I turned 60 in Aug 2023, and had both legs (bowed) done earlier this year (late Jan/late Mar 2023). My legs had been bowed since birth, and because I'm still an aggressive athlete, the inner areas of my knees had worn down to nearly bone-on-bone. The bow (Varus Deformity) was becoming worse, as the inner spaces of the knees were becoming more narrow, so I was also becoming shorter. The bones had to be opened 18mm (almost 3/4"). I trained very hard prior to the first surgery in order to have the best outcome. I regrew all that bone in 4 weeks, and was walking on day 1 of week 4. I put the crutches away mid-week 5, and even mowed my lawn. On day 1 of week 6, I was back to flogging my mountain bike on the same trails that I ride and run on. I trained hard for 2 weeks, and then had the other leg done. I grew all that bone in about 3 weeks, and started walking. I was back on the mtb at the start of week 4. I ran for the first time at 90 days after the first surgery, and was running on trails for real, in late May. By July I was running a trail half marathon, every other day, with 3,000 feet of vert, and I was also training on the mtb. I celebrated my 60th, by running my 11th R2R at the Grand Canyon, as a marathon distance from the North Rim Lodge. I actually run the R2R's. I don't carry poles or walk the uphill sections. I raced a trail half a few weeks later, on incredibly technical trails, with 2,600' of vert and placed 3rd overall. In early Oct, I returned to the Grand Canyon and ran it as a speed run. I raced again in early Nov. in the same area as the previous race, and won the race. I've tapped my training in order to prep to have the plates removed, and just had them taken out 6 days ago. I'll give this surgery about 4wks to heel, and then start ramping up the training for a race at the end of March, and another speed run in the Grand Canyon at the end of May. I have a video series posted to my channel: ToddM in case it helps anyone with their decision or healing process. My surgeon has also posted a video about my recovery, on TikTok.

Mairna 33

Mairna