series in 2006 and every year since. Had other serious crashes/injuries along the way. Had a crash with broken ribs and punctured lung two years ago. Spent 4 days in the hospital. Two weeks after I got out, I won another local TT.
Don’t dwell on the situation you’re in. Dwell on what you want to accomplish! I’d had serious injuries prior to this one (shattered kneecap in the late '90s). You have to realize that this shall pass. It may leave some lasting scars, but it will pass. Help make that happen! Push the envelope! When the doc gives you a time frame, realize that their average patient is a sedentary couch potato! You’re not! Push the envelope!
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I have an oldie but a goodie.
IMNZ 2000. 6 days before the race, I was doing an easy 60km ride with a buddy. He ended up crashing into me, taking us both down. I woke up, staring down a side street. Damn. I was covered in road rash, had broken my helmet and felt like death.
No worries, take a full week off (no training at all) and show up at the start line. I suffered like a rented mule on the bike, got sunburned on my road rash (that smarts let me tell you) and I limped through the run. I managed a PB for then (since beaten) and was NOT a happy camper. The headaches on the run were weapons grade.
After the race I ended up seeing a doctor. I’d broken my skull which might have been the cause of the headaches 
and broke my pelvis too! (I thought I just had really really bad saddle sore)
Soooooo, broken skull, broken pelvis and a PB. That’s some comeback would you say?
Like.
I didn’t like! 
So far I’m up to 36 broken bones, untold soft tissue injuries and I’ve “woken up” in various (non-alcohol) situations 12 times now (due to accidents, generally at high speed
What’s your count?
I’ve been out for the last 13 months, gained 20lbs over that time. I was in great shape/condition when I was in a car wreck. Hand was caught in the steering wheel and I ended up needing reconstructive wrist surgery. If your knuckles touch your forearm, you’re screwed.
I am lucky to have had a great medical team working with me. Surgeon told me this Friday I will have to stay off the bike for several more months.
I am looking at some half-marathons to get my mojo going again. Just put one foot in front of the other and go.
Meant no disrespect by saying, “like.” Just appreciated your contribution.
Your count is far higher than mine, though I must say that a shattered kneecap has to count for about 20 of any other broken bones. Also, when I was hit by the car, the broken bone count was quite extensive … all in the single incident. As for “waking up” to discover my injuries … never had that pleasure. I’ve been fully conscious through the application of tournequets, tubes jabbed through my chest wall, catheters inserted, etc. etc.
We’re quite the ambassadors for our sport, eh? 
Hey … chicks dig scars!
About 2 years ago started having headaches and various health issues.
Eventually was diagnosed with a cerebral cavernous malformation and used some therapies which caused me to be in bed and very weak most days.
Started to feel human again around Nov 2010, and signed up for a HIM and HM. Completed 2 HMs since then, along with an HIM, 2 sprints, a duathlon, a few 5ks, and a multi-series running event. I’m not fast, but I love being able to do what I’m doing.
Just registered for IMFL 2012 and will run my first full marathon in Feb 2012.
In May of 2006, I had a crash that resulted in a shoulder separation, broken ribs and sternum, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), a concussion and a bunch of road rash. I got to spend 3 days in the ICU. 5 days later I was on a recumbent life cycle at the gym. (Those are uncomfortable). The next day I was on one for 2 hours. I was unable to run or swim for 6 weeks, but, with a little help from Francois, I won my AG at the Big Kahuna (half-iron) and a local Oly in September and finished second by 43 seconds (thanks to bone headed transitions) at SOMA (half) on October. The next April, I won my AG at IMAZ.
I tore an achilles in July of 2004, too.
Your guys stories are so inspiring. Mines probably mild compared to some of these. I was on the climb in another extreme sport to turn pro and live my dream since 10 years old. A unexpected injury rocked my world 4 days before my pro tryout. 2-3 years later and 2 surgeries later i finally am back to sports. A orthopedic doctor told me i would never play sports again…liar…i was told i would never lift 20 lbs above my head again…liar…i was told to expect the worst…liar. Like i tell everyone that will listen to my voice, “Doctors only know what the basic, lazy, american will give them. So when they come across a triathlete, a true athlete, the unexpected is exactly what you should expect. We dig, We grind, and we will succeed. Believe in us…because thats what we believe in.”
Great so far, thanks. Surprised not a whole lot of other people have any of these.
May, 1976 - State finals of the 400m dash. I was the #1 qualifier with a time of 50.8 in a prelim. As I crossed the finish line in the final (I won BTW) my left femur snapped. My leg flexed at mid thigh and my left foot went behind my back with the spikes on my left shoe embeded in my skull. The resultant tumble sent me into the cement curb on the side of the cinder track.
I woke up in the hospital 62 days later. I had an open comutated fracture of the left leg and a compressed skull fracture. I was told I would, at best, walk with a limp the rest of my life. That was after cognative tests confirmed that I had no lasting brain damage.
I graduated from high school 2 years later, went to college as a walk on to the cross country team, joined the Navy and completed the most physically demanding program they offer, and continue to run, swim, and bike.
My legs are within an 1/8" of being the same length - a testament to Dr Wagnor at Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, IN.
I didn’t like!
So far I’m up to 36 broken bones, untold soft tissue injuries and I’ve “woken up” in various (non-alcohol) situations 12 times now (due to accidents, generally at high speed
What’s your count?
no offense, but at what point do you think you might regret what you’re doping to your body?
I’m not trying to be rude, I just don’t understand
I didn’t like!
So far I’m up to 36 broken bones, untold soft tissue injuries and I’ve “woken up” in various (non-alcohol) situations 12 times now (due to accidents, generally at high speed
What’s your count?
no offense, but at what point do you think you might regret what you’re doping to your body?
I’m not trying to be rude, I just don’t understand
Well, I stopped taking obvious risks many years ago. I was a pro skier, and would often push the limits (well my limits at least). I did extreme skiing for a couple of seasons. I would stand somewhere and say to myself “If I do X,Y and Z, then I’ll be fine” Invariably I would achieve 99% success but the lack of complete success would put me in a bad starting point for the next required element and I’d end up doing something injurious. Well, I eventually gave that up (at about age 23!) and got into teaching and coaching. Once I was in a slalom course, following my coaches advice, and at high speed, crossed ymy tips. I was on the snow before I could blink and all I heard was the pop of my collar bone exploding into 1000 pieces! Every time I’ve crashed, I was taking a calculated risk that I thought was reasonable. After multiple accidents, I limited what situations I’d get into tho.
I have now (at age 50) limited my risk taking even more. I mean, when I broke my skull and pelvis back in 2000, I was just doing an easy bike ride with a buddy, before IM. Not a major risk and sorta not preventable in the real world. My last broken bones (2 ribs in 2 places) was also on my bike, but in the parking lot access alleyway and a car pulled out in front of me. I endo’d into his hood and woke up, crumpled against his front wheel! Was that an unreasonable risk to take? I was only travelling about 5-10mph for gods sake!
I have dramatically reduced the intentional risk taking these days, but I think the benefits of cycling to work, outweigh the risks. Others don’t make that choice, and while they are on the bus or stuck in traffic, I’m getting exercise, in charge of my own life (to a certain extent and so much more. I’m stuck in an office all day and getting outside in the elements really brings me to life so to speak.
I think those risks are worth taking. I do limp to the bathroom each morning and a very slight permanent limp is developing. I suspect I will need a hip replacement in time. That said, my mother had one at about my age, and the other is due now. My younger sister also limps and is delaying a hip replacement. Neither of them do anything except sleep, walk and drive cars. Neither of them have ever run further than to the fridge! (although neither is fat by any stretch). So while I have broken many bones, and am probably due for a hip replacement soon, the exercise I do and the accidents I’ve had, don’t really seem to have made me any worse than if I’d sat on the couch and watched life drift by.
I will continue to take calculated risks (I love riding downhill fast, but in safe situations) but not undue risks. Soooo, to answer your question, I could say I already have stopped taking risks or I could say I haven’t stopped and don’t plan to? Depends how you look at it
There are many more…I am in process of making a comeback…I have what I call a “dead” leg, due to some muscle imbalances and a twisted spine/pelvis/Hip…my right one…I have been trying to get back for 2 years now. Some days I want to give up, others I have hope. Its hard when your used to doing something a fairly high level and now you can’t. Not because you don’t want to or your not willing to work - your body just will not work. So if I go slow enough I can workout and race, but my mind and my heart want to go harder…its weird having one leg cruising and having more then you have this other leg you have to drag along.
I hope others will post.
September 2006 crashed at high speed, broke left clavicle into three separate pieces, broke two ribs and collapsed lung. Spent four days in the hospital and had a plate and six screws inserted. Biggest motivating factor in recovery for me was doing IMLP the following summer, was spinning on a recumbent biek at the gym two weeks after the crash, doing drills in the pool at six weeks and running after 10 weeks. Had a great race in LP the following July.
Hnag in there!
In the process of coming back. I smashed my elbow 4 weeks ago during a race, surgery 3 weeks ago. Have a plate with 6 screws, one about 4 inches long. First major injury in 30 years of training and racing. Started running again 2 weeks after surgery and am on the trainer. Doc says no swimming but I think I could do it. Not sure if I should listen to him or not.
Back in 1994, after 1st Ironman, I had an accident with my new lawnmower ( Snapper) and the Snapper won. Cut off my left big toe…around the same time as the O.J. Simpsom trial, so that kept me preoccupied. Got back in the saddle 1 month later for a 100k ride.
Out for a couple of months with herniated disc L4-L5.
5 Years ago, meniscus in left knee, gone. Surgeon said no more running for you, next surgery knee replacement…Not…instead purchased custom knee brace and away I continued
Just completed Ironman 24, at Ironman Florida.
Never Give Up !!!
July 2010 my knee would hurt every run after about 5 minutes. MRI confimem a chondral flap (torn cartilege under my knee cap). Surgury was the only option to fix it. Surgury was a success. Doctor told me to never run again. Day before yesterday i completed the Moab Trail Marathon WITH NO KNEE PAIN. I’m back !!!
Hang in there my friend, have patience and DO YOUR REHAB EXERCISES
Cheers,
Dave