unclebuck23’s AchillesBlog

For a bit of a background scoop, I’d like to let you all know about a passion that I have developed within these short 34 years that I have been living. Growing up I was quite the speedster…thank you Dad for giving me that genetic trait! (although speed can be “trained”, contrary to popular belief…) However, in high school I was brainwashed by my hurdle coach to “give it a try, you might like it!”. So I did…and the rest is history. Needless to say, after a very successful high school and collegiate career, the passion for the hurdles has not dwindled. I currently teach Physical Education and Health, and am the Head Boys Track and Field Coach at my high school. Yes, the hurdles are my “favorite” event to coach, although, I need to be well-rounded of course. I just finished my 9th year of coaching, and every year I think to myself, “Gosh, I’d like to give the hurdles a shot ONE more time.” Well, after 9 years of pondering it, I finally gave in. In May, I started to train again for the hurldes. I have been in great shape all along, finishing a round of P90x, and just staying active. So, I still had a nice base of conditioning so I knew that it wouldn’t be an issue of getting into shape. I just focused on getting back into “hurdle shape” and started with some light hurdling sessions. I felt great after every practice! Of course I was a little sore in those areas I haven’t used for so long, but no negative indications otherwise.

 So, I registered for a track meet on June 26th, known as the Badger State Games. It is a big week of events here in Wisconsin, you name the sport, they have the competition for it…all age groups. I signed up for the 30-34 age group for the hurdles race and it became official. I was set to complete my first hurdle race in over 10 years! I was excited, yet hesitant at the same time, but it was now or never, as I wasn’t getting any younger.

June 26th rolled around and I felt ready to do this. My wife has never watched me hurdle, so I was excited to show her that piece of my past. My brother also came to the meet to watch, so he was all pumped up to see me blow the field away, as I was so used to doing.  I got to the track early and got a great warm-up in. I felt like a million bucks…no pain, energized and focused. I was eyeing up the other competitors and knew that I was the best hurdler there that day.

It was time…standing in front of my starting blocks, for a short moment I thought to myself that I am crazy for doing this. But there was no turning back now. This is what I have been anticipating for nearly 10 years. “Runners take your marks!” I engaged in my usual pre-block entry routine. A few jumps, visualization, and foot placement. “Get Set!” Took a deep breath in…”BANG!!!” I get a great start out of the blocks and attacked hurdle #1. Off to the lead, I sprint to hurdle #2 extending my lead even more. AND………..next thing I know it, I am on the ground, hitting it like a sack of potatoes. I try to recoup and figure out what just happenened. I felt the pop. I felt the mushiness of my achilles. I never thought this would ever happen to me. I got carried off the track and what hurt the worst was the road rash that I had on my other leg. The ruptured achilles didn’t even hurt! I suppose my adrenaline covered up the pain.

The trainers at the meet assisted me and got me on ice immediately. My next stop was the local ER and the Dr. there had actually sustained an achilles rupture as well, so he knew what to look for.  So, he performed the good ol’ Thompson test and I passed it. It was confirmed that I had ruptured. I was devastated, my wife was devastated and my brother still could not believe what happened. Just like that, my life changed. But only for a long moment….I was introduced to my new best friends, the crutch and boot. This could be one of the most difficult hurdles in this race called life.