A not minor setback
Having turned 80 earlier this year I planned to try for a World record in my new age bracket at the Pan Pacific Masters on November 4.
But the best laid plans of mice and men…
Starting to ramp up some speed training, I included some plyometric drop jumps in my routine. I had warmed up with 2k on the erg and thought I was safe. But, during the first set of jumps I hear a crack, one leg collapsing with intense pain in the calf, the other leg, still kicking powerfully, sends me flying across the deck and landing with a gash in my arm.
To cut a long story short, sent by my GP to get ultrasound radiography, I learn that I have ruptured an Achilles tendon. Prognosis: about a year to recover fully.
It is now eight weeks since it happened. For three weeks in a cast and five weeks in a moon boot I have been improvising ways to train: Rowing about one quarter slide with toes of one foot pointing down off the stretcher to prevent dorsiflexion, sitting on a bench doing various dumbbell lifts with large repetitions and light weights because I can’t hobble about fetching plates, and mainly trying to recover.
Some pluses however. Every cloud has a silver lining? I have discovered some lifts that I think are definitely good for rowing: a seated Good Morning with a dumbbell behind your neck seems very much like opening up at the catch. Seated Rockovers with the same dumbbell held in front are much better than sit-ups or crunches. Seated Bent-over Batwing Rows target those smaller muscles used at the end of the stroke - such as rear deltoids and forearms.
Whereas previously I thought of such lifts as ‘minor’ and no substitute for Deadlifts, Crunches, and heavy Bent -over Rowing Lifts, I am sure now that I will keep them in my repertoire when I return to full training - maybe for the Australian Indoor Championships of 2025. Oh, and I will remember to warm up ankle and calf movements, and be extra careful with plyometrics.