Armon distances self from setback

Michael Armon is on a crusade to prove his doctors wrong.

Doctors told the Coeur d’Alene High state champion long-distance runner that he would never run after he shredded two ligaments and a major nerve in his left knee last summer.

Armon didn’t embrace the doctors’ opinions. Eight months after surgery and four months ahead of schedule, Armon will make his return Saturday at the Lake City Invite.

“They told me right after surgery that I’d never run competitively again,” said Armon, a junior. “I’ve never doubted that I’d run competitively again.”

Armon, who captured the State 5A cross country title in 2004 and breezed to state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring, underwent knee surgery in early August following a non-running accident at a summer camp.

During a break at the Nike Glacier Extreme Camp at Glacier National Park in Montana on July 27, Armon was skiing down a stretch of snow in his running shoes when his left leg locked up as he lost control and skidded on some rocks and dirt. He blew out the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and the peroneal nerve.

He had surgery Aug. 9 at the University of Washington. Doctors replaced his ligaments with ligaments from a cadaver, and he also underwent a nerve graft.

Doctors granted Armon a release to begin running in mid-February. The nerve graft has yet to heal, though. It could take as long as two and, possibly, three years for the nerve to regenerate. Or it may never heal, leaving Armon with permanent drop foot, which means he can’t lift his foot at the ankle inward or outward without the aid of a plastic brace that slides under the shoelaces and attaches to his ankle.

In more ways than one, Armon has had to learn how to run all over.

“Drop foot has definitely affected my running,” he said. “It makes a huge difference.”

The normal stride of his right leg allows Armon to land on his heel. As he strides with his left leg, his left foot frequently catches on his toes instead of his heel.

“I’ve just kind of adapted and figured out a way to make it work,” Armon said.

The hitch to his giddy up is more noticeable when he walks than when he runs, though, because he only uses the brace while running.

Armon has amazed his coaches.

“I’ve never had a knee injury and I don’t think I could be running the times that he’s running right now,” head track coach Tim Burnside said. “He told me what the doctors said and he told me what he believed. He has the heart of a lion and the lungs to match. When a person makes up his mind to do something, just stand back and watch. Michael is living proof of that.”

“I’m impressed with his optimism and upbeat attitude,” said head cross country coach Cathy Compton, who also is an assistant track coach. “He’s had it set in his heart that he was going to come back. He’s known all along. He knew he had some pretty high hurdles to cross, and he’s had his ups and downs. He’s overcome a lot of adversity to get to this point. A lot of people thought he’d never come back. I just love his spirit and enthusiasm.”

Armon said he and his family are astonished by his progress.

“It’s all pretty surreal for us,” Armon said. “We’re all just kind of shocked that I can come back this soon.”

His goal initially was to start running full bore by summer in hopes of building a solid base for a return to cross country in the fall.

It was during a workout on a family vacation over spring break in Washington, D.C. – when he was doing some 400-meter intervals at Georgetown University’s track – that he decided to move up his comeback.

“When I got done with the workout I said to my dad, ‘I think I’m ready for this season,’” he said.

Armon’s season debut will be in the 1,600, and it should be a highly competitive race. He will face off against two of his statewide rivals, Sawyer Bosch and Sean Huey of Borah, along with a handful of talented runners from crosstown rival Lake City. Bosch won the state cross country title that Armon couldn’t defend last fall.

“I just want to get out there and see where I’m at in a competitive situation,” Armon said.

He’s timed himself a couple of times during practice. While he lacks the running base of a year ago, he said his practice times have been “within seconds” of practice times year over year.

Armon has fought through some low moments.

“But fortunately, I’ve had family and friends praying for me,” he said. “There’s been a lot of support that I’m very thankful for.”

If things go well, Armon hopes to qualify for state in both long distances.

First things first, though.

“Some people would say that I’m coming back too fast. But I haven’t had any problems,” Armon said. “If I have a problem, I’m stopping. If I feel pain in my knee, I’m done.”

Win or lose Saturday, Armon figures he’s already succeeded by stepping to the starting line.

“I’ve already won in my mind – just to be back this early,” he said.

Does he have any fears?

“There’s always going to be some fears and some concerns in your first race back,” Armon said. “I’m just going to block those out, put the blinders on and try to keep a level head going in and just do it.

“There are some people that have said that they want to beat me when I come back,” Armon added. “I guess I really don’t know how to respond to that. I mean, I’m just coming off knee surgery. I don’t see how anybody can expect me to come back and win right away.”

Unless, of course, you’re Michael Armon.