A few week before I ran the Barcelona Marathon in March last year I got a pain in the fleshy part of the heel of my right foot every time I ran. I went to a physio and between the jigs and the reels he advised "no running" until race day. Of course this was alien to me - how was I going to know whether I could run pain free or not? So after a few days I resumed running and although the pain returned and my runs felt miserable (speedwork was out of the question) the pain got no worse.
At my final session with the physio, about 5 days before the race, he doubly stressed ""I told you -absolutely no running". and this time I listened. I prepared for the marathon as best I could and even bought a foot support strap thingy in case I needed it.
An so on a sunny March morning in Barcelona I went for a test run to see if the pain was still there and hey presto! it was completely gone and not only that - I felt completely energised from my enforced rest. I tucked the foot support thingy into my waistband just in case but I never needed it (I actually lost it somewhere on the course)
That was the most enjoyable Marathon I ever ran (5 to-date) - I actually felt no real discomfort until about 2 km to go and achieved a 13 minute PB (3:34). I'll admit, I did not push myself too hard (I was probably capable of sub 3:30) - but the suffering I endured during my previous (and first) marathon had given me a healthy respect for the distance.
I now find myself in a similar position where I just have to trust myself not to run until race day to give my calf the best opportunity to repair. The injury is different this time round and probably a bit more serious (I think it is a small tear in the muscle). No point in "testing" and risking setting me back a week or more - if I test it on Sunday and it fails to deliver I'll know I could not have done any better.
No running for 7 day now - any notion that I should go for a test run was knocked on the head when I felt a sharp pain in my calf when increasing my pace while playing hide & seek with the kids last Saturday and again on Tuesday. Plenty of RICE when I can fit it in (manic busy week at home and work).
Marathon Training Week 16/16 - Zero, Nada - I may get a long run in on Sunday though.
p.s. I'm not too pissed though as I know i'll be back running soon enough, either way and hey a weekend in Amsterdam is not to be sniffed at.
ahh, just what you need to achieve full-blown taper madness. still, once reaching that start line, all ills are healed! you're ready, with or without week 16!
ReplyDeleteMy sincere sympathy to your poor family which now needs to put up with your non-running. Good luck at maintaining your sanity but I'm sure things will work out fine.
ReplyDeleteGrellan - Best wishes for you this weekend! Hope the calf starts behaving. A veteran of calf injuries, I know how frustrating it is.
ReplyDeleteAgain - best of luck!!
Good luck Grellan, I'll be thinking of you. Much like your old experience, I once didn't run three weeks prior to a marathon and had a great race... I hope this works for you. All the best!
ReplyDeleteHi Grellan. Sorry I missed your previous post about your calf injury. As someone who has been laid off with a foot injury I know how fustrating it is! Hang in there and I really hope it recovers in time for your marathon.
ReplyDeleteJohn
All the hard work has been banked in the legs before this week in any case. Best of luck on Sunday - give it your all, as I know you will. Enjoy all the eating these next two days - it's the best part!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, mate. Your calves behaved during the Cork marathon, and I'm sure they will do the same again on Sunday. Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteAll the best for Sunday, use a neoprene calf support, it may help abit!
ReplyDeletebest of luck and most of all enjoy the weekend!! See ya tuesday
ReplyDeleteThat's about all you can do. Hopefully when you start jogging around a bit before the race it'll feel OK.
ReplyDeleteThen... start running a marathon. If it goes, enjoy the rest of the holiday - if not, good luck for a PB!
Tough break! However you are doing the right thing. Rest is all you can do now. I experienced a similar thing for my first Ironman and had it not been for the forced rest I don't think I would have been able to complete the race.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Grellan! I hope your calf behaves allowing you to do your best. You've got a long list of people pulling for you . . . if it winds up being a "no-go" then enjoy your time there and have a beer for each of us!
ReplyDelete