Who here picked up an injury so close to the time of the marathon?

grifter09

So Im here sittin down surfin the net wonderin am i gonna be able or should even try to do this DCM (my first one) at all.
I picked up a pattella tendon injury after my 20mile LSR over a week ago.
Since then the small runs became more and more painful.
Now on the physios advice im resting & tryin to maintain fitness with an exercise bike.
The bike is really really easy. I have the tension set to max and it still feels like im sittin on a couch relaxing when im on it.
I dont think im hitting the spot at all.

Also doin some quad and hip strenghtening excercises.

I just get the feelin that if my knee feels good that the rest of me wont be up to the job due to all the time off. And if i head back into the running too soon the problem will be the other way round.

Has anyone else been in my shoes this close to a marathon before?
I suppose part of the problem is that im actually tapering now in a very strange way and having never done any of this before so just don't know if/when/how heavy I should go back running...

I realize i could go back for the scheduled physio session tommorrow but TBH cant afford all these costly sessions.

rainbow kirby

Similar boat here, injured 4 weeks before my 2nd marathon. The injury has definitely improved, the question for me is whether it would be completely counterproductive to do DCM when I know I can't do myself justice at it (I'm probably looking at a 5 hour plus finishing time, and some walking, if I do it - fully fit I'd have been aiming to go a lot closer to 4 hours) and risk making it a lot worse, and I'm planning to do Barcelona in March anyway.

Totally feeling the pain as regards physio costs too, have had 5 visits already, a sixth next week, and it's €50 a go.

grifter09

Id imagine it would be disastrous to try it and be dying half way through only to have to pack it in at some stage before the finish. That in my mind would probably be worse than not doing it at all.
But then again .. whats that proverb we learnt in school as a kid? Is it applicable in our case I wonder?

pgmcpq

Me too. Managed to do my calf on Sunday. I posted a thread here asking about the likelyeffects of not running on Monday. I too am facing the decision as too whether I pull out. No wisedom to share - but good luck to you.

RacoonQueen

Did the physio recommend cycling? Cycling can aggravate an injury like this, generally you'd cycle on 'low' resistance though. Cross trainer can be good for it too. Get those quad and hip exercises done, do as many of them as you can, it's the ONLY way to fix it. Time will not fix a patella injury, exercises will.

Best of luck, a patella/ITB injury was what put me out of Edinburgh 2009 and the same injury still gets at me now occasionally if I don't keep the strengthening up.

Edit: Have a read of pgmcpq's thread a few people posted on it about getting injured prior to a marathon.

RubyK

Another casulty here. I've not been allowed run at all this week, and I'm near the point of cracking up now.

I'll know more later this evening, as to when I can get going again. It's a minor injury, muscle related, and I'm just praying I've done enough resting this week, to allow me get a couple of runs in.

Hope we all make it to the start (and finish), pain-free.

SUNGOD

i was injured and unable to run 3 weeks out from conn ultra 2008 so i rested and got physio fror 2 weeks and was allowed light running the week before conn which ment i couldnt run much even if i wanted to as it was one week before race.
if you have the miles/traing done then a 2/3 week break before the race is not the end of the world as its starting on taper time anyway.
i found it more of a mental problem and i worried non-stop about not being able to either get to start line or if i did then would i reach the finish line.
its easy for me to say but have trust in your training do whatever you can to stay fit and if possible run a few days prior to event to make sure injury will hold up for the duration and most importantily........

go out there lads and enyoy yourselves!!!!!

RubyK

SUNGOD wrote: »

i found it more of a mental problem and i worried non-stop about not being able to either get to start line or if i did then would i reach the finish line.

That's the thing, it's constant worry and overthinking. Even at night, I seem to dream/have nightmares about it. Instead of being fresh and ready, I think I'm going to be mentally exhausted by the time the 25th comes!

dermCu

I picked up a patella tracking injury 7 days before Boston in 2007. Woke up the morning after my last longish run and realised I was in trouble when I could barley walk down the stairs.
Did all I could to look after it. I think I ran once that week and even then it was stiff and a bit sore.
Did a little warm up jog the morning of the race and thought I might just be ok but 5 or 6 miles in I knew it wasn't right. The knee itself wasn't too bad; the problems were all on my other leg which was compensating big time.
The injury was to my right knee but from 10 miles to the finish I had pretty bad pain from my left hip down to my left knee. I was crippled after the race and couldn't run for 3 months.

RacoonQueen is right. Those stretches are eventually what got me back running again.
So my 2c: If you look after it you should be able to get to the start line but be aware of 2 things:

1 It might not be pretty.
2 An altered stride might cause damage in other areas.

Its up to you to decide if those tradeoffs are worth it. They were for me. Best of luck, hope it works out for you.

messed_up

RubyK wrote: »

That's the thing, it's constant worry and overthinking. Even at night, I seem to dream/have nightmares about it. Instead of being fresh and ready, I think I'm going to be mentally exhausted by the time the 25th comes!

In the same boat! Left calf went into spasm 18 miles into my last LSR which was two weeks ago tomorrow. No running since then just physio for my extremely tight calves, hamstrings and hips. Should have loads of energy as I'm only gentle cross training in the attempt to keep some semblance of fitness but feel utterly exhausted from spending so much time worrying about if I'm going to make it to the start line!! Missed out on London this year too with illness so will be gutted to pull out twice in a year...........:(

earlyevening

Fell badly on a LSR 4 weeks out from 2007 DCM and broke (or badly bruised) a rib. I couldnt run at all 'til the week of the marathon whereupon I did a few 3 mile jogs.
Still, on the day all my rest and relaxation allowed me to complete the race. I really didnt expect to be able to run.

RJC

I cracked a rib a week before the Cork Marathon this year. Couldn't draw a full breath.
2 miles into the race and the endorphins kicked in and the race went by in 3:25.

Took 3 weeks after that to heal but it was worth it.

grifter09

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Did the physio recommend cycling? Cycling can aggravate an injury like this, generally you'd cycle on 'low' resistance though..

She mentioned low resistance cycling if I must cycle. Im not a member of a gym at the moment. I might sign up today and start cross training. I actually noticed that the cycling seems to be aggrivating it.
I must read that thread you mentioned Racoon.

On a side note and not due to anything I've read here. Ive already cancelled my physio session for today. I just feel I don't need her help at €45 per 15 minutes every few days. She taped me up wrong the other day. I was sore 20 minutes after I came out. She shaved my leg in the wrong place and taped over the hair (this was great craic gettin it off and it looks ridiculous:rolleyes:) so Im just gonna see it through till next week and then test it out. I think any running I do between now and the marathon will be short and on grass.

It seems Im not alone in this at all which is quite consoling at this stage. Thanks for all the tips and keep the stories comin

grifter09

RubyK wrote: »

Another casulty here. I've not been allowed run at all this week, and I'm near the point of cracking up now.

I'll know more later this evening, as to when I can get going again. It's a minor injury, muscle related, and I'm just praying I've done enough resting this week, to allow me get a couple of runs in.

Hope we all make it to the start (and finish), pain-free.

Let us know how you get on this evening. Best of luck.

RubyK

grifter09 wrote: »

Let us know how you get on this evening. Best of luck.

Thanks grifter09. Sorry you are having a rough time of it

Update - I've been advised to do no running until Sunday - and then it can only be a couple of miles on grass.

If that goes well (ie. no pain) I might be able to do 5-6 miles Wednesday on the road.

If it doesn't go well, I may not get to the startline.

Frustrating, but there's nothing I can do to change this now, I'm just trying to stay positive, and hope it'll all be ok.

RubyK

earlyevening wrote: »

I couldnt run at all 'til the week of the marathon whereupon I did a few 3 mile jogs.
Still, on the day all my rest and relaxation allowed me to complete the race. I really didnt expect to be able to run.

RJC wrote: »

2 miles into the race and the endorphins kicked in and the race went by in 3:25.

Good to read these postive experiences! Keep them coming. Please :pac:

metamorphosis

Griftor - if you noticed the high resistance cycling aggrivating it - surely this was a warning sign to stop cycling at such a high resistance! Not condusive to recovery!!

Hang in there - i know what its like. Was out over 5 months this year - over trained in the gym to try and compensate which only caused my body to recover at a snails pace. rest now, and you can run sooner. Keep the injury compressed as much as you can

grifter09

your right ULstudent.
I have a bit of a crazy head on me once i start training.
Pain or no pain , I tend to want to see it out to the point I planned to get to.
Maybe this'll get me to the finish line 25th!

sideswipe

Marathon training is hard, not marathon training is harder!
I seem to pick up little niggles which coincide with peak milage and the beginning of taper, very frustrating to have to ease up more than your plan indicates, VERY frustrating to take rest days and see others out running when your not:(
Suppose it's all part of the learning process, there are a lot of things I'd change for next time a lot of which I've learnt not only from my own experience but also from reading the A/R/T section of the Boards.

pgmcpq

Any updater ... any good news from anyone ? I've improved a bit and been able to get some miles in - I'd say I'm probably 50/50 at this stage but if I could continue to improve at this rate .... I'd be cautiously optimisitic about running (maybe not so much about my original goal)

RubyK

Glad to hear of the improvement pgmcpq Fingers crossed that this week will see that you get to the start line in good nick.

I got 3 pain-free miles done yesterday, and will do 4-5 tomorrow, I don't know what the rest of the week will be like, I'll wait for the physio to advise me. At this stage I'm still in. My time won't be what I had hoped for though, which I'm gutted about, so I'm just aiming to finish, before it gets dark :pac:

Brianderunner

I'm doing the DCM with what i suspect is a stress fracture in my foot. i can run pain free but its sore for everything else amazingly. Its not a big goal race for me anyway so if i drop out its no big deal. I'll worry about the injury on the 26th!

pgmcpq

RubyK wrote: »

I got 3 pain-free miles done yesterday, and will do 4-5 tomorrow

That sounds promising ...

RubyK wrote: »

My time won't be what I had hoped for though, which I'm gutted about

Yes, I know the feeling. Still, on the day if you (and the hip) are feeling good after the first 15 miles .... there is ground to be made it (though beware those late hills I have heard about).

Brianderunner wrote: »

I'm doing the DCM with what i suspect is a stress fracture in my foot. i can run pain free but its sore for everything else amazingly. Its not a big goal race for me anyway so if i drop out its no big deal. I'll worry about the injury on the 26th!

Wow, that is amazing ! Hopefully it won't come to that but I like your peace of mind.

devotional1993

Brianderunner wrote: »

I'm doing the DCM with what i suspect is a stress fracture in my foot. i can run pain free but its sore for everything else amazingly. Its not a big goal race for me anyway so if i drop out its no big deal. I'll worry about the injury on the 26th!

im in the same boat as you-possible stress fracture

Brianderunner

devotional1993 wrote: »

im in the same boat as you-possible stress fracture

Sorry to hear. 2 telltale signs; 1) It would hurt to hop on, and 2) its at its sorest at rest, especially lying in bed. Ice it as much as you can.

Cork boie

didnt run due to knee injury for 5 weeks before Paris '08....longest run 18m..... got physiotherapy, physical therapy, rest etc.... was determined to do it and did...somewhat slow time but considering was happy. apprehensive before start but sucked it up and went for it....

got another injury, calf this time, which cost me 5 weeks again from my training programme, only got back running 2 weeks before Berlin '10. Missed two 20m lsrs, couple 16milers....thought to myself here we go:mad:.... but again sucked it up and completed race in my best time yet...go figure! Guess what im saying is, be positive and view the setbacks as challenges, no negative thoughts!!!!

grifter09

Went out for my first run in 10 days this evenin. light 2 mile jog and pain was back by the end of it. Gutted.

pgmcpq

Cork boie wrote: »

didnt run due to knee injury for 5 weeks before Paris '08....longest run 18m..... got physiotherapy, physical therapy, rest etc.... was determined to do it and did...somewhat slow time but considering was happy. apprehensive before start but sucked it up and went for it....

got another injury, calf this time, which cost me 5 weeks again from my training programme, only got back running 2 weeks before Berlin '10. Missed two 20m lsrs, couple 16milers....thought to myself here we go:mad:.... but again sucked it up and completed race in my best time yet...go figure! Guess what im saying is, be positive and view the setbacks as challenges, no negative thoughts!!!!

Thanks - that's encouraging. I'm 20 minutes from walking down a stairs with no pain ! Congrats on getting registered for Boston - there's a lot of unhappy runners around today. Qualifying is now only half the battle !

RubyK

Cork boie wrote: »

Guess what im saying is, be positive and view the setbacks as challenges, no negative thoughts!!!!

That's what I'm telling myself! Great to hear that you overcame injury obstacles to happily get over the finish line, that's really encouraging

Fingers crossed for everyone, that on the day, it'll all work out.

Little M

Hey
Take heart
I injured last year before DCM, after a focused training programme in an attempt to qualify for Boston. 2 weeks before Marathon day, was out on a LSR as part of 2 week taper! and walked the last 1.5miles in tears, Injured my hamstring/adductor insertion. Spent 2 weeks in physio, with NO running, only stretching and strengthening and LOTS of sports psychology on behalf of my physio. The worst part of injury is how it plays on your mind and your outlook. You invest so much and a little thing can throw it all! HOWEVER - I raced on the day having just got the 'gohead' the day before and I enjoyed it- it wasn't pain free and sure no marathon is! I missed qualiification by 2 minutes - there's always another marathon. I'd say - Spend the money on Physio, ( then again a good one, who knows atheltics) take advise, but if you can GIVE IT A GO, Try to ignore the niggle during the race, it will be on your mind anyway and accept the result. You can't run another marathon til you forget the pain of the last apparently !
Good Luck and enjoy the challenge

RacoonQueen

Yeah I still pb'd in Dublin last year even though I was swollen, bruised and sore and hadn't strung a whole mile together since mile 9. A sign of good quality training in the run up to the race more so than being race ready. If you've done the training and feel up to running, go for it, you might surprise yourself.

pgmcpq

Cork boie wrote: »

d.... but again sucked it up and completed race in my best time yet...go figure! Guess what im saying is, be positive and view the setbacks as challenges, no negative thoughts!!!!

Little M wrote: »

Hey
Take heart
I injured last year before DCM, after a focused training programme in an attempt to qualify for Boston. 2 weeks before Marathon day, was out on a LSR as part of 2 week taper! and walked the last 1.5miles in tears, Injured my hamstring/adductor insertion. Spent 2 weeks in physio, with NO running, only stretching and strengthening and LOTS of sports psychology on behalf of my physio. The worst part of injury is how it plays on your mind and your outlook. You invest so much and a little thing can throw it all! HOWEVER - I raced on the day having just got the 'gohead' the day before and I enjoyed it- it wasn't pain free and sure no marathon is! I missed qualiification by 2 minutes - there's always another marathon. I'd say - Spend the money on Physio, ( then again a good one, who knows atheltics) take advise, but if you can GIVE IT A GO, Try to ignore the niggle during the race, it will be on your mind anyway and accept the result. You can't run another marathon til you forget the pain of the last apparently !
Good Luck and enjoy the challenge

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Yeah I still pb'd in Dublin last year even though I was swollen, bruised and sore and hadn't strung a whole mile together since mile 9. A sign of good quality training in the run up to the race more so than being race ready. If you've done the training and feel up to running, go for it, you might surprise yourself.

Awwwwllrrrrrrrrright ! Insert virtual chest thumping ! That's in keeping with my mood. One "ah well it's only a run" email pushed me over the edge - so I with one PT session to go my mind set is swing to "what the hell" - give it a go. After the time and effort in training I owe myself a real shot.

Aiel

In 7 months of training for this i never once pulled a muscle etc because i did my stretches properly.Now in the last week or 2 my thigh muscle has totally seized up on some runs and even when not running at all even though ive been stretching as normal.Ive been getting massages on it and some time in a pool in the last week so hopefully it should be ok but its definetely not 100% for Monday.Not to worry though,plan on enjoying the day no matter what:).

anymore

I ran my first marathon in Dingle in Spt and had to attend three Physio sessions and not run for ten days until the tuesday before the marathon. The physio said it was ok to go ahead and I did complete the run. Am heading to Dublin this weekend ( for better or worse )for marathon. I have been more careful now about stretching and training.
I know it is probably a little soon to be doing the second but have complted the 20 mile runs without problems and am happy to take it easy on the day.

grifter09

Went out on another 2 mile test today and was surprisingly ok.
I havent run much at all in the last 3 weeks but Im gonna give it a lash.
Ive decided to err on the side of risk!
Better to have tried and failed.
Good luck to all who's posting here.

pgmcpq

Best of luck Monday to everyone whose chipped in on this thread. Hope things work out for all of us - I think we've all earned the right to toe both the start and finish line !.

bpollard

its good to read that others are going through little niggly injuries too. I tweaked my hamstring on 13th. Monday is my first marathon and still feeling pains. once warmed up pain goes but fearful of how leg will react once cramps and stiffness kick in on second half of course.

Running for Crumlin hospital and lots of family\friends have sponsored me and are planning to come in and watch. adding to nerves.

Will do best and is all I can do. but fear of hamstring letting me down is playing havoc with sleep.

run down tomorrow and light rub on sunday should see me through.

Bren

Cork boie

"Better to have tried and failed.
Good luck to all who's posting here. "

+1....:)

kaymin

I tore 10% of my peroneal tendon at the start of September. Physios said I should be able to run without making it worse. I continued running on and off for another 4 weeks before I tried a hard session and made it alot worse. Decided to give it some proper rest and, in the last four weeks, I've ran only 2 miles - my leg was sore even after that short run. I've managed to keep my fitness through cycling / kayaking over those four weeks.

Original target was sub-3 and I still intend on lining up with sub-3 pacers and sticking in as long as I can. It's good to hear Cork boie's story - gives me some hope. I've a feeling I'm being over-optimistic about my own prospects considering it's my first marathon but you got to believe you can do it if you've any chance.