Hey All! Guess who's back!
First race of the season is now behind us! I have been thinking about this race since track finished this Spring. Unfortunately, it didn't go as I had envisioned it. For those that don't know, I had a stress fracture.
After a stellar indoor season, I was excited to build on the momentum and crush my outdoor season. I wanted to run a 9:10 and snag all sorts of attention from colleges. Much like my plans for the race this afternoon, things did not go as planned. The day after a Thursday meet on April 28th, I started feeling a pain in my arch. Ignoring it, I kept training hard, looking to make up for my disappointing performances with the next race, where I would be running against Jacob Fandel and Tristan Butterfield in the 800. Saturday was a 13 mile long run. After 3 miles I had to stop to ice and knead my arch, but the last few miles on the run felt incredible, so I decided to ignore the pain I felt earlier. A week later with no off day even though I felt pain, I set a PR behind Fandel and Butterfield. The next day the pain was much worse.
At that point I should have realized that something was wrong, but I was frustrated by my lack of success and tried to train through the pain. Even then, my mileage dropped and running was not enjoyable. The pain got worse, as pain that is ignored usually does, and moved to the top of my foot all the way to my outer ankle. I only payed attention to the pain after a speed workout before PVCs when I could not walk without pain. After that I was solely on the bike. It was Friday morning before I felt no pain again. Friday night rolled around, I raced, and the pain came back worse. I continued to train and decided that I would see a doctor, but only after states. States was very exciting yet very disappointing. In possibly the most competitive 1600 run in Maine, I had my lowest finish at outdoor states, but my fastest 1600. After that race, I decided to not even try to go to New England's.
Fast forward through two x-rays that showed nothing, a 1.5 mile run after 2 weeks of rest that still hurt, and, finally, an MRI, I found that I had a stress fracture. There was one clearly on my 3rd metatarsal and another possible fracture on the foot bones near my ankle. Had I pushed much more, I may have had to have surgery.
My summer was spent in a boot and in the pool training. For those of you that know what aqua-jogging is, I empathize with you. For those of you that don't know what it is, I hope you never have to find out.
So long story long, I was on the side lines today. It hurt more than the fracture itself. I watched my team line up and run the race. For the first time in cross country, I was there to only support them and cheer them on. I wasn't among the electricity of the start line. I wasn't among the rush of the start. I wasn't among the strain of the race. I wasn't among the pain of the finish. My doctor doesn't want me to race for several weeks, and my exact date of return to racing has yet to be decided. I cannot wait to be back!
They always say that you don't realize what you have until you don't have it anymore. I can tell you right now that statement is true.
Paul's Practical Pointer for Perpetual Progress #2 (Shoutout Mary Richardson for the killer name): Don't get stress fractures.
May the course be with you!
Paul
