Up to Speed

Well it has been a while since we caught up. Amazingly it was nearly two years ago. What a ride that was!

A lot has happened since then. After a short break, Madi headed east to compete at the 2009 Summer Down Under and Oz Day 10K. PBs and records again. She even clocked the fastest Junior Female time in the 10km race around the Rocks. It was a great way to finish off an incredible year.

The two days later, she was in hospital undergoing a scheduled major back surgery. The operation, as some of you know, went well, but it left Madison with a little less physical ability. With the two rods placed along her spine, she has lost the use of the little bit of abs she did have. But that wasn't going to stop her.

In August of that year, she was back in training again - six months ahead of schedule. Two months later, she was competing at the Australian Paralympic Youth Games in Melbourne. Her speeds were obviously not the best, but she still came away with 5 gold medals from six races.

She was back in Melbourne again in November to compete in the Great Australian Run. Madison took out the the Women's 10km event.

In January it was back to Canberra and Sydney for the 2010 Summer Down Under and Oz Day 10K. Still not at peak fitness, Madi did extremely well and all seemed on track for the upcoming Nationals in Perth.

Madison improved her speeds over the summer, even picking up an "A" qualifier for the IPC World Championships in January of next year. She improved on this in April at the Australian Nationals in Perth coming home with two golds and two silvers.

There is still a bit to do before January. She's become an expert at juggling her time, too. She's back in Sydney at the moment, then it's the US and Switzerland at the end of the month, followed by the Junior World Championships in August in the Czech Republic. All this travelling along with training and her TEE coming up, she's certainly doing well.

These next two years is going to be pretty exciting as we head toward the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Stay tune.