[S]he Conquers Who Endures

Wow Jackie I do not even have words to describe how sorry I am to hear this. I've seen how hard you've trained for this race and although your staying positive know how hard it is going to be to not race it. Hang in there and please e-mail, text, call me if you need someone to talk to. Seriously I am a good listenner.

On a positive note I am so glad you are so smart and went in to get the scan done. You would have done some major damage running a marathon with a stress fracture. Now that you know exactly what you are dealing with you can take the pressure off, give your body time to recover, and come back stronger than ever. I am definitely thinking of you and will remember to appreciate my miles a little bit more this week.

So sorry, Jackie. I tried to bike without a boot, and in order to get a good "workout" it was just as painful as running. Cycling on hills can cause pain, because you have to stand in the saddle and it can put just enough pressure to be problematic -- but maybe it won't be for you. It depends on exactly where the fracture is, and what biomechanical reasons you have the stress fracture to begin with, does that make sense?

Anyway, I did a lot of pool running (like up to 2 hours/day a couple days a week) - and I used the elliptical (in my boot for the first few weeks) -- and I did not lose much fitness at all. As long as you can cross-train a little, you will keep cardiovascular fitness. Then the key will be ramp back up slowly (more slowly than you will want to -- like maybe even a couple/three weeks of continuing cross-training while you slowly start jogging again). You can be right back where you were in 5 weeks after returning to running -- I promise. When the time comes - e.g., when you are cleared to run again, I will share my training plan with you if you would like.

The main point is ... you need to take some time to heal ... and only do cross-training that will allow you to heal quickly (e.g., you are better off with no weight-bearing exercise -- maybe elliptical in a boot if it causes NO pain).

Good luck! You WILL come back stronger than ever -- you are a runner, we bounce back!

Hopefully, you won't need these, but here are a couple of articles on pool running, and cross-training in general:

http://www.pfitzinger.com/labreports/water.shtml

http://injuredrunner.com/Cross_Train/cross_training.htm

Thanks, Bonnie! I truly value your insight, especially you having been there. I didn't really think to much of trying the elliptical, so I'm excited to try it out!

I will definitely be interested in seeing your training plan going back!! I have a hard time trusting drs because usually they just think runners are crazy. Haha. :)

I was told not to swim? I thought that was weird, but maybe it has to do with the location of the stress fracture? Mine is on the fourth metatarsal...