After five months of training for the Mountains2Beach Marathon, Sven found himself with every runner’s nightmare just a week out from race day: a sharp pain in his ankle with every step. He'd known something was wrong for weeks, with nagging pains bouncing between his knee, ankle, and foot. But as a busy doctor himself, the idea of jumping through hoops—getting a referral, seeing multiple providers, and waiting weeks—wasn't realistic.

Luckily, Poppy launched just in time for Sven to book a same-week physical therapy appointment in San Francisco. His Poppy Provider, Katty, conducted a running gait analysis and identified that the injury wasn't serious enough to prevent him from running but did require immediate intervention. Katty equipped Sven with targeted exercises, an interim recovery plan, and advised wearing an ankle brace on race day.

A week later, Sven didn't just complete the marathon—he crushed his previous personal best by more than 40 minutes, finishing in 3:14 (down from 3:55 in 2024). Go, Sven!

Now, he's continuing to work with Katty through Poppy's in-person and virtual physical therapy sessions to fully address the root causes of his ankle pain and build back stronger.

Quick access to an expert physical therapist can be the difference between missing out or setting a PR. If you're worried about an injury or just want to perform at your best, we're here.

Skip the referrals, waits, and hassle. Book your same-week PT session now.