A difficult week. The lower leg pain first felt last sunday worsened overnight and I did no running at all this week. The problem is a toe flexor at the point where it joins the back of the tibia, which will take anywhere between 1 and 7 weeks to heal. I went through the usual rage, then demoralisation, and now have reached acceptance. Begining the week certain that I should retire, I now will patiently wait and see what the coming weeks bring.
I believe the injury was most likely caused by the two fast rep sessions done last tuesday and saturday. Both were done in the rain on very wet grass in old trainers; I think struggling for grip overstrained the toe flexor. A lesson learned, and another new entry to my catalogue of creative ways to lose hard won fitness!
I'm certain I've had worse than average luck with injury and illness through my running career, even for someone staying near the edge, genuinely trying to perform to their absolute best. I also know I've done much more than the average runner to avoid injury through improving my technique, regular massage, stretching, diet, and good rest. Such is luck in life - for every big lottery winner there is a guy who gets struck dead by lightning, (thankfully my luck isn't as bad as his!)
So, with luck in a week or two I'll start up again, though I now rate my chance of hitting 6:40 in autumn as less than 5% - I believe its a chance still worth trying for.
This blog is about training for running the 100km. When I began, the hardest thing was finding training I could have faith in. I found it, but then illness intervened - can I make it work again 4 years later at age 42???
No comments:
Post a Comment