I only went and did it!
Hurrah! Faced with the prospect of hanging around for 6 hours whilst my friends all ran a marathon in the sunshine I investigated how I would get back to the start line when I had run as far as a could.
When I found out that I could stop at a water station, and there were water stations every 3miles along the course I decided that I could toddle off to the start, - be part of the race and get a 3 or 6 mile run in - since it was beautiful sunny weather.
I reached the water station at 3miles, then 6miles, then 9miles, then at 10miles I figured I would probably make a half marathon and was pleased with that. At 13.1miles I figured I could probably do another 3miles and after making it that far I realised that if I could get to the 20mile mark I could make it to the finish line.
It wasn't pain free, but as long as I took it gingerly down the hills my hip and leg seemed to be happy to just keep running. I didn't dare take a step of a walk in case I didn't get running again though. The final stretch was a great big uphill (which was a relief as the downhill sections were so much more uncomfortable and risky for me) then a long downhill to the finish. So close and yet moving quite slow at this point and my leg became harder and harder to bear weight on. I'd already been running for 4 and half hours at this point and this finish line just wouldn't arrive.
I hobbled down the hill and finished looking like a limpy thing rather than an athlete but I had finished!!! I had made my target of running a marathon 6months post FAI op. I was thrilled and I couldn't believe it. In a time of 4.49 which I was pleased with at the end of the day.
My final thoughts is that it is indeed possible to run a marathon 6months after my hip arthroscopy but I wouldn't recommend it :) A year after would be a much more sensible amount of time. Half marathon distances were no problem however!
My hip muscles and joint are pretty sore now and its going to take a few weeks of TLC to get them healed and healthy. I'm thrilled with the achievement of running the race and keen now to do lots of biking and leave out the impact for a month!!
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wow, and you thought it wouldn't happen.. good for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Clare,
ReplyDeleteThese blogs got me thru the last year and I have set up a facebook page dedicated to putting up great hip blogs and would ask if you would share yours on this site by linking your to the site, it will create more traffic to your site and give one place where a newly diagnosed person can find all good hip blogs. It is on facebook and called 'FAI Hip impingement blogs' and covers PAO and THR as they often over lap.
Your help to others will be much appreciated..
Many thanks Louisa
Claire re chapel A yes please, really would appreciate that.
ReplyDelete:) This really makes me hopeful again!
ReplyDeleteStill need to decide on surgery or never run again... But I'm so missing it.
How are you doing now?
ReplyDeleteHi Frank, thanks for asking.
ReplyDeleteMy right hip is great, thanks. No negative after effects from the marathon, although it took a few months to settle down, post race.
I'm able to train hard on it. My left hip & SIJ have started to tweak in the last few months particularly when I squat below parallel so I'm getting that operated on on the 13th Oct.
If it turns out as well as my right hip I'll be over the moon!