Long story short is that I have my 2nd triathlon ever this Monday. It is an Oly race and I did my first Oly race about 5 weeks ago. After that first race, I developed an inflammed peroneus tendon. It’s usually fine when I walk, but it flames up after I run. Other than that, it doesn’t bother me that much, but I can tell that something is amiss. I’m starting physical therapy on it next week, too.
So, should I race on Monday? I’m thinking about doing the swim leg, going hard on the bike leg, but after that just walk the 10K leg. Or, should I do the swim, do the bike, and then drop out of the race? I want to walk the 10K part because it will give me a chance to be relax and actually be a tourist during the race and enjoy the sites and sounds. I want to stop and chat with the volunteers and thank them for their help instead of blowing through the water stations.
Ofcourse, I will do my best to stay out of the way of the other participants.
My injury doesn’t bother me on the swim or the bike. I had a miserable swim time at my first race so I want to swim this race but with a faster time and be much more relaxed. I almost had a panic attack in the first 50m of my first race. I want to be more relaxed this time around.
“My injury doesn’t bother me on the swim or the bike.”
Maybe not, but it certainly isn’t helping your body rest and heal if you do that…what is so all-fired important about pushing the issue and doing the swim and bike??? I can’t imagine what that could be…
I’m sure everyone has their own opinions on things like this. My view is that everyone needs to learn about their own body and what levels of stress and injury are still workable vs nonworkable. That is, what you can keep training through and what you can’t. You might be fine to swim and bike and call it day. Or it may just prolong your recovery. Most likely, the only way to really find out is to try it. The risk is that you injury things worse or prolong your recovery or be injured all season). So, the question to me is are you willing to take that risk? If so, then go for it and maybe you’ll learn more about what you can work through or not. On the flipside, the safe approach is to just stay in bed, rest, and hit PT next week. Ultimately it’s your decision. Make it and go with it.
I’m in the same boat. Last weekend, I chose to race Terre Haute knowing I would probably not be able to complete the run. I had been treating an achilles/calf problem for 4 weeks prior, and had just started a water running program to keep some shape. I was able to devote a swim focus week and a couple of bike focus weeks due to the decreased running. So come race time, I was curious how far along my healing had come, and if my swimming and biking had improved.
My race was decent up until 3 miles into a 5 mile run. The calf started to feel that now familiar sharp pain, so rather that make it worse, I did just what you proposed. I walked along the side of the course cheering on the other runners and thanking the volunteers. It was a positive experience for me, and allowed me to get in a decent bric and hang with my friends.
I’m in the same boat as you, I’ve been training for a half in August but I have an ankle injury that has made running not very realistic. I was supposed to do Memphis in May last weekend. The southern contingent of my family came in to see me race for me to show up with just my girlfriend and her bike and a lawn chair and camera.
The bottom line for me is that I’ve just started to get back into running very slowly. I could have legged out the race and finished but at what cost? It would have more then likely ended my season, and I didn’t want to lug all my stuff out for a DNF.
So I got to sit back watch the crowd and be a spectator for once in a few years. It’s a bit of an eye opener or it was for me anyway. You may not have the same perspective since you’re just getting started. Like someone else said relax, you’ll have plenty of time to race. Get healthy first.
like everyone else has said…it’s up to you to listen to your body and do what’s best for you and your future. i get to slowly start back running next week after six weeks of no running due to a herniated disc. i’ve been able to swim and bike…lots…but running is my thing and it’s been tough not being able to run. i’ll approach my training and racing in a totally new and much more cautious way this time around. if i were you, there’s no doubt i’d pass on the race. one race wouldn’t be worth possibly causing myself a more lengthy recovery or an end to my training and racing. by the way, i’ve passed on one race during the six weeks.
I would Ice like crazy for the next 3 days and hope it gets better and do the race including the run. You can always recover after the race if you need to. If it is really injured during the race, then just drop out after the bike. If biking is not going to aggravate the injury, no reason to not do the race.
I have no idea where your injured tendon is, but my vote is a qualified yes. You need the OW swim practice, and if the bike doesn’t hurt, why not ride? My suggestion would be to leave your running shoes at home so you won’t be tempted to go ahead and run.
If you still feel like walking 10K in flip flops, go for it. If not, call it a day. You paid your race entry and it seems a shame not to take advantage of the swim/bike legs. Regardless, good luck.
As one who can no longer do the run, let me say that I said I can still do the swim and the bike, and then DNF or do the AquaBike or walk the run. Walking the run totally sucks. ANd DNF’ing means you can;t compare your bike time against everyone else. So I don’t do tris, and I feel very good about not having to screw around with that god-awful boring never get any better MF-ing swim BS.
My 02…I injured my peroneal longus last year. Couldn’t do the ‘run’ leg for the first couple of tri’s of the season. However, I did the swim and bike…and then turned in the chip. Good training and good experience. Swimming and biking didn’t bother my peroneal injury. If your injury is similar to mine, I would recommend NOT walking the run. It might aggravate the injury and walking the run sucks.