Plan B....

sigh...the best laid plans, eh?

 

using a bone simulator to help with healing the stress reaction of the tibia. 

The Eugene marathon is this weekend and it was to be my 1st marathon.  However; I'm injured with a 'stress reaction' on my lower left tibia.

So, there's a...

1.  100% chance I will not be running a marathon this weekend

2. 60% chance I will not start the half marathon

3. 35% chance I will start the half marathon and not finish

4. 5% chance I will start and finish the half marathon.

my mental state

I'm disappointed, but not bitterly disappointed or crushed the marathon won't be happening.  I've had a suspicion the last 2.5 weeks that there was a good chance I wouldn't run the marathon.   I had kinda gotten used to that possibility so when the decision was made it was disappointing, but not devestating.

I am also bummed because I felt I had a really good shot at a sub4 (a BQ for me) at my current fitness.   Last week I was cranking out 9:30 min miles at altitude and at a very low effort (high z1/low z2).    If I could run 9:30s at altitude - would could I do at a higher effort (9:07s - BQ marathon pace) at sea level?   Guess I'll never know...

BUT even tho I'm not running the marathon -it will be nice to launch into the rest of Spring and Summer with a very nice cardio base.

hope springs eternal

I had hoped to salvage "something" and run the half marathon.  I mean I don't want to totally waste the fitness I have and PLUS the opportunity to run at sea level doesn't happen very often.  I often hear that sea level is good for 15 - 20 seconds per mile faster.  My poor little ego would love to record those faster miles in my memory.

reality check

At this point in time - I am not feeling "pain" when I run.  However; I do feel a tightness in my lower calf.   

I told my pal, Dana about my plan to attempt the half, but not race it or stop if I feel pain.   Her words of advice "you have nothing to prove on a half marathon, you know how you are - you WILL compete if you start the half.   Maybe you should just look at this like a fun weekend and not race at all.  Racing may make the injury worse and it will make if a longer recovery time."

what to do

Before I talked to Dana - I was 100% sure i would start the half marathon.   But her words rang true.   Now to weigh the risk of even starting the half or making the decision to not run at all...