Beside my crew and my coaches few knows what's going on with my injury and my plan for Angeles Crest 100. Here is what's going on.
In late April I went to get an MRI for my legs. It turned out that I have a stress fracture. It's one of those thing where I have a bone bruise from trauma but it does not show a hairline on the x-ray. My primary care physician Dr. Zamora knows that I am training for a 100 mile run and it was hard for him to deliver the news. I was disappointed and I almost broke down in tear. I asked him how long do I have to sit out for. He said 6-8 weeks. I said huh 4-6 weeks? No, he said 6-8 weeks. Dr Zamora told me that I have accomplished a lot over the last few years and there is no need to rush back and do this 100 miles. No one (including me) knows that I will go from hiking, to running marathon, to doing Ironman, and to finish a 50 miles run in a few short years. I agreed. Then ask him what can I do to keep my fitness up. I made it very clear to him that I want to attempt the Angeles Crest 100. Not to finish, but to participate. Since I already did my trail work and I ran my qualifying race, I want to at least try and drop when I know I need to drop. I want to at least get some experience after I am clear from my doctor.
I text my coaches, Vitapanda Kevin, and a few people about this. I wrote a few emails to my crew and told them what happen. They are all very supportive and will be here for me. I told them I felt like they were riding on a sinking ship and they told me to shut up. I have several theories in term of why this happened but I decided not to share them and just leave it behind. A few hours later I was actually fine with this injury because it is what it is and I know exactly what I need to do to get better (not running). Unlike some other stuff that I was dealing with, there is no unknown with this injury. I just need to move forward.
So for the next few weeks I am not running. I am just going to swim and bike to keep up my fitness, and see where this will take me. I have no expectation and I will drop if I feel pain.
Louis
