A miracle for my first marathon (the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) scheduled for September 27 this year is what I need. The way things are going, with my calf muscle strain injury not getting any better and not being able to do the mileage to prepare for the marathon, I feel at this time, with a little more than 2 months away, I may not be able to do it.
Yesterday, I attended my marathon clinic session full of optimism. My calf muscle injury seemed to be healing quite well in the last week with me applying RICE (rest, icing, compression, elevation). I also felt good after getting some valuable advise from people who are quite knowledgeable about my type of injury. Our clinic teacher and the group discussed about hill training and reviewed the training program we did the first 6 weeks. We were supposed to do 10k and 4 hills but I decided to try for a 10 k without the hills. Close to 2ks into my run, I felt tightness and then pain in my left calf again. I stopped and walked back to home base.
I signed up to run the Acura 10 Miler on July 19, 9 days from today, and that is down the drain now. Have to find out from the organizers whether they'll allow for another runner friend of mine to take my place. Anybody interested to take my place and run the Acura 10 miler for free?
What now with me? I have another race (the Midsummer's Night 30k Run) on August 22, and that is a big question mark now. In the meantime I cannot sulk and wallow in self pity and not do anything. I know I am the only one to blame for this situation. I cannot allow the success of other people to influence me in rushing myself to complete running form again. Have to listen to my body. The mind sometimes works at cross purposes with the body.
My daughter suggested swimming, my wife thinks I should just stay at home and use the treadmill or stationary bike at the basement.
I made up my mind to do 2 hour walks in place of my weekday runs and a 3 hour walk on Sunday to make up for not being able to do the long Sunday run, until I could run again.
With exactly 2 months and 17 days to go , will I be able to run my first marathon?
With your family around you, everything will be fine. Do not rush anything, take it easy, tomorrow you'll realize that you're good to go. God do wonders. Regards to you Bong and your loving family as well.
ReplyDeleteBong - I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are not giving yourself enough time to heal! You start feeling better and then go out and do things you shouldn't be doing until you are *healed* - not *healing*.
ReplyDeleteStay off your feet for a while - three or four weeks. Get on a staionary bike, rowing machine, or the pool until you are *healed*. Then, start with short distances (two orro three miles) of easy, slow running. No speedwork. No hills.
Be patient. The race will be there again next year if you miss it this year. I had to take a pass on one earlier this year because of injury. But - I'm now healed and training for one in October.
Hi Bong,
ReplyDeleteYou can enter the race as a walker...maybe for the half instead of the full so as not to waste the money you paid for the race.
I'm back from vacation and I hope to see you soon.
- Nette
Hi Vener. Congrats again for that super fast time you had at the Milo marathon and that interesting action packed race recap you wrote and I enjoyed reading so much. Yes, my family is very supportive of my addiction (running that is) but sometimes I am hard headed and don't listen to them. Sometimes too, I have this basketball star mindset and don't realize that I'm old now and no longer the high scoring point guard in my younger years. This gets me in trouble and injured a lot. I should just do it slowly and wisely until my body adapts to being a runner,easier said than done, right :). Thanks and take care.
ReplyDeleteHey Glenn! The bearer of the bad news fortunately has given me the best advise so far, that is give myself enough time to heal. I'm heeding your advise and use the stationary bike or brisk walk in the meantime. Thanks, and may you continue to be healthy and strong in your running.
So glad to hear your back Nette. It's been like a rollercoaster ride with this, my calf muscle injury. Just at the time when I thought I was completely healed of this injury and was feeling good to run, I re-injure it again. So frustrating but not the end of the world. I'll try to do a 3 hour walk this morning just to be up on my feet and moving forward. Brisk walking, I could do without pain, and the best activity close enough to simulating running. Thanks and hope to hear from you or see you soon.
Bong I am sorry your struggling with the calf. I hurt my calf again last week and am going to try a gentle run tomorrow. I go away next week and I worked out that by the time I get home I too will have only 8 weeks of training left before my marathon.
ReplyDeleteI hope we can overcome these hurdles and still run our marathons this year
How I wish I have enough knowledge and experience to help you with your predicament Bong. I can only pray that you find the right person to advise you what to do. I know this marathon means a lot to you but stubbornness is not synonymous with perseverance. Make sure you know the difference. Malay mo, baka gusto ni Lord, you'll run your first marathon with me here in the Phils. heh heh . . .
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