The G Running Diary

Dem Bones: 2/10/02

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I am an ultrarunner. These are my legs. They don't look bad, do they? So why do they keep letting me down? I've had three tibial stress fractures now. The latest one is in my left leg, on the inside, pretty close to the knee. (That would be anterioproximal or something like that in med-speak.)

Today is good. I was on the elliptical trainer yesterday for 2 hours, easy workout while reading To the Edge by Kirk Johnson. Today my leg doesn't hurt at all. That is good! The problem with stress fractures is that they take so long to heal, and the whole time you cannot run. No running at all. And even when it stops hurting you are supposed to wait a couple weeks and then start back in soooo slowly. It is maddening! The elliptical trainer is ok since it is no-impact. Even the stair master is kind of bad in the early stages of healing, because it seems to put more strain on the calf muscles, and if you lift your heels, it is bad for the fracture.

So why does this matter? Well, as an ultrarunner, sure I can keep taking breaks (ha, breaking my legs) but I am signed up for Western States 100, June 29, 2002. My training has to start now, and I'm not even ready to run for 1 mile, let alone 100.

Somehow I am still determined to do this. I am still looking for my inspiration and my motivation. But I am signed up for the race, and my plan is, "If I start Western States, I will finish."