"Feels like I only go backwards baby, every part of me says 'go ahead',
I got my hopes up again, oh no not again..." - Tame Impala
My Boston Marathon training has taken a few steps backwards. In January, I had taken almost 10 days off from training, thinking that that was sufficient time to heal my ankle. However it wasn't. I had to stop running completely because after I finish a run, there are tingling sensations in the entire left side of my right calf all the way down to the bottom of my foot. The issues are likely caused by an ankle injury I got when experimenting with new running shoes way back in December. My failed comeback attempt,taught me a few things:- Just because there is no pain, doesn't mean you've healed. Or, in the words of an athletic training director at UNC: “The pain of an ankle sprain can subside fairly quickly, but that does not mean the injured ligaments have healed.”
- You don't have to stick to the plan. Just because I need to run to get miles in, doesn't mean it's a good idea.
- There are no quick fixes. "Ankle sprains usually need more rehabilitation and take longer to heal than most people allow for." The NY Times.
- Healing time is frustratingly open ended. Arbitrarily setting a definite time to return to normal training should not be part of any discussion. Derrick Rose was quoted in today's SI about his return to playing (after his knee injury): “I’m not coming back until I’m 110%. Who knows when that can be? It can be within a couple of weeks. It could be next year. It could be any day. It could be any time. It’s just that I’m not coming back until I’m ready.” Well said Mr. Rose. It's sad but true.
On the plus side, I am not in pain, and I am doing laps in the pool like they are going out of style. Unfortunately, the Boston Marathon is not held in a pool or even a lake. So, with each passing day my Boston race strategy is changing from a hard charging one, to a possible a run/walk combo strategy. I am not ready to rule out my attempt, but I can cancel and be eligible for 2014 using my Chicago 2012 finish time.
I am probably 50/50 right now. I won't make the call for a couple more weeks, but I won't resume running until I feel 110% (Just like D Rose). It could be in a few days or a few months. I can't do anything but wait...
