Two days after the Cannon-Wells Du (Sept 25), I pulled something in my calf. Not right on the achilles, but about 6 inches up from the ground. I was supposed to do a 16 mile run on Sept 26 as I was a month out from the Mankato Marathon, then a longer run the next weekend, then a couple weeks to taper and I'd be set. Instead, I ended up helping some family out with dock removal on the 26th. The run was pushed to the evening of the 26th, but by that time I was too tired. I wasn't even able to loosen up and stretch out that day. Not a good thing following a race. The next day I figured I'd do the 16 miler. Pressed for time, I only had about an hour and a half to run so I figured I'd get in what I could. Maybe 12 miles or so. I started the run too fast--first 4 miles were sub 7 minutes. I felt fine. I was in the Saucony A4's and they felt great, soft, easy. About mile 9, pain struck, mid-calf. I slowed to a jog and by the time I got home it was 10.5 miles. I laid off it a few days. Put in a couple short runs, up to 6 miles after a week and a half. I was off track for the marathon, but thought a half was do-able. This past Saturday morning I put on the new VFF Sprints and headed out for a 10 miler with the thought of doing 5, then switching shoes for the other 5. After 5 I barely felt warmed up so I stayed with the VFF's. At the 6.5 point the pain came back--it was pissed off this time. Electric shock-like pain up my leg from the calf. Ouch! I was not sure what it was so I let it rest for a few days. Cramp, pull, tear...? Went on an experimental jog last night--two miles in and BAM!
I am skipping Mankato and am going to, it hurts to say this, not run for the next 10 days. I am wear my high heels (stability running shoes). After wearing racing flats and VFF's, the stability shoes are totally like high heels, but they will keep my achilles/calf from stretching too far while walking which hopefully will allow it to heal. Ice, anti-inflammatory meds including bromelain around the clock. I'll start stretching it out in a couple days, then start walking in the VFF's again. I'm going to have to start over (almost) with running the VFF's, but I have a long time before any racing again so I can trial-and-error different ways to get back into it. Cycling, swimming, eliptical, and other cross training will have to do for a while....
2 comments:
Sorry to hear about this. You are making the right decision.
Its my "one-injury" theory. When you think the injury has resolved, it hasn't. Its just gone underground for a couple days just to pop up somewhere else. I think this applies to car related problems too.
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