starting... again

I set this blog up almost 18 months ago and have had a few failed starts. This morning I woke up determined to get going here! I think a great deal while I work out and want a place to dump my thoughts. I also want some place to look back at my growth in all things life-related but primarily in running and triathlon.

So, my first post is going to be about the injury that has sidelined my running for possibly the entire fall season. Hmmm...

I started training for the Can Lake 50 Mile road race in the end of July. I worked my butt off (literally!) all summer. I trained during the hottest times of day (during the heat waves!) in an attempt to make my cooling system more efficient. I ran a 50km trial race: the Green Lakes Endurance Run (in a word Awesome, future post about this!). I hit my first 60 mile training week, did back to back 20's, and a 35 mile long run.

Saturday, September 21, I started a 23.8 mile run (with the Rochester Marathon the next day, I would have a 50 mile weekend, the last mental hurdle for me). It was a monsoon-like day in Rochester. Non-stop rain, big fat drops. Honestly, my favorite weather to run in if I'm dressed appropriately, which I was. Hubby, Little One and I drove out to East Rochester to watch Big One's field hockey game. My plan was to run almost home from there (long story involving an over-scheduled family, I'll spare you the details) and I was soaked before I ran a step. Excellent. I situated my Camelbak, stocked with PB&J and some Gu's, buried my phone in a pocket in an effort to keep it dry, and headed on a course towards home.

I was immediately starving. I don't believe this had anything to do with the injury but will note nutrition anyway. I took a Gu within the first mile and promised my grumbling tummy another one in an hour.

The rain kept coming.

About two and a half hours in, I ate my PB&J (it was almost dry, yuck!) and then noticed a twinge in my ankle/top of foot area. It felt like my shoe was tied too tight. I decided I'd adjust the shoe if it got worse or wasn't gone in a half hour. A mistake to wait?

I finally decided to investigate a little more when I started running down a rather large hill, not very steep but a mile or so long. I stopped and loosened the shoe lace. No change. I loosened it again. No change. I tried the numerous ways I know to tie shoes. The only change: the pain got worse every time I started up again. I poked around where I thought the pain was coming from... funny, no pain there. I started poking up my shin and found it. The source was about six inches above my ankle. Uh oh! I finally knew, about four miles after the pain started, that I was dealing with something serious and had to stop right then, 18 miles in. I called Hubby for a ride home.

A few days later, I visited a sports medicine doctor who took x-rays, called it a possible stress fracture (I wasn't completely convinced) and put me on crutches for a week or two. That was nine days ago.

I had been pain-free for three days so I ditched the crutches yesterday. At noon, all was still well and I hit the company gym for a 30 minute express cycle class. I did not risk leaving the saddle to climb but that didn't really matter. Did it feel good to sweat!

My next visit to the doc, with repeat x-rays, is next week. He ought to be able to rule out a stress fracture at that time. Until then, I'll add a little non-impact activity each day and monitor for symptoms.

Can Lake is in eight days. There's a tiny chance I can still run. Tiny. But that's better than nothing.