UoS Graduation 2024

I cried yesterday morning when watching the first lot of graduates all stream out of the O2 Guildhall because 12 months ago I missed the 2023 UoS Graduation as I was in hospital

What a year

It's now time to get on with getting back in shape 💪

Marking the year anniversary

Lovely meal out this evening with some of the gang who did so much for me exactly a year ago this week 🥰

Love these women xx

This time last year…

I think I'd just arrived at A&E

Was on a gurney in a corridor between the ambulance bay and A&E proper 

Because Southampton General Hospital is part of the University of Southampton I had access to the staff wifi and although Annabel had taken my work bag I had my phone and portable charger with me so I had plenty of stuff to do

Once admitted to a bay, Annabel could join me and 5 hours later I was admitted to the holding ward for Orthopaedics before being admitted onto an actual ward afternoon of the 16/7/23

What a year!!!!!

A year of learning to walk again

Being in a lot of pain 

Being overwhelmed with the love of my friends and family - I really am totally and utterly blessed 🥰

3 months off work

3 months phased return 

Going from being able to walk 6 steps with a walker to crutches to one crutch to no crutches by early January 2024 to posting my first sub 40minute parkrun this weekend 

From clambering onto the stationary bike via launching myself off the bed to finally cycling outside once the clocks did their thing in April 24 as the days were lighter and the weather warm and dry. 

From being terrified of walking on the slick poolside to finally being brave in November 23 and getting back in the pool to my first open water swim at Ellingham last month June 24

My accident and recovery has been a huge part of this last year for me. 

Whereas this next year will be rebuilding my strength, my conditioning, my mobility as I start training for a sprint tri and a couple of 10ks while I plan how 2025 will look like

I'm hoping it'll include at least one half IM / middle distance race. I still don't know if I'll get back my full ironman fitness but I'm certainly looking forward to finding this out over the next couple of years 

#Outlaw26FingersCrossed

#LizzieRestartsGoingLongVerySlowly 

One year ago this weekend - bike accident. Now - 1st sub 40min Parkrun

What a difference a year makes!!

This time last year I was training for the Outlaw full IM and 2 weeks away from the event. 

Then I decided I wanted a big tub of cottage cheese so went the long way home to get a bit of extra bike training before my taper and go to Asda 

Driver neglected to look right again and pulled out onto me on Commercial road

Ambulance

A&E

CT scan

Fractured in 3 places pelvis 

Admitted to hospital

Next day managed 6 steps before needing to lie back down

Didn't need surgery 

Lots of pain

Long road to recovery 

And now?

This weekend I did my first sub 40minute parkrun since my accident.

39:52

I am obviously feeling rather epic!!!  

Mobility first thing again!!!

Yes it's only two sessions but that two days running I've done a 15minutes mobility session first thing. I'm obviously feeling pretty darn epic xx

Alarm set again for 6:02am

I'm giving myself an extra 25minutes each day to be spent doing something around strength and mobility. I'm hoping to focus on strength tomorrow 🤞

Fabulous evening spent with Caryl, Alison and Vik 

Mobility session at home

Didn't go to the gym but thought I could easily do the mobility session in my pjs before having a shower

It's very early days but so far so good re: following my training plan 

And to think this time last year I was getting excited / nervous for the Outlaw full Ironman in 20 days time 🤗

Treadmill fun with Shaz

Major DOMs due to strength and mobility session yesterday with Marie so def needed to do something to help loosen all my muscles 

However - so much rain

No walking outside but yay for Shaz's treadmill

5mins walk on the treadmill then 5mins sat on the camping chair while shaz then walked on the treadmill 

X5 walks each

50mins total

3.6km

25mins of walking and 25mins of sitting 

Smashed it 🥳