8 miles in 1:12. 9:00 pace at average HR 139/ max HR 147. Foot felt fine.
Not sure I believe that American medicine is always correct (most often I think it's quite good though) and I'm not convinced that moderate weight bearing exercise will slow the healing of bone. Weight bearing exercise is the prescription for increasing bone density and mild stress will strengthen anything. When I had a stress fracture in my tibia in 1998 I was told to put it in a cast and not put any weight on it. Instead I dropped my mileage from 100 per week to 30 a week and it healed completely in a little over a month. I think that doctors today prescribe the absolute safest approach to most things because they are liable (is that the right use of that word?). A friend/ athlete of mine whom I respect and trust completely (she's also a doctor and an accomplished runner) told me today that in some countries they tell you to continue to stress the bone to aid in healing. I'm wondering if I continue to run maybe every other day for 5-6 miles and then cross train the other days if my foot will heal just as quickly as complete rest? And by "wondering" I mean that's what I'll try to do. I hurt my foot by running an extreme amount, but would 5-6 miles per run stress my foot too much? I may be listening only to what I want to hear...
10 comments:
I think the word "heal" is an interesting word that I, most of the time, think as "back to how it was before the injury" or "good enough to continue what I want to do." When it most often means "stronger than before."
I don't think you're being fair to "Western." IMHO, it's American.
You're right about the better safe than sorry approach to prescription.
I've been ODing on cold medicine according to the box.
Good point Matt. I'll change that.
Rick- I'll take 'normal' over hurt...
I think your approach will have back stronger!
If I can run 30 miles a week and have the same healing time as resting... I agree! And I lost very little from my rest from cycling too, which will continue to be a part of the schedule. Now we see if this works for you too!
I don't actually know you, but I've been reading your blog for quite a while. Speaking from that perspective of a somewhat dispassionate observer, I will say this: You tend to push things farther than you should, and you know it (and seem to be aware of it, but justify it one way or the other). It may seem to pay dividends for a while, but sooner or later you pay for it. Your entire Chicago prep followed this pattern--you pushed it more than you should have, even though you knew you were, and then pulled the plug just before the race because you were fried. More recently you were going to take a break because you thought it was needed, and then started running before the end of your break even though you thought you had a stress fracture.
With all that said, I'm not trying to bring you down. I've been a fan of yours for a while, and I honestly hope that a different perspective might help you in the long term.
With the amount of crosstraining that you are doing, any desire to make a comeback to Ironman?
Jason- The only thing that I could have done before Chicago would have been to sell our house and move back to town. Chicago had everything to do with wanting to train in the mountains and the trails- I was fried on the choice of races more than anything and immediately went on to win a 50 mile trail race... With that said though, you are quite correct in your observation. I love to train and don't care too much for races and have said it many, many times before. I even put a disclaimer on the Leadville declaration that I reserve the right to train my ass off for it and then bail. I did start running before my rest break was over because I am dying to run because I love to run. All of your insights are spot on and I appreciate the honesty. Cheers!
An Ony Mouse- Highly unlikely but I do love training for it.
Of course, Bob and I were kicking around this foot thing on the run this AM. And of course, we were discussing blogs, each of our own beliefs, repeatability, etc.
A fault in blogs is that, in more cases than not, we tend to swing totally the opposite way of that message board of haters. Everything everyone does is great, commendable, awesome, kick ass (we spun into a whole thing of how this makes people feel that they are better than they are, but that is a bit separate).
One of the reasons why I enjoy your company is because you, admittedly, are a bit different than that. You often give folks the feedback they don't want to hear ... even after they have said they have heard enough :) (and this swung into a whole side conversation of society's unwillingness to engage in controversy, but again, that is a bit separate).
Gangels, Jason, and your conscience, have given you good feedback. You have often said that your wife asks, "what would you tell one of your athletes to do?" (and that answer is not going to include skipping rope).
I know you will do what you want, and I am 100 percent cool with that. Only you know how that foot feels. But if it is f*cked, what does one week mean right now other than you dealing with the thoughts of not running?
We both know your fitness will not change significantly. So is it just about having fun? If so, that is fine - but are you willing to have fun at the risk of your goal race?
I don't mean to sound pedantic, because I know you know all this. I think it comes down to this three way question: how the foot feels, importance of fun now, versus execution later.
(that fun now versus execution later is a lot about training though - isn't it?)
Thanks. And I fully expect a 'whatever' in reply. ;)
No 'whatever' from me! I'm dying for solid guidance right now and have none.
I had to look up 'pedantic'...
I figured Bob would have something to say. He always give me great advice and so do you! I tend to think with passion first and logic second with myself. I can guide others but with myself I tend to be aggressive and follow my gut.
I agree 100% that waiting on the bone scan is best but I still am not sure that the advice of a doctor is correct. A family member was diagnosed with type II diabetes and the doctor's solution was a prescription... total bull shit.
Your insight is hugely appreciated! I need to hear the honest opinions because they are far and few between.
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