04/04/2026
Five years ago, I was halfway through the London Marathon when things changed.
Around the 21km mark, I started getting intense groin pain with referral down my leg. The kind of pain you try to ignore… until you can’t. I nearly pulled out right there.
After that, I rested. Cut things right back to short 5–10km runs for about 6 months, hoping it would settle. But it didn’t. The pain stuck around, and I just kept trying to manage it.
Eventually, after putting up with it far too long, I was sent for an X-ray… and very quickly referred to an orthopaedic surgeon.
Diagnosis: Hip dysplasia with significant osteoarthritis at age 33.
I couldn’t believe it. Something that’s usually picked up at birth, genetic, screened for early, and somehow missed.
Cue all the emotions.
Coming to terms with the diagnosis, being told my marathon days were likely over, and making the decision to go ahead with a total hip replacement.
And now here we are, on the other side.
A new hip, a new chapter, and a whole new appreciation for movement.
Follow along for my rehab journey. Let’s do this ✨💪
