Friday, January 9, 2009

Good Luck Houston Marathoners - I'll be cheering from the sideline...

As some of you know - I'm sidelined for the Houston Marathon this year :(. I'm more than a little bummed about this.

Within a week after San Antonio it was clear I could not run - I misdiagnosed for a while trying all the wrong things to get better until finally around New Years with MRI results the diagnosing became Sacrum Ala Stress Fracture (top right of diagram) and a Athletic pubalgia. Quickly I could do the math - 6 weeks out of shape already, 8-12 weeks out with SFX (I've heard the Sacrum heals a little slower than other SFX) and unknowns around extent/severity/importance of the other thing that may not be improved with the rest (I'm exploring the under the knife options but can't see going that way without knowing I have to and I won't know that until I'm actually running again).....The course ahead on running is uncertain with the second thing but at the minimum for the sfx I'm out 2-3 months healing, 2 months build up and 4 months training = 8-9 months before I'm ready to do another race.

First time being injured (really) since I started this marathoning venture a few years ago ....guess I was over-due to experience this side of the sport too...but it will pass....

Again - for those racing next weekend - I'll be rooting for you!!!

6 comments:

Bill Blancett said...

John,

Sorry to hear about the stress fracture. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Bill

Neeraj Rohilla said...

Ah, Thats a bummer....
I wish you a speedy recovery...

kayry said...

Thanks Bill and Neeraj......

PRs for Both of you at Houston!!!

ok Bill - first marathons should be too hard to PR ........ I'll set the target - sub2:50 for you - set that first mark high :-) .... based on your shorter racing that should be a walk in the park for you..

Neeraj Rohilla said...

Hey John,
I finished it in 2:38:40. I was right on 3:30 till mile 22 (2:56:00) and then from no where terrible cramps appeared in both legs.

I am still very happy as this is my first marathon and little improvement from my half time of 1:53:53 last year.

Thanks for fueling strategy. I never ran out of gas, it was just bad cramps :-(

kayry said...

Nice job out there Neeraj!!! I saw a bib name like yours and thought about you while I was out there - but he wasn't you. Glad to hear your happy with your race. It was tough conditions out there - although not as bad as I was fearing when I checked the forecast in the morning I think. 3:38:40 in these conditions was pretty darn good.

Cramps seems not unusual given that last few weeks have been lots of cool weather running so heat acclimation is gone - then run in the humidity again and the sweat content is higher in electrolytes - as that goes low then cramps hit - just a guess.....

John.

Anonymous said...

John,

Glad to hear that you finally got a diagnosis. Take it easy and make sure that you get at least 10 opinions on surgery options. Seriously, give your body a chance to heal itself first.

Good luck w/ the recovery.

Tuan