Excellent news Hes, sounds as though you're in a similar place to me and planning a similar rehab process. I'm loving being back on the fells but didn't have the patience to wait as long as you.
Excellent news Hes, sounds as though you're in a similar place to me and planning a similar rehab process. I'm loving being back on the fells but didn't have the patience to wait as long as you.
I'm in a little bit of a pickle now. Haven't managed to sort out what to do for the Yorkshireman marathon this coming weekend. I've been training fine with a brace on for the past few weeks but haven't got anywhere near the sort of distance I'll be running on the Marathon next weekend. Furthest I've gone was 13 miles in road shoes, and 9 miles in fell shoes (walsh) and whilst my road shoes feel pretty good, the fell shoes do leave my feet a bit sore. I've previously run long distance in my Mizuno Wave Harriers, but these don't comfortably fit the brace and the other shoes I have which I ran the Wharfedale marathon in are some old Mizuno trail shoes which are past it really (cushioning is uneven so make my feet ache and they give blisters). I had decided they would do anyway and ran the LCW in them today but my feet were killing by the end of it and it's looking like a no go.
I'm not sure whether to risk running without a brace yet (7 weeks since injury) and it doesn't seem prudent to do a full marathon this way, although I could carry the brace in my bumbag and put it on if things weren't going well. Another option would be to risk stuffing my feet into the Harriers and see what happens, or my final option would be to go see a physio and get them to tape my ankle just for the event on the basis that this would be a slimmer fit than the ankle brace and might give good support as a one off.
What does everyone think?
You've not mentioned the option of NOT RUNNING.
To be fair, from what you say, it doesn't sound like you're fit to run a marathon. You only have 2 ankles. Why risk further injury, making the current injury worse? Not to mention the residual imbalances that are being caused elsewhere in your body. You'll miss this race, maybe others while you get back to 100% fitness. But you only have 2 ankles. You can't buy new ankles off the shelf like a spare part for your car.
sorry to be a killjoy, just saying it how it is.
I've already run the distance several times this year, just not since my ankle got injured. I didn't mention not running because I'm definitely going to run it, I'm running as a pair and I'm not dropping out for this. To be honest my ankle feels fine now, no pain from it and no apparent instability either. The pain now is coming from where the brace rubs/constricts my foot. I just know from previous experience that it's likely to go again if I'm not careful (hence using a brace till I'm confident it's recovered as much as it can).
You say I only have two ankles, but one has been operated on already for the same injury (not caused by running and I wasn't a runner at the time anyway so didn't overdo it) and the other has been crocked maybe 7-8 times at least now and it doesn't seem to make much difference if I rest it or train on it, it's still crap. I just have crap ligaments on my ankles, no point worrying about it.
Rob, didn't mean to sound like I thought running a marathon was beyond yr capabilities, of that I have no doubt. my concern was whether yr body should be subjected to the distance given yr injury/recent training. you know yr body better than anyone, and what yr willing to risk by pushing through an injury. not sure what strengthening exercises you've been doing to help yr ankles, and its too late for this weekend, if yr not already doing lots of strength work on yr lower leg/glutes then you should as this will help minimise the stress on yr "crap ligaments" (yr words!). balance hedgehogs are helpful (search that on amazon). good luck to you.
Cheers. I've been doing a lot of one legged stuff squats, calf raises, balance work etc. and lots of hill training for extra strength which hopefully should translate into more injury proof ankles (but I'm not hopeful if I'm honest). The leg I had an op on is now pretty much rock solid, but the other is poor. I have a wobble board but I might well invest in a hedgehog as well.Originally Posted by cyclops
I still haven't decided what to go for though. Think I might strap it and then take my brace along as well just in case.
Get a therapist/physio to strap it properly if you don't know how to do it yourself. Those hedgehogs are great, work yr ankle/lower leg in a more focussed way than balance boards IMO. build up to doing 1 leg balances with eyes closed (tho make sure a wall is close by to steady yourself on!!). Most importantly, when you feel yr ankles are stonger/fully recovered, don't stop the balance/strengthening exercises - you need to do them all the time to keep the strength and proprioception in good order.
Cyclops, sounds like sound advice. That's my shopping list priority just changed; 'hedgehogs' now promoted above 'new fell shoes'. I do regular Yoga (Astanga) which I find is very good for balance and core strength, but is probably more limited benefit for ankles, at my level anyway - which seem to have been a fell running weak spot for me over the last 9 months (first one sprained badly in January now the other in August, not quite so bad). Nothing as serious as others in this post but maybe the start of something I need to 'watch'. Must have a longer chat about this with you sometime, as well as a read of 18 pages of posts. Sorry to leave the pub so quickly after Shelf yesterday but my roast dinner was about to meet the dog (next door's dog at that!) and you and Z were about to sit down to your's (dinner not dog).
Thanks for that. That's my plan if I can find a physio before the event. Next question, anyone know a physio in Leeds that would be likely to have time to do it this week and wouldn't charge too much? Save me ringing round.
OB1 - we can chat at the BBQ, or give us a call and come round beforehand if you like.
Rob - don't know any physio's in Leeds, sorry. I've put a call out on Twitter, will let you know if anything useful comes back.
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