So here I am again, the injured runner. Oh to be one of those hardy people who never gets injured. But such are the cards I’m dealt.
I did get a little angry (well, not angry just jokingly irate ;-)) at a guy at parkrun after he’d written a long-winded and moany post on Facebook about how annoyed and sad he was that he was facing a similar injury to one he’d had four years ago. Bare in mind he’s not been injured since then. AND HE WAS COMPLAINING. One injury every four years? I’ll take it!!! Damn it, I’d pay money for those sort of odds.
Anyway. Yes I’m injured. I’ve sort of been in denial about it but now as the marathon training is looming in front of me I need to be honest with myself. To be fair, the two runs I did the other week that I sung the praises for on my blog did go amazingly. I felt 100% fine during and after…and then parkrun happened and boom! Back to square one. It’s almost worse when that happens as you’re given a tiny bit of hope that everything’s OK and then it’s ripped away from you.
I’ve given up wondering why it’s happened because this is the part that frustrates me more than anything. This isn’t a new injury, it’s a reoccurring one. Nothing I seem to do helps. It just crops up every year, summer or winter. JUST GO AWAY. Give me a flipping chance.
It’s my shin/calf. I guess a shin splint? Just one leg. The particular area of niggliness and/or pain sort of moves up and down the area so *shrugs* I don’t know. It’s not excruciating pain though, just an occasional throb and general feeling of tightness and discomfort that gets worse running.
On Saturday when I did my doomed pre-parkrun running trial it went very badly. Straight off the bat the niggle was like “hey, Anna, how’s it going?”. So I obviously stopped straight away. I finished my walk with Alfie, my head spinning with what I should do. Luckily I was staying at my parents so I could have my pathetic little melt down with them, rather than on my own with just Alfie looking despairingly at me.
“That’s it! I’m cancelling Tokyo!” I sobbed to them (like I said, pathetic). It’s just too stressful. It’s just too hard. Running is my fun time, my de-stressor, my happy place. It shouldn’t make me feel this way (mentally and physically). My mum and dad calmed me down and we talked rationally about what to do about Tokyo. You know, that rather expensive holiday purely to do the marathon I had planned.
I checked the small print of the details (I booked through a tour company) and counted the days until I was to go. Unfortunately at this point I’ll only get 50% of my money back. Bollocks. Excuse my French. Had I made this decision 10 days ago I would have gotten significantly more money back.
Right, so Tokyo is STILL on. Even if I have to walk the whole damn thing I will bloody do it.
Realistically, I do have a fair bit of time (12 weeks) and I may have been somewhat over-dramatic in my reaction. I haven’t got an injury that is significantly world-ending. I can still successfully cross-train fairly easily by either bike or elliptical. And I can’t imagine I’m going to be out of the game until February (the marathon is at the end of Feb). I just won’t be able to get the proper marathon build-up or training I prefer.
But even if I only get up to 10 miles, I know I can do it. Yes it’ll be painful, my expectations amended accordingly and the recovery process post-marathon a bit of a bitch. But it’s a Marathon Major, it’s in Japan (I’ve never been) and I’m at a time of my life where I can do this without guilt.
Who cares if I get overtaken by a Pikachu or an oversized HelloKitty?
So there we go. My current status is not running at the moment but continued cross-training (I can barely contain my excitement) and a few trips to my physio. Mentally I’m OK. Yes it royally sucks, but I’ve been here before. I also have a lovely Florida holiday to cushion any January post-Christmas I WANT TO RUN blues sooo it can’t all be doom and gloom after all 😉
My one wish, though, is to be able to do Christmas parkrun…
What would you do if you were me?
How do you deal with injuries?
I’d be planning my Christmas Day parkrun gear and prepping to walk it with Alfie, also in his Christmas Day parkrun gear….
Because, how cute would he be with reindeer antlers?
Jane recently posted…I admit defeat
I probably won’t take Alfie this year as last year it was such a mare to get him bathed afterwards – not great for Christmas morning!! But I’ll definitely go down there and volunteer even if I can’t run.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
It feels like I’m never without a shin or calf niggle at the moment, so I totally feel your pain (literally!). I’ve learned what I can run through and what I can’t, and I derfinitely don’t want a repeat of the summer where I had to take a month off with shin splints. I have a HM this weekend, so am having a rather dramatic taper with no running at all.
I’m totally sure you’ll find a way to make this work. Your fitness levels are incredible and you’re SO strong! *bicep emoji*
Joanna recently posted…From fun runner to challenge runner.
It really sucks doesn’t it? I need to sort it out because this is getting boring with this reoccurring every so often. I’ve managed to stay uninjured in other ways but it’s just this calf/shin issue now!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
So sorry to hear you are injured again. I can really relate… I’ve kept it quiet on my blog and social media, but I’m actually going for a scan on my hip as my Physio suspects I’ve got ANOTHER stress fracture on the opposite side this time. Can’t believe my luck. He thinks that I might just not have the right hips to be a runner 🙁 Wishing you a quick recovery x
I’m sorry about your hip 🙁 that majorly sucks. Hopefully you’ll make a strong recovery x
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
Oh I feel you on this one girl – but hey, at least you can still hit the weights! I know its not as much of a rush for you as running is, but having something else to substitute in its place is what always helps me through an injury. Im STILL dealing with throwing my back out 3 weeks ago, and I have never felt more depressed and frustrated about it all. Im just trying to remember how blessed I am to even be able to move, walk, run, and jump – so many don’t even have that chance to be active. Anyway, sending good vibes your way!! <3
kat recently posted…[WIAW] Eating For Pleasure [& still packing in the nutrition!]
Sucks about your back. With running it does suck but at least I can do so many other things, like you said. It is amazing how much your perspective changes when something you love is taken away – you realise how much you should appreciate it!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
I think with the race being 12 weeks out that you will end up being fine- as long as you are smart about your recovery. One thing that might help is more calcium and vitamin D. Have you been tested for osteoperosis? Sorry you are dealing with this crappy situation.
Elizabeth C. recently posted…Run With Santa 5K: Hello Hill!
Well it’s not really to do with my bones so I’m not sure that’s relevant? I do know my hormones are OK and when I saw a doctor he wasn’t worried about my bone health! I do try and eat lots of calcium rich food and walk outside a lot so not sure it’d help…
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
Oh that sucks, but at least it’s nothing major like a broken leg or anything. And you’ll keep enough fitness to be able to finish, just slower than your normal marathons.
Why don’t you volunteer as a marshal for Christmas day parkrun? Then you till get to go, and wear a Santa hat or whatever, and see everyone so you get the social side, but you won’t be tempted to run and put back your recovery.
Maria @ runningcupcake recently posted…Bath Christmas market- a flying visit
Yeah I’ll go to parkrun whatever happens as it’s such a fun event but it will be a shame if I can’t run it. But it’ll fill me with parkrun festive cheer anyway!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner
So sorry to hear you’re injured again Anna, that sucks!
I can’t say I can feel what you’re going through as I’ve only ever been injured once since I started running(I know injury sucks very much though!)
It sounds like you’ve got a plan – cross training instead of running seems like a sensible choice to try and give it some rest. I hope it eases and gets better soon!
Laura @ Laura : Fat 2 Fit recently posted…Monthly Stats // December ’16 // Getting My Old Self Back
Thanks. You’re so lucky to not be injured too much! I’m definitely prone to it.
AnnaTheApple recently posted…But I’m still a runner