My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your ...

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12 Replies Last post: May 25, 2007 7:45 AM by Boggsmsg

Linda Patch

254 posts since
Sep 26, 2007

Dec 22, 2007 2:32 AM

My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

I think writing this out, may help clarify things for me, but I still would appreciate in put from anyone who cares to comment.

As many of you know, last year my IM marathon was (ahem) a bit derailed by a leg injury?hip, quad, piriformis. It was a huge shame because I felt Herculean the entire day. I registered to do IMFL again this year, because I really would like to do another IM (I think I have one more in me). My desire is to challenge myself to the best of my ability all the way through the race. I don?t feel I need to avenge the marathon, but it would be great, great, great to tackle it healthily.

My leg got better after the IM, then it really flared up again about 10 weeks ago. I could not run for 7 weeks. I?ve been doing all I can to rehab it. Now I?m cleared to run 30? 3x/week (up from 20?), and one 10? run off the bike. Big whoops. That?s about all it can take (even I admit that), so it?s going to be a long road back. For IM training, I should be at least a 90? run by now. I can?t yet imagine running an Oly 10K right now, and I can?t really do any quality running at the moment. Anything speedier than an easy pace would not be good. (I?m supposed to do a half IM in a month, but that?s looking more and more like an aquabike, which is fine given the circumstances. Sigh.)

Talking with my wonderful PT the other day, I mentioned IM training. He looked at me and said, ?No way is this leg going to hold up to IM training. Not this year. Next year.? (There was a ?maybe? in the next year comment, but I am choosing to completely ignore that!)

Thing is, I have to admit I?m not sure the leg is going to be ready to take the stress of training this season. Then again? is it? Thus begins my many back-and-forth dilemmas. Such as:

I have a spot in FL this year (Nov). Do I live in limbo and see if there is some way I can pull it off? Or do I just wipe the slate clean, see if I can race shorter distances this year, and work on getting the leg where it needs to be?

But I have a spot, she whines. No guarantees I?ll get one next year. Plus, will living in limbo drive me nuts? Would it make you crazy? I?m thinking this is waaaay too big of an endeavor to be so iffy for the run training. But suppose I magically get better????

Why spend my time riding and swimming a gazillion hours only to not make it to the start? Right? Or is that a reasonable plan?

Also, the money, the money. Flushing sound.

I go back and forth on this all...day?long. Part of me feels hugely relieved at just cutting the strings and say live to fight stronger another day. Then part of me feels like I?m giving up. Then another part of me says to hedge my bets and see. I dunno, I dunno. Thoughts?

P.S. Believe me, I also realize I can rehab myself to no end, get better, then have the same thing happen anyway. No guarantees. I know that.

Thanks for reading this long whine.

http://This message has been edited by RunLin (edited May-24-2007).

CCRaces

898 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

1. Dec 22, 2007 2:32 AM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

To my mind, you mentioned a couple of really key points yourself. In effect; answered your own question. I'm certainly not very wise about much of anything. But you are--certainly about you--Listen to yourself...

1) My desire is to challenge myself to the best of my ability all the way through the race. I don?t feel I need to avenge the marathon, but it would be great, great, great to tackle it healthily.

2) I can?t yet imagine running an Oly 10K right now, and I can?t really do any quality running at the moment. Anything speedier than an easy pace would not be good.

3) Why spend my time riding and swimming a gazillion hours only to not make it to the start? Right? Or is that a reasonable plan?

Plus, you even say you are somewhat releived at the thought of making a clean break for now, and living to fight stronger another day. There you go. Rehab yourself, and come back stronger. And the reason to do the aquabike, and to spend a lot of time swimming and biking? You'll get even stronger, faster, and more confident in those endeavors. Look at Yoshiko, for example. She couldn't run, so she set her mind to focus on swimming. Look how strong and fast she got! Imagine what you can do with a focus on those two things for now. Then when you're ready, you can switch your focus to building a strong running base too. You will be more than ready to tackle that IM again. You'll be SO ready, you will kick major ***, and rock all three aspects righteously.

No doubt that the notion of having to pull out sucks majorly, and part of me feels really bad for you. {{{{Hugs}}} But the other part of me is really really excited for you at the thought of what an '08 IM will be for you!

http://This message has been edited by CCRoz (edited May-24-2007).

Archelon070

99 posts since
Sep 24, 2005

2. Dec 22, 2007 2:32 AM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by RunLin:
I

Talking with my wonderful PT the other day, I mentioned IM training. He looked at me and said, ?No way is this leg going to hold up to IM training. Not this year. Next year.?
http://(edited May-24-2007).<HR>

Hmmmmmmmm - this is a PT you trust and respect. I suppose you could go all over to all different sorts of practicioners til you find one who says you can try....

...bu my gut feeling is let it go and enjoy NOT doing an IM, the way you *will indeed enjoy DOING an IM next year. (or the year after if it has to be).

Also - you are already tight on emotional and physical training resources this time. Family-wise, you cannot afford to do the whole "Ironman or Bust" scenario. I think to do it this year, things would need to be aligning harmoniously. They're not, and there are so many other things you enjoy.

You've already said you don't want to haul everyone down to PCB and proceed to walk the marathon. That happens even when we don't plan it! Ugh..I can't even imagine going into the thing wondering if my running was a weak link. JMO.

If you decide not to...I promise I will help you see the bright side

If you decide to try, I'll be rooting for you. HC

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

3. May 24, 2007 8:27 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

Live to fight another day, they're all just races.

ussoccer

1,748 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

4. May 24, 2007 8:35 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

****, this makes me sad. It really does.

You know RunLin, as much as I want to cheer you up by telling you that you can do this by the rule Make it Happen, I have to agree with CCRoz. The language you use to sort out your thoughts paint the picture that you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. And it sounds like you have an idea of what the right thing to do is, but to do that, especially if there is a glimmer of hope, you so want the other.

If you are okay with withholding decision until a later time, then by all means put it off. But if you're not okay with that, which it sort of seems like based on your words, then try to decide one way or another.

If you do withhold making decision, know that it was only a few months ago when you crossed the finish line of Ironman Florida. I tell you that because, although your run isn't where you want it to be, if you do get healthy, you should be able to ramp back to shape very quickly. Your fitness is there. It is just hidding. A few solid weeks will bring it out.

And if you withhold decision, then perhaps take this time to focus on the swim and bike. Maybe take each to the next level. Or build serious strength on the bike now, because you know that'll make the run all that much easier.

And maybe during this time you focus on other races. Even if you have to walk the run. If you're okay with that, why not? We're only doing these things for ourselves anyway. Who cares if results show a slow run time. It may look like a crash and burn, but you will know the party you treated the run as.

And if by end of summer nothing has changed, then maybe you bag it.

If it were me, that's what I would do. But everybody is different. If I were your coach, I'd seek out your deepest desires. Then I'd ask you about your goals. Then your mental state. The where you see yourself in a year, two years, and five years -- both from a sporting life and family/work.

Depending on these, I might say if your goal is speed, then skip IM this year to focus on building strength and speed. If your goal is to complete another IM regardless of time, then I might say hold strong and keep monitoring the situation.

****, this is hard. And I am truly sorry it is.

TriBob

377 posts since
May 25, 2007

5. May 24, 2007 9:07 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

Sorry Linda. You know what is coming. Live to fight another day.

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pcsronbo006

1,584 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

6. May 24, 2007 9:21 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

bag it. Take a medical. No flushing sound and you will be able to ENJOY your Revenge of the IM in 08

melonella

406 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

7. May 24, 2007 9:34 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

As someone who wonders on my long rides whether I'll be ever be able to catch you on the bike at IMFL and whether I'll ever get a chance to actually run with RunLin (for only for a few minutes before you pull away), I'm definitely saddened by the news. My suggestion is don't live in limbo. Train with a purpose or rehab with a purpose. Doing both kind-of-halfway at the same time won't help either one.

IMgomie

142 posts since
Mar 7, 2007

8. May 24, 2007 9:40 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

I'm going against the grain here...

Have you tried ART? I know a ton of people (in the CH) who swear by it! I'd look into it if I were you.

Also, you have until 9/15 to pull out and still get a partial refund.

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. May 24, 2007 10:39 PM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

Sheesh, what's with all the frowns and tears? What, like if you can't do an Ironman the year is a waste?? C'mon, buck up. You can have a solid swim year, a solid bike year, and a minimal run year and still have a great time racing sprints and oly's for twelve months. Turn this into an opportunity to fine-tune the two sports you can hammer on. I was barely able to squeak out a couple hundred miles of running for ALL of last year and I still had a blast doing two sprint tris.

Get yourself healed up, and in the meantime have fun doing what your PT lets you do. It's only a year (unless you cheat and f**k it all up). Seems like eternity now, but will feel totally insignificant once you're back in the game.

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BethR042

390 posts since
Jul 17, 2001

10. May 25, 2007 7:11 AM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

Agreement here, Linda. You said it yourself, you want to finish this race strong, with a good run. Don't set yourself up for a disappointment - go in there next year with all your guns blazing!

I know you have a few months to decide, but making the "clean break" now will be better mentally and emotionally. Channel your energies toward recovery and some smaller races and without the lingering, "maybe."

Get better Linda - I'm really sorry about your injury. But, you are an amazing athlete and a smart woman. This is a minor bump in the road - you'll be back!

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

11. May 25, 2007 7:23 AM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

I had a planer problem with my feet from marathon training, but I was **** bent to run the race, even though I was hurt. I popped a bunch of aspirin and foot let loose about 15 miles and I had to limp in so I could get back to my car. I was not able to run much at all for a whole year after that.

I have dropped out of very few races in my life, but I try not to start if I'm suck or hurt and drop out if I'm injured and using bad form, unless it's really late in the game.

We got into this stuff out of love for our bodies, they are a gift that we need to chrish and take care of. Sorry about the race, that's always a bummer.

Boggsmsg

425 posts since
Dec 12, 2007

12. May 25, 2007 7:45 AM

in response to: Linda Patch

Re: My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

I'm so sorry you're in this situation, but I have to go with the majority here.

I like the way Stuart put it, either train seriously or rehab seriously, don't try and do a little of both. I vote for the serious rehab. You are a strong athlete who has many years of good racing ahead of you...if you get yourself healthy.

Since you went through rehab for this before and have had a recurrance, I feel that you are vulnerable. I would listen to your PT and really FIX the problem and allow your body to rebuild gradually. If you get to where you are feeling okay and able to muscle through a long run, chances are you will wind up ramping up too fast in order to make up for lost time.

So my vote, Live to Fight Another Day.

Go to original post

Dec 22, 2007 2:32 AM

My IM '07 May Be Down the Drain. Your Wise Counsel Welcome.

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