Saturday, April 9, 2011

Jef says hip, hip, no hooray

As one lemming said to the other, this March didn't turn out the way I pictured it.

Before I bury the lead by more than that one sentence, let's get it out: I won't be racing the Boston Marathon this year.

Apologies for failing to keep you updated through, oh, basically the entire process. Social protocol says it's not polite to brag, and training was going so well through February that that's what it felt like. Social protocol says the same thing about whining. Of course, writing is basically all about bragging and whining and ignoring social protocol, so it appears I've seriously lost my bearings in terms of running and writing.

But I aim to fix both. With the one, I guess I'll have to wait for some tests to see what to do. With the other, here I go:

Five weeks of not running and the same amount of good physical therapy after the injury came to a head, it was time to try a test run. I had behaved myself, done all the prescribed activities and none of the forbidden ones. Pain levels were down to zero or near- zero, depending on when you asked, and my strength and flexibility in the crucial areas were deemed good. And I was coming down with the flu, a fine check on any temptation to overdo. This was Sunday. I ran a whole mile. Burned up the block at a 9:48 pace, I did. And oh, my goodness, did it hurt. The medical profession likes to ask people to place their pain on a scale of 1 to 10, which I always thought seemed a bit facile for something so subjective. I know it was enough to make me breathe like I was redlining it while my heart rate relaxed at a nice, easy, pace-appropriate level in the 120s. And it hurt the exact same amount from the first step to the final one. Then I iced it and took a shower, and the pain levels were already back to close to zero. Interesting.

So when it was time for the second test run on Thursday, the plan was to double up and run all of two miles, or longer if the pain remained steady like on Sunday. We needed to know if more running would make it better or worse. Maybe it was just a matter of certain idle tissues needed to be warmed up and reacquainted with running. Or maybe I was still pretty hurt.

It didn't stay steady, and it didn't get better. It started the same way, with intense, very localized pain. (Hip pain is odd; there's so much tissue there that you can tell a pain is localized without necessarily being able to name the location. In this case, though, it was easy to identify the bull's-eye as the ball-and-socket area itself.) The pain level increased (I was impressed; there didn't appear to be a lot of room for more) and gradually flooded more and more of the area until the whole right side of my pelvis was lit up - without losing that special stabbing in the socket.

And this time my heart rate bounced along in the high 160s to match my panting, though that may have been due more to the now fully involved flu. Also significant was the non-recovery. Ice, shower, heat, more ice, more heat … 36 hours later, the pain is still right there. Twelve hours later, my physical therapist gave me the talk.

But I knew Thursday, by the time I walked back in the house. Patriots' Day would be spent as a spectator. A spectator at the world's greatest footrace, which isn't what I had in mind but, let's face it, not a bad way to spend a Monday.

After that, we'll see what happens. My sports doctor - and there is none better than Jeff Kovan at MSU Sports Medicine - has hinted at more tests. A very good friend who's also a physical therapist to elite athletes tells me they might do something called a "grind test," about which I know nothing except that it clearly wasn't named by the most skilled public-relations agency. There will probably be some dye injected somewhere and more expensive pictures shot. If it gets too unpleasant, I'll just call my dad and ask him about his colonoscopy.

Then we do what we need to do and it's full speed ahead. There's a triathlon season coming up. And at the end of that season is the Detroit Marathon. I'm already signed up. I'll be 50 next spring, so I only need to run a 3:35 to return to Boston. Which I intend to pad with at least a 20-minute cushion. My hip's a mess, but apparently the ego is just fine.

17 comments:

Jacqueline Haney said...

So, are you coming to Boston anyway? We'd still love to see you and actually be able to have a conversation with Patty.

Mike said...

Not to fret. A college friend was in an accident while biking, had to have a hip implant and was back doing Iron Man events. Not the next day, but he got back. He was maybe five years younger than you are now. Whatever you need to do, you'll do, and then you'll adjust to it.

BD said...

I know what you are going through. I qualified for the 2007 BAA Marathon and could not run due to a hip (piriformis) injury. Looking at a DNS a week before the race is not a, "Look on the bright side moment," but you have already qualified for the 2012 race since your time was posted after 9/25/2010. And it counts as your 50 year old time, so you are already in the 10 minutes faster than qualifying standard early entry group. Best of luck on your recovery and upcoming triathlon season!

Jef Mallett said...

Oh, man, huge sympathy, BD. Actually, I guess it's empathy, both ways, and I appeciate is mightily. And that's great news about my October qualifier holding up through 2012. And, not that I don't appreciate it, but I'm going to do my best to forget I know it. I want to go into this year's Detroit Marathon with a mission!

Jef Mallett said...

JH, that looks suspiciously like you're trying to set up some sort of an intervention!

Robert E. Zeitner said...

"A spectator at the world's greatest footrace.."

The world's greatest footrace is the next one scheduled.

BD said...

I didn't mean you're in, take it easy. I mean that now there is no reason to second guess your BQ -20 minutes goal in training or on race day. That golden ticket in your pocket doesn't lower the bar, it frees you to go for broke.

Jef Mallett said...

A most excellent correction, Robert!

Jef Mallett said...

And an even better one from BD. And I'd better make a clarification to salvage my own lousy communications skills:
You are so right, BD. I was in no way dismissing your help. I was trying to be all macho and competitive and stuff. That always turns out so well. But you're right, so right: This is real freedom! I shall indeed let it rip Oct. 16 in Detroit, and I'll be thanking you the whole way!

BD said...

Ummm... after I posted the last comment I saw on the BAA website that the registration date for the 2012 marathon has been moved up to September 14, 2011. So your improved time in Detroit will move you up closer to the starting line in 2012, but you had better already be registered or you will have to wait for the 2013 race. Anyway, while you are letting it rip in Detroit on Oct. 16, I will be doing the same in Columbus. No need to post this on the blog. Just wanted to make sure you knew about the change in the registration date.

BR42 said...

I hate myself for this, but I have to ask:

Is there such a thing as "most excellent?" You and Caulfield have such a resounding command of English--hey, you said "about which I know nothing"-- I hope you won't mind my asking. Can excellence be comparative? I've always though it either is or isn't excellent. But I'm open to correction.

Jim Smith II said...

Jef - So sorry, that's a real bummer but as you know, better to think long term than short.

Good luck with the rehab. Don't know how it is around your place, but when one of us is on the "IR List", it can be a little tense...

Netagene said...

Just read today's (Fri., Apr 15) "Frazz" and see that Frazz told Jane to not do what he would do - that JANE is going to run Boston! LOL!

Robert E. Zeitner said...

So how did Ms. Plainwell do at Boston. We are all waiting to know.

La Professora said...

So... do we get to hear about your view from the bleachers?

Anonymous said...

Aw, man, what a bummer. I enjoyed the strip the week leading up to Boston. It helped me get psyched (as if I needed any help). Then I looked for your times, but only just thought to look here to get the full story.

I'm a first-timer, but it seemed like a hard race to me. Way way too hot. I was fried halfway through, pouring water over my head every mile and still boiling. You picked a good year to miss it. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

Injuries are temporary. The spirit that got you into Boston will get you past this injury and into another Boston (or whatever your next goal is).

- Eric

Craig said...

To answer BR42, "most excellent" works because "excellent" is not an absolute. To cite one of various online dictionaries: "1. possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good. 2.
Archaic . extraordinary; superior."

I don't frankly see the distinction in those definitions, but it's clear to me that something that is remarkably good could be remarkably better. :)