Sunday, September 16, 2012

To run or not to run

After yesterday's race (Air Force Half), I'm left pondering which direction to go. As we travel home, I stare out the window dreaming of a run, but know in my mind how wrong that would be. The ongoing clash of my heart vs head.

Without getting into too much detail (race recap to come), the 13.1 race was rather painful in the back miles. Not only does my poor little toe throb, but now my whole foot hurts from overcompensating with an altered stride. Of course this resulted in a disappointing time for me. It's hard to enjoy a run and succeed with a nagging injury. It was a blow to my race confidence, not a feeling I'm accustom with.

With the Quad Cities Half on deck next weekend, I sit wondering what to do. Of course I WANT to run. Shoot, my heart wants to go run right now, despite sore muscles and a bum foot. But the question is... should I? With a larger goal on the horizon (Route 66 Marathon in Nov), my head is telling me to revise my calendar and truly give my foot time to heal. I think it may be time to respect this little injury before I make it worse. This means minimal running (if any) and vamping up the cross training that doesn't stress the foot, namely swimming, cycling and spinning. This neither excites me, nor makes me happy.

What would you do? Run thru the pain (just one more race...) Or put yourself on the DL??

30 comments:

  1. I would certainly sit it out. having a small injury and running through it can lead to bigger injuries. Sitting out one race now is better than sitting out countless more in the future for worse injuries. Cross Train it up Girlfriend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jess, do not run. It's not worth putting yourself back further. I did it, made my injury ten times worse and ended up having surgery. You might think that toe's are nothing big.. but you can end up with long term results of arthritis and ongoing pain if you dont take care of it now. You are in optimal shape.. a few days of taking it easy isnt going to mess with your body, only your head. Find something you can do that wont put stress on the foot for a couple of days... *hugggs* Weez

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a tough one, but I think the right answer is get yourself better first. I am dealing with foot and hip pain and seeing a doc tomorrow. I was hoping to do a half on Sunday, but might need to skip it. I am doing Nike in October and for me, that is the big picture race and will not miss!. Take care of yourself and hang in there. Injuries are no fun.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would sit out next week. The Route 66 Marathon is a big deal---not that Quad Cities is not, but I'd save myself for the marathon. You've been going like crazy lately. Take time to heal and really knock 'em dead in Tulsa!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Aaawww sweetie... that's such a rough spot to be in and I sooooooo hear you... I think it's definitely best to rest but, just like you, my heart hurts thinking about it. Listen to your body and see what you think is best... maybe if you badly "need" it... you could run/walk it and forget about the time, just enjoy it and if not, best heal it completely looking ahead to Route 66.
    Whatever the choice I'm right here for you. Healing vibes coming your way sweet Jess <3 <3 <3

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sit it out! I think the marathon is more important! Sorry to hear that this has happened.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Listen to your body. You KNOW KNOW KNOW the answer already. Swimming and cycling, giving your bod a chance to heal = much better idea. Don't think of it as settling, think of it as giving your bod a chance to recover while participating in some other wonderful sports (and perhaps giving yourself a headstart on Tri season next year? LOL!)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi! It's Jenny Dobra-Marci's siser-in-law!! As a former half marathoner myself I know how you feel about the injury-BUT time off-like it or not is really the best thing for you-so you can keep doing what you love in the future. I know it's easier said then done but it is soooo true! Luckily you still have your other activities to compensate for a good exercise routine so you don't get the "non-exercise crankies" as I always call them! Good luck no matter what you decide-you are a very inspiring woman!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You are an amazing inspiration to so many people, Jess! I'm sorry you were disappointed about your time yesterday....and so understand....but PLEASE remember that you were one of the top fund raisers for Team USO....and your effort yesterday will go on to serve the troops and their families. Thank you so much! Now....please listen to all of your wise friends and heal up....who knows....you might be really surprised at what you will gain in wisdom and who God has for you to encourage during your cross training!!!!! I'd put my money on YOU!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just posted about running the Quad Cities. I think you would find it helpful. Check out my blog post...

    http://myheartmyhome.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-full-becomes-half.html

    ReplyDelete
  11. Take a breather and do your best not to listen to that nagging voice in the back of your head. Don't let it knock down your confidence. It's an injury, it is what it is...it happens. The important thing is healing so you can run 100% again. Good luck. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd chill for the week...make the decision the day before. Any foot issues that will lead to altered gait? Don't run. What is the point of running the risk of long term rehab and injury? Better to act in the now :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. take it easy this week and decide later in the week. i hope it heals!

    ReplyDelete
  14. "Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer but wish you didn't." — Erica Jong

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wait maybe I missed it but have you seen a DR for your foot yet? I would put it off until you get into a DR and they tell you what is wrong with your foot. Even if you take off a week or so it won't push you that far back for the November race.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As much as I hate to say it, I feel your pain.

    I took 4 weeks off of running to rest a sore foot (PF) and thought it was enough. I went out to play yesterday, and felt one of those evil "pops" in my calf... Yea... I'm hobbling around the house today between rounds with an ice pack. I'll be off this leg again for awhile. (insert string of obscenities here)

    It sucks and it feels like insanity, but REST is the best cure. Maybe we can talk each other through rest/recovery with some semblance of sanity?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way recently that rest is the way to go... That is my advice. However, if you're healed and feel like you can do: Do it! Race season is too quickly coming to an end... :(

    Sarah
    www.thinfluenced.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd rest it. You don't want to be injured for the marathon.

    ReplyDelete
  19. So sorry this happened! I would definitely give your foot the time it needs to heal so you don't end up with a longer setback. Get to a doctor so you know what's going on with your foot. Wishing you a quick recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  20. This stinks! As someone who pushed until ignoring was no longer an option, I know how difficult the decision. I'm still not ready for the half & am hoping Quad Cities will let me downgrade to the 5K. I'm happy to be able to run again but of course want more improvement in the recovery/pain department faster. There is never a good time to be injured. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This stinks! As someone who pushed until ignoring was no longer an option, I know how difficult the decision. I'm still not ready for the half & am hoping Quad Cities will let me downgrade to the 5K. I'm happy to be able to run again but of course want more improvement in the recovery/pain department faster. There is never a good time to be injured. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I agree with all others about the rest and recovery. You don't want to make the injury worse. But of course, you know that but I wanted to throw my opinion in! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have to agree with all that are saying to skip Quad Cities and let your foot heal. What concerns me is the altered stride - I walked around on a busted big toe for nine months before getting it looked at (yes, I was a stupid tenth grader, and I didn't want to hassle my parents) - BIG mistake. The stride issues resulting from my ignoring that injury led to ten years of pain anytime I attempted to do more than walk and a high susceptibility to tendinitis in every joint from the hips down. (Somehow, all this was miraculously healed with my first pregnancy - which now means I can run!) Now I know this is an extreme example and you're only talking about one more week, one more race - but I just don't see where the risk of missing your big November goal (or longer) is worth the reward of staying in for a race that's not an A priority for you.

    Let me add, I am SO sorry that you're injured right now. That just sucks, is so very inconvenient, and no fun at all. I hope it all heals quickly and you are back to full strength ASAP!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I have a toe that I occasionally have to stop and pull back into place because I wasn't willing to let it heal (I was a dancer at the time). So please rest it and recover and go out stronger because you know you are not injured.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I injured my heel the beginning of July, continue to train and ignored it most of the summer. Raced on it Labor Day even though it hurt when I started. Now it's worse than the original injury and I'm supposed to do a half in October. I have declared September bike month. So not worth re-injurying the original injury. Get off the foot & stay off the foot!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would take it easy this week, NO running, but tons of resting and stretching. If you feel better, go for it. But only, if you are pain-free, I would not recommend to push through another pain-free half marathon. Good luck!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Im sitting out RnR Denver this weekend to hopefully not aggervate my piriformis anymore then it already is so I can run a race on October 13 with my husband, his first 1/2. It drives me crazy to know that my body wont allow me to indulge in races that close together right now. So Im just going to be thankful that I can run at all, even 1 of them, and live in the moment. Good luck...its a tough call!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm in the same boat right now and will be curious as to how you proceed. I've got something jacked up in my hamstring/back/butt and am going to see a PT tomorrow. I have my goal 1/2 marathon at the end of next month and first marathon next year, wondering if I'll be able to do the half... but don't want to mess myself up so bad that I won't be able to do my first full. blargh. :(

    ReplyDelete
  29. At our tri last weekend, while it was freezing and pouring down rain, I saw a guy holding a sign that said "embrace the suck". I know you're faced with a tough decision... and there are pro's and con's to both. But whatever you choose, I hope you can "embrace the suck" like the champ that you are! Hope you heal up fast!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I can totally sympathize. I was training for the Marine Corp Marathon this October and ended up with a bad calf strain. I had signed up for the Chicago Half on Sept 9 with a lot of friends. Despite my better judgment decided to run it. Although I finished with a lot of pain, now I am having major knee problems and have not been able to run since. I deferred my Marathon until next year and am now sitting on the sidelines and will be watching 2 good friends and my husband run 26.2 without me. Take a break and let yourself heal...as hard as that will be to have a DNS; it will be well worth it in the end.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your feedback and comments!