I was about to say that it has been an interesting month, but really, it has kind of been an interesting year so that's not really saying very much.  But I will say with the mix of having surgery (hardware removed), Ironman Canada, recovery from surgery, getting back on a structured program, and then finally run clearance...there has been a lot that's happened in 4 weeks.

Surgery was, as I mentioned, very successful.  The moment that I woke up and started moving my ankle around I knew that the 'issue' was resolved.  Then when I walked from surgery to my car, I realized it simply felt like a new ankle.  Since then, it has been confirmed by 2 orthopaedic surgeons that the lower screw in my tibia was jutting out slightly from the bone.  This was getting in the way of how my tendon was gliding and causing the pain that I had felt in my "tibialis posterior" since I had been given running clearance back in April.  This was why I was unable to progress to the point where I need to with my running over the last few months, but I had to wait for 8 months after the date of the accident to ensure the bone was healed enough to take the hardware out.  And so, I ran, but I ran in a lot of discomfort and was inhibited from increasing the distance/pace to where I knew it could and should be.  No more.

Recovery moved quickly and as promised, I was back in the pool within 10 days as the incisions had healed over enough.  I was back on the bike within 6 days, although it was the trainer only for the first week.  And for the run?  It was water running.  Until...I got clearance a few days ago.

I had my final set of xrays in this whole 'fiasco' and the orthopaedic surgeon who has overseen them throughout the last 10 months said that my recovery has been "remarkable."  And I won't disagree.  It has been.  I am truly, and will always be, grateful.  He then gave me clearance to start running again as I was now out of the 'danger zone' for a stress fracture.  In my sheer excitement, I left the hospital and went straight to the treadmill to test it out.  It was exactly as I expected.  The pain was gone.  GONE.  I was able to run freely with a familiar cadence that I had never forgotten.  It seems as though I never will.  But I paid the price for my over-zealous behavior that day and it was a stark reminder that my run fitness is lagging right now.  I figure I have a reaonably good excuse.  20 minutes of running and I felt stiffer than I ever have after having completed an Ironman.  So..it seems that my legs remember...but they didn't remember enough not to be stiff! But who's complaining? Pas moi!

And in between the surgery and run clearance was Ironman Canada.  I tried very hard to put on a happy face for it, but it was one of the harder experiences I have had since the accident.  Truly.  That's not to say that it wasn't an incredible week in so many ways, but it was hard.  My heart was breaking to not be a part of the race and when I first walked into the Expo I felt flooded with emotion and had to take a little walk and feel mighty sorry for myself for a few minutes.  But then I was quickly reminded that the sadness I was feeling, was going to make 2012 even that much more special.  And so it will be.  Ironman Canada 2011.  Check.  Survived.  But kudos to everyone who raced, it was great to be able to cheer everyone on...but just don't listen for my cheers next year...because they won't be there...at least from the sidelines:)

And so it continues.  Run clearance.  This time no pain to go along with it.  Paulo has me taking the build back slowly and carefully right now and I am taking some extra time to get my head clear for what I am about to set out to do.  To prepare my mind for what awaits in the near future.  Bringing the run back to form.  It will probably be one of the hardest things I will ever do.  But I have absolutely zero doubt...that it will be the most fulfilling.  Zero doubt.

And in saying this, I have started asking myself again whether I choose to view my comeback as an obstacle or an opportunity.  And it has been decided.  It is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it has come knocking.  So I had  better get going. I hear someone at my door.