RNZAF officer takes on Ironman six weeks and six days after breaking ankle

“Five kilometres into my trail run, I snapped my right ankle. I was pretty positive I'd broken it because I heard it over my music and a lump formed straight away.

“It took me almost two hours to hobble back to safety. It was so painful, but I knew I had to just keep moving as I had no reception to call for help.”

The Royal New Zealand Air Force logistics officer qualified for the 70.3 Worlds in 2020 at the Middle East Championships when she came third in her age group. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a delay on the race and finally it was rescheduled for late last year.

Having not raced since she qualified due to chasing other athletic pursuits, SQNLDR Calman gave herself 16 weeks to prepare, then came the “little blip”.

“Once it was confirmed at the hospital my leg was broken I never gave up on the race – I was   straight onto Google to see how long it takes to fix a broken fibula. And then a good friend of mine, and an amazing physio, who became my physio throughout my rehab, said it could be a stable break.

“I talked to an orthopaedic surgeon who didn’t say no, and following his strict advice I called my coach straight away and made a plan.”

For two weeks with her leg in a cast SQNLDR Calman couldn’t train much, except some core upper body strength training and light cardio. What followed was a month of exercising, nutrition and taking every supplement to assist the healing.

“My rehabilitation programme through the physio was intensive, but I followed it to a T because by then I had only four weeks to a race day.

“I improved at a ridiculously rapid rate.”

Six weeks and six days after breaking her ankle, SQNLDR Calman arrived at the Ironman Champs’ start line – albeit a bit nervously.

“The day before when I racked my bike, I thought how am I even here? And who knew what was going to happen? I didn't know, my coach didn't know, my physio didn't know. All I could do was do what I could.”

Her swim went well but moving from the lake to her bike was tricky as she had to navigate a slippery ramp.

“I had to hold onto the handrail and everybody was running around me, but I couldn't go any faster because I was so nervous.”

Once on her bike though, she was fine and for the SQNLDR Calman followed strict advice: running for nine minutes and walking for one. 

“It was slow and steady but the only thing I really needed to focus on was foot placement and looking after myself because that's all that mattered. If I rolled it, then it was game over.”

Despite her setback nearly seven weeks earlier, SQNLDR Calman completed the 1.9km swim, 90.1km bike and 21.1km run.

“For someone who's done a huge amount of races around the world, including the Ironman World Champs in Kona, Hawaii and the ITU Long Distance World Champs in France, this one trumped them all.

“I'm very proud of myself for not letting my broken ankle put me on the couch. I knew I had to give it a shot, and if I fell short I was never going be upset with myself. My biggest fear was watching the race wondering if I could have made the start line.”

SQNLDR Calman is continuing her rehabilitation so she can carry on her endurance sport journey, with her sights set on a 100 mile run, but that challenge is reliant on her ankle being back to full strength.

“There's something about switching off during an uber long run, it's just bliss. It's almost like a drug – you get super tired during it and think I’ll never do this again and then sure enough, I do.”