This, for me, is something of an accomplishment. Rookie that I am, I am still quite stubborn with my triathlon training and tend to push myself until I can’t take another step. I’ve mentioned before how running keeps me sane; this cannot possibly be overstated.
When I hurt my Achilles several weeks ago, I panicked. I thought I had been doing everything possible to prevent injury: Yoga, rest days, cross-training, slow and gradual increases in my distance and duration. Still, though, the pain worsened and I knew it was time to take this injury seriously.
Translation: Several rest days and an appointment with a physical therapist.
Mind you, physical therapy and I have a bit of a history together. A not-so-great history, resulting in me following directions to “stop exercising altogether” (read: become a couch potato, grow depressed, eat my weight in pizza and pinot grigio, gain weight and grow more depressed because I gained weight; lather, rinse, repeat).
Not a pretty picture.
I was hesitant to revisit physical therapy after having such bad experiences in the past, but I knew an injury to the achilles (or any other tendon or joint) required me to decide: Stop running for an extended period of time, or see a physical therapist. I chose the latter.
A triathlete friend gave me the info for a nearby physical therapist she used for her own achilles issues. I was encouraged upon hearing she successfully trained for and completed a marathon while dealing with achilles problems, thanks to this physical therapist. Turns out this PT was also a triathlete, and therefore likely to come up with a better response to my achilles woes than the doctor who gave me the referral required by insurance:
“You know, some people just aren’t meant to run marathons and triathlons,” he told me, squinting behind smudged lenses as he handed me my referral slip. “I’m not saying you, I’m just…saying.”
Thanks, Doc.
I took my referral slip and booked an appointment for physical therapy. Reluctant as I was to revisit the world of TENS units and slow stretches, I was determined as hell to heal, to keep training, to continue moving forward.
I knew as soon as I walked into the office that this place was different from other physical therapists I'd tried. The building was small and slightly cramped with various machines and workout equipment, but the staff members were friendly and I was only in the reception area for a few minutes before being taken back for my session.
The PT session was the same as others I’ve experienced before, but with a few key differences: For one, I get asked what my goals are. They actually asked me outright: “What do you need from us? What point do you need us to get you to?”
Also, I'm not discouraged or laughed at for wanting to get back to training as soon as possible. They don’t suggest maybe I’m not meant to do triathlons; they acknowledge how unfortunately common injuries can be and encourage me to work hard to heal up so I can get back on track.
The first session wrapped up smoothly, and I scheduled the next few with cautious optimism. I get sent home with a folder containing printouts of various stretches to complete on my own, and was ecstatic to hear that I could begin running again as long as I kept my miles low and slow.
The PT office wasn’t perfect; the longer I went the more I saw how overbooked they were and how stressed the staff got some days. The tiny space made me feel awkward jumping on the small trampoline or running in place while another patient was massaged a few feet away. But the staff knew my name and were genuinely interested in seeing me heal. They were extremely encouraging and optimistic about my Achilles. I nearly burst with excitement when the owner asked when my next race was
I got lucky with this one. There are plenty of PTs out there who will happily take your money, give you a few basic exercises to do and send you on your way. I am thankful to have triathlete friends who give great advice (and thankful for a wife who makes me listen). The triathlon world isn’t just about working out every day or following intense training programs; it’s also about listening to your body, taking a step back when needed, giving your body time to heal.
Slowly but surely, I am learning.
This article appears in Jul 13-20, 2017.