March was meant to be my high mileage month in the build up to The Comrades Marathon. Since hurting my foot while running The Vaal marathon on March 3, I haven't run a meter!
I have seen a 2 physio therapists, one who does acupuncture too. I have been told it was a stress fracture in the meta-tarsals but this could only be confirmed with a scan that'll cost R6000 and all it will confirm is that I can't run for 6 weeks. I have been told it was torn ligaments in the bottom of my foot and would be okay in about 10 days. I have worn a moon boot to help me walk and prevent doing further damage while I am limping. I have obviously rested,I have iced, I even took anti-inflammatory meds for a while. I have had in excess of 30 needles sticking out my foot and most recently my shins and endured lots of pricking pain. (your feet are full of nerve endings and meridians, hence reflexology focuses on the feet)
All this and I still don't know what or why and at the end of it all, it doesn't really matter. I haven't been able to run and there are only 68 days before the big race!
Initially I thought that I would be okay with about 3 weeks off and recovering. I would just have to change my training program and time goal. I figured I could make Comrades my long run as if it was part of my 60 days of training. Now, I am not so sure. The added curve ball is that this year is the first year that Comrades has offered race substitutions for the first time. I could offer my place to another runner and those substitutions close on March 31st. I would have to decide soon. And, I have been raising money for Pinkdrive as part of my Comrades Run. Many people have donated and I am almost at my goal of R5000 and now if I don't run I feel "dishonest". I know the money is still being used for the fantastic cause of prescreening for breast cancer but the people who donated where doing so to support me on my run. I don't know how to explain it clearly but I feel bad about that too.
In the meantime, my husband has run 2 half marathons that I entered him into and he continues to wake up early and go running. My race entries have been wasted! I have managed to do my Pilates classes, 2 aqua aerobics classes and even fitted in a yoga class with my oldest daughter. I also did a weekend training course in Total Immersion swimming. So, all is not lost with my core strength and fitness.
The question now is "What to do about Comrades?"