8 replies to this topic

[Roffy]

Hi all. Just wanting some feedback from people who have done this before. I have strained a calf 2 weeks out from GCM (buggar!)Not worried about the treatment (thats all sorted) , and not wanting sympathy either. I have been in the pool and will basically stay off it. It should be fairly healed by race day so I am having a slightly longer and easier taper than expected. I know all strains are different and I will get an answer in about 10 days, but am just wondering if anyone has done this before and finished a marathon ok? I'll have to leave the end result up to the marathon gods but I now go into the race with a psychological worry of will the calf last me 10k,20k,30k or 42K???

[Unlikelyrunner]

Same happened to me last year two weeks out and after physio and rehab i was fine.  

I then got a bad chest infection 4 days out that meant no pb although i still finished in ant 3:52.

Good luck and see you out there!

[cjr]

The best thing you can do is rest it - resist the urge to go for a run until the day. The excitement of the day will get you through...

[lofty]

In a similar boat myself. I strained my hammy on an eay run yesterday. Hoping its not too bad and a weeks rest will be enough. I feel compelled to follow my program and not running from now until next week will be a real mental battle. Thats twice in my Marathon program that i have hurt myself while doing easy runs - must be trying to tell me something.

[Quinkin]

I think you should be alright. I've had two injuries; shin splints and a qaud injury, and I had to rest until it was better, even if that meant my next run was the race. I actually ran well of the enforced taper.

[Roffy]

Thanks guys for the comments. Not much I can do but resist the urge to run and see what happens on the day.

[Tuttle]

Roffy, on 23 June 2011 - 07:06 PM, said:

Hi all. Just wanting some feedback from people who have done this before. I have strained a calf 2 weeks out from GCM (buggar!)Not worried about the treatment (thats all sorted) , and not wanting sympathy either. I have been in the pool and will basically stay off it. It should be fairly healed by race day so I am having a slightly longer and easier taper than expected. I know all strains are different and I will get an answer in about 10 days, but am just wondering if anyone has done this before and finished a marathon ok? I'll have to leave the end result up to the marathon gods but I now go into the race with a psychological worry of will the calf last me 10k,20k,30k or 42K???

It all depends on how severe the strain is.  If it is minor, you should be fine.  Your physio should be able to give you some clear advice abt the severity of the strain, and how long it will take to heal.  

FWIW: I thought I'd given my calf a slight strain three weeks ago. My physio had his doubts, and suggested it could be referred pain from my (ongoing) back problems; turns out his diagnosis was spot on, so I was lucky - a few days rest, some work on my back, and I was good to go again.

Best of luck with the recovery, and the marathon,
Chris

[utragreg]

Enforced taper is probably a great thing for you

[Roffy]

So here's my postscript. I think I was destined not to finish this marathon. In summary a hip strain over 2 months ago resulted in an MRI to rule out stress fracture and hip pathology. A couple of ultrasounds followed with 2 cortisone injections, never fully recovered from hip problem but managed it, then the calf strain 2 weeks out which I think was more a paratendon problem rather than simple strain so not as quick to heal. Went for a run Wednesday morning on the gold coast in the rain and only lasted 20 minutes as the calf got sore, so I'm thinking there is buckleys of completing the marathon. So I rested as much as possible the next four days and hit the anti-inflamms. Race day arrives , I taped the calf for a bit of extra support and crossed my fingers. The gun goes and I take it easy, the leg pulls a bit but maybe that's just the tape. I get to 7km where the family is and things don't feel too bad. I get to about 9km and I start to get sore, I almost pull out but go a bit further, things "numb" up a bit in the leg and I keep going. I'm tracking ok and the pace is steady, I start to gave visions of finishing. I pass the family again about 24k, within another 2k the wheels fall off, yes the leg is sore, but more than anything the tank is empty. I shuffle on to 32k and pull out. In some ways much better than expected but disappointing. Why do we do it? Why do I do it? Common sense would have had me not start but only runners understand this. 6 weeks till city to surf!