Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Journeying into Recovery

Missing:  Me as a "Runner"

So... To say I've been down in the dumps over my injury would be correct.  It's been tough. One of my friends, hit the nail on the head when she said "I understand why this must be so hard for you. Running is a part of who you are and these last two years, you've really defined yourself as a runner. And now, you can't do something that has become a part of who you are/how you describe yourself".  It makes it hard also to see goals that I've worked so hard for in sweat, time, workouts, miles- slip away.  My 1:45 half this summer, my sub 22 5k and qualifying for Boston at a 3:35 Marathon before Sept 2013 in order to register for 2014.  With no running since March, these are pipe dreams right now.

Another blogger, Eat on the Run, is going through a very similar situation to mine and having the same exact feelings.  It's nice to know that I am not alone.  You can read her story here.

Some background:  I've run a total of four times since mid-march when I completed my full marathon.  I experienced ZERO pain during the marathon and experience the normal day after soreness.  I felt pretty good the week after and wanted to run but gave myself a full week off and went for a run that following Sunday, a pretty easy 4 miles- gorgeous day and good spirits.  I went for a run a few days later and was having a lot of pain in my thigh and stopped after a mile.  I decided to allow myself to rest, though I did have the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler coming up in two weeks so I rested my legs completely with no running, only cross training, until race day.  Race day went great!  PR- felt good running.  After race, took metro home and that 20 mins of sitting caused my quad to "seize up" and walking off the metro was very painful and difficult.  Again, I decided to rest it with no running until my next race three weeks later, Nike Women's Half Marathon.  I made one exception and did a "Run for Boston" a few days before the half.  I wouldn't even call it a run though...I could only make it about a third of a mile each time before it hurt too much and I would walk it off.  I really hobbled through it.  In my mind, I had no idea how I was going to run a half marathon that upcoming weekend but since it was the most I had ever paid for a race, my cousin was traveling here specifically to run it as her first and the Tiffany necklace at the finish- I knew I had to do it even if I was going to crawl!

Race day was painful!  I've never had so much pain in a race!  I stopped at two medical tents a long course and after mile 4, took a walk break every mile to subside the pain.  The pain was in my hip and down my quad.  I stopped a few times to do some hip openers as well.  I somehow still pulled out a sub 2:00 (also while being diagnosed with strep that week too!).  Not the 1:45 I had hoped for pre-injury, but not terrible.

After this experience, I decided I needed to go see a doctor at MOST.  Doctor ordered no running (which I was essentially doing for the last six weeks anyway minus the two races) and an MRI of my femur for potential stress fracture.  MRI came back negative, but the doctor said she wished it showed my hip- just in case there is a stress fracture and that is located.  She suggested to do PT 3x a week and perhaps a hip MRI depending on how it all progresses.  Reading symptoms online, I do have some of the symptoms of a hip stress fracture such as the hop test: can't hop in that leg without pain.  We will see how it plays out.  Meanwhile, I continue my no running (which is SO hard!) and continue my non-impact activities of biking, swimming and strength training.  It's tough as well because I teach a class at the gym called "Extreme Fit" burpees, jacks, jump rope, etc. and I can't do any of it with my class.  I have been reduced to a coaching role only :-(

Strength training at physical therapy: 

Using the super cool Alter G treadmill which allowed me to run without pain by running at 60% of my body weight.  How cool?  I did a mile pain free tonight and it rocked!

9 comments:

  1. Although I'm so sorry to hear how difficult this has been for you, I'm glad to see you are taking care of yourself :) That anti-gravity treadmill is awesome, it's amazing the technology that is out there! I will continue to pray that your PT and rest pays off in the end and that you are back out there running again before you know it. I have only just gotten into running, but I know how addicting it is... I can only begin to imagine how you must be feeling. Take care of yourself so that you can get back into it :) I'm cheering for you Colleen!!!

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    1. Thanks Sarah! I really appreciate the good wishes!

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  2. That's awesome that you got to use the Alter G. I wish that anyone could get one. I hate missing a run!

    Anyway, I came across your blog through Running Bloggers and see that you are around the DC area! Maybe I'll run into you in some upcoming races once you are healed!

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    1. Yes! Let me know of your upcoming races and I will let you know if I am there! I always love meeting fellow runners in the area :-) It's quite the community!

      The Alter G is amazing. I totally want to buy one for our house....if only they weren't about $50k!

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  3. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I ran my marathon in January then took a week off and kept up training for a half PR in April. ran three halves before that. Then after my March half I started feeling foot pain and have a stress fracture in my calcaneus. I haven't run since the end of March either, and it's been so frustrating. That's why I have started biking. Have you gotten any update?

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    1. I have definitely been biking....really want to purchase a road bike but worried about the expense. I do teach spin though so I've been getting biking in there. At this point they are saying severe quad strain. It seems to be getting better. I did some impact work on my leg yesterday without pain at PT, so I am hoping that is a good sign!

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  4. How is your quad doing? I am so frustrated with mine!! I feel like it gets better and then takes two steps back. Progress is so slow I just want to cry. I did get out my bike and try that again, and it didn't seem to aggravate it anymore, so I might have to use that more

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    1. Same here! I am nervous to push it and injure it again. Impact exercises seems okay now, but I am worried about very fast running. How are you doing?

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  5. I have a foot injury with 3weeks until my first half...I sooo want to complete the race
    With all the work I've put in.....resting and icing...fingers crossed, I'll get through!

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