... are all that holds me together.
Turns out the injury is just a first degree tear on the medial side of my left soleus. I'll be running by tomorrow, but no hills or speedwork for a while and unless something changes, the Superior 50K is now just a fun run for me, rather than a goal race. I suppose I should be glad that I've finally learned to stop pushing when hurt; I could've finished the race and I might've even been able to hold pace the whole way if I planned to not race again. Unfortunately, my detractors are going to say I went out too hard and, when it got hard, I made up an excuse to quit.
I'm thinking retirement again. I took up running ultras on trails because I'd retired from short road races (I hated training hard to run a 17 minute 5K, only to finish being the 4th old guy) and thought there'd be no pressure to race. Unfortunately, if I'm not training for a race, I don't run at all - found that out the hard way. Then I won a 50K. So, I thought if I loaded my schedule with tons of races, there'd be no pressure to actually race the races; that didn't work, either.
To keep myself from just not caring, I told everyone what races I was going to do and what I hoped to do at them. That's not working either. I'm thinking that what I should do is just train as I feel with races in mind, but not let anyone know what races or goals I've set and, if I feel like changing plans, no one will hold me accountable. Unfortunately, races fill early (and have lotteries to get in!), so it's hard to just hop into a race when I feel like racing.
And maybe I'll learn not to write about an injury an hour after it happens and wait until I know what it is!
..........
Added: Sounds like fun
Never ending rain
3 days ago
12 comments:
"...I went out too hard and, when it got hard, I made up an excuse to quit."
Ah, you took the words right out of my mouth... though I consider myself a supporter not a detractor.
Many local races do not fill early so you should have no problem signing up day-of. I think that's a worthwhile strategy when unsure about how training is going and having to deal with minor injuries along the way.
One of the first things I learned was to ALWAYS keep my goals to myself. No one else needs to know them, and frankly, almost no one cares what they are. Run for yourself. If you're not doing that, I think you're running for the wrong reasons. Just my 2oo cents.
Heal up!
Who are these detractors and where are they detracting at you from?
At the risk as coming off sounding uncivil and lacking in gentility, I will risk saying that only you could make the news that an injury is not as bad as you originally thought sound as though it were a bad thing.
Many of the rest of us see it as a good thing.
Helen, I could've run 6:41 (to about 6:49) for the duration if I hadn't been hurt. I haven't quit when things got hard since high school races - got a reputation for it and worked REALLY hard to change people's minds back then. Like the title says, too bullheaded to quit.
There's no shortage of races, but races I'd like to do is a different thing. And I seem to either turn minor injuries into major ones or get new ones from trying to compensate. I'm getting tired of it.
If this weren't Genteel April, I might have something to say about your new Title Pic.
As it is, I will merely note that you have a new Title Pic.
I never knew civility would be so ... challenging.
Glad you can still run even if it's not exactly the way you want to..
Doctors told me in 2005, I'd never run again, crushed neck bones(vertabra) in my neck. Nuts ,bolts, pins, metal cages holding my neck in one piece.
Listen to your body-You know better then anyone.
Thank God I was a lucky one-just like you.
Just to be able to lace a set of running shoe's and go out for some miles is a wet dream in itself.
You never know HOW much you miss something till it's taken way.
Take Care Steve.
See you on the trails SOOOOON!
A tear of any magnitude is scary. I'm glad you can still run. Take it easy and take some time and I'm sure stuff will sort itself out. Just do what makes you happy. Everything else will fall into place from there.
Great news, glad you can still run. Maybe a short time off from racing will refresh your body and mind, and when you least expect it, the fire will return.
I like your idea of keeping goals private - good to keep your competition guessing!
Being able to run is one of the greatest gifts, I'm happy your still in possession of it...
*eyeroll*
After you posted your 5k PR is twice as fast as mine I am not feeling particularly sorry for you.
(although, I am glad to hear your injury is not more serious and feel free to send any of "your detractors" to me for a no joke ass kicking. No one messes with Walrus Girl's man and gets away with it)
Aside: re: Added - What hell is that Norwegian? Only you would post a proposed schedule in Norwegian.
@RBR. Close, but no cigar. It's Danish. (mimicing Homer Simpson "Mmmmmm... Danish") There's a 6 Day race on that schedule.
Nice to see you have learned when to stop. You have a bunch of 50s on your upcoming list. Do you intend to run then all?
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