Adventure seeker Emma broke her ankle when she fell awkwardly while climbing a rock and spent a week in hospital waiting for an operation on her foot. When she was sent home to recover under strict instructions not to bear any weight, she became so fearful of crutches (拐杖) that she didn't move for three weeks. "I tried crutches but I kept falling over and injuring myself. So I literally just stayed on the sofa all day," says Emma.
She was gutted at the thought of missing the Wolf Run—a quarterly (季度的) event that she hasn't missed since 2014. "If you complete four Wolf Runs in a year, one in each season, you can get Alpha Wolf status," explains Emma. "This year was going to be my fifth in a row as an Alpha Wolf and I was really upset that I'd lose my status." So she was willing to try anything to get through the course—even with her injured ankle.
"I was telling my friend that I was going to cancel, but he persuaded me to give it a go. Having something to aim for really kept me going." Emma completed the run wearing an iWALK2.0, which is a medically approved device and it basically functions like a hi-tech artificial leg, allowing users to walk freely. "I decided to get one and it completely changed my recovery. I could move around the house and start getting out and about again, which had a real impact on my mental well-being."
On the day of the race, Emma was nervous but the sound of people cheering her on kept her motivated. Emma made it over the finish line in just under six hours and clocked up (达到) her 23rd Wolf Run in six years. "It was an incredible day and my determination to finish combined with the support I received along the way kept me going," says Emma.
