Ryan Gregson's Blog by Ryan_Gregson

This morning, Tristan ‘Tricky’ Garrett ventured down to Wollongong to spend a couple of days with me in Wollongong. Tricky is the most popular member of the Melbourne Track Club stable, but also has an 800m best of 1:46.66 to boot. Tricky spends the majority of his time living in Hamburg, Germany with his lovely girlfriend Svenja, but is currently on a 5 week stint in Australia under less than ideal circumstances.

Tricky was very much looking forward to the 2011 European season but was cut down before even striking a blow. In June, Tricky was told he had a mild case of Illiotibial Band Friction Syndrome.  For the next couple of months he took time off, did his rehab, started up again, took more time off, more rehab, but the pain never went away. The never-ending cycle continued until  September when he was diagnosed with Patella Tracking Syndrome, an issue caused by pronation that causes the knee-cap to track inwards instead of being stable. Tricky then went to Jempi Wilssens in Belgium, the world’s leader in orthotics and was fitted out for a couple of pairs of orthotics to reduce the instability that was occurring in the knee joint.  I was fitted out for my orthotics by Jempi’s son, Coen, and they certainly helped me get over a few of my issues.

In October, Tricky then went to visit my favourite physical therapy team of Gerard Hartmann and Ger Keane in Ireland for treatment and there it was suggested he had Plica Syndrome, which is essentially irritation and inflammation of the protective capsule of the knee joint. The treatment for this is surgery to cut and shave the protective capsule. Tricky had surgery on his knee down in Melbourne last week. He’s on crutches at the moment and it will be a further 6 weeks of rest and rehab before he can gradually build his way back to full training. This is some of the hardship and confusion that most athletes face at certain stages of their career, with me being no exception. That being said, I’m sitting on a pretty good wicket and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Well maybe I wouldn’t mind being Tyrann Mathieu or James Pattinson.

This Saturday, Tricky and I, as well as fellow Aussie track stars, Brett Robinson, Kevin Batt and Dave Ricketts, have been invited to Sally Fitzgibbons’ 21^st birthday party. For the few of you who are unaware of who Sally is, she is the World No. 2 ranked female surfer. Sally was a former national junior champion in the 800m and 1500m. We used to train in the same group so we have gotten to know each other pretty well over the years. Redbull and Roxy are throwing the party for her so the night should certainly put the 21^st birthday party that I threw to shame. We’re also looking forward to catching up with Kevin as he’s been away running at College in Colorado since January. Should be a good night!

Ryan