I went on another half-mile test run today to see if my stress-fractured tibia hurt at all. Like Sunday’s test run, it did not hurt. But I was ever so slightly aware of it, which I think means it needs a little more time off. If my leg is completely healed, it should feel normal; if I feel anything, it probably still has a few extra blood cells lingering around, finishing the healing process.
I’m not letting this discourage me, because I KNOW my leg is almost better. I am NOT going to risk damaging it further, because a little more time now will mean all the difference in the future. In the meantime, I’ve realized how much I’ve slacked off on stretching and most exercise, so that laziness stops today.
I looked back at my logs from summer 2008, when I got a metatarsal (foot) stress fracture. (It was the other leg, so they’re not related.) I thought that had taken eight weeks, but in counting the weeks again today, I realized it took a bit less than 10 weeks before I was out running again. Then, including a couple weeks of really struggling to get any mileage in because I was so out of shape, I had eight weeks until the Nike Women’s Half-Marathon. That was a hilly course and I had no hill training, but I ran what was then a PR (personal record) for me, then added on miles to total 17. Seven weeks later — 15 weeks after coming back from injury — I ran my first marathon. That time wasn’t even my slowest marathon time.
This Sunday will mark 10 weeks since my tibial stress fracture. If, and this is most definitely just an IF, I feel perfectly fine to start running again, that would give me 12 weeks until the third marathon I had planned for this fall/winter. Honestly, I don’t know if that’s enough time. While I’d lose the non-refundable registration fee, I haven’t paid for the hotel and airfare yet. The airfare isn’t a lot, because it would be a stop on the way between holiday plans and I found a fairly good deal, but other things (hotel, car rental even if I can split it with friends, meals, other random stuff) add up.
So I don’t know yet if I’ll run that marathon. I wouldn’t be looking to beat my current record, since I just don’t have enough time to train for that. But the race happens to be in a state I’ve never visited, and it happens to be on Jan. 1. The nerdy side of me really, really wants to run that 1/1/11 race, especially since I had to cancel my dream 10/10/10 marathon. Additionally, the last couple years I’ve had some very crappy New Years, so I think a marathon would be one of the better ways to start off the new year.
Conclusion: I don’t know! If my leg continues to feel fine in normal activities, I will probably let myself test it out again Saturday. Meanwhile, I’m going to stretch and bike, even though I grumble about it. I did ride 16 miles yesterday for an average of 16.5 mph, so at least that’s something.
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Oh, and I fixed it so that people can actually comment without having to find the super-secret login page. I hadn’t realized how ridiculous it was. Feel free to comment!
Well, thank goodness! I was getting frustrated thinking I must be the dumbest person in the world for not being able to figure out how to log in for comments. But then mostly I just got too lazy to ask you about it. Yay for whoever pointed it out.
Anyway, glad to hear the leg is healing even if it’s not quite finished. Here’s hoping things work out for the next marathon!
Nope, I was the dumbest person in the world! I think I tweaked something slightly AFTER a few people had commented, so that’s why I didn’t realize something was wrong.
Thanks for the cheer! There WILL be a next marathon!
did a 1-1-09 marathon and it was an awesome way to start the year
but sounds like you are playing it smart and thinking LONG TERM
kudos to you
Yep, I’ve been down the injury road before, and I’ve watched other people travel it, too. Patience is KEY (though it’s also a virtue — and I’m not always virtuous!).
happy to read this! I’m going to have to bite the bullet and ask my drs for an MRI – it’s been too long and I hate, hate, hate drs. At least you have the bike and the weather has been nice! I think the worst part of being at the gym is the monotony of it all, and the cheerful people.
Sending good thoughts for you on both the injury and job fronts!
Jose
Thanks, Jose!
Yes, by all means get an MRI if you can — if for no other reason than the mental relief of knowing. Doctors make plenty of mistakes, but you can look at the scans yourself.
And I hear you about the cheery people: I’m dying inside as I hear about all the people excited about the Portland Marathon this weekend — the one where I was supposed to break four hours and have a great romp through a great city. The New York Marathon jubilation is also going to be painful.