Tibial Plateau Surgery - Titanium Man

March 17

This afternoon I had an appointment with Dr. Allan Maples of The Orthopaedic Center here in Huntsville.  They took another round of x-rays, and then we discussed.  He showed us the three pieces of the upper tibia that had broken from the main part of the bone.  Basically, there is one piece on each side and the third piece is down the middle.  The middle piece has been pounded down by the impact.  The top of the tibia plateau has an indentation that looks like a ball mark on a soft putting green.  So, the surgery will raise the middle section and then screw everything together.

Dr. Maples estimated I will be non-weight bearing for 8-12 weeks, but I will be able to bend my knee.  So, I am hopeful that I will be able to drive the automatic sedan we have very soon.  Our other vehicle is a Ford Bronco with a manual transmission.  Fortunately, Martha can drive that easily even though I usually drive it.

March 19

Surgery went well today.  The first surgery to install the external fixation took all of 20 minutes.  This surgery was much longer at more than an hour and a half.  According to Dr. Maples PA, Mason, it all came together as well as it could.  Mason was optimistic on getting weight on the leg in 6-8 weeks.  However, it really matters on how well things heal over the next several weeks.  I have an appointment back with Dr. Maples on April 9 when the stitches should come out.

No glue or extra bone material required

As best as I can tell at this point, two plates were used and a total of 16 screws—one less than Lindsey Vonn needed. 

March 20

I got released from the hospital this afternoon.  This morning before breakfast, I worked with Sara, the PT.  She had me crutch up and down the hallway once.  She also opened up the splint, and she bent the knee a little bit, maybe 10-15 degrees.

My industrial brace

March 22

Nathan and his two oldest boys came to visit this weekend.  Nathan is going to deploy on the USS H.W. Bush any day now.  It was great to see them even though we had just seen them for Seb’s birthday three weeks ago.  They left this morning, and I put in my first self PT session.

My leg is in a brace that can be locked straight or unlocked.  I worked all variations of straight leg raises on the floor—on my back, side, and belly.  I also added in some crunches.  Then I unlocked the brace and worked the range of motion for 10 minutes or so.  At this point, I can bend the knee about 25 degrees.

Never stop running (unless you have a broken leg or a knee replacement),

Darin

Fracture of the Tibial Plateau in my Left Leg

 March 9

14 years ago on this day, I experienced the most significant injury to my running career.  I tore the ACL in my right knee doing large ski jumps.  On this day, I wasn’t doing large jumps; rather I was cruising quickly down a groomed, but icy double blue run in Big Sky.  As I neared the bottom of the run, carrying around 46 mph, I came upon other skiers and began to scrub some speed.  I am not sure what went wrong, but I lost control and crashed hard.  My right ski came off, but not the left one.  Immediately, I felt pretty intense pain in my left knee.  Oh no, have I torn my left ACL?  Painfully, I disconnect my left ski and another skier asks if I want him to get ski patrol.  Initially, I say, “give me a minute.”  Then while I am still lying on the ground in significant pain, he says, “I will go get ski patrol.  At worst, you will be up by the time they get here.”  I respond okay and wait for the pain to lessen.  The pain doesn’t lessen, and ski patrol is to me in less than two minutes.  Erich hiked up to me and immediately began to assess the situation.  How old are you?  What hurts?  Did you hit your head?  What is your pain level?  My answers:  57, left knee, no, 8-9 and by the way, I am an ultrarunner, so I understand pain.

The last thing I want on a ski slope is to be carted off on a sled.  Erich calls in the sled, and they immobilize my left leg as best as possible with a leg splint.  They put two wedges behind the knee to keep it slightly bent.  Then they strap me into the sled and down the hill I slide.  Off to the side of the ski lift, the sled is transferred from a human to a snowmobile.  The snowmobile drags the sled and me to a waiting a Suburban.  (It was offered to call in an ambulance, but I declined.)  I get loaded from the sled into the Suburban.  Every movement of the left leg brings intense pain.  The Suburban takes me to the slope side medical clinic.

Erich and another ski patrol person strapping me into the sled
Credit:  Stefano Coraluppi

Martha is waiting for me at the clinic.  They put me in a wheelchair, elevating the left leg.  Martha notes that I am in more pain than I was 14 years ago with my right ACL.  Perhaps I did more damage than my ACL?  The clinic staff takes off my right ski boot and attempts to remove the left one.  That is not happening as flexing the foot and pulling on the leg creates the most pain I have felt in my lower body.  Okay, they decide they can take the X-Ray with my boot and ski clothes on me.

In the Big Sky Medical Clinic

In the X-Ray room, I ask for some drugs.  Let’s start with 800mg of ibuprofen.  They bring me the vitamin-I, and I am then able to get on the X-Ray table.  I am still laying on the X-Ray table when Martha comes in and tells me I broke something.  She shows me the X-Ray, and my first thought is that might be quicker to recover from than a torn ACL.  Erich stops by and says he didn’t think my pain symptoms were lining up with an ACL, and he feared it was a tibial plateau fracture.  He wishes me a speedy recovery, and I sincerely thank him for his most expert first aid care.  The clinical staff determines that I need to go to the hospital in Bozeman as surgery is likely necessary.

This tibia fracture doesn't look as bad as Lindsey Vonn's

So, Martha gets the car, they load me in the back seat, and off we go for the hour drive down to Bozeman.  Before leaving the clinic they give me 1000mg of Tylenol.  Martha pulls up to the Emergency Room entrance, and a nurse comes out with a wheelchair that doesn’t have a leg extension capability.  I tell her that isn’t going to work, and so she goes and gets a gurney.  With a little assist, I hop on the gurney and they roll me inside.  The doctor on call for trauma cases is Dr. Jon Robinson.  He will be in shortly, but he wants everything off of my legs before he gets there for the first surgery.  Wait, did he say first surgery?  Yes, they will likely install an external fixation, and then I can travel home for the next surgery to install hardware inside the leg.  So, a couple of nurses and at least one nurse’s aide start to get the layers off.  Of course, most of my clothing is swag from an ultrarace.  First off is the left ski boot.  With one nurse holding my leg and two more manipulating the boot, we manage to get it off without me screaming.  Next off are my ski pants then a pair of thermals.  The socks I am wearing are Darn Tough socks that were swag.  The nurse asks about Darn Tough socks, and I explain that I prefer DryMax over Darn Tough for running.  Finally, off comes the base layer—an old pair of running tights.  They let me keep my underwear on!  Then the top layers come off—Patagonia Hellgate 100k finisher shirt and a thick synthetic running shirt.  They let me keep my Twisted Branch 100k t-shirt on in addition to my underwear.

Post Surgery with the External Fixation in Place

Dr. Robinson comes in and briefs the surgery he is going to perform and soon the anesthesiologist is putting the drugs in the IV.  They whisk me off to the surgery, and it is performed in 20 minutes.  I spend almost the next 24 hours in the hospital.  The nurses check on me every hour to ensure compartment syndrome is not setting in.  I make it through the night with just some additional Tylenol.  Before getting discharged, a CT scan is performed, and we are given the DVD to take with us back to Huntsville.  I have an appointment with Dr. Maples on Tuesday to determine when and how the next surgery will be done.  Until then, I am hobbling around on crutches with the Ex-Fix and no weight on the left leg.

Back in Big Sky Resting Comfortably

Never stop running (unless you have a broken leg or a knee replacement),

Darin 

Eagle Ridge 50k 2026 - A Beautiful Day!

 February 7

This is my second time running this race.  I ran it three years ago, but the course is different this year.  The race director sent out an email on Wednesday indicating the course would be different from what was posted on the website.  The course on the website was the same course I ran last time.  The good part of the change is that the first lap is 19 miles, and the second lap is shorter.

This is my first race since the Hellgate 100k in December.  Due to the effort required of me at Hellgate this year, my recovery has been slower than usual, but I feel good now.  The weather forecast is clear blue skies with temperatures warming to the high 40s.  The temperature at the start is about 32 degrees, and I decide to wear shorts, long and short sleeve shirts, a buff, and light gloves.  There is no opportunity to have a drop bag, so I have to keep what I start with.  I was going to start with a thin hat and bring the buff in my pack, but then I decided to just double up the buff to start wearing it like a hat.

Mile 2.6      27:07 (10:26 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

There are three distances of races today—50k, half marathon, and 5k.  The half marathoners started the same time as us 50k runners, and the bibs all look the same.  The only way to know what race someone is running is to ask them.  I am tracking behind an older guy, who I learn is running the half.  He asks me if I want to pass, and I state that I am quite fine with his pace.  I got a quick start with the beginning lap around the parking lot so I don’t have to pass anyone on this first section.  There were a few runners that passed me, but overall, I like my positioning.

Mile 4.1      16:46 (11:11 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

Another runner or two pass me on this section.  One of them was April, who I would learn later is running her first ultra.  I am running everything except the steeper uphills at this point in the race.  My legs feel great, and I am thinking in my head that a 50k is a “sprint ultra”!  Halfway through this short section, my big left toe finds a toe grabber and I hit the dirt for the first time.  Hitting the dirt is not bad, but my poor big left toe is killing me.  I injured it three years ago landing while skiing, and it still hurts, especially when I stub it.

Mile 8.3      51:48 (12:20 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I am still following the older half marathoner for the first half of this section, but then I leave him behind as he slows down.  No worry about being lonely though as there are plenty of other half marathoners to keep the two-dozen or so of us 50k runners company.  I run most of this section, continuing to push the gradual uphill sections.  There is only one full aid station on this course.  While this aid station is not a full aid station, there are two ladies working it, and they have fluids and some snacks.  Regardless, I haven’t eaten anything yet.

Mile 9.5      17:37 (14:41 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

As I started up this section, which is mostly uphill, April passes me again.  Apparently, she and a couple of other runners made a wrong turn and got to run an extra half mile or so.  One of those runners is John, who is running the half marathon.  He ran the 50k last year and says he finished in around 7:20.  I am not sure why he isn’t running the 50k this year as he says he is scheduled to run a 100 miler in April.  The aid at this stop is water and a few bottles of soda.

Mile 11.2    20:39 (12:09 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

John stays with me on this section, and we get to know each other a little better.  His first attempt at a 100 miler was last year, but he sprained his ankle and when it started significantly swelling, he dropped out around mile 60.  The conversation is a good distraction as this section is also mostly uphill, but it has gradual switchbacks that are very runnable.  John says he plans to hang out at the finish and cheer on most of the 50k runners.  At this aid station, there are freshly made, warm quesadillas.  I eat two of the quarters and say good bye to John as he gets to head to the finish.

Mile 14.7    43:03 (12:18 avg./mile) Spur Turnaround

I start this section, knowing that there are only 50k runners with me now.  Soon after I leave the aid station, I pass a guy who I was surprised went out as fast as he did.  Then a runner catches up to me and says hello friend.  It is April again!  She had to stop at the last aid station and tend to a blister.  She is a rather serious marathon runner with a PR of 3:16.  We run together for the next three miles until she finally decides to press ahead of me.  Along the way, I learn that she has three boys and totally understands why I am working my race schedule around my grandsons’ birthdays.  This is a long out and back, so we get to see all of the runners ahead of us.  The two leaders are female, and both of them look really strong.  I count that I am in 10^th place as I near the turnaround where there is just a jug of water.  The 9^th place runner is refilling a bottle, and I pass him at this point.

Mile 18.3    50:01 (13:54 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I lost sight of April rather quickly after she passed me, but there is another runner ahead who I have seen most of the race.  He is carrying poles, but only uses them on the way back on this section as most of it is uphill.  I keep him in sight, but I am unable to catch him until after the climb.  We are about a mile from the aid station when he stumbles crossing a bridge.  After asking if he is okay, I pass him and think, I think I am in 8^th place!  Pride comes before the fall, and I fall about 30 seconds after I pass him.  So, he passes me back as it takes me a minute to get to running again.  I caught my big left toe on a rock, and the rock didn’t move.  The fall didn’t hurt too bad, but the pain in my left toe is excruciating!  At the aid station, the guy with the poles is just leaving and we share a laugh about our falls.

Mile 19.3    13:12 (13:12 avg./mile) End of Lap 1

There is no aid station here, but the trail to the finish branches off.  I mark my time mostly to know how long it takes me from the aid station as we run this same trail at the end of the race.  My overall time is 3:00:13, which I figure is about as good as I could have hoped for.  Now, I just need to keep pressing to keep my pace up.

Mile 21.4    27:53 (13:17 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

Early in this section, I finally catch back up to the guy with the poles.  I follow him, deciding to bide my time as we are keeping a good pace.  As we get to this aid station, there is a guy there telling us that we are in 8^th and 9^th place (This aligns with my count on the out and back section.), and that 7^th place is just ahead of us.  Okay, I need to be patient, but this is exciting to be “racing” this late in an event for a top-10 position.

Mile 22.7    19:58 (15:22 avg./mile) Start of South Loop

I passed the guy with the poles as we crossed the road starting this section.  Then the guy in 7^th lets me go by on the first climb.  I know there is another runner behind me that is stalking close as I have heard him back there the last few miles.  I see two of the front runners coming back from the south loop and then I go to the right and around the cemetery.  Then it is down a little dirt road to the aid station.  As I am striding down the hill, I roll my chronic right ankle really good for the first time today.  It really hurts for a minute, but then the pain quickly deadens out.

Mile 26.9    1:04:52 (15:27 avg./mile) End of South Loop

I start this section with the goal of conserving my legs and energy, but I also want to maintain 7^th place.  The guy who has been lingering behind me closes in, but doesn’t catch me.  I try several times to open a gap on him, but each time he covers my surge.  Finally, while walking an uphill section, I start up a conversation.  Andrew is running his first ultra and is just trying to keep a good pace off of me.  This is good.  I should be able to drop him as he tires given this is his first ultra.  He looks to be younger, and I later learn he is 36.  We stick together the rest of this section, and he decides to go to the aid station table while I pass right on through.

Mile 28.1    20:42 (17:15 avg./mile) Four-way Intersection

As soon as I passed through the last aid station, I hear another runner catching up to me.  It is a lady and she catches and passes me very quickly on the first climb.  I didn’t even have a minute to consider keeping up with her.  I am feeling good though and feel like I am still making a decent pace.  I still think I am still in 8^th place when I stop to water a tree.  This pit stop allows Andrew to catch me.  I mention to him how quickly the lady went by us, and he didn’t even see her go by while he was at the aid station table.  This surprises him, and he decides to go chase her, leaving me in the dust.  I get to this aid station now by myself, take a gulp of Coke from the two-liter bottle and press on for the last few miles.

Mile 29.8    24:27 (14:23 avg./mile) Full Aid Station

I run most of the gradual switchbacks while power hiking the steeper portions.  A few switchbacks ahead of me I glimpse the lady at one point, but Andrew is nowhere in sight.  I guess he passed her, but the final results indicate she finished ahead of him.  My time on this section is four minutes slower than the first lap.  When I get to the aid station, I ask the kids if there is anyone ahead of me that I might catch.  Their response is just a laugh, saying the next runner is over five minutes ahead of me.

Mile 31.1    15:03 (11:35 avg./mile) FINISH

Okay, I am not likely going to catch 8^th place, so I just need to ensure I don’t give up 9^th place.  I run as much of this last section as I can, but I keep an eye behind me in case there is anyone behind me.  Fortunately, no one is back there, and I move with purpose to the finish.  Andrew is walking away from the finish as I approach the finish line.

Official Finishing Time 6:53:08

10^th out of 25 starters (19 under the 8-hour cut-off)

It is a beautiful, almost warm day, and I sit at the finish line for about 15 minutes cheering on the other runners coming in behind me.  John, the half marathon runner, is nowhere to be seen.  There is, however, one of the 50k runners that finished over an hour before me hanging out at the finish.  I eat half of a bowl of chili while chatting with the lady that finished ahead of me, and her two friends that finished behind me.  I was pretty sure that I won my age group, but this is confirmed by one of the volunteers, and I win a $20 gift card.

When the official results are posted, it shows me in 10^th place.  I guess I missed on my count, but the person around mile 21 had the same count.  Regardless, it is a top-10 finish, and I am the 6^th male finisher.

My next race will not be Cheaha as that is Sebastian’s 5^th birthday party.  Instead, it will be the Bull Run Run 50-miler in Virginia on April 4^th.  Until then...

Never stop running,

Darin