Good vibes only from Fenella Langridge as comeback from surgery gathers pace

Fenella Langridge says she’ll be on a start list “soon enough” as she continues to make good progress from surgery earlier this year after being diagnosed with External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis.

Langridge explained that at the time as follows: “In layman’s terms, it’s a hardening of the Iliac Artery, an external one, so mine’s on my left hand side. Your artery is supposed to be a nice spherical shape, whereas mine has hardened which has limited the size. That limited size means blood flow is restricted to my left hand side.

“As soon as I want to work hard and pump more blood to my legs, the oxygen and blood just can’t get there, so that’s why I am getting these lactate build-up feelings and this cramping sensation.”

Not surprisingly her results were massively impacted but the popular Brit, who won Challenge London and IRONMAN Western Australia in 2023 to move into the top 20 of the world rankings, has documented her journey back on her YouTube channel. And the latest update – which is embedded below – was full of encouraging news.

In the first episode she had revealed that the post-surgery scans “were great – the conclusion of the appointment was that I was now in a place to start training again”.

Trending upwards

Obviously those first steps had to be very gradual but reporting on progress since then she said that she’s now been able to add in some first bits of intensity.

“The first session felt tough but each one since has got better and better,” she explained.

“I’ve had a bit of my left leg feeling a bit funny and almost fatigued. But we reached out to the doctor again and he said that’s completely normal, adding it will take a few months or so.

“But after that first session it’s felt a lot better. A little bit weaker than the right but generally a smooth pedal stroke.”

‘Happy and excited’

She also focussed on strength tests to put in markers and added: “On the whole it was pretty good but there are some definite areas to work on, which is why we did it.”

So plenty of steps in the right direction which is fantastic news and her positive attitude shone through in July when she was part of the broadcast team at Challenge Roth.

And she’s now moved things to the next level by ramping up the training in Lanzarote from where she said: “I am really enjoying every step of the way. I’m doing intensity across all three disciplines and it’s really building.

“I am so happy and excited at how training is going. Understanding it’s a slow, steady process but exciting anyway and there’s definitely going to be a start line with my name on it soon enough.”

Watch this space – and the video below…