Saturday, November 8, 2008

Seeing The Big Picture

This is the post I've put off writing. After 10 days of denial, I finally admitted that I'm injured. That hard long run at the end of the 70-mile week? It was a mistake. My Achilles hurt for the next week, but I just cut back my mileage a bit and gobbled Advil. The thinking is similar to Kubler-Ross's stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Finally on Tuesday, I reached acceptance: I'm hurt. I feel discomfort when I walk. I run compensating for it, and slowly at that. This is difficult. I've worked pretty hard the last several months to run a great marathon. Now, two weeks out, I'm faced with the prospect of losing that chance. Still, I'm hopeful. I'm using rest, anti-inflamatories, ice and stretching. I'm using The Stick. I haven't run for three straight days, the longest layoff since I ran the Flying Pig Marathon in the spring. I'll try my best to get the Achilles in as good of shape as possible and see what happens. Oddly enough, while this is trying, I don't feel overwhelmingly disappointed. As much as possible, I try to keep things in perspective. Life, just like running, is full of ups and downs. In the big picture, the marathon is just a day, a race that in effect celebrates and validates a whole lot of effort over many months, even years. Yes, I'd like to run 2:58 or 2:55 on Nov. 23, but if I don't, that's OK. It wouldn't take away what I learned through months of training. I'll try my best and see what happens. If this is meant to be, it will happen.

7 comments:

PLe1 said...

It's one of the most ironic things about training for a marathon - the more you put in the better you get, but the more you put in the more you risk injury. I see it all the time with my runners. It's always so sad. But like you said it's just another run and ultimately it's better to heal and get a chance at going sub three down the road then pushing yourself and injuring yourself more permanently. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Seriously, go get an MRI. On my last long run before a marathon I partially tore my achilles; spent about four days running very slowly before I gave up and went to the doc. Risk of a complete tear was very high. Could be just inflamed, but better safe than sorry....

Laura said...

:( Really sorry to hear that you're down! Best of luck recovering in time for the race.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your injury. I ran a Half in Feb. My first. I signed up for my first marathon for this November in San Antonio right after that. I was so excited. Then I broke 4 vertebrae in my back. Then I had foot surgery. I've had months to accept that I can't make this, and I'm still struggling with it.

You are so much more into this than I am yet, so I can only imagine your disappointment.

I hope you'll do like Frank suggests, and get an MRI. At least it would be nice to find out what it is for sure. And what I hope you find out is that it's nothing, a little inflammation, something a little rest will cure.

darryl ohrt said...

Hey Brian -

All the best for a quick recovery. Fingers crossed that you make it in time.

Regardless - your blog is a constant inspiration to those of us who are just starting, and learning - so keep it up.

Definitely rooting for you in this one - or the next one.

Anonymous said...

Don't give up Brian. The miles are already in the legs so you've still got a good chance of breaking 3 hours even if you have to rest up a couple of weeks. Priority now is taking it easy and letting the foot heal. I'm off for a couple of weeks so won't be around but best of luck if you do race. Barney

Greg On the Run said...

Still hoping and praying that you'll be able to run next week.