Elite triathlete and duathlete Catriona Morrison has been on a hot run of form recently, winning the World and European Duathlon Championships in the last 12 months, and has had a great start to the 2008 season.  But the Broxburn girl is now facing the ultimate nightmare for all athletes, professional or amateur – a long term injury lay-off. 

This is her blog for In The Winning Zone.  As you will see, Catriona has a very ‘unique’ way of dealing with her injury.  The important thing to remember though, is that she doesn’t let it get the better of her.

How Catriona discovered her injury:
19 April 2008

It never rains but it pours (usually with a gale in this part of the World too). I woke up on Monday morning after a great post-cold training week, fighting and ready to go. Go in the pool and my knee wasn’t happy pushing off the wall or kicking. Quick modification of session (one leg push offs and no kick) and ploughed on.

I came home, rollered the offending leg and started off on my four hour bike ride. But I had to stop after 15min to phone a friend. Hubby Richard muttered the words that I knew I would hear: “Go home”. So, after ignoring the advice and trying to ignore the pain for another 15mins I gimped home trying to pedal with one leg! Bit like knitting needles being jabbed into the back of my knee-cap. I think the medical term is lateral anterior knee pain. Some severe platellar tracking pain.

Anyway, it has been ibuprofen(ed), iced, tortured from physio Jane and complete rest (cold turkey) for the past 48hrs. I can now walk without pain and knee bending more freely.”

But things took a turn for the worse for our heroine Catriona…
24 April 2008

Well, it goes like this: Once upon a time in land of “Everything is Going Well” a young lady tripped into the parallel universe of “Stick a Spanner in the Works”. Her knee got sore on Sunday, she was a good patient and rested and visited the physio and iced and took all legal drugs offered but a week later it was still grumbling.

So she went to see the magic sports medic. He was concerned for her and immediately sent her to the land of the “Consultant Orthapedic Surgeon”. In a whirlwind of action the consultant decided that there was an enemy to be seen to in that pesky knee. “Can you get yourself to hospital in a Far Far Away Land (Glasgow) tomorrow?” he asked. Her horse and chariot (thanks Dad) drove through the night to the hospital castle. On Wednesday morning she was put into a deep and magical sleep where all her aches and pains were examined. The brave anaethsatist and surgeon fought  against the mean and nasty plica and femur fissure and after only 60mins of battle rescued her from their grasp.  ‘Do not bear weight dear lady for one week and one day, we can then make sure that these gremlins are away’.

As you can see I am plainly losing my mind . One plica removal and some rest on the fissured joint. In just over a week I will be back to see the surgeon and hopefully get the all clear for training again. In the meantime I will be making friends with the rowing machine (arms only), the arm bike and upper body weights.”

More musings from the injured party…
28 April 2008

Alternative uses for crutches:
1) Turning on lights and closing doors.
2) TV remote control.
3) Prodding my spouse to do things.
4) Looking pathetic and getting sympathy (although only from strangers and not from family members)
 
I’m now up to 2hrs a day in the gym. I will have an incredible upper body at this rate, or, I’ll need some shoulder physiotherapy.
 
Onwards!

P.S. It’s a good job that I don’t make a living from having pretty knees!

More from Catriona soon…

www.catmorrison.com