Mark

This is my story of coming back from multiple injuries to running @chimarathon
In November 2019 I had an Achilles operation on my right foot. Thanks to @itsmyphysioadrian the rehab was amazing and I was close to full fitness again and then I ran across a field and my ankle got caught in a hole 5 more months out and back to scratch.
In October 2021 I was diagnosed with nerve damage all down my left leg
Nothing worked and over and over I tried and broke down again and again.
I might not have been running but I was in the gym working on my strength for nearly 2 years. This wasn’t how my story would end..

May 2023 I hadn’t run more than a few miles for 18 month’s and hadn’t raced since 2019 but, I had this crazy idea to try one more time and get to Chicago (my deferred place from 2020 was about to expire) I kept quiet and went about seeing if I could make it happen. I had 21 weeks

With the best support in @runner_claud and working with @itsmyphysioadrian again we went to work.

I was doing 2x 30-45 min runs at around 9-8:45 miles to start then progressed to adding a long run.
In July I raced for the first time in 4 years and managed a 1:37 half marathon, I was delighted.

I then raced the big half and somehow managed 1:30:57 I was totally shocked at the progress

My 21 weeks of training consisted of 368:56 miles at an average of 17.5 miles per week. After two years out that’s all my body would allow.

When I crossed the line at Chicago I broke down. Everything I had enjoyed was taken away for so long and this was my biggest achievement just getting there and finishing that race and having the best fun doing it. When I saw the time of 3:20:03 words can’t describe how I felt, 40 seconds off a PB after 4 years of injuries. Nearly 2 years of no running and an average of 17.5 miles a week during marathon training. Still it hasn’t sunk in but now I know nothing will stop me completing my 6 @wmmajors

None of this would have been possible without you @runner_claud Thank you for being the light that has helped me shine again ❤️❤️❤️
#runner #comeback #comebackstronger #marathon running