E
VENTUALLY, Williams did walk, then she ran, then, reluctantly, she
entered the Wrightsville Beach Triathlon. The race took place in the fall of 2017,
roughly one and a half years after she broke her femur. She would be required
to swim a little over 1,200 yards, ride her bike 11.5 miles, then run 3.1 miles.
“I had always placed on the podium in the past, but what was once my strength —
running — had become my weakness,” she says.
Overcoming her fears, she placed second in her age group, having passed several
competitors during the run. Almost impossibly, she did it even though her leg had not
healed properly and was still in two pieces.
An X-ray confirmed Williams’ worst fear — she would need yet another operation.
What, according to the surgeon, would be a relatively minor procedure required five
hours because the gap in her leg where bone had failed to regrow was large.
Above: Alecia Williams displays her most meaningful medals earned at running and
triathlon events. Left: Williams photographed the initial X-ray of her shattered femur in
the emergency room.
“This was not only a
physical journey to
battle back from a
devastating injury,
but also a mental and
spiritual journey.”
COURTESY ALECIA WILLIAMS
50
WBM january 2020
COURTESY ALECIA WILLIAMS