On October 11, I was supposed to become a marathon runner. I was supposed to cross that finish line and be spending this week feeling sore and triumphant. Unfortunately, it didn’t really happen that way. I spent most of the day looking at my phone, checking Instagram and wishing that I were there. However, as things stand now, it is a very good thing that I deferred until next year. In fact, I won’t be running a marathon any time soon.
As you know, I have many passions beyond just running. I do a lot of hiking, biking, climbing, etc. Although I do love to run, my passion for long distance running really began as a way to get me in better shape to do other things… like climb up mountains. It is hard to keep yourself completely injury free when you are always active. Generally, I worry about running related injuries, but they are not the only ones. About a month ago, while out mountain biking, I hit a rock, flew off my bike and landed on my left ankle pretty hard. I laid on the ground screaming in pain, and crying because I knew with that fall, my dream to run a marathon before the end of the year were completely over.
For the last few weeks, I took some time off from structured training. I was still able to do yoga (Thank God!), but that was about it. Fortunately, I am now back to running and biking, but I have to take it slow and only go short distances. Basically, my fall racing schedule is just not happening. I am looking for some shorter distance races, but I have no big goals of PRs or new distances this fall. Right now, my only goal is to get myself back up and running without pain again. Although I will not be racing this fall, I still have the A1A Half Marathon in February, and I will begin training for that in a few weeks.
I am still so disappointed with how all of this has gone. I trained hard this summer to run a marathon. But I am going to move forward and find new goals to work towards. Once I am back to training consistently again, I will talk a bit about what I hope to accomplish in the spring. For now, it’s just to be able to run more than 3 miles without ankle pain.
I know one ting for sure. Next October I will be in Chicago… and I will not only make it to the start, but I will cross that finish line.
How do you get back after an injury? What is your favorite form of cross training (mine is yoga and biking)?
She Runs the Wasatch 
Sorry to hear you had to miss the race! I had to forgo a race once when I had the flu. In June. It was a major bummer. I can’t imagine what you’re going through with an injury, but it sounds like you made a good choice taking care of yourself. There is always next year.
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I originally deferred because I got a terrible flu and couldn’t run without coughing fits for a few weeks. I’m glad I did, since the injury happened just a few days later. I’m starting to feel pretty antsy though, and I am hoping to get back to training as soon as possible.
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Aw man, I feel your pain lady. I’m glad you’re up and moving again! My biggest advice is take it slow. I felt so rushed to get back into shape after spraining my ankle that since I had so many races I had signed up for, that I feel like I rushed it and I’m JUST starting to feel like myself again. Enjoy the fall and winter of easy running/training and enjoy it! You can start tackling longer distances and harder runs as your ankle gets stronger nad stronger!
Looking forward to watching you tackle Chicago next year 🙂
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I hate my ankles so much right now. I sprained my left one, but my bad ankle (the one with the torn ligament) is the other foot, so now I have two bad ankles. I still certainly feel pretty strange, but I am hoping to get back to normal in the next few weeks. I can run, which is good, but if I go too long or too fast it swells up and I can feel it rubbing against the shoe.
I am looking forward to actually tackling Chicago this time. Haha!
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Oh Kerry! This makes me so sad. I’m really sorry you’ve had such rotten luck this fall. You don’t deserve it. I noticed you hadn’t been blogging and I was afraid a post like this was coming
I’m glad to see you’re still trying to do as much as you can and not giving up on your dreams. I know it doesn’t seem like it now but your determination resolve will benefit you as a runner in the long run. You are getting grittier by the day.
After this weekend I WANT to run Chicago. I’m thinking of throwing my name in the lottery for 2016 so hopefully we can be marathon buddies next year!
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This ankle injury made me pretty sad too. I seem to be getting back to normal again though. Going up and down the stairs at my apartment were really hard, but have gotten a lot easier over the past few days. I am hoping to get a few miles in over the next few days, but I’m really taking it easy.
You need to run Chicago next year! It’s gonna be a crazy great time!
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I’m really sorry that your ankle is still bothering you. I hope that you’re able to pick back up with a strong training cycle in a few weeks. I look forward to connecting when you’re in town – let’s get lunch after the race!
I’m really sorry you had to drop out of Chicago this year, but we are going to own that race next year! The course was really like nothing else I’ve experienced – so many spectators that all cheer so loudly!
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Thank you! I am hoping that I heal quickly too. Are you doing any of the shorter races in Fort Lauderdale around Christmas? I was thinking about signing up for a 5k or 10k when I am home over the holidays.
We are going to kick some serious butt in Chicago next year. I can’t wait!
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Oh no! You have just had such bad luck. Have you been able to get physical therapy? Is it helping? Can you do other stuff? It must be so frustrating. I’ve been wondering what happened because I haven’t seen you on Strava and was worried that maybe one of your old injuries flared up. I hope you start to be able to run pain free again soon!
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This is not the old ankle injury. It’s the other ankle… which sucks cause now I have two bum ankles. I have not gone to physical therapy and have mostly just been doing stuff on my own. I had almost made it completely back last week, and the ankle was feeling much better, but then I had a bad setback when I was biking. A bee landed on me and I freaked out and fell off the bike and on to the ankle for a second time. I am biking and doing yoga just fine and I was going to go for a 2 mile run tomorrow. I should be back pretty soon, though.
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You’re preaching to the choir hun! I’m coming back this week from a pretty bad injury (plantar fasciitis that had me off for 9 weeks) and I was supposed to run my first HM on the 11th. I deferred to a different race and actually just tried to keep busy- luckily I didn’t know many other people running that race, but it was the same day as a really huge HM in London- I kept seeing people walking around wearing their finisher’s tshirts and couldnt help but be a bit sad! BUT on the plus side, this injury has made me a much more rounded athlete- I now swim, cycle and strength train, so I’m kinda grateful for that.
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It IS disappointing to have to defer a dream…but in the end it makes the dream that much sweeter. I always try to remember that when I’m injured, it’s a chance for me to get excited about training again. By the time I’m ready, I’m champing at the bit!
I hope to see you at A1A!
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