The morning of September 27^th  2019 was the day at approximately 7.40am that my achilleas tendon exploded. It went pop, well it sounds more like a huge bang, like a gunshot went off inside your body and my tendon rolled up to the top of my calf.​

I fell face first to the ground like a slab of beef would hit a butcher’s tray, pain free to my chagrin until I tried to stand up. I did so stand successfully for about 3 seconds and then fell back again face first, my left leg flapping like a live fish that had just been taken out of the water.

My first emotion was panic as I immediately knew what it was, we all hear the stories about athletes achillies and they say they hear a pop. I can tell you for certain it does.

September 27^th is when I realized how vulnerable I really was. How fragile life can be and how I was not really appreciating it. It marked the start of my journey to redemption of rebuilding myself. A journey I am currently 4 years into.

They say you have to be broken to be rebuilt

I’d hit rock bottom physically and mentally. Seven days earlier I’d lost my job, a role that I’d moved halfway around the world for. That upon reflection I should not have taken. Health insurance had expired on September 25th, 2 days earlier So, I was stranded alone in Bangkok lying on the floor of Muay Thai boxing gym, it was 34 degree, no air conditioning and the even worse news was that the gym was on the 3rd floor and there was no lifts.

Rehab really sucked, especially doing it alone due to COVID 19 restrictions, it was tiresome, painful, worrying and saps your confidence, and your wallet. I’d say I’m a highly motivated person, but there was days I could not get out of bed, because either I was too sore from over training, or unwilling because it was taking so long to see small improvements.

The entire rehabilitation process took 21 months, way longer than I anticipated. First I was in plaster 6 weeks, then a moon boot for 5 months, had a set back falling down stairs and had to stay in the boot an extra 2 months, so it was 7 months. I advanced to a cane for 10 weeks.

I was told by two specialists that I might not ever walk again (that was untrue).

I proved them wrong, I now walk fine.

I was told I will never run again (as I once did) as few people over the age of 35 years fully recover from an achilles rupture.

This sadly was true.

Though I now run everyday in the swimming pool 20 laps. To maintain my
cardiovascular fitness and keep my mobility.

I also incorporated a daily yoga routine into my fitness regime, that at times feels harder to execute than my regular gym workouts.

The struggle was just that a struggle, but its made me more determined to be successful, more thoughtful towards others especially to those in need and who have disabilities. It changed me blowing out my achilles tendon, it means I can no longer run, but I think I am better human because of it.