Exactly 14 days after my injury, I set the alarm on my phone for the horrendously inhumane time of 5.30am, as my triathlon coach and physiotherapist, Mark was due to pick me up, to drive the long five hour spin to Schull in West Cork, a journey that is always worth it.
Mark was working with the elite high performance Irish sailing team for a couple of days and he suggested the idea of me coming down, so he could work closely on my rehab and tailor training plans that I was able to do, considering the nature of my injury.
As we got closer to Cork, the sky emptied itself of any clouds and it felt we were on our way to southern Spain rather than Costa del Cork. No matter how many times I have visited this area of Ireland, it still manages to amaze me with its untainted beauty.
We arrived in the sailing centre in Schull at around midday and decided to grab a bit of lunch before we commenced training. The Sailing team were already out on the water, where they can typically spend up to six hours a day fine tuning the incredible skill and precision it takes to be at the level they are at in their sport. Their coach Rory, invited me out on the boat to watch the guys in action and immediately I was taken by the dedication and attitudes of the athletes, pushing themselves and perfecting their craft. I spent a few hours watching them, and mentally it placed me in a positive zone, where I wanted to get back to shore and do some work with Mark.
As we got off the boat, Mark told me to get my wet suit on, and meet him at the pier in fifteen minutes. I was nervous for a multitude of reasons. I had not attempted to swim since my injury, and although it was a non-weight bearing exercise, I still had to kick with my feet in the water which I knew would be uncomfortable considering the swelling still evident around my ankles. Although I have done many triathlons and open water swims in the past, I hadn’t done many in the sea. There is an uncontrollable nature to the sea that can unsettle me; its vastness, the tides, the current, the waves. In situations like this, I allow myself five minutes to practice relaxation and visualisation techniques to calm myself.
Before I entered the water, I trusted my coach that I would not do any damage to my ankles and I trusted my own ability as a swimmer to easily swim the 2 km course around Schull Bay. When I got into the water, my instinct made me kick straight away and I felt quite a piercing pain shoot up my leg, so I concentrated more on my stroke and slowed down my kick. The weather may have been warm but the water was only slowly shaking off the legacy of winter. Within a few minutes I found a rhythm and as my ankles warmed up, I barely felt like I was carrying any injury. Open water sea swimming is very liberating, you are very aware that you are at the mercy of the water, but you also feel very much part of it and it’s great for the head. Nature can be incredibly calming once you allow time to appreciate it.
After the swim, the healing nature of the cold salt water had reduced the swelling dramatically in my ankles. Mark suggested that we go for an easy cycle around the area towards Mizen head. I wasn’t having it. Although I had done some easy spins on an exercise bike indoors, where I put little to no pressure on my ankles, the idea of going out on my bike, on hilly terrain, where I had to clip into my pedals really didn’t appeal to me. Once again, I had to put my trust in Mark’s knowledge, and he felt it would not damage the area, but more importantly, it would be very good for me mentally to get back on the bike as soon as possible. The longer I waited, the harder it would get, both physically and mentally.
The fact that we were going out with the sailing team, and in groups, distracted me from my own injury and before you knew it I was cycling along the coastline of West Cork. My heart rate was sky rocketing, not out of exhaustion but more an unnerving fear that if I hit a pothole, or had to make a quick turn, I would do much more damage to the ligaments in my ankles. We went out on the bike for an easy hour and when I returned I felt amazing. I had accepted that it was going to be at least four weeks before I sat on the saddle again but here I was just two weeks after the injury out on my bike, and I put this down to a few things, but undoubtedly it was my positive mental attitude towards the injury, which was promoted and nurtured by surrounding myself in positive environments, with positive people. I was at a training camp with elite athletes who understood the situation I was in, and I was encouraged and supported by their attitudes and behaviours.
The next morning, myself and Mark went out for a longer, slightly tougher cycle in the glorious sunshine. He pushed me a little bit more, watching me carefully to see if I was capable of sustaining the training, pulling me back when I got a little excited and pushing me when I got lazy. These two days training were not to make me physically fitter, they were to make me mentally fitter, and it was seriously effective. If I had stayed in Dublin I would have maybe gone to the gym, but I would have not tested myself, and therefore I would not know where I stood with my injury. I am still a very long way away from where I was at before tearing the ligaments, but in some way I feel I have become slightly more resilient and this in the long term, will benefit me far more than being able to push myself on the bike or run. The idea of being fit for the 70.3 Ironman in Dublin, although still not a certainty, became more realistic after spending two days in West Cork, with the right type of people.
Straight after we finished the bike ride, Mark had me get into the water for another open water sea swim. The hesitations I had the day before were now not evident. I swam the course and felt strong and focused.
Once I got out of the water, we packed the car and made the long five hour drive home. Two days previously, I would never have imagined I would have been out on my bike and swimming in the sea. By surrounding myself in the right environment, with the right people I was able to test myself, and challenge my injury.
This can be applied across all aspects of society. If you surround yourself in toxic, negative environments, then you will become a product of that environment, and your attitudes and behaviours will mirror it. If you immerse yourself in a positive and healthy environment, you will act accordingly, whether it’s sport, work, friends, or socially.
Really look at those around you, social support is one of the core ingredients to a healthy body and mind.
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