I sprained my ankle (very mild sprain) a week ago tues. This Sat. I am supposed to run my first marathon. Here is the present plan. Try to run 2 miles or so Friday morning, if I have any pain, no marathon. If the pain is light should I try to get my entry changed to the half and so not totally waste my entry fee? Also if I have no pain at two miles, should I still not race. I know that 26 miles will hurt this ankle. What is nagging me is A) wasted entry fee. B) Withdrawing again! from a marathon due to injury. Two years ago I withdrew from Detroit due to being an idiot who didn’t know how to train, this years injury is job related. So comments, opinions, do I need to just forget it and go on?
I would at least wrap it, tape it or get an air-splint. Pain threshold is an individual thing. The thing to watch out for is over compensation on your good leg. My physio. told me no running until I had equal flexibility and no pain. I didn’t listen and I started running too soon after a sprain and my good leg ended up having problems because my gait was screwed up. You could always do a marathon walk.
injuries happen, as sickness does. its always the worst timing.
If its a mild sprain and it doesn’t hurt by the time you start, I’d go for it. But if it already hurts, hell, a marathon is bad enough. As I see it, there’s always next year. Why push it when you could hurt yourself for a long time afterwards. It’s also pretty early in the season no? (at least for me, north-east, its still snowing).
A friend of mine raced on a torn ligament (ankle). I watched her tape up her leg at every transition (it was a du) and she finished the race in tears. It was painful to watch. For about two months afterwards she was on crutches. She hasn’t raced/trained since and its been a good 7 months?
Just went out and ran a couple hundred yards, feels ok, alittle sore but no real pain. Called the race director, they will allow me to drop to the 1/2 if i want. As long as i take it easy at work I should be ok with that. I know what you mean about compensating with the other leg, my opposite knee is sorer than my ankle right now. thanks for the input.
After multiple bouts with ITB and one very severe ankle sprain, I’d suggest that if you have to ask, you probably should not be running on it. Is it (the ankle ) stiff in the morning? Is its motion limited, compared to the other ankle? If yes to either, you’re making a mistake to race on it and risk delaying recovery. As much as it sucks, I’d say you’re better off volunteering for the race and give yourself time to heal up.
Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.
) stiff in the morning? Is its motion limited, compared to the other ankle? If yes to either, you’re making a mistake to race on it and risk delaying recovery. As much as it sucks, I’d say you’re better off volunteering for the race and give yourself time to heal up.