See what I did there?
As I mentioned Friday, I was going into the Olympic and Sprint Triathlon National Championships with about two weeks of minor foot pain. I had rested it quite a bit leading up to the race, simply focusing more on my biking to compensate, and was figuring I could handle the 9.3 miles of running between the two races.
After about a mile of running in the Olympic race, the foot pain became bad enough that I couldn't hold a proper stride. At mile 2, I contemplated a DNF, but since walking hurt more than running and I'd just have to walk back to transition, I kept running (and finished with a total and run split PR, go figure). I spent most of Saturday afternoon icing it and downing Advil, somehow survived the run for the Sprint as well, and then drove 12 hours home and went to a podiatrist's office first thing Monday morning because I was in so much pain that I figured I must have a complete break.
X-rays ruled that out, and after a lot of intense imaging, they found what might be a small beginning of a stress reaction/fracture. 10 days with this fancy shoe and no running and I get another evaluation.
While many may say I was stupid to race this weekend, I did it knowing that my Monday morning might look just like this. It was a national championship in my childhood hometown, and that's an opportunity that one doesn't get often.
Glad that it's not a complete break and enjoy your sexy footwear! (Also, a PR - that is crazy!)
ReplyDeleteIt kind of makes me wonder what I could have done with two functional feet. Alas.
DeleteSorry to hear about this. I also had a tibial stress fracture a few years ago and had to take some time off. Hopefully your break -- yuk yuk yuk -- goes smoother than mine and you are back to it soon.
ReplyDeleteOh tibial is way worse than what I have - sorry you had to deal with that.
DeleteIf it is a break...it will heal. My college coach asked me at one race: would a 2 month injury be worth the pain? If it is/was...go for the race and take 2 months off. Enjoy the boot and use the boot emoji,
ReplyDeleteYup, that was exactly my thinking. If this race ended my season, that was OK.
DeleteI think we always have to weigh up the element of risk in everything. Usually for me at least, the potential consequences are outweighed by the hope of having a good race and the anger at myself if I DNF or DNS. I'm so sorry this has happened though - I do hope that the boot is magic and the foot is fixed by your evaluation time.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely amazing to run such a cracking race with excruciating foot pain though!
xxx
I hope it's fixed, too! I'm glad you understand racing while injured - most say it is absolutely stupid, but at times, it can be worth it.
Delete... but you can still bike, right? #wattswattswatts
ReplyDeleteI can! As long as I'm using hard-soled shoes...like...bike shoes.
DeleteHey sometimes you just gotta go for it. You killed it too! Hope that you get good news at your reeval!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good wishes!
DeleteIt's always easy to Monday morning quarterback ... at about mile 60ish in my 100 miler my left arch was in serious pain. I totally thought it could be a stress fracture and with every step, I half expected to hear and feel a snap. But I hadn't had any pain before then, and wasn't willing to quit on the chance I was right. It abated somewhat in the next 10 miles and a little sports acupuncture fixed it up the following week, no further problems. Sometimes you just don't know.
ReplyDeleteYep, for all I knew, it was just some inflammation. Wasn't about to skip a very important (to me) race just for that, and was willing to deal with the potential consequences.
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