cyranoVR's Journal: Fencing Results: Next-to-Worst Case Scenario

Long story short, I tore my medial calf in by back leg. In retrospect, it was the logical exclamation point to the problems with that leg that I've been having over the past few months.

I couldn't get to sleep the night before the competition, partly because of nerves, partly because I was upset after getting lost trying to find the hotel at 10:30 at night (after rushing to the airport from work - that's a whole other journal entry of several pages that isn't really worth writing), and partly from MrsVR banging around the hotel room until 1:00 AM looking for things she had packed and reading. Ok, anyone who reads this journal knows that I have a sleep disorder...SHE WOULDN'T LET ME SLEEP!!! Anyway, I had to get up at 6:30 AM for the competition, so effectively I was exhausted the morning of the competition.

I got to the venue and immeditately put together a weapon (after accidentally breaking one on Thursday, I only had two). This will be known as Mistake Number One. I should have been warming up but instead I ended up taking a lesson with my coach semi-cold at 7:30 AM - only 1/2 hour before start time. Nevertheless, I took probably the best warmup lesson of my career. On the other hand, the knot in my back calf was already starting to bother me...

I warmed up with a few teammates, but already I was strugging. I couldn't hold concentration.

My first round pool was rather easy. Or so I thought. I lost my first bout against a new-comer that had sloppy technique but a lot of attitude. He smacked me 5-2.

My next match was against one of Stanford's top fencers - a lefty. I found my self in the hole 0-2 a few second into the bout, but fought my way back to win 5-4 with seconds to spare. The actions that brought me back were a six-philo to his flank, "super" sweeping 2nd parry (even with a small jump), and finally a fleche in preparation to the top of his arm (a risky move when you're going for the win, but I felt his tempo).

My next two matches were relatively easy, but I dificulty holding my lead.

Oops time to watch buffy
[sometime later]
Faith and Principal Wood? Ewwwwww!

Hey look "24" is on...not bad.

As I was saying...I kept getting early leads against my opponents, but then my concentration would slip, they would launch attacks, and I would find myself winning by the skin of my teeth. Then in my last bout, I blew a 4-2 lead (should have been an easy win).

At this point my calf was starting to hurt.

MrsVR showed up, and I asked her to get me some coffee. I knew I was advancing to the next round, because I had a solid 3-2 record. I tried to get some sleep before the next round.

Right before the second round, I drank a cup of coffee. In retrospect, this also was probably not a good idea, because coffee dehydrates...but I was really struggling to keep by focus and was grasping.

My second round pool was challenging. I lost my first bout, once again blowing an easy 4-2 lead. Of course, at this point the knot in my left calf had grown to a full-grown cramp, making it difficult to move dynamically and almost impossible to execute any attacks. I managed to win the next three bouts by scoring early hits and then switching to defense. In one match I was incredibly lucky: my opponent had several opportunities to hit me and he out right missed. He must have been nervous.

Then my last bout was against an Air Force Academy guy. He smacked me. Of course, later I found out from my coach that they are training 6 days a week from 3 to 6 PM every day. I am now going to work harder to beat this guy (after I get my Java cert of course). There wasn't much I could do during the bout, as my cramp made it difficult to do the actions as I imagined him. I remember on one action I tried to retreat and parry his attack, but my leg buckled and I lost my balance. He skewered me.

The second round was over, and I was once again advancing with a 3-2 record. However, it was not good enough to receive a bye to the round of 32 - I would have to fence an elimination match with somebody in the round of 64 first.

Now the cramp was hurting every time I took a step. It was irritating, but I had cramps like this before, and I always was able to work through them. I went to the trainer, who had me ice it down for 15 minutes (Mistake Number Three). Then I stretched it, massaged it and took some extra-stength Excedrin (yeah, it's for headaches but it's really just ibuprophen and caffine, both of which I desparately needed). I rubbed in an extra helping of SportsCreme. I drank some gatorade. Then I stretched some more. Nothing was helping.

The tableau for the round of 64 was posted - my opponent, "D_", was the same guy that eliminated me by one point in the round of 16 in Columbus back in December. Time for payback, right? Except that my leg is killing me when ever I try to do any footwork. Instead of planning a strategy, I'm trying to figure out how to fence without lunging (or attacking for that matter).

I decide that I will try and get close and make small lunges. This is Mistake Number Four. I should have planned to retreat to my end of the strip and played pure defense (that is what I will do in the future if I ever have a leg cramp again).

(BTW - you can't take the 10 minute recovery period for injuries for cramps - they are too easy to fake).

The bout starts. While I am struggling to keep distance with him, D_ makes a fast beat attack to my arm. Not good. Another attack comes and I'm down 0-2. Soon it is 0-3. I manage to make a slow, desparate lunge that some how gets through, but soon the score is 2 - 5 against me.

Then, in a flash of stupidity, I make an aggressive jump forward, intending to end with a squatting attack to his foot.

Except half-way through the start of the jump, something in my left calf goes "POP" - two pops actually. The sensation was like that a column of rock-hard muscle sharply moving from the inside of my calf to the outside (that probably was what it was). I stumble and fall to the ground.

There is no pain at all.

And I immediately know that the match is over.

D_ has scored a touch to my shoulder as I fell and wants to know if his touch stands. I tell the ref that I tore something. As the ref calls for a trainer, D_ asks if he can unhook and go to the bathroom(!).

The national men's epee coach comes over and starts telling me that he's had this happen before, that they can tape up my ankle and I'll be able to continue. What an idiot.

The trainer comes over and confirms that I've torn a muscle in my calf, but he can't say how bad. He can tell that the muscle is spasming, protecting something. I stand up, limp over to D_ and shake his hand. The bout is over. No chance for payback, no national ranking points this time.

My real coach shows up and tells me that the most important thing is that I stay healthy. That I am making the right decision by withdrawing.

I limp over to MrsVR and hug her. I look around seeing sympathetic faces of spactators, competitors and teammates, and I start to sob into her shoulder. This was not an outcome I envisioned. It's such a disappointment.

Everytime I did an advance-lunge attack in one of my lessons, I was picturing D_ on the receiving end. I was going to do it this time. But this had to fucking happen.

* * *

I ice my injury some more and then take a wheel chair back to my room. After taking a shower and eating some, we watch the last half of Spirited Away on our laptop. I almost break down crying , bawling, at the part where Chihiro says "I want you to know my real name..." but I choke back my tears for fear of looking like a "fag" to MrsVR.

Of course, I'm really upset about the tournament,

* * *

After I take a shower and we have some room service, we go on a quest for crutches. Ultimately, we end up going to a hospital, where I have a visit to the emergency room. They take an X-ray of my leg and Rx me some codine (which I don't take), and we buy a pair of crutches (we can't rent because we're leaving for home the next day).

The x-rays show no bone damage - everything's "okay" as the doctors says.

* * *

MrsVR's competition is the next day. I watch her from the other side of the room because I end up fighting with her if she sees me watching her. We had already had a fight the previous night in which she yelled "you already ruined your competition, don't ruin mine too!"

I limp around the room and a lot of people see me and are concerned.

MrsVR does ok in the competition. Even though she goes out in the second round, she manages to do well enough to get national points, making the trip a success for her.

We rush to the airport, but because MrsVR wanted to take a shower we get there AS our plane is leaving. To be fair, my injury doesn't help matters - I could have had the car waiting as soon as she finished fencing, but in my condition she had to do everything.

We end up staying an extra night and getting the next flight out.

* * *

So tomorrow I go back to work. I took two days off to rest my leg. I feel guilty about it, but it was the right thing to do. What if I had re-injured my leg hopping around the office? Aparently the first 72 hours are important.

Today I went to see a Orthopedic specialist, who said my injury was "mild" and that I should be able to fence again in one month. He told me that I can walk on my leg, so I am (although I am keeping the crutches handy). I start physical therapy tomorrow with the same guy that worked on my elbow earlier last year.

Nationals is in two months. I plan on being there.