I do have a Plan B if this calf business turns out to be a bigger than anticipated issue. I have two very strong characteristics: a big fat stubborn streak (some people say determined, bless them) and the belief that every plan should have a back up plan. Must be all those years of producing. So given that I am determined to toe the start line of NYC in November, what do I do in the event that I cannot run?
Walk, of course. Or run / walk. Or shuffle. As long as I can put one foot in front of the other, I'll be at the start line. After all, my goal was to experience the race, not to go out and set a PB.
It's not the way I want to do the race but, if I have to, that's what I'm going to do. And that's a big IF. I say if because I think my head is really getting the better of me now. Because I'm not feeling 100% my brain immediately goes down that worst case scenario road and I start to self diagnose; because I'm feeling this way, I must have this, etc. In my mind, I've gone from having some calf cramps (that are now gone btw) to having posterior compartment syndrome which means I'm going to need surgery. Yeah, I'm a little bit of a Chicken Little type. I'm slowly working on this. It's not an easy process let me tell you.
What I want more than anything is to just know that I'm ok. The uncertainty of this injury will probably haunt me for a while. Right now I'm so afraid to push things that I'm running slower than I have in ages, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it kind of dashes my hopes of running a sub 1:30 half marathon in October. At least that's what I think. Sure, I suppose if I jumped back in to my regular training routine (2x speed work sessions a week), I might be able to pull that off, but, there is the potential that I'd just end up right back at square one. So for now, I think the 1:30 half goal will have to wait until next year and I'm ok with that. I have to remember that NYC is my A race. The ultimate goal is to get to the start line healthy and ready to run. As the badge says, I'm in to finish in 2012!
When you're injured do you assume worst case scenario or are you a wait and see type?
Have you ever started a race that you weren't sure you'd finish?
6 comments:
I just finished my fourth ENDURrun, but the first one with multiple injuries, all of which manifested themselves on Stage 1. The first was a very sore IT band, and the second was a painful Achilles tendon. At times, I though I should bail, but I persevered and, even though it wasn't pretty, I finished. If NYC is your next goal, and you are running it without time pressure, then RELAX! Take more time to rest; you're a super experienced runner, it's not like this is your first marathon. Don't push it to the point where you'll jeopardize NYC. If there's one thing I've learned about running is that more rest is better.
I am very much a wait-and-see type; I have never DNF'd a race (plenty of DNS though), and that's part of my stubborn nature.
yeah, I think I'm going to have to adjust something in my plan. I am only running 3 days a week but I've got 2 days of weight training, 2-3 days of swimming and 1 day of cycling in there + one day off completely. That's a lot of stuff, even with the full day off.
Congrats on ANOTHER ENDUrun finish! One day I'll have to give that a go.
Oh my gosh I feel like I can relate! I keep getting injured, and every niggle just about brings me to tears for serious anxiety that this will be the thing that stops me.
I'm like you though - I've come this far, I'll be damned if I'm not at the marathon starting line when the gun goes off!
Lots of luck, lots of love, and lots of positive thoughts!
Thanks Kate! Same to you!!!
I was recovering from ITB when I ran NYC in 2010... i was feeling healthy enough to start and run strong, but knew it would come and get me around 20+
I went with how I felt. If I needed to walk, I walked. Felt good to run, I ran. I knew I would finish one way or another, sounds like you have the same plan.
My advice would be to stay injury free the rest of the way. You can't afford to have setbacks, so don't push it too hard. Keep building towards recovery and go by "feel" on race day.
That's exactly my plan! :)
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