Here’s an example of my internal ramblings…
Statement: Ugh, I really shouldn’t run this stupid race, I could make my injury worse
Response: Yeah, but I really want to do this. I’ve been training dammit…think of all those Saturday mornings since NYCM when I could have slept in…
Statement: Why did I just have to get that 4-miler done? I didn’t have to run that evening. I could have waited until the next morning…maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
Response: Stop that, it’s like a little ticking time bomb…if it was gonna happen, it would have happened the next time I ran! Besides, it was a busy week! I was trying to get in a run before the week got even crazier.
Statement: Wait, my hip is feeling better today! Woohoo!
Response: Alright then, let’s do this!!! Bring it, baby!
Statement: (After Saturday’s run and Coach's e-mail) Well, that sucked. There’s no freaking way.
Response: Okay, I’m not going to do it. WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! Too bad the last day to defer was YESTERDAY. Stupid, I should have run on Friday!
Statement: It’s just one marathon. There will be plenty of others.
Response: Yes, but this is the 40th anniversary of the race! I ran the 35th anniversary (1/2)! And, it’s just a few days before my 40th birthday, too! What a way to bring in my 40th year!
Statement: Yes, but I don’t want to spend my 40th year on crutches or being out the rest of the year because I could make things worse!
Response: But look at that medal. That AWESOME medal! I still have the commemorative chip from the 35th…this is way cooler!
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| My precious........ |
Statement: Okay, I won’t do it.
Response: Good, glad a decision has finally been made.
Statement: (Today) Holy crap, my hip feels pretty damn awesome today! I think I can at least try to do this.
Response: Don’t be stupid, it’s temporary…I bet it’ll hurt if I run. Besides, running a marathon is hard with a healthy body..think how hard it's gonna be with an injury! Then again, I can always stop, or I can turn around at mile 8/9 with the people running the ½. And then there’s the Kinesio tape…the Doc said that would help.
Statement: No, really! It feels a little uncomfortable here and there, but there’s no pain! Yippee!!!
Response: Okay, let’s do this shiznit!!! (Maybe)
Statement: Wait! I haven't run in 3 weeks! It's been 2 weeks since my last elliptical workout...what if I can't do this?
Response: Okay, so aside from not PRing, you can totally do this. Take it slow and listen to your body.
See what I mean? Indecisive in the worst way!
As far as my Dr’s appointment, I saw the doc yesterday afternoon. He said that his goal is to get me to the race on Sunday. He did more adjusting and seemed to focus a bit more on my hip alignment (I’ve had issues with this in the past). He also showed me additional exercises to try and tested my range of motion. Most of the pain is in my glute, but there is still some pain here and there in the front of my hip. Once again, after all the torture adjusting, the hip felt quite a bit better. At the end of our session, the Doc said, “Okay, let’s talk about this weekend.”
Ummm, hello? You can bet I was all ears.
He told me that he had another doctor coming in on Saturday who was going to be helping him tape up some patients. get your mind out of the gutter...he was talking about kinesio tape! Well, a stronger version of the kinesio tape (Tex tape, maybe?). I asked him specifically about his thoughts on whether or not I should even attempt a marathon at this point.
Bottom line:
Based on his assessment of the location of the pain and my range of motion, he does not think there is any larger underlying cause (i.e. stress fracture). He feels that what I am experiencing is ligament pain. No more. Of course, he did say that he could not be 100% sure without a scan, but didn’t feel that was necessary due to his assessment and the improvement I've shown. He also said that he does have patients running on Sunday, even though he has advised them not to run (these are some of the people coming in for taping on Saturday). In other words, he would tell me if he thought I should not run. I also asked if running on Sunday would make things worse. He said that my hip would probably bother me at some point during the race (I kinda figured), but did not feel I would make matters worse. However, if the race did not go well due to pain, that I should see him next week to address more hip stability exercises. If I have the normal residual soreness post race, I should just continue with the exercises already prescribed.
Yes, I had several questions typed out and ready to go, including one about his thoughts on the kinesio tape. He addressed most of my questions before I even got to them. Basically, he said that I should let the pain be my guide. If the run goes like my last couple of longer runs and the pain eases up after the hip is warmed up, I should be a-okay. But, if the pain is sharp, if it persists or gets worse I should stop or turn around with the ½ marathoners. Easier said than done.
So all of this to say - I haven’t made up my mind yet. I will say this – my hip feels pretty awesome today. If this continues, I will attempt an easy, short run on Thursday. If that goes well, I’m going for it. If not, well…I am sure I will go through the entire conversation above in my head again before throwing in the towel. Why is it so damn hard to throw in the towel, anyway?
Have you tried Kinesio tape? Please, share your experiences with it!
7 comments:
My mind works just like yours, with that crazy back and forth, what-if talk! Your appointment sounds positive... could you go for it and finish with the half group if you're in a lot of pain?
Laura - I can turn at mile 9 and finish with the half group. Don't wanna do it, since I will still get a DNF, but it's an option.
depending on thursday, go get taped up on saturday. you'll know by mile 9 how things are prob going to go. make the decision and finish half, take the medal and the DNF. thats what i did in dallas and i didnt feel one bit bad about it either.
HOWEVER...if i were you, and i could still be since there are 4 more days and my back could go at any minute, i would be doing what you are doing based on level of pain. i'd start and maybe not finish, but i'd start. thats just me though..
be smart and do whats best for you.
You are not alone, we've all had the same conversations in our heads with this issue. Will be praying for the best on Sunday for you.
This is exactly how my internal conversations go! So, maybe it should scare you that your mind works like mine, but if you are like me, you'll say..."See, I'm normal!" LOL
Praying for the best of circumstances, Christy! Your body will let you know exactly what to do at any given moment.
I have a terrible shin splint the 2 weeks leading up to my first marathon. I used KT tape and didn't have any pain at all all through the race. It's magic stuff :) Good luck.
I ran my first marathon injured. Very injured. But there was NO WAY I was going to skip NYC! And Kinesio Tape saved me! I was able to run about 16 miles without too much pain. I ran mynlong runs with Kinesio tape for a long time. I felt supported bothy physically and mentally.
I hope this can work for you!
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