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Ottawa Ironman

A Merry Stem Cell Christmas!

A Merry Stem Cell Christmas!

A Merry Stem Cell Christmas!

by: Julia Aimers

Owner and Head Coach

Team Triumph Triathlon Club

Today I ran 10km in the beautiful hills of Vermont. No big deal right?...for some people, and for others well, they just don't run. Why am I feeling so Merry? Because I haven't been able to run 10km in 5 years. My last long running race was the Shelburne, Vermont half marathon in November of 2012. A skating accident in February of 2013 on the world's longest skating rink, the famous Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Ontario damaged my previously damaged knee and took me out of running.

Without going into the trials and tribulations of what happened between then and now, I can tell you that I had a meniscus "clean up" that actually gave me pain in my knee that I had never previously experienced. My running career and triathlon days were over and I was not a happy camper. Triathlon is not only a big part of my active lifestyle but as the Owner and Head Coach of Team Triumph Triathlon Club, triathlon coaching is also my career.

I started researching stem cells as an option to heal my knee so I could run again. Much to my surprise, I found Doctor Simon in Ottawa who was just starting to do stem cell injections. I opted in and after having some fantastic follow-up Platelet Rich Plasma injections with Dr Ouelette in Ottawa, I was running 5km again and doing triathlons!!

Having done my research, I decided to improve my knee healing more with what I called the "Cadillac version" of stem cell procedures, at the Regenexx Clinic in Colorado. The Doctors there have many years of stem cell procedure experience. They also have specific injection and blood draw methods that we just weren't seeing in Canada. I arrived at the clinic and was given a one hour assessment by Dr Schultz. During our previous 30 minute phone consultation he had surmised that there may be trouble in my lower back as well that was causing some of the knee pain. A quick X-ray and boom he was right there were some issues in my spine as well! During my thorough evaluation he also discovered I couldn't feel my big toe and due to years of competitive badminton ankle sprains, I had some damage there as well. All of this was affecting my knee.

Without going into the whole incredible procedure that lasted over a course of about nine days, I had stem cells injected into my ankle, my knee and my spine. On Doctors orders, I was wheeled to the gate at the airport, flew home and had to learn to be patient. Patience, hmm not something I'm good at when it comes to being inactive. After 4 weeks of rest and wearing a full knee and ankle brace, I was able to start back up gradually. Swimming came first...then spinning...then running. During that time, there were good days and days it took everything I could to smile while I was teaching classes. Pain would come and go and I was constantly questioning if I had made the right decision and whether I was doing too much, too soon.

At the 3 month mark, I found myself ready to run. So I started the walk run program which I give my clients who are coming back from injury or learning to run. I needed patience again but my stem cell mantra was now in full swing..."I will run again, I will run again, I will run 10km again!". Gradually I removed the heavy brace and moved to the lighter brace. By slowly adding more distance each week I was able to run without pain during or after my runs. One day I forgot to put on a brace at all and this was it, the day of reckoning! I was running again!!

Today, 4 and a half months post stem cell procedure at the Regenexx clinic in Colorado, I ran 10km in the beautiful hills of Vermont and that was the Merriest Christmas gift ever!!

Never give up on your dreams.

Happy Holidays!

 

p.s. my smile would have been bigger in the picture but my lips were frozen! It was a wee bit cold in Vermont today!

 

 

 

 



Triathlon Training near Team Triumph

Heather Dunn

You can add me as a client for life. Still so much to learn about biking but am kicking butt on the hills out here - the “wall of pain” climb 2000+ft elevation has nothing on one of your classes!! Thank you!! 
ps - LOVING the Team Triumph biking shorts!!!

Tara McGowan

Team Triumph is a great Club where people from all levels of fitness can train. I was first introduced to Coach Julia when I went to a Training Camp in Utah as a tag along. My husband was training for an Ironman race at the time. I was recovering from an injury, but that didn't stop me trying the different activities at a beginner level. I remember swimming in the pool for Julia's first assessment. I was exhausted after only a few lengths. She gave me a few swim tips and I was eager for more. That was the point where I decided to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Julia and develop my plan to become active for life. In September 2016 I started learning to spin and run for the first time and took swim lessons to improve my technique. With Coach Julia's support and friendship from team members I have not looked back!

Susie Walter

With encouragement from my great friend Heather I joined TT in the fall of 2014. I remember nervously arriving at Canterbury Pool for the initial hour of swimming. Well I gasped at the thought of a 300 M warm up! I asked Julia if we had the whole hour to complete the warm up! Well it wasn’t too long after training and relearning the proper stroke technique the the warm became pretty easy. Now the 500 M time trial was a challenge but I was able to do it! In the spring of 2015 I completed the Perth Triathlon...lots of fun with TT and Julia was an amazingly supportive. A Christmas gift from my husband in 2015 allowed me to go to the Utah Training Camp in April 2016. I was certainly nervous given the experience of the athletes attending. I met some new people and everyone was friendly and supportive. We had a great time participating in the Sand Hollow Sprint Triathlon. More recently I have cut back on the swimming, but I hope to continue next spring. After a hip replacement in 2017 I am back spinning. The group dynamics of the spin classes with Maggie and Julia is fantastic. The music is great, the work out is awesome (I am soaked by the end of the class!) anyone holding back from joining TT for fear of intimidation....no need! Well have all started from different levels of fitness and experience and Julia and her team are there to train, coach, support and “POOOSH” all the way!

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