A Passion for Running

Comment by jeff

Friday December 09, 2005 @

wait.

cross train to quiet the ‘fitness’ voice, but don’t do any impact sports.

Comment by deene

Friday December 09, 2005 @

wait until it heals. spin like a madman!

Comment by jeff

Friday December 09, 2005 @

HAHAHA!

i’m picturing him out in his front yard with casandra and christopher spinning around in circles till they all fall down.

Comment by Jon in Michigan

Friday December 09, 2005 @

What would I do, or what should you do?

I would run on it. I’d run until it hurt again and then stop for a few days, then run on it again. Then stop. Then run. Repeat until it becomes a chronic injury and then whine about it on my blog.

Did I mention that my shin splints are back and my heel still hurts?

YOU should start busting you butt right now with low-impact crosstraining to get your cardio up where you need it. Its boring and sucks, but just do it. And then go for a run on New Year’s Day.

You will be golden.

Comment by Sophist

Saturday December 10, 2005 @

I had a stress fracture in the middle of May, caused by… excessive forefoot striking. Sigh. I was really fast and my feet barely touched the ground, but my form must have been off. Well, it stopped hurting about 11 weeks after I got it, and I ran about 1/4 of a mile and it was uncomfortable, so I gave it another whole month. Yeah, 15 weeks total of waiting, OUCH!!

To keep from going nuts, I bought a road bike and rode it obsessively and became pretty damn fit in three months. Since that is a difficult option in Canada in the winter, how about spin class and lots of stretching? or lots and lots of swimming?

Anyway, I am glad that I waited that extra month because I did not reinjure it, and I have been running healthy since September. And boy, that biking helped – once I did start running again, my endurance was through the roof! (although my speed was completely gone)

Comment by LouBob

Saturday December 10, 2005 @

I truly believe that your body will tell you when it’s healed. Take it slow and easy and just “feel” your way, you’ll know! I’ve had two of the things and one took 2 months and the other one took more like 3 or 4 months before it was totally “right”.

Comment by Adeel

Saturday December 10, 2005 @

There’s nothing to be gained in two weeks of training. Take your time.

Comment by Rob

Saturday December 10, 2005 @

I have been out 5 weeks, with 3 days of running after 2 weeks that confirmed that I was not getting better, but have found to enjoy being lazy. I plan on running Sunday and hope that I am healed, but if not I plan on returning to being lazy. I say screw the spin classes and any other form of exercise that you do not enjoy. If you enjoy it, hey go do it, but if not, sleep in, eat ice cream, play with the kids, it sounds like you have some, and have a good time while being injured. (P.S. I am trying to follow my own advice as well, but not always easy) Good luck with your recovery.

Comment by Dawn (aka Pink Lady)

Sunday December 11, 2005 @

Tough call. Do you have a race planned you need to train for?

If you’re unsure what harm would it be to relax for another week or so. Sometimes better safe then a relapse by getting back into it to soon. But heh you’re a long time runner, you know what it best for you. And if you don’t your body will soon tell you.

Comment by Jesse

Monday December 12, 2005 @

I would crosstrain (carefully though — I had trouble on the elliptical). My Ortho recommended pool running and I found that to be the best option if you can get access to a pool. By playing it safe, you can prevent further injury and ultimately lose less ground than if you push and re-injure it.

Good luck!

Comment by Nancy Toby

Monday December 12, 2005 @

If it was a stress fracture, you need an x-ray to see if it has appreciably healed. Otherwise you’re just guessing, and could set yourself back to square one if you re-injure it.

Comment by Dallen

Monday December 12, 2005 @

you’ve already taken 6 weeks off. You might as well be safe and take two more. Especially if there is still a little discomfort. You don’t want to have to take another 8 weeks off.

Comment by Jim

Monday December 12, 2005 @

Mark,
how many times have I made the same mistake? Answer: (all together now) TOO MANY TIMES!

I agree with most of the others- cycle, walk (I find walking backwards and forwards provides a neat workout), swim. Enjoy the next couple of weeks off. If you’re like me, the time off will only make you more hungry when you do get back!

Lots of luck.

Comment by Riona

Monday December 12, 2005 @

PLAY IT SAFE!
But x-train. I had to stop for almost 8 weeks, but I didn’t x-train or run in the pool, so I’m still crawling my way back up the mileage ladder. Be careful, be slow.

Comment by John

Sunday December 18, 2005 @

Better to get cracking on the training I would say. Always take it easy when you are coming back into any prgram. If the doctor has given you the OK, go for it. Slow and staedy wins the proverbial race. I’m overcoming the ACL surgery and the only running I can do is in the water.