DETOUR

The one moment I was on top of the mountain (literally) and the next moment I am rolling down on the other side falling flat on my face (figuratively!) 

At the beginning of the year, I invited you to be part of The next chapter of my life, Dream Chaser. Unfortunately, it looks like I skipped a chapter. This chapter came in unplanned and is not going to be an easy one to read.

New Year's Eve, I always sit down and write all my goals for the year. A new clean page filled with possibilities and opportunities! This year was no different, I sat down full of hope and expectation for what the year holds! For twelve years of my life, I have always started the year with a positive outlook with the hopes that this year it was going to turn around - this is going to be my year!

But unfortunately, for the past twelve years, it has never been a smooth ride. Since, I was an 11-year old girl, every year of my life, I have always either been sidetracked by an injury, illness or traumatic accident. We set goals and dream dreams but sometimes life knocks us down or in my case many times...

MAJOR SETBACKS: 2007-2019

2007-2008: I started struggling with my health. I stopped growing at the age of eleven, and experienced and started experiencing symptoms such as nausea, weakness, unexplained weight loss, cold hands and feet and fatigue. I was in the hospital for extended periods of times and saw a multitude of doctors all failing to tell me the real cause of my problems. I was often judged and rejected for the way I looked. People take one look at you and without knowing what you are really going through they put a label around your neck...and once it's been given it isn't easily taken away. I started running as a result of this, it was the only thing that made me feel free, I wasn't fast when I started - but it was my way of escaping pain and hurt. It made me feel strong when I was weak.

2009: Was in hospital for a total of more than 60 days.

Got attacked by a big dog - I had to get 45 stitches, an operation and still have scars on my left leg today.

2010: In the hospital for a whole month with a bladder infection. No running for more than 6 months.

2011: Fell off a bike, sustained a bad concussion and wasn't able to compete in the school's biggest athletic event of the year, as well as the provincial athletic competitions.

2012: My health, especially my gut, was so bad at this stage that I wasn't able to run much either.

2013: I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and IBS. It was a big adjustment to completely change my diet and find out what my stomach can tolerate.

2014: My health was so bad that I was homeschooled my last year of school. I wasn't able to run much either.

I fell in a manhole without a lid and fracture both my ribs and sustained bad bone bruising and a knee injury. No running for 6 months.

2015: I was finally diagnosed with hypopituitarism. I was so thankful, but it was a big adjustment for my body to start taking the medications and at first, my body didn't respond as hoped.

Car accident 1 - Got hit by a pick-up truck while biking from practice. Torn my meniscus, had very bad bone bruising, sustained a concussion and hurt my lower back.

2016-2017: Never ran more than 3 consecutive months without stopping again due to my back injury.

2018: Car accident 2 - Rolled and totalled my brand new car I saved up to buy for years.

sustained another concussion and whiplash.

Stress fracture due to uneven and rapid growth in my right tibia.

An Uber slammed his door against my chest and I fell hard on the pavement straight on my back.

2019: Possible back operation...

In my previous post, Even if I fall, I will still fly again, I explained how my first race of the year ended due to my back injury. My back had enough. All the falls and accidents added up.

Nobody ever posts their failures. We only see a glimpse of exercises, workouts, races, pictures of victories, and smiling faces. We don't often see the struggles, the hurt, the pain and frustrations that go along with it.

I want to...

Connect and to relate to others that have been through the same pain and hurt that comes with an operation or injury that sidetracked you for weeks or months.

Share in the frustrations of those that had to go through unnecessary accidents.

Sympathize with those that love this sport and had to sit out for extended periods missing out on big events they trained hard for.

I am going to share something different with you for the next few months.

I am inviting you on a new journey, the chapter called DETOUR. I am going to share my rehab story. I will have to start from scratch. I am going to show you how I suffer, how I hurt and how I fail, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW I GET BACK UP! I am not going to let my dreams go, I am simply taking a different route. It may be a long one, but I will be back and you better know that I won't...

NEVER EVER GIVING UP

- Annie

Don't let nobody tell you otherwise

Read Rivaldo Roberts, one of South Africa's leading 400m Hurdles athlete's story.

• 110M Youth and Junior Champion

• African Junior Bronze

• Third Fastest Time for any Junior in South Africa in 2015

I was a normal kid. Did sport when I was little, and I remember watching a program on SABC 3 that compared athletes to animals. Llewellyn Herbert was one of the athletes that they compared. I instantly fell in love with athletics and more specifically hurdles.

Never ran super fast, but I've always had the dream. I was going to make a team and no one was going to tell me otherwise.

Well, a lot of people told me otherwise. They said I will never make the team. MAYBE I will make the high school team, but if I make it, I will bench. Don't do track. "You're not good enough." "You're not strong enough." "You're not fast enough." I've heard it all!

I kept my head down and just kept grinding. I told my aunt. Listen: "I am going to Ukraine and no one is stopping me!!"

But...

My times didn't show and it was the qualifying year. On top of it allI, I had a back injury and couldn't run properly. One day the school got angry at me because of it and I just unleashed something I never even knew I had. After that I couldn't stopped. A burning feeling to prove people wrong. In only a month, I dropped my times with 1.4 sec. In a short sprint - THAT IS A LOT! Later I won national youth championships with a qualifying time for the world youths. I did it. I thought I proved them all wrong

I didn't

I finished 27th at the championships and prior to writing my story, I haven't mentioned it to anyone. A week before the champs I tore my hamstring. I couldn't even walk properly let alone run!

After world youths, I dropped my PB another 0.2 sec. I decided work for the following year and set my sights on Eugene to compete at the world juniors. I worked so hard. I was the favorite going into nationals, but I was running against the South African record holder. It was always going to be a tight race and I expected it. He dipped me at the end giving me silver and a new personal best. But missed junior qualification by 0.01 sec.

I was devastated.

But life goes on. That year I got selected for the Region V Games in Zimbabwe and placed 1st. A few months later I made the African junior team. Finally, the frustration paid off. Little did I know more frustration was coming my way. I pulled my hamstring before African champs, but I still ran a PB.

I knew I was in good the shape when African champs came. I went into the race as favourite to medal. I cruised through the heats in the second fastest time run by a junior in South Africa. My mind started to shift toward the South African Record. I knew I was only 0.15 from it. Our team managed a bronze in the 4x100 relay and had the medal ceremony just before my race. I rushed to the call room and didn't get to warm up. The wind was intense and it was blowing against us. It was recorded at 3.4m/s. I had a great start in that race but unfortunately, but I panicked and lost focus. It cost me gold and I had to settle for bronze.

Height started to play a role. I made the decision to switch events and I started with the 400H. The first offseason was horrible. Every day was painful and hard at the beginning. I suffered, but as time went on I improved so much and I will keep on improving. Every day there's a new challenge, but I believe strongly in my team and with their support I know I can reach the top of the ranks again.

- Rivaldo

Even if I fall, I will still fly again.

One of my favorite routes. Of course I will be there. Marked in big bold letters on my calendar, Bay to Bay 30K was going to be my first race of 2019, as well as my first 30K. It was going to be great!

But the past month has been anything but great...

One of my favorite routes - Camps Bay to Hout Bay

My year ended on a low after having another hard fall. Yes, another accident!! I was out running coming downhill past the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. I was running on the pavement, going at quite a speed, when an Uber pulled up next to me. There wasn't enough time to see it coming or to stop...the next moment a door hit me on my chest and knees and I went flying back falling directly on the hard pavement with my back. I just laid there, shocked and uncertain of my injuries. I felt a sharp pain in my chest and saw the bruising on my knees as I slowly made my way up. The moment I got up the Uber drove away. "She is up so she must be fine!"

I wasn't.

The following week I experienced a lot of pain. I ended up spending my New Years in hospital getting an injection in my back. Thereafter, I decided to take a week off running to give my body time to recover. One week before my first race of 2019, I was able to start jogging again with the hopes to be ready to line up the next Sunday at the Bay to Bay 30K. My training prior to the accident went well and I felt confident after completing my last 28K long run in 1:48. However, I could feel my body wasn't ready yet, but I kept my hopes up right to the start of the race. I lined up with a positive mentality and knew I did the best I could to be ready despite the circumstances.

I was feeling very strong. Going up the mountain I felt comfortable and by the 9K mark, the second lady quite far behind me. I was on my goal pace and ready to increase the speed on my way back. Going down Suikerbossie, a very steep downhill, I felt a sharp pain in my back. It felt like my leg was giving in under me when I got to the bottom. I started slowing down drastically and the second lady began to catch up. By the half way mark she passed me. I tried following, but the shooting pain down my leg became unbearable. At 18km I knew that I had to stop, my race was over. I was devastated, as I was on pace to run a 1:45-50 for my first 30K. Tears rolled down my eyes as the ambulance came to pick me up and take me back to the medical tent.

This is a warning for all runners. Be cautious. Even when running on the pavement, you still have to be aware of your surroundings. Look out for the cars and any other hazards that may be on the road. Some people don't look or care, and then you are left with the scars...

I can't tell how many more times I will have to fall before I can fly...

But I won't stay down.

I will keep on getting back up.

I will keep on fighting.

I won't give up.

Fly butterfly

- Annie