World champion hurdler Jim Broun probably out for the season
Jim Broun, an M55 world champion hurdler and my miracle medal relay teammate at Lahti, likely is calling it a season. He’s going in for an MRI tonight in Florida, which “will show much more than the X-ray which showed lots of compression and deterioration. I have heard that if I get the surgery that the relief is almost immediate if it goes well. The lady that scheduled my MRI today had the procedure and runs triathlons!” An old auto accident and a ski spill after Kamloops have done a number on his back.
Jim Broun leads early at 2008 Spokane nationals. (Photo by Ken Stone)
Jim says: “I have herniated my C-5 and C-6 vertebral discs, which is where I had a fracture site from an automobile accident years ago. The pain has been unbelievable.”
Amid all this misery, what’s he concerned about?
“My skiing days are probably over.”
But also: He’s cheering on two Sarasota High School hurdlers he coaches — Nathaniel Seel and Nicole Stroop, who won the short and long hurdles in districts and are running in regionals today. “Giving back makes me feel much better!” he writes.
Jim adds:
I have heard the recovery from the vertebral fusion and cadaver disc is very short and I hope to be able to compete again if all heals properly. My goal is to be running by next year or sooner if the good lord allows. I thought it was a shoulder injury but it was the compressed disc pinching the nerves that run across the back, under the shoulder and down the arm. Have to stop now as my fingers are also numb after about a minute on the keys.
Stay focused on fixing your body, Jim!
Your leadoff leg at Sacramento worlds — and the beers afterward — await you.
10 Responses
Hopefully Jim’s surgery will be successful and we’ll see him back on the track in the near future. If Jim can’t ski any longer-does that mean his annual trip to the Dartmouth Relays is out??? I certainly hope not.
HEY JIM, YOU GET WELL SOON; THE WORLD MASTERS ARE IN OUR BACK YARD NEXT YEAR,EXPECT TO SEE YOU THERE.
Just thought everyone should know that Thad came back and outleaned me in that race. He is “a closer” and a great friend and competitor.
Jimmy,
Thanks for the kind words and I echo them about you. We pushed each other to our best times in that race. Get yourself healthy so we two old warriors can continue to do battle.
Thad
hope you heal up real quickly. the first time i met you was a couple of years ago in jersey city. the gun went off and i said to myself “what in the world was that ?” it was you in the lane next to me …i think i ran 9.9 and you ran 9.2 …the next week i believe you won at the worlds. you are great for our sport and are at the top of your game…it’s guys like you and thad, and stacy that help keep me “in the need” (to improve ) thanks and best wishes…albert
Jim,
I know it wont be easy restraining yourself like the fast horse that you are when you rehab. Your inspiring great spirit will repeat getting you back to the top of your game, in a matter of months. You have repeatedly had some of the best hurdle starts at Championships out there. I have improved just from knowing that, from the starting blocks in the lane next to you (Spokane & Kamloops). If you hang in there you will have more. You are a great friend and I look forward to seeing you back on the track.
Ron
I just checked masterstrack for the first time in a while. Best wishes, Jim! I agree with Ron Bolling: you have the best hurdle start I’ve seen. Come to Boise when you’re healed and we can ski some bumps together.
Brian,
The ski fall when I hit a bump at Sun Peaks set this in motion and I may not be doing the ski thing anymore except on groomed greens and blues, and maybe not at all. Nerve testing is next to determine which vertebrae are pinching which nerves before we do the surgery. I just want them to fix it. I’ll never forget your double in 2005, what a performance.
You guys are the greatest!
This is great to hear how concerned althelets are about there competetitor, because that make everyone champions in the end. My brother is a good example of that because he coached my in High School lever got me to run right @ 14.9 sec because of his knowledge of the game his name is Ron Bolling , Eventually went on to college to be the camino norte confernce champ in my div. I’m now thinking about coming back in 2010 . again feeling good about this.
JIM – In 2009 at the Dartmouth hurdles you flew out of the blocks and I have finally come up with a better start for the next time we line up. I have been going over 8000 hurdles a year trying to improve. Ever since 2007 when Ozzie Binion said “I am a hurdler!” my only goal has been to be a fellow hurdler – However Lamar Galloway says you are not a true hurdler until you have a bigtime crash – so I guess I am still a wannabe hurdler. Hope to see you soon at the line. Ernie
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