Beginning of the 2012 season

After some good training at home and in Denver the season is quick to start this year with another qualifier on January 14^th at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. There were quite a few competitors and the weather held up great for the competition. I had an improved combined (run/shoot) time and was happy with my performance and finishing in 3^rd place, especially since there hadn’t been much down time with preparing for the first World Cup in March. With the results from the two qualifiers I had secured my spot on the team for the World Cup #1 in Charlotte, NC.

Training had been very hard and I had been having some ongoing hip pains beginning in December. I had an x-ray that showed no issues but the pain was so bad that I could hardly fence or run normally. I had an MRI which revealed a small labral tear in the hip socket as well as a stress fracture in the neck of my femur. I was shocked at the news and never thought the outcome would be that bad. I had a stress fracture in the past but with the location of this stress fracture the healing time would be longer.

I have kept my chin up and have been focusing on getting healed up by the World Cup and being able to compete healthy and injury free this season. I have been spending lots of time in the pool with aqua jogging, swimming, and other exercises to minimize the weight bearing but be able to stay in shape. Things have been coming along well and I hope to be up and ready to compete in my own country for the World Cup in Charlotte!