Over and Out | Blog | Midtown Athletic Club

Five weeks ago, I sustained a calf strain in each of my legs (the right worse than the left). In early August, I did 11.5 on a Saturday, and when I woke up on Sunday, the nagging calf soreness I had been experiencing for about a week had turned into significant pain. Walking was moderately painful. An attempt at a short three-miler was excruciating.

I immediately launched into panic mode. I set aside my training program, to which I had been adhering like glue. I took a week off from running, implemented the R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method of injury treatment, and when running after seven days of rest was still painful, I went a little nuts in pursuit of self-healing. My list of remedies included, but was not limited to:

Ace bandages
Zensah compression sleeves
Blue Emu
Alieve
Heel lifts for my running shoes
New running shoes
Three-times-a-day sets of two different calf muscle stretches, each stretch held for 90 seconds (which seems like an eternity), recommended to me by the wonderful Jim Briggs, one of the PTs at Rochester General Physical Therapy, located inside the club.
Sets of seated and standing calf raises in the club’s weight room, two-to-three times a week.
A calf massage.
Cross-training on the cardio machines, using the intervals programs
Daily ranting sessions to just about anyone who would listen about how much being injured this close to my half-marathon truly sucked.

But last week, after I tried to run again and had to stop just a few miles in because the pain was that bad, I came to the realization that my half-marathon dream, the one for which I had been fighting (and at times, with the insanity of my life, getting my training runs in was truly a fight, both mentally and physically) needed to be shelved.

It was over.

My injury came as a result of pushing myself to my limits (but not beyond them). I did not train to run a half-marathon. I trained to finish a half-marathon in around 1:50. I was clocking long runs at an 8:20 pace. I increased my mileage according to my training plan. I did speedwork with a three-day break following long runs. I followed the rules and I trained hard.

I know I would have finished a sub two-hour half-marathon. I would have met my goal.

Today, I had an appointment with a chiropractor who specializes in sports injuries. He gave me a phone consultation weeks ago, and put me on his cancellation list. I wasn’t able to get in to see him until today. He performed electrical stimulation therapy on the damaged tissues in my calves, followed by ART (Active Release Technique). I have two more sessions next week. He said I should be back running in a week to ten days. He wishes he had been able to see me earlier.

To say I am disappointed does not cover it. What I’m feeling right now requires expletives (and many of them) to even touch the emotions that are swirling. I will spend Sunday either drinking or baking heavily, I haven’t yet decided which.

But if I’ve learned anything over the past six months of training, it’s this:

I can accomplish any damn thing I want to do.

I am now a stronger, faster, fitter, more hard-core runner than I ever was before, even when I was running 30 miles a week, every week, seven years ago. I have an incredibly supportive circle of friends both at Midtown and in my personal life who get what my training meant to me, and who understand how devastating this injury is.

And when I’m 100% again, I’m going to take all the discipline, all the preparation, and all the skills I’ve gained through training for the half-marathon I’m not running this weekend, and turn it into a killer performance in another half, probably in early spring.

And next fall?

I just might try for the full.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Confucius

Comments: (5)

1 COMMENT FROM Mom24@4evermom September 10, 2010 at 7:40 am

I know it doesn’t help, I truly get that, but I am so sorry. I hope you heal quickly and completely. It won’t be the same, but I can’t wait to read the next chapter to this story.

2 COMMENT FROM NessWorld Magazine September 10, 2010 at 8:39 am

I love how you’ve said, “I can accomplish any damn thing I want to.” I might just print that out and stick it up all over my house. We ALL need to say that to ourselves (but especially us gals) all the time.

3 COMMENT FROM serenity September 10, 2010 at 9:41 am

I’ve been wondering how you’ve been feeling and if the calves were better. I’m really sorry you can’t do your race this weekend… you totally WOULD have kicked ass.

I am happy to hear that you’ve found some peace and are planning for the next one. Tipping my hat to you.

xoxo

4 COMMENT FROM Kristi September 15, 2010 at 4:09 pm

Stacey-Thank you. And there will be a next chapter!
Ness-It’s true. And my training actually made me believe it.
Serenity- This past weekend was awful, but I survived. The next half is in the spring. I’m already looking forward to it. Thanks for the kind words.

5 November 3, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Pingback: Ramp Up Your Run | Meet Me at Midtown