Someone make me feel better. I have been nursing this sore hamstring/hip issue and after 3.5 weeks of bad running workouts I have decided to take 7-10 days off from running to let it heal and concentrate on the bike/swim. Is this going to really set back me back…this is my first IM so I am really stressed as you can imagine.
lol–relax!
by now you’ve got a big base! that doesn’t disappear in 7-10 days. you can always deep water run, or focus more on the bike.
seriously–the bike and swim will keep your fitness, you should not miss a beat when you return to running. if anything, just plan this as a bike/swim focus, and feel good about it…you’ll need all the bike you can get for that course anyway. so, try to turn this into a positive.
remember, if you don’t take the time to heal the leg, the consequences of that are far far greater than resting it for 10 days now. think big picture!!! and quick panicking–it’s all in your head. seriously, it really is.
I don’t think 7 days off will hurt you. What will hurt you is if you keep running w/ an injury. Good luck in Madison!
Get a belt and do some pool water jogging etc. Ice, Ice, Ice, plenty of strength and stretch exercises and you will be back running faster than before.
I’d like to add “get some ART!” to that good list of suggestions.
Last year I suffered a small tear in my R hammy on July 17, as I prepared for IMMoo. Zero running for 3 weeks, followed by a couple weeks of water running and ellip. From July 17 to race day, I was never able to run more than 10 miles. Finished the race with no problem at all.
I was using Multisports online training program. Around July 23, I e-mailed Paul Huddle, in a panic, asking whether I was “done.” Paul called me the next day and talked me off the ledge. He reviewed my log and reminded me how many months of base I had built up. He further reminded me that, if I had to, I could go out and finish an IM that day.
I’m telling you the same thing. Come down from the ledge. This is a minor set back. You have plenty of time left to recover and have a great race. The last thing in the world you can do right now is start to panic.
Rest, ice, elevation. I like alternating between ice and heating pad – 15 min ice, 5 min off, 15 min heat, 5 min off, repeat 2-3 times. Get in some water running (it does work) and some ellip training (if your hammy can take it) to keep up your general fitness level.
Relax. You will be just fine. You could always do a huge swim or bike week during this time. Maybe do both. As long as it doesn’t hurt your hip / hamstring of course. Go knock out 300 miles on the bike and maybe 30,000 yards in the pool during this week. I think that would erase any doubts in your head concerning this injury and my guess is you wont miss the running at all. You will probably be far too tired to even care :).
I took 6 weeks off from running before IMoo last year (May thru mid June). I replaced all of it with Agua Jogging (make sure you strecth the hamstring before and after) and had maitained most of my fitness. I finished to 70 in the run.
Taking 7-10 days off won’t hurt you nearly as much (zero) compared to competing injured. You’re doing the right thing.