As the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow gets closer with less than eight months to go, we’re still delighted to be working with our fantastic athlete ambassadors who are underlining the role Dell technology will play at the games. I recently sat down with Lynsey Sharp to hear about her turbulent journey so far as she is racing against the clock on her road to recovery for Glasgow 2014!
Here’s what she had to say:
As an elite athlete when recovering from injury the most welcoming news to hear is that you are ready to run again. I had an operation to remove the plantaris tendon from my left leg, which had been a complete success and rehab was going well. My stitches were out, I was building my strength and the start of winter training was just a few weeks away. For the first time in six months, I was beginning to think that I had turned a corner and my enforced exile from sport had at last reached its conclusion.
However, one morning, I noticed that something was not quite right. There was a black line running down my leg just under the skin which was a worry. A familiar dread returned when after a consultation, I was told that some of the tissue was dead. The almost unthinkable news was to be told that a second operation was required which would once again push back the date when normal running could be resumed. This left me feeling extremely frustrated and with the feeling of being back to square one as I had to accept another period of complete rest. Having been preparing for international competitions for many years, I knew exactly how many blocks of training would be required to get into the best shape and began leafing through the calendar in my head, working out how my schedule would fit in with the countdown to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games!
Since the second operation everything has went well. I got my plaster cast off ahead of schedule and my air cast and crutches were dispensed much quicker than expected. Upon my final visit to the surgeon I was delighted to be given the green light to resume full training.
My first eight-week block of training will be about regaining strength – muscular and cardiovascular – to resume proper 800m training. This means I’ll be starting my winter training later than usual but, with eight months still to go before Glasgow 2014 there is still ample time to get back in peak condition. I’ll of course need to record a qualifying time if I want to make the Scottish team and that will be the focus during the early months of next year. Terrence Mahon, who was my coach last year, is now based in Boston but has devised a programme for me, and will continue to oversee my development while I continue practical sessions in Loughborough with coaches Rana Reider and Nick Dakin. My new XPS 12 (thanks Dell team!) has been invaluable in this transition as it allows me to keep all of my coaches in contact with what is going on and enables me to send videos and e-mails back and forth so that we can begin to make up lost ground! I’m really getting excited about Glasgow 2014 and the opportunity to compete for my country at home.
For more information, visit www.dell.co.uk/glasgow2014
Follow Lynsey’s journey on Twitter: @LynseySharp and follow the conversation online: @thecgf, @delluk, @glasgow2014.