11:59AM
Pain, pain go away. Come again another day. Actually, don't come back. It won't go away. My "shin splint," which I don't think is a shin splint at all, is still there. It's been three weeks and I still have pain. It is better, but it's still there. I have been running VERY sporadically the last couple of weeks to try and heal but I'm not there yet. I ran last Thursday (a week ago) three miles and it was fine, but the next day, my leg hurt a lot. I tried again Tuesday night of this week and ran 4 miles. It hurt a good deal between miles 2-3 but after that, the pain went away. However, it hurt some yesterday. Today, it's better. I talked to a runner friend of mine and told her I thought I might have a stress fracture. She agreed that it sounds like that.
Here's the scary part, I have the Goofy Challenge in less than a month. Not just a marathon, but a half the day before. A marathon and a half. In less than a month. What do I do? I asked her if I should just run through the pain and keep training or stop altogether to let it heal and risk losing my training. It's a tough decision. Will I be able to do a marathon in a half having only run a long distance of 14 miles this time around? I did run a marathon in October. She suggested I take time off and wing it at Disney. I'm not trying to get a PR at Disney. It's Disney so I was planning on having fun with it anyways, but I did want to finish both races. So needless to say, I'm worried. I think I will take this week and next week off and see how I feel. I may then try a short run around Dec. 19 or so. I guess I just won't do a super long run before these races at Disney and pray that my prior training will come back to me. I don't want to go to a doctor for fear he'll tell me not to run or put me in a boot. I'm going to Disney. I paid too much for this trip and running the Goofy has been my dream for years. I'm going and I'm running, even if I have to crawl. I'm also slightly worried about my weight. I tend to eat a lot here around the holidays and running is the only thing that keeps me fit. I'm going to have to watch it.
I HATE not running. My four miles really felt great Tuesday night. I was right back in it and aside from a little leg pain, the rest felt good. I can't wait to be back in it when this crazy leg heals. (And a special note to a certain MB - it's not my feet. My feet are fine. And I don't run too much. But I appreciate your concern)
I'll talk more as Disney approaches. It'll be here soon. I have confidence that this will all work out. Just a slight obstacle in the way.
More soon.
Keep runnin',
Albert
My Weekend with the President (Kid President)
11 years ago
A couple of ways to tell if it's a stress fracture...
ReplyDelete1. Try the hop test. If it is very painful while hopping one leg (the injured leg) it's a sign of a stress fracture.
2. Unlike shin splints stress fractures are localized pain. If you can pin point where the pain is, or if you press on the one ares that hurts and you light up with pain...It's probably a stress fracture.
A couple of years ago I had a stress reaction in my right leg...Not quite to the fracture point, but much more running could have lead to a stress fracture.
The ortho doc told me no running for 6 weeks. I could still bike, do pool running and use the elliptical (if it didn't hurt). He had me do some foot strengthening exercises as well.
Like you I was only a month or so from a race and didn't want to lose my base. I ran through it, knowing that it could lead to a real fracture and cause a lot more damage. Thankfully for me the pain never got worse, but to this day I still have some lingering pain at times.
Since I'm doing the Goofy Challenge too, I can feel your pain and determination. You're going to have to do what feels right to you, but it could be tough on you mentally and physically.
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
I sure can empathize, Albert! I ran (then walked) my one and only marathon injured, and finished in 10:55:43, determined as all-get-out to finish! I was lucky there was a 40-miler on the same course, so the finish line clock was still ticking. :>
ReplyDeleteWhat would you recommend that your cross country runners do in this situation? What would you advise Carter to do? Yes, the decision is yours, but does the role model thing come into play here? Maybe. Modeling determination and dream-following is important too, though. But what's the cost? You don't know yet, and you won't know unless you see the doc.
My advice is to head on in to see the doctor soonest (preferably an orthopaedist who's runner-friendly!) and get the proper diagnosis and begin treatment. Maybe it's the boot (which you can take off for Goofy), maybe it's ice and rest, maybe physical therapy, who knows?! Knowledge is power, and I think you'll make a better decision knowing what the doc says and how Goofy will affect your running plans for the New Year. You don't have any upcoming races beyond Goofy listed on your blog, so it looks like you have plenty of time to recover. :) That would be in your favor.
If you decide to do Goofy after the doc's visit (and perhaps blessing!!), you can follow doctor's orders between now and then (which may even help you heal more between now and Race Days), and you'll know what you need to do pronto post-race and around the park.
I know you'll make the right decision for you, Albert! Good luck and speedy healing!
Lesley