4,435consecutive running days
Post-op
The Road Back
Adam’s hamstring recovery
From a fall on an ordinary Saturday run to urgent surgery twelve days later. This is the story of what happened, where I am now and the long road back to running.
See the full journey Last updated 18 July 2026
12 daysfrom first fall to surgery
6 weekszero weight bearing
3 of 3tendon attachments repaired
How it unfolded
Twelve days that changed everything
I went from protecting a running streak to protecting a surgical repair. Open any milestone for the fuller story.
01The first fall
A road reflector caught my foot during an 8 km run.
Read more +
I fell forward, over-strided and felt something pop high in my left hamstring. I finished the run and kept running over the following days, although slowly and with increasing difficulty.
02The second fall
One slip turned a painful injury into something much bigger.
Read more +
My heel shot forward on the injured side. The pain and loss of function increased substantially. This became my last unbroken run and the end of a 4,435-day running streak.
03Physio assessment
Calvin recognised that this needed urgent imaging.
Read more +
The weakness, bruising and inability to use the hamstring properly raised concern for a significant tear. An MRI was arranged for the following day.
04MRI
The scan revealed a complete proximal hamstring avulsion.
Read more +
All three hamstring tendon attachments had pulled away from the bone. The physio called the next day and arranged an urgent sports orthopaedic consultation.
View the MRI image ↓05Surgeon
The verdict was immediate: “We’re fixing this tomorrow.”
Read more +
The surgeon reviewed the MRI after work on Wednesday night. With all three tendon attachments involved, the repair could not wait.
06Surgery
The hamstring tendons were reattached to the bone.
Read more +
Surgery repaired the complete avulsion. Because this involved all three tendon attachments, the initial protection phase is stricter than it would be for a smaller tear.
07Home
The six-week, zero-weight-bearing phase begins.
Read more +
I made the journey home on crutches. For six weeks there can be no weight through the repaired leg while the tendon-to-bone healing gets underway.
The scan · 14 July 2026
The image that changed the week
The MRI was arranged urgently after the physio assessment. This is one frame from that scan, which was reviewed alongside the complete imaging study.
The result transformed the situation from an uncertain running injury into an urgent surgical case. By Wednesday evening I was sitting with the surgeon. By Thursday afternoon the repair was complete.
What the scan confirmedA complete proximal hamstring avulsion, with all three tendon attachments pulled away from the bone.
How the repair works
Bringing the tendons back to bone
In a complete proximal hamstring avulsion, the tendons have pulled away from their attachment on the pelvis. The repair brings them back to that footprint and holds them there while healing begins.
- 1The tendon ends are identified and the attachment site is prepared.
- 2Suture anchors are placed into the ischial tuberosity.
- 3The sutures are passed securely through the tendon tissue.
- 4The tendons are drawn back to bone and the repair is secured.
This is a simplified educational illustration. The surgical approach, anchor count and suture pattern vary. It is not a reconstruction of Adam’s exact operative record.
Video journal · Tuesday 14 July 2026
The moment I called the streak
After Tuesday morning’s attempted run, I accepted that I could no longer complete an unbroken run. In this update I called the streak back to Thursday, 9 July, the last day I completed the full run without walking.
The injury was still undiagnosed at this point. The MRI, urgent surgical consultation and complete three-tendon repair were still ahead.
9 July 2026Official final day
Run day 4,435Final streak count
Photo journal · 13–17 July 2026
From bruising to repaired
Six photos capturing how quickly the week moved from injury assessment to surgery and the first day home.
Includes visible bruising and a post-operative dressing
The back of the left thigh on Monday morning, before the MRI revealed the full extent of the injury.
By Wednesday morning the bruising had spread substantially down the back of the leg. The urgent surgical consultation came that evening.
In the gown and waiting to go in for surgery to reattach all three hamstring tendon attachments.
Thursday night, smiling in the hospital bed with the repair completed.
Friday morning in hospital, beginning the first full day with the tendons reattached.
Home with the dressing in place and six weeks of zero weight bearing ahead.
We’re fixing this tomorrow.
Wednesday night’s surgical consultation changed the direction from diagnosis to urgent repair.
The recovery map
Patience is now the training plan
These phases are a guide only. Every progression depends on the surgeon, the physio and how the repair responds.
Phase 1 of 4Protecting the repair
01Current phase
Weeks 0–6
Protect the repair
Zero weight through the left leg, crutches for every transfer, pain and swelling management, and only surgeon-approved movement.
02Next
Weeks 6–12
Controlled loading
Subject to surgical review, gradually reintroduce weight bearing, movement and early strengthening under physio guidance.
03Ahead
Months 3–6
Rebuild strength
Progress strength, balance and everyday function. Milestones will be based on capacity, not just the calendar.
04The goal
When cleared
Return to running
A careful, criteria-led return. No promised date, no shortcuts and no risking the repair for the sake of the clock.
Latest update · 20 July 2026
Home, repaired and learning the crutch life
Surgery is done and all three hamstring tendon attachments are back on the bone. I’m now home with the strict instruction that no weight goes through the left leg for six weeks.
The immediate challenge is less athletic than logistical: moving safely, carrying the basics, managing discomfort and resisting the urge to do too much. For someone used to running at least eight kilometres every day, stillness is a completely different kind of discipline.