Debbie Tanner takes a step into the unknown on Sunday when she lines up in the opening world championship triathlon series in Sydney.
In a year when all eyes are August's qualifying event in London for the 2012 Olympics, Tanner knows she needs a big season. First, she must overcome
an off-season that included serious rehabilitation of her Achilles tendons.
Tanner tore both tendons in November last year and admits she should have listened to her body then and taken time off.
"I wasn't sure at the time how serious it was and continued to train," Tanner said. "I was trying to tell myself it wasn't that bad, and tomorrow it would be better."
After a few weeks with no improvement, Tanner said she was "riding a rollercoaster of good and bad days".
Tanner had been looking forward to 2011, knowing she had put longstanding muscle and fascia problems behind her.
"But I went from being able to run every day to not being able to walk down the stairs in the morning," she said.
"I had no choice but to change my routine - so instead of running I was aqua running - and I will say 'running' not jogging as my coach had me do some serious workouts in the pool.
"I was icing, then getting massage, off to the physio, getting acupuncture and muscle therapy, all on a daily basis."
Tanner increased her swim and bike workouts, and said although her running was not where it needed to be she had no doubt it would get there.
The Sydney triathlon is the first step towards August's qualification event for the 2012 London Olympics.
Tanner will be among four New Zealand women on the start line, with Andrea Hewitt, of Christchurch, Nicky Samuels, of Wanaka, and Australia-based Anna Cleaver lining up to secure valuable ranking points.
- NZPA
