I have been lucky enough to be given a new Endolite running specific blade that is in the development stage. It is of the C blade stile but has a foot plate for added stability, the leg is brilliant. You get so much energy back from the leg and it's very smooth, I did think the foot plate might not work very well but it is very well thought out. The lower part of the blade is also split down the middle which helps so much not just on conering but also when on uneaven ground! It is only in the development stage but they have made a pretty awesome leg.

I haven't been particularly well since I got it so have had to take it a bit easy but have done a 5K run which took 20:44 and a 10K that took 43:45. Both post amputation PB runs so it is very promising for my triathlon and paratriathlon season next year!

It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks with not feeling well and having assignments to get in at university but heard some good news today! There is a paratriathlon talent ID weekend taking place at the beginning of February at loughborough, for anyone interested: http://www.britishtriathlon.org/news/british_triathlon_search_for_future_paralympic_talent_2642 .

Sockets/skin problems

I have had the usual problems with socket fittings of late but we have gone back to an older socket cast and just shrunk it down and will try the test socket on Friday as the shape seems to be fine.

I have had though allot of very heavy eczema and have had massive problems trying to sort it out and tried so many different products but with no luck. The eczema is fine while in the socket and only comes up after about 10 minutes of the socket being off, when the skin just goes bone dry and looks a mess.

I found this cream though that I got from the chemist called CETRABEN and it is brilliant, it only took two days of using it before the skin had completely cleared up! That was about a week ago and I only use it once a day now and it seems to do the trick!

Rollercoaster

The roller coaster continues.

After trying a new liner that needed a different way of casting the socket we decided against it after it being very painful right from the first day I used it at home. It had gel in the liner that was supposed to move away from the pressure areas when moving around but because it did it just felt very unstable. I was finding I just eventually sunk to far into the socket causing pain, both on the stump and nerves. Worth a try though as you never know unless you try these things. We just decided to start from scratch and am going back to have the first socket fitting next week they have taken another mould the old way.

Although I have had problems with cuts where the socket isn't fitting at the moment after a few days rest it looked okay so decided to do a 10K run race and just take it easy, using it as a training session. So was very surprised to come in a time of 45:44 a massive post amputation PB and felt very good all the way round the quit hilly course. Even I was happy with this time as since the amputation I have only run 10K about 5 times and that includes in training. I have had some testing and coaching done lately, I had some swim analyses done and filmed and also have my V02 max test. The swim analyse was very interesting as I have had it done before. The V02 max test I have never had done and it came out at 66 which is classed as excellent and the Glen who did the testing sent me a long report included training zones based on V02 max so I can improve my training/speed.

University has been so busy, so much reading to do and I am ridiculously slow but it is very interesting, thank god. Loads of assignments to do as no exam but this means there is twice as much to keep up with all the time!

Serenity

It's been a funny couple of weeks with uni starting back up, suddenly my socket not fitting again, a clamp cracking on my activity blade and the last couple of days back training on my walking foot that I started on.

The first week at uni was very short and a little annoying as it was really just an introduction to the course which if like myself and allot of the other students who did foundation we went over it all lastyear. The second week was the start of the actual lessons but I missed two due to one scheduled appointment and one for the cracked clamp in my blade which is now in the workshop waiting for the new part to come in. Hopefully will get it back Monday, please!!!! The lessons I did do though I found very interesting and more motivating than the ones I had in foundation.

Training on the walking leg again has highlighted just how amazing the elite blade is at taking the vibration out of the impact in both walking and running. I have only done a gentle 4 mile run at just over 8 min miles which felt okay but a little jarring. After my swim this morning I decided to do a short session on the treadmill to try and soften the impact, it didn't really help that much.

The two prosthesis I have is an esprit walking foot and an endolite elite blade.

Going back to the esprit has highlighted the big differences for me and might help other people. The only flex in the esprit is in the foot unit where as with the elite blade has the flex from the foot and also flex from the blade, it is only slight but makes a huge difference in cadence and on how hard and fast you can strike the ground with the forefoot. That is another big difference, the esprit is designed to take impact through the heal as you walk and with running you shouldn't strike through the heal, apart from going down hill! You can run on a walking foot but very carefully, if you are running allot push for an activity leg or a blade it will I think save wear on the joints in the long term.

My first appointment this week was to take another socket casting as my stump has shrunk again and is not fitting properly causing more cuts behind the knee. I go back Monday to try on the first fit socket then the following week will have the new socket hopefully:) I have also had some good news, Christina my prosthesitist and also Alan the tech guy from Blatchfords said they have the new trial endolite C running blade being made for me. I should get it in about a month so that should be quit interesting and am very excited about it as will be able to get used to it over the winter and give them feedback on what I think of it!

Serenity - I'm not very patient any more but try to go with things, pick your battles and be content with your efforts if you have done all you can, that is all you can ask of yourself. Don't wind yourself up with things you can't change and try and learn and adapt along the way. To me serenity is just being content, sometimes things go well sometimes not so much but just accept and move on:)

Tips for Amputees

These are just things in my experience have worked well for me, after trial and error.

1.Ingrowing hairs - I have not had any problems with ingrowing hairs I think because I use a gentle exfoliating sponge and shower gel to wash my stump every day but only if the skin is not broken.

2. Cuts, Blisters, Abrasions - I never use blister plasters on my stump after learning the hard way, with the heat and moisture in the socket they dissipate into a sticky gooey that sticks to the hair and needs to be cut out. Bloody nightmare!!!

3. Dressings I have found good - Tackerderm and Opsite are okay, they are both clear post op dressings and stretch with the skin but I still find that with the friction of the socket become dislodged. The best thing I have found is a product called invisible protection plasters by Elastoplast, you can get them in most super markets or chemists. They are completely clear, you stick them on then peal the surface off make sure to smooth them over well but I find even in the socket they will stay on.

4. Prevention is better than cure - When ever there is redness from friction there is always a chance of the skin breaking which in the liner and socket can take ages to heal. Vaseline will help a little but does tend to dissipate but is better than nothing. If it is in an area that you can put an elastoplast on then I would do so as it will eleveate the possible skin brake and might be fine after the plaster comes off.

5. Sockets - Always tell your prosthesitist if you are not happy with your socket as they want you to be as comfortable as possible. I do find though that I need a couple of days to get used to a new socket sometimes they don't feel very comfortable straight away, always give your prosthesitist lots of feedback it is in both your interests.

6. Skin problems - Because of the stump being in a gel liner the sweat and heat can cause skin problems, dry skin patches can be fungal infections some times so get the doctor to look at them. I have had these and they do just look like dry patches but the anti fungal cream is put on then just put your liners on as normal it healed up with in two days.

7. Cleaning - The stump liners need cleaning every day, my ones with soap and water and I also wash the suspension liner every day which again is easy because it is gel lined. The stump liners I take into the shower with me and just wash them under the shower then hang it to dry usually drys within a couple of hours. With the gel liner attached to my prosthesis I just wash over with a sponge as I cant shower it off.

Paratriathlon On Channel 4

It was really cool to be on TV thismorning as they showed some highlights on Channel 4 of the Strathclyde paratriathlon. I got really good coverage and they showed me at the start, running a couple of times, mentioned by name and some of the interview I did at the end of the race. I was still sounding very out of breath and looked pretty knackered.

Really good to get paratriathlon out there and it's paralympic status!

Just Part of The Game

I've had a bit of an unsettled 10 days since Strathclyde, I had planed to take an easy week, eat what I like and just let the body recharge! The socket had cut me behind the knee at Strathclyde but it was nothing serious and has happened before. Usually even while training it heals without having to do more than us Elastoplast invisible protection plasters, they are brilliant and the only ones that don't disintegrate in my socket but this time though it has been a real problem. Last Friday I thought I would do Victoria Park 5K series and it went okay. I was hoping to get under 22 minutes, I did 22:12 which equals my PB since the amputation but still a way to get close to my post amputation days, I will though:)! The cut behind my knee was no worse no better, I had 4 days off and this short race so took Saturday and Sunday off too, I think I probably did longer swim sessions instead. 

I saw my Prosthesitist, Christina on Monday and the problem area was looking okay and the dry stump liner I was trialing seamed to be working well if a little tighter. There was a sharp edge in the socket, on the patella ligament so Christina got the workshop to smooth it out. In the evening I decided that rather than go for my usual all out run sessions I would do a longer gentle run over the 10 K distance. It felt very good while out but when I got back the back of my knee was a mess again! I think in the fold in that area behind the knee is just a hard one to get healed once there is a problem!!

Lesson learnt though, I was supposed to be racing Sunday but have pulled out, it has nearly healed now after resting it up but not enough to race.

Sometimes you learn the hard way but rest and care is as important in life as anyother part of the plan to succeed!!!

Active Ashford Bursay

I had some really good news the other day! I took a call that I wasn't expecting from Active Ashford saying that I had been awarded a very generous bursary for Disabled Athletes. I was really made up as have really struggled financially through the summer and have found it very stressful! I have been looking for work but with no success, I am at university but will also have to work. So this money will allow me to spend out on things I just didn't have the money for like some swim analysis and coaching, bits for my bike, money for race entry, travel money which is getting continually more expensive!

It will also be nice to go to the event they are putting on in aid of the athletes that receive the bursary's and will hopefully be able to talk a little about paratriathlon to keep pushing the sport into the limelight.

So would like to thank Active Ashford and also Designer Outlet who are putting the funds up!!!

Strathclyde Paratriathlon

I was travelling up with my brother Phil on the Friday to the lake district first as he was going to be staying there to do Hellvelyn Triathlon on the Sunday. We was there by about 5pm and and had arranged to meet up with Christine, who was the coach at Ashford Tri before moving to the lakes. She was taking an open water coached session in a river at the mouth of Windamer, beautiful setting and a brilliant but very tough session. The current was very strong but it was really good practise and good to be coached, we did draughting practise, sighting and a set to see how many laps we could do round some buoys in 5 minutes. Really good to see Christine again:).

On the Saturday morning Phil dropped me off at Grange-Over-Sands train station. I was pretty loaded up with my bike and bag with me but the only good thing about the swim being cancelled was that I now didn't need my wet suit or crutches. I arrived in Motherwell at about 4pm, booked into the hotel which was only half a mile away, dumped my bags and headed over to Strathclyde Country park to register.

I joined one of the C1 guys, Dave on the Cycle course for one lap to get a feel for the cycle course and saw how difficult it was for them in the chairs it being very undulating and felt more up than down hill! It was good for me on the bike though, I like a hilly bike course:) I headed back to the hotel which was very posh, so great to be staying there by myself in a massive big bed knowing there was a wedding reception going on that evening. Lots of pretty girls all dolled up, it was so hard not to go down for a drink! I went straight to my room though, put the paralympics on the tv and had my pasta and tomatoes that I had brought with me, rock and roll.

Race Day

I arrived a little late not getting there till 7am, I still had plenty of time to set up in transition as it didn't close till 7.35am but like to get things sorted allot earlier. It was now just a case of waiting till the race start at 10.20am. I had breakfast at 6.30am but new I would need to eat again so had another coffer, banana and a big cookie at about 8am. At 9.30am started to do some warming up with James Smith who is in C3 and has CP, it is good talking and learning about how different disabilities affect you and gives you more of an understanding of the amount of thought and work they have to put in!

1500 meter run

The only other person in C5 was Matthew Emmerson the British Champion, for lots of reasons the turn out was very low. The run started and I tried to hold ground with Matt but after about 500 meters he had pulled away. I finished the run in 00:06:31 which was a little slow for race day but not to bad. T1 was good though and didn't have any problems getting my cycle shoe on which can sometimes be a problem getting it onto a prosthetic foot and did it in 00:00:51.

21K Cycle

A very undulating course and some long climbs considering it is only a sprint tri course and made it a gut buster. It was 4 laps so you new what to expect each time and the only flat part was on the turn around point and as you came back past transition. I was really pushing to try and catch Matt but on each lap we was passing each other on opposite sides of the road at about the same point! It was a little disheartening on the last lap seeing him at the same point and as it was closed to traffic I had really chanced my luck on the turn around points at either end of the course! I was really laying my bike into the corners and just hoping the tyres would hold onto the road. I was hoping to be a little quicker but 00:38:28 was okay and I was pushing hard. T2 was brilliant and did it in 00:00:43, very quick in anyones books!

5K Run

Since the amputation I have done no run hill training at all so when they said the paratri was going to be 1 lap back round the same course as we cycle my heart had sank a little. I felt good though when I went out on the run and felt strong going up the hills but just lacked a little technique as I haven't practised but just tried to really lean in and drive back with my legs and drive with my arms. On paper there was no way I would catch Matt on the run but that doesn't mean to say I wasn't going to try and anything can happen. So when I passed him coming the other way at about the same place again I still had belief that anything can happen and to keep driving up the hills. As in T2 the camera crew were there taking lots of close ups which I found quit motivating and with the motor bike just infront of me on the run allot was trying to pass it every time it crept infront:) Matt crossed the line first again but I was closer to him this time than I was 3 months ago at the British Paratriathlon Championships! My run time was 00:24:27 which I am really happy with as it was allot of hill running and this is something I can work on over the winter.

Overall time 01:11:01

Summary

Overall really happy with my performance, it has given me areas to work on and I will be so much stronger again when I next race. I am still knocking massive chunks out of my run times every week but will just need to put some hills in now to cover all bases. On the cycle I think I just need to gain more speed when I go over the top of the hills sooner there is a habbit to rest. You can always be quicker but was very happy with my transitions and my training programe is obviously working:)

Matt was the deserved winner and the stronger guy on the day, well done Matt and good luck in the worlds next month!!!

Thanks to my mum, dad, brother and friends for all your support!!!

Insperation

Big thanks to St Thomas's and Bowley Close Rehabilitation centre for inviting me alone yesterday! Bowley Close is the centre where I go for sockets, prosthetics and anything related. I got to meet all the staff at the centre yesterday that I wouldn't neccesarily see when being treated and everyone was so welcoming!

I got to talk to the workshop staff who make my sockets and who take real pride in their work and find this makes me even more motivated to achieve my goals:) Also talked to the head of the technology department about the possiblility of getting involved in trilling new cycle legs and running blades. It's all very exciting, at the end of the day I know I am lucky enough to have the genetics to excel in triathlon, I work relentlessly which is another important part of the puzzle but every bit of the puzzle has to be there and technology is one of them. 

I meet a very inspiring young girl who at age of 20 had to have multiple amputations after ilness and is walking and back driving already! She was there to press the button to start the Paralympic light show on the Houses of Parliament. I think I have seen her at Bowley before but didn't notice that she was an amputee, I think over the years of treatment I don't take as much notice of physical differences between people.

Very inspiring for me to meet someone with such strength of character!!!

Start of Tapper for Strathclyde Paratriathlon

I did my last hard session before Strathclyde yesterday, 1200 meter run followed by just over 20K on the bike and a 5K run where I did another PB again 22:12. An average pace of 7:08 min miles, was happy with this for a training session and it bodes well for my future target of sub 20 min 5K!

Plan for the rest of the week is just to do short sharp sessions to keep myself feeling fast, I' m in great shape so just looking forward to it now and will be allot of fun.

Recent Results

Fowlmead Midweek Duathlon 9^th May

14:41 1.9 mile run & T1/ 30:33 10 mile bike & T2/ 16:53 1.9 mile run/ 1:02.07 overall.

17^th out of 24.

British Paratriathlon Championships 26th May

Swim 750M open water 14:09/T1 02:57/Bike 20K 33:57/T2 01:33/Run 5.6K 29:43  overall 01:22:19

3rd Place. 

Fowlmead Midweek Duathlon 27^th June

13:11 1.9 mile run & T1/ 29:19 10 mile bike & T2/ 14:01 1.9 mile run/ 0: 56:31 overall.

Joint 19^th out of 39.

Fowlmead Midweek Duathlon 25^th July

12:59 1.9 mile run & T1/ 30:29 10 mile bike & T2/ 13:30 1.9 mile run/ 0:56:58 overall.

20^th out of 43.

Ashford Wheelers 10 Mile TT

20^th June 26:40, 12^th out of 30.

04^th July 26:07, 15^th out of 27.

Canterbury Sprint tri 1^st July

7:40 400M pool swim/  2:26 T1/ 39:09 20K bike & T2/ 23:04 5K run/ 1:12:19 overall.

36^th out of 177, 5^th  in age group.

Lydd Mid Week Sprint tri 11^th July 500M/20k/5.4k

9:37 500M open water & T1/ 38:25 20K bike & T2/ 25:38 5.4K run/ 1:13:40 overall.

15^th out of 39.

Lydd Marshman Sprint tri 29th July 700M/24K/6K

14:47 700M open water swim/ T1 2:58/ 41:58 24K bike/ 1:09 T2/ 29:05 6K run/ 1:29:50 overall.

  9th out of 30, 4th in age group.

Summer Break

I broke up from uni for the summer in may about a week before the British Paratriathlon and have been looking for work ever since, which isn't great! I still have 3 years to do at uni but need to at least work part time as I have a mortgage and live by myself. I always look on the bright side though, Iv had no money but have had time to watch our amazing Olympians doing great things and such an inspiration! I will also be going up to St Thomases on Wednesday they are marking the Paraolympics opening ceremony with an event to let Para Athletes talk to people about their sport and promote themselfs and invited me to come allong. Really looking forward to it and will try and head over to the park to see whats going on at some point!

My training since the end of may has gone brilliantly and for the last 8 weeks I have been preparing for Strathclyde International Paratriathlon on the 2nd September, a week tomorrow. It couldn't have gone any better over the last couple of weeks, knocking a minute off my 800 meter swim, a minute off 20K cycle and over 2 minutes off my 4 mile run. I have also been practicing the transitions all the time and T1 (swim to bike) has come down from 2 minutes to get my wetsuit off and get my leg on and now only takes 30 seconds a massive time saving! It is however a little unfortunate that this week the swim leg at Strathclyde has been cancelled due to poor water quality in the lock, due to weather conditions. So now it will be a duathlon, im a little disapointed after so much improvement on my swim and T1. It will be a 1500 meter run, 21K bike and 4.6K run which is okay as I have made massive improvements on the run but it's still not as stronge as my swim or bike. You never know on the day though and I have done loads of speed work on the track, either way really looking forward to it!!! My rest day wasn't till tomorrow but have taken it early and will take tomorrow off aswel and then start my tapper. I took today off as although my heart rate varience was showing a really good reading my lymph noddes in my groin were a little swollen to say the least. Its just a result of work, money stress and the build in training intensity but is very important to take rest when needed, we only have one body, look after it:) It's just the immune system doing it's thing I have had it in the past after operations or bad stressed weeks and with a couple days chilling and rest they go down. Mum, Dad and my brother as always are so supportive of everything I do and Mum and Dad have given me the money for accomadation which is a life saver as I just wouldn't have had the money!

On the same day I do Strathclyde my brother will be doing Hellvelyn Triathlon so we will travel so fare up together, head off to our different races then meet up again. He has a van so will go as fare as the lake district with him stay a night there then the following day get a train to Motherwell and stay the night there then race the next day. After the race in the afternoon will get a train back to the lakes to meet up with him again. It will be a little manich but should be allot of fun too as my triathlon coaches live there after moving there a couple of years ago so will meet up.

I think I have also had two new sockets since June the last is brilliant as for the first time all I need is the first gel liner and no cotten socks to bulk it out. Christina, my prosthesitist does a brilliant job and also managed to get me different suspension liners as my other ones would tear on the sockets while cycling then leak air, these ones are reinforced around the knee which makes sense. The sockets I have now are allot more deffined and sculpted as my stump shrinks down and takes shape they will no doubt keep changing but they are so helpful at Bowley Close and always happy to help however they can.

British Paratriathlon Championships (7 months post amputation)

British Paratriathlon Championships 26^th May 2012

750m lake swim, 20K bike and 5.6k run.

Build Up

I decided to put in my entry to this event just 4 months after my amputation after talking to one of the girls in the Paratrithlon British Team who was at the TCR show. By the day of the event I would be 7 months post op and couldn’t see why I wouldn’t atleast be able to complete the course, even if I didn’t break any records. The preparation leading up to the event was steady but with lots of mechanical problems with punctures and problems with stump socket fits and problems with the suction socket liners tearing and leaking. I felt that the things I could control though were going very well, basically getting fitter and fasterJ.

The event was being held at Nottingham Water Sports Centre so my brother Phil had said he would drive me up the day before as I need to be classified before I could compete. The Classification was very relaxed and done by the BTF physios who were very friendly and helpful. I new they were physios as soon as I mentioned I wanted to hop to T1 so I could get my wetsuit down on the move rather than use my crutches. They managed to talk me out of it thoughJ. I was classified as category 5 which I think is anythone who has a problem in one leg below the knee so it wouldn’t just be amputees in my category but people with lower leg injuries or congenital problems below the knee.

There were three other people in my category, one an amputee and I knew from looking at past results they had all been doing it for years and were all very strong so I would just give it everything and use it as experience. At this stage I had nothing to lose as I am still in the rehabilitation stage, so just go for it!

Briefing  

The briefing was brilliant because they went through how I would be helped out of the lake to my crutches, from there to my bike where my prosthesis would be and then we all went down to T1 to set up. T2 was in a different area but only about 20 meters away on the other side of the track so no big deal. In category 5 you are allowed one helper which I had volunteered my brother Phil for that role which he seemed really happy to do.

Swim

There was an option to swim non wet suit as the water was 21C and I can believe that as it felt like a warm bath. As everyone else seemed to be going for the wet suit option I decided to follow suit. I had left my prosthesis over by my bike ready to go so headed over to the water on my crutches which felt strange to be using crutches again! All the different categories of paratriathlon would be set off at the same time so we was pretty bunched up in the water with everyone trying to get the best starting line including me. I new the start would be a bit of carnage but that was probably a bit of an understatement. I had some one go over the top of me just after the start and was getting kicked by two of the swimmers in front, one was a guide as the other was visually impaired so they was tethered at the ankles. As we all jostled for a good line over the first 300 meters I started to get some clear water and it wasn’t like I didn’t give as good as I got. With open water swims you just have to go out hard, if nothing else just to get some clear water. It was tough out to the turn point because there was a strong head wind blowing down the lake which made it very choppy and you had to just gut it out. At the far buoy you had to head across to one on the other side then head back to the start. As I headed round the buoys I still had people around me which I saw as a good thing as I hadn’t been left in the wake. The swim on the way back I tried to push the pace even harder because a couple swimmers had dropped back from me but one was with me stroke for stroke all the way back and we kept clashing on and off. I kept wondering whether it was someone in my category but found out after the race it was Steve Judge who is in category 3 and who I have chatted to by email and Facebook over the last year. They managed to save his legs after a terrible accident using the same frames they used for me. It did make me smile though when I realised after that it was him I was going stroke for stroke withJ He is a really good bloke and was happy to offer advice when I emailed him last year!

T1

My brother is a star!!!!

Phil was brilliant, after 2 people had pretty much hoisted me out of the water and given me my crutches (thank you to them!) I headed over to Phil on a very unsteady leg, tired shoulders and with a giddy head. All I can say is it went smoothly and Phil did a brilliant job doing one thing while I was doing another, like pulling the rest of my wet suit off my ankle while I got my cycle helmet and leg on then he had the bike off the rack ready for me by the time I had stood up!

Bike

The 20K bike section consisted 4 laps round the lake so you couldn’t go wrong and although there is no traffic it is not closed to the public or swans ducks and geese. So anyone doing the national relays keep your wits about you. Keep an eye out as one racing wheelchair swerved to miss someone and ended up in the lake and another bike written off after swerving to miss some kids that ran across in front of them! I fortunately had a very uneventful bike, very windy and straight into the head wind going out each time so just ground it out but it was pretty hard going! When you rounded the bend at the end of the lake you knew you would be flying on the way back so just kept grinding it out when heading into the wind and was passing lots of peopleJ Also be careful at the end of the lake as it is a very sharp corner and coming back past transition on each lap as although it is a tarmac course round the lake it’s rough as hell coming back past transition.

T2

Again went very smoothly, just stayed very calm and saw where my brother was standing and as I came in he racked the bike. I changed my shoes and no problems this time with the leg coming off and I didn’t need to put a dry liner on this time either or put dry socks on the stump even though it was sweltering!

Run

I went out on the 2 lap 5.6K run feeling very good but by about a quarter of the way round I just died on my feet, I just hadn’t taken in enough water on the bike and now felt horrendous. I had given everything on the swim and got completely battered and worked hard on the bike and I wasn’t about to give in. I was dehydrated and my stomach felt like it was in knots, I knew I was going slowly but just thought to myself keep putting one foot in front of the other and try and keep the cadence high. Every time I got onto the very long straight along the lake I would check back to make sure there was no one in the distance behind me with a blade on because I knew he was a strong runner and I was in no shape for a sprint finish. I managed to up the pace on the last 400 meters even though I could see way back in the distance down the lake and there was no one but felt the sooner I get across the line the sooner I could get some fluids. I had no problems with my socket or the liners in this run which was so nice I had just run out of gas, I had given it everything!!!!!

Never been in so much pain and run so slowly but saying that for my first year, over the moon with the overall time and came in 3^rd place, with a time of:

Swim 14:09  T1 02:57  Bike 33:57  T2 01:33  Run 29:43  overall 01:22:19

 It was so cool to come away with a whack off great big medal for my first year, I’m a very happy chapJ

Thanks for all your support,

AdeJ

 

2010 Diary for KCHLRT Web Site

Written in 2011 for the Kings College Limb Reconstruction Trust Web Site

Adrian Heathfield has been a patient for seven-and-a-half years. He is on his fifth frame, stuggling to get benefits, putting up with the public staring at his frame and even being abusive, desperately trying to keep fit for his planned swim across Dover Harbour in summer 2011. And yet, despite it all, he remains positive and upbeat. This moving diary is an inspiration to all. It also highlights how physio and counselling have been essential to his mental and physical well-being.

Adrian's diary

Writing a diary of my highs and lows in 2010 was a problem: it has been an exceptionally tough year, with many good times too, so I decided to write a general diary instead. I would like to thank all the people who have looked after me at Kings, not just Mr Groom’s team but many more too numerous to mention. You are all in my thoughts and do a brilliant job!

January - a new role with the Tri Club and bad news on the benefits front

After a fun-filled Christmas and New Year it is back to reality. The month started well. My pin site infection looks like it is under control so I started swimming again, and it went well considering I took three weeks off. I didn’t have a rest from the physio as I suffer too much if I do; everything just locks up in my calves and foot and makes it very uncomfortable. Giving the swimming a rest for a while gave me some rest time.

I took over as membership secretary for Ashford Tri Club and have been very busy as membership is up for renewal in January. Hopefully I will do as good a job as my predecessor Christine. She also started the club but has now moved up to the lakes. The club in general has supported and encouraged me so much on my short return at the beginning of last year and also when my leg re-broke.

I received a letter from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) saying that I am not entitled to help as I scored zero on my medical back in November. I have appealed the decision in writing and will hopefully get a reply back soon.

It is five months since my fourth frame has been put on but the x-rays this month show very little growth. At least I was allowed to use only one crutch and hopefully this will stimulate the bone to grow.

February - Fitness is suffering and pain is increasing

I had infections for about a week, took antibiotics and they finally did the job. I think it might be best to ask Mr Groom to move the pin as it always seems to be the same one causing trouble.

I did swim when I could but it was very on and off depending on whether the pin site was weeping. My fitness is beginning to suffer a bit after the last couple of months of on off infections and the Christmas break.

I am still struggling with my general mood. I appealed the ESA decision and they paid money I wasn't expecting. It looks like they may have ruled in my favour but it feels like I am always fighting for the scraps.

I am still on one crutch outside. I am not sure how it will go until it all starts to settle down a bit. I am suffering a lot of pain across the top of my toe and up the foot. I am still getting pain in the bottom break site which feels quit sharp but this doesn’t mean that it will not unite. I am also getting a numbing sensation at the top site which happens now and then even though it is completely united. I am going up to Kings every week to see Helen (the unit’s specialist physiotherapist) for physio. These sessions are hands on work (myofascial release, deep tissue massage, trigger point management and frictions) as they know I do enough exercise at home.

March - Talking to sports science students and searching for work

I had a small operation to remove the problem wire down by my ankle and replace with a half pin. We were hoping this might stop the burning sensations I get across the big toe. It hasn’t but at least it won’t keep weeping and getting infected now.

I gave a talk about the frame to sports science students in Maidstone. This part of their course is about sports injuries and the psychological impact, although you can’t really explain the psychological effects without giving some physiological background. I talked and answered questions for about an hour and a half and really enjoyed it but felt really tired afterwards. There were about 25 in the class, all very young and they had never seen a frame before. They were a pleasure to talk to as they showed a genuine interest and asked tons of questions.

I have been looking for work now for three months, have sent out loads of applications but have not had any luck as yet. All the applications have been for office based work but employers don’t seem to be interested. You have to be honest but with the number of people looking for work I get the feeling that as soon as employers see my history, they just bin my application. I’m feeling very disheartened but just have to keep going.

I rang the ESA about my benefits and they said that because of the back log my appeal case would not be heard until about July. I am just receiving the appeal benefit rate and it just doesn’t cover the bills.

I came off the crutches at the end of this month which was a nice 35th birthday present. The leg is still very uncomfortable but it feels so good to be without crutches and it’s a move in the right direction. Hopefully it will stimulate the break site to fuse. The physio has been going well and I have been given the okay to use my adapted exercise bike. Using the bike when I can’t swim will make things a little more interesting.

April - New swimming record and a wine tasting to remember

Swimming has gone well since I started again. I have had a good four weeks with no operations or weeping pin sites. This good routine has produced results. I have managed to swim three times a week and my 1000 metre times are improving. I also did my fastest 1600 metres in a frame by a couple of minutes so far. The physio is still going well. The leg is feeling much stronger after Helen gave me a few more different exercises to increase weight bearing which is also more interesting for me.

I’m still looking for work but as yet have not got anything. All I can do is keep sending out application forms and CVs. It would be nice just to get a couple of interviews as I have applied for so many.

I went to a frame awareness and training demonstration put on by Helen for physios in the South East NHS Trust. I really enjoyed talking to them in small groups at the end of the session. I also learnt a lot about the frames and how they can be used for different things. There was much I did know but a good percentage that I didn’t.

I went up to Bromley Town Hall by train for a wine tasting evening in aid of KCH LRT and had a brilliant evening. A big thanks to Karen (clerk to the Trust) for the work she put in and for the good company, it was a fun night.

May - Still no work and a new operation looming

Things have just gone from bad to worse. I haven't found a job yet and my leg will not unite if left as it is. It has also deformed so the medical team are starting again and they have put me on the list for the operation.

Mr Groom is going to do what he did with my third frame: cut the break site out, compress it with the frame and use the stacked frame again to stretch it from a proximal corticotomy.

I still haven't heard when the ESA benefit court case will be but am not too worried about that at the moment; it will happen when it happens and I will just be happier when they get me in for this operation so I can start improving again.

The thought of amputation is still in my mind even when things are going well but I will go along with the frame. In the long run I really just don't know. All the effort I put in to try and find work has just gone down the drain again because there is no point until I have had the op and have recovered a little.

I am membership secretary and a coach for Ashford Tri Club. As East Grinstead sprint triathlon was the club’s target race for this distance I went along to cheer them on. We had over 20 members taking part, quite a few competing for the first time. After the race we all got together for a meal and a few well deserved beers.

June - Abuse from the public and a new coaching role

Some Irish psycho stopped his car and had a go at me while I was waiting at the bus stop. He was looking at my frame as he drove past and nearly drove into the central reservation, then came back and started accusing me of staring at him. His partner was in the car with him and I think he just felt really embarrassed. I wasn't about to get into an argument with him; he came across as a bit unhinged and I just bit my lip.

I have stopped looking for work at the moment as I am going back into hospital to start again on my leg and no one will take me on at this point. I will start again as soon as I am out of hospital and a little recovered. I am keeping busy getting fit, as I always recover much quicker from operations when I am.

I have passed my Level 1 British Triathlon Federation coaching course, so have been coaching swimming pretty much every week. The swimmers are all improving by the week, which is nice to see. It also helps keep me motivated as I can’t let the younger ones get too far ahead of me. This makes me push myself when I start to lose motivation, I can’t let the frame be an excuse.

I was planning to go over to mum and dad’s on Father’s Day but dad got taken into hospital with appendicitis which turned out to be gangrenous. It was lucky it got caught in time and he had it taken out that night. He came out of hospital at the end of the month and it is good to see him making a good recovery and enjoying what we have of the sun.

July - Successful operation but infection sets in

On the 1st of the month I did an endless pool session with Trilife who coach and test triathlon. I really enjoyed it. I received brilliant coaching from them and some good underwater footage to use to improve my technique when I start swimming again after recovering from my operation on the 7th.

The call to go up to Kings on the 6th did not come until 6pm, so by the time I got on the ward it was nearly 9pm and I felt completely shattered. The operation the following day went well and to plan. They also sent bone samples to micro biology to make sure there were no underlying causes stopping the leg from re-uniting.

This is my fifth frame and the pain is no better or worse than usual. I always expect it which makes it very easy to deal with it. The worst thing you can do is try and fight it; sometimes it is best to just accept it and go with it, serenity.

Unfortunately I can’t control infections and micro biology found a very small bone infection that would need a short course of antibiotics. As they did more tests the infection became more serious and unusual - Propioniibacterium acnes - and they weren’t sure what to treat it with. After treating with Vancomycin for just over two weeks I had a picc line inserted. I have to be given Teicoplanin at home every day by the ICT. I am a little unsure of having people I don’t know coming round. I would rather give it to myself but I won’t be able to connect the picc line to the syringe with one hand. The picc in general was a big issue. Mr Groom’s team said that I wouldn’t be able to swim with it in and that I might need to keep it in until the bone unites. I know from past experience that this could be a long time. I wasn’t happy and to say I was distressed would be an understatement, but I know that if it needs doing it needs doing.

I have always had a really low resting heart rate and have always competed in different sports, sometimes at a very high level. Those looking after me have always seen this as me just being very fit but not this time, which was the final straw. The ECG and echo came back clear. It was low but strong and to be expected with my background. With everything else going on, it just puts a small doubt in your mind that I could have done without. Everyone keeps asking if I will be glad when I go home; it just feels like for the first time, I have nothing to go home for.

I’m back home now and the ICT nurses are all really nice. However, in the first week, the line came out about four inches when they changed the dressing. I spent the morning at our local hospital getting an X-ray to make sure it didn’t need replacing, and luckily it was okay. It could have been partly my fault because I didn’t realise I wasn’t supposed to do any heavy stretching. That means my plan to do some weight training is out of the question until the picc line comes out.

So it looks like it will just be physio and core stability training for me.

I’m trying to stay upbeat for people but feel pretty numb at the moment and just mentally shattered.

August - How to control pain and depression sets in

I have been waking up about five times a night. I can control pain and just ignore it while awake but can’t control what is happening while I am asleep. I go back to sleep within a couple of minutes of waking by just slowing my breathing and relaxing but, with these breaks in my sleep, I am waking up shattered. After talking to Debbie (limb reconstruction nurse) and saying I don’t want to take sleeping tablets as they wipe me out, I have started taking Tramadol at night just to help take the edge off the pain. It is a pain killer, not a sleeping tablet, but I’ve used it in the past and it takes the edge off the pain while I am asleep. I am feeling more rested when I wake up now, even though my sleep is still broken.

I have just about finished the distraction and everything is nicely in line. The muscles are very tight and my daily physio sessions have really helped. It does get a little gutsy but it stops contractures and eases pain, so is well worth the effort. You can’t complain if you’re not prepared to do anything to help yourself.

I have pushed myself relentlessly now for about seven and half years and think it has started to take its toll. I can’t really explain but it just feels like someone has flicked a switch off and I can’t turn it back on: I’m not getting anything sorted out, I can’t look back, am not interested in what happens in the future, everything is upsetting me and I am just so tired! I spoke to Debbie and Helen who have always been so supportive, and also to Miss Phillips. I then spoke to Mr Groom who wrote to my GP. He has organised for me to start counselling. Just knowing I can get things off my chest made me feel better.

September - The benefits of counselling

I finished the distraction prescription this month which is brilliant as the skin and muscles where starting to get so tight. I managed to avoid contractures by doing loads of physio. The bone is nicely in line, the length is back to normal and there are signs of growth which is very encouraging. All my blood tests have been normal since coming out of hospital. They were before I went in as the Propionibacterium I had is unlikely to raise inflammatory markers. Micro biology are unsure how long I should keep taking Tecoplanin. If I had metal work going across the break site they advised that I should stay on the Tecoplanin until we achieved union. As the metal work I have goes into the leg but not across the site they don’t know, so we will just continue until the beginning of next month.

I had my psychological assessment for counselling. The very pretty young woman who assessed me was very nice but she did seem to be a little distressed by the end of the session, so it is better that I will be seeing another therapist. Things have been a lot better though, just knowing that I will be getting some help and will be able to talk to someone who doesn’t know me. Friends have been very supportive but, like I told them, it is not something they can help with. When I see my friends the last thing I really want to talk about is problems, I just want to have some fun.

Tri Club had its standard distance club championships at the Lydd race. I couldn’t go and support them as I was having treatment that morning, but met up with them for a late lunch and a catch up. It was really nice to see one of our old members and the former men’s team captain come along. He is in the army and is based in Bermuda. He is over here for a couple of weeks and came along even though he wasn’t very well, good company and good food.

October - Back in the pool and happiest I have been all year

I made a bit of a snap decision and got my car back. I can’t really afford it but it has given me some freedom and my own space. When I use the bus I sometimes get one too many questions when I don’t really want to talk about it, especially to complete strangers.

I stopped taking Teicoplanin at the beginning of the month and three weeks later the line was removed after further blood test came back normal. However, it was unlikely to show in the inflammatory markers. I hope my mood will improve and that I can start exercising again. I just need to motivate myself to do it. It was a little strange that I didn’t miss the exercise while I couldn’t do it or perhaps I just accepted it eventually, I don’t really know.

I started swimming again with the triathlon club but just did my own thing as I have had no exercise for three months and carry twice as much frame on my leg. It did feel good to be back in the pool but only for the first length; the rest of the session just showed me how unfit I was and I didn’t enjoy it at all but felt unbelievably positive afterwards and probably happier than I have been all year. I have also started doing some weight training at home but again am very weak. Although I haven’t really put on any weight, I have lost a lot of muscle and really struggle with body weight exercises. I know it will improve with time and regular training.

Weight bearing increased from touch to 50% but within two weeks a wire snapped. They do go sometimes, especially close to distracted sites, it is just wear and tear, but is a bit of a pain just as things where improving. Debbie removed the wire which was very uncomfortable and they will replace it as soon as possible with a half pin or maybe two, just to stabilise the frame a little better. It is back to touch weight bearing for now and also ease back with the harder bands with the physio.

November - A wire snaps and a day out at Charlton Athletic

I had two half pins put in at the start of the month to replace the broken wire. There were very few options as to where they could be positioned as I have half pins there already. It is also just below the knee so is very sore and has reduced knee mobility by about 50%, but we can sort that out with physio. I can only do touch weight bearing for four to six weeks as they want the pins to anchor properly. This also means more mobilising rather than building physio again.

The counselling has been brilliant. It only really highlights what I already know, but I find it an outlet as I don’t have to worry about upsetting the person I am talking to and don’t have to care what their reaction is or what they might think of me. Unfortunately my local health care trust will only give me six sessions. They have now come to an end so I am very happy that Mr Groom has arranged a counsellor for me at Kings. The initial review is at the beginning of December.

After the skin healed around the new pins I started swimming again. This and the physio I do in the pool is really helping the mobility in my knee. Everything is very backwards and forwards at the moment. I can’t really get settled into any real progressive programme but it is better than not being able to do it at all and I have done it all before. You just have to be a bit relentless in your pursuits.

I spent an afternoon at Charlton Athletic football ground helping to collect money for KCH LRT. It was so nice for me to talk to people who were so friendly and giving. After a very strange year it kind of puts your faith back in the fact that people in general are good.

We had the first snow fall of the winter and now I have the car back I quite like it. Looking back on the snow last year and being back in the frame waiting for buses, it was hard and cold. Having the car makes life a lot easier. Trains are so unreliable that I have missed a couple of appointments.

While the original break site being compressed is showing good signs of uniting, the proximal site is not and there seems to be very little happening. I think it is just growing slowly but Mr Groom thinks there could be a cyst. I have booked an ultrasound but the earliest appointment is on 13 December. It might be better if there is a cyst because at least there would be a reason for it not growing. It would also give micro biology a chance to see if the Propionibacterium infection has cleared up. Debbie is going to organise an Exogen machine for me to try and stimulate some growth. I used one about six years ago and it worked for a while, so is worth a try, even just to kick start some growth.

Dad got shingles after recovering from his appendicitis operation. It was not great as it was on the face and he then suffered the nerve problem which often comes after shingles. Thankfully he is a lot better now. He is not one to complain for nothing and I know he was in a lot of pain. I am just glad it didn’t last for years like I know it does with some people.

December - A new problem with a cyst but it's a wonderful Christmas

The pesky snow was back at the beginning of the month. It looks pretty but I would rather have just a tiny bit. The trains just give up so I ended up missing quite a few appointments at Kings.

I have only been swimming once a week. It’s going okay although I am still struggling with my fitness. It will take time but I have until next July to prepare for my sponsored swim in Dover Harbour, so it should be fine.

The ultrasound showed a big cyst in the proximal site. It measured 27mm by 19mm. I didn’t expect it but at least it can be treated and micro biology can check that the infection has cleared. This would be a big worry off my mind. It might seem a strange way of looking at it but in the past when I have had non union problems there has never been a reason for it, so to have something that can be treated is quite positive for me.

I was admitted to have the cyst removed and cement beads inserted in the proximal site. I have now had the sutures removed and the skin is healing very well. It is very red but I’ve been told this is normal with the beads.

I only managed to swim for the first two weeks of this month but have done some weight training and a lot of core stability work every week. I feel like I am starting to get some fitness and strength back which I hope will help when I eventually get back in the pool.

The Ashford Tri Club Christmas do was a brilliant evening I think. I can’t remember much after about half way through the evening as members were keeping me well topped up with red wine from the second I got in the door. Thanks guys and girls, not for the hangover though.

Finally five days before Christmas I got a letter from the employment and support allowance saying that the tribunal had taken place. I said I wanted a hearing so I could hear what was being said but was told not to split hairs. However, they ruled in my favor which is the important thing. It has taken over a year on appeal but I got there.

Christmas was brilliant. I spent it with my mum, dad and my brother at their house. I ate way too much, drank way too much, and the scales really tell the tale as I am 10lbs heavier than I have ever been in a frame and my weight is still creeping up. My brother was 30 on the 30th and we had a brilliant time at a friend’s Chinese restaurant - it was a really good way to finish off the year.

It’s not been a good year but it has been a testing one, physically but even more mentally. That is now behind me and I have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, so more of the good times for 2011 please.

All the best for the New Year and decade!

Ade

Written while under treatment

I was born with Talipes (club foot) which is quit a general term for deformities of the foot and ankle. Mine was not a deformity of the foot but of the position of the foot as it was facing the wrong way. The foot was slowly over time pulled back round with bandages and I walked at a normal age.

When I started school I struggled to learn and had a bit of a stutter and can vaguely remember going to speech therapy for a while which must have helped as I can’t remember it being a problem for long. I did love sport though, I took part in everything I could, I was good at most sports but didn’t overly excel in anything but just really enjoyed doing something that came more natural than studying  and took up Roller Dance Skating outside school at a young age.  I took up couples skating and myself and my partner won the youth British Championships, made the British team and Competed in Germany. I gave up skating at about the same time as finishing school, I had just moved on and had no enjoyment in training anymore.

When I was in my 20s I took up kickboxing, gaining my black belt after 2 years of training and then changed clubs. I joined Invicta Kickboxing which is a very good, established club and I decided I wanted to re-take my black belt as I felt the standard was better at this club. I passed my black belt again and stayed with Invicta and Coached for them in my home town of Ashford for many years.

When I gave up Kickboxing to be honest I felt that the risk of injury for the rewards I was getting was not enough, I was training hard quit often sparing people allot heavier and didn’t want to end up badly injured. Invicta Kickboxing is a brilliant club though with some brilliant fighters and the head coach Ray Askew is just the nicest bloke and best coach I could have wished for. Even after so long I still keep an eye on the Invicta Kickboxing web site to see what’s going on.

Pieces Written while undergoing treatment

On the 9^th February 2003 While in France I broke my right leg in a snowboarding accident, it was a spiral fracture, it had broken both the right Fibula and Tibia but at the time didn’t seem to serious as fare as broken legs go.

I was originally treated in France where I had an operation to have a plate put in the leg, then my local hospital. After about 7 months my plate snapped and after problems that came up when they operated to replace the broken plate, basically infection plus non-union, I was transferred to Kings College Hospital and have been undergoing treatment there ever since. I had 3 frames on between 2005 and 2009 and all in all I had a frame of some sort on for three and a half years, I started with an Ilizarov frame and then had two Taylor Spatial frames.

KEEPING BUSY

I had been back from France for a week and decided that as I had all this time on my hands and didn’t want to watch TV all the time plus didn’t want to get out of shape to get out in the beautiful weather we was having at the time and do some weight training. I had a bench in the garden and a couple of dumbbells, I used to put my leg up and just do what ever I could, I would just work round the injury and just do things at my own pace there was no hurry. I also had a go at swimming in the first year but it was the one sport I could never really get the hang of even before the accident as I had done everything from pairs skating to kickboxing. It was only while in the Taylor spatial frames that I really started to make progress with the swimming it was obviously hard work with all that metal work but over the space of two years I went from struggling to do 5 lengths to doing 100 lengths.

I was originally a bricklayer and at the time of the accident had a good job working for a small retail maintenance firm, we went all over the country doing general maintenance and small building works. I spent allot of the time on motorways and working away but really liked the work as it was very varied and I got to meet lots of different people all over the place. It was about 6 months after the accident when things weren’t going to plan when I started to think about what else I might be able to train as just in case my leg didn’t heal. I still wasn’t to worried at this stage but thought I would use the time to go to some of the adult ed free classes they where advertising at the time as I had done terrible at school and I have trouble learning. I first did the maths and English courses for the first year, then after that did some of the courses that weren’t free, ECDL computer course, and various bookkeeping and accounting courses.

While in my second frame and doing an NVQ accounting course I won a Career Development award but was not able to go to the ceremony and pick it up myself because I was in hospital having an operation. They said it was a very nice do though as some of the girls went on my behalf and by the sounds of it drank my share of win as well, which I thought was nice of them.

STARTING SOMETHING NEW

My final frame came off in February 2009 after six years plus of treatment, if it wasn’t for the encouragement and care I received at Kings College Hospital I would not be in the position I am now. Within 4 months of the frame being taken off I competed in my first ever triathlon, it was a novice event which I came 7^th out of about 50 I think, so a big thank you from me to everyone who has looked after me over the years. I have continued with the triathlon and belong to my local club, Ashford Tri, they have encouraged me, made me feel very welcome and part of the group which is always nice.

I am doing a sponsored triathlon in Lydd, Kent in September for Kingpins and anyone that wants to come along and watch is more than welcome to do so, although I can’t guarantee a dry day, brolleys might be needed.

The distance will be

1500 Meters lake swim

40 Kilometres bike ride

10 Kilometres run

Any sponsorship no matter how much would be hugely appreciated by me and I am sure by the trust!!! I have a just give page http://www.justgiving.com/Adrian-Heathfield/  there is a small write up and some photos on there so take a look.

I am also back to work full time, I didn’t go back to the bricklaying and after the last couple of years at college I didn’t decided to go into bookkeeping either. I saw a job advertised in the local paper advertising a job as a trainee printer and liked the sound of it, they took me on and I have been there for about 8 weeks now and really enjoy it.

I would also like to say a big thanks to Marjorie and Mark my Mum, Dad and brother, Philip who have always been there for me through some quit tough times.

Update August 2009

Due to an accident on the 13 August my leg has refractured, I was on the way to a hospital appointment on my bike when the chain came off. I don't know if the leg broke before I came off as I felt my foot catch on something or whether it broke when I hit the ground. It was a bit of a mess this time being quit a big compound fracture.

I had an operation in Ashford at the William Harvey Hospital, coincidentally where I had been heading for my appointment on my bike and they just washed out the wound and the leg was put in a back slab. I had already requested to be transferred to Kings and had explained my history to Joe who did the surgery in Ashford. I was transferred the following day and had my 4th frame put on, on the 15 August, 1 day before a planned triathlon in Worthing, bugger. 

The most important thing though is that I am still here as it could have been so much worse as I was crossing a road from one path to another and was very lucky there were no cars coming.

I had only been back at work full time for 8 weeks so have lost that job as was on a 3 month trial. I will say that they have been very good and have paid me full pay right up to the end of September which they are under no obligation to, which gives me breathing space and time to fill out all those lovely forms.

I have started back swimming and while it is hard, slow work even after so many years of swimming with the frames on I still get a great sense of achievement from every little goal I achieve. I think for me atleast that this is the key to make small goals that you can achieve on a weekly basis and the long term goals will follow as a result of them smaller achievements. 

I am back to doing my physio sessions 2 to 3 times a day and think they are the key to success while in the frames if you want to go back to an active life after the frames. I completed 2 triathlons, did lots of long runs some cross-country over the South Downs and did some distance rides on the bike in training and think this is due to keeping active while in the frames. I don’t know if the leg was still a little weak or if it was just bad luck as I can’t say when the leg broke as it all happened so fast, it could have gone when it caught the back wheel or when I hit the deck.

“Don’t wish for an easy life, wish to be a stronger person”

Last Stand

Dover Regatta 03 July 2011

This was my first event in over two years and the first time I have done a stand alone swim event. I was planning on doing last year’s regatta but after problems with my leg could only watch what was a very rough swim with brutal waves!

This year though we had scorching temperatures, no wind and very calm sea. I had gone along in the morning to support at Canterbury Tri first then Pod 3 lakes and was feeling very confident if a little tired. Lee and Chris had come along to do the regatta as well which was really good to know I wouldn’t be the only one in a wet suit as they had a smaller entry this year. They had offered to slow down and swim with me but I told Lee I would rather they go for it as they would probably sink trying to swim as slow as me. I’m slow but I always get where I’m going, eventually!

I was doing the event for the Kings College Limb Reconstruction Charity and was starting to feel the nerves a little as the trustees where there taking loads of photos. I also had to patch up one of the protective rubber caps on my frame that had come off and gotten lost.

We all went to get ready then had the safety talk which was very thorough and also got told about the rout to follow round the buoys. Lining up at the beach edge the nerves subsided a bit and I just wanted to get in there and with a little help from Lee made my way in. We all swam over to the wall where the start was and waited till everyone was touching the wall then the horn sounded. Everyone went off like a rocket, I waited a second worrying about kicking someone with the frame but had no need to as they had gone off so fast there was no one near me. I followed suit but went off to hard and even on the very calm day found that my sighting was really off and found myself zig zagging allot. The swim to the first buoy seemed to be endless and didn’t seem to be getting any closer but was pleased to hear allot of people say the same after the race. The second buoy was only about 100 meters away and then it was just a case of heading back across the harbour to the start which seemed like a breeze, I still zig zagged a bit but felt strong! It also helped that I had caught up to someone after the initial start swimming the first 750 without seeing any swimmers as they were so far ahead. After Lee had finished he swam back to me and swam with me till I reached the finish and helped me out so big thanks to him and the big cheer I got at the end from family and supporters always helps!

Times:

Chris Hallam 27.59

Lee Gladwell in 28.17

Adrian Heathfield 40.14